The word from Media Day
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The word from Media Day
The 76ers held their annual Media Day today at the Wells Fargo Center. Tomorrow at St. Joseph's University, the Sixers start a week of training camp that includes two-a-day practices. In the video player below on the right, you can check out the video of Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala from today's press conference. If you want to follow on Twitter, click here: Deep Sixer.
Today's event was mostly just a glorified photo shoot, but nearly all of the players were made available, including the much-talked-about Iguodala. To keep up to date on the Iguodala-Carmelo Anthony news (scroll to the previous post for details), the latest from two sources is that right now "nothing new" with the trade, although neither source closed the door on the trade's possibility. In Denver, Anthony showed up to the Nuggets' media day and said the following (courtesy of Denver Post beat writer Benjamin Hochman):
"I've been a Nugget for 7 years. This is where I started my career. Tomorrow the ball goes up and we get started ... I've never said I wanted to be traded. I never once said anything about trade talk. I'm leaving my options open. At the end of the season, I'll sit down with my team, I'll sit down with the Nuggets."
Back to the Sixers. Here are some choice quotes from today's event:
Iguodala on the trade possibility: "I don’t really pay too much attention to it. I have friends and family that ask me about it, but that’s about the only time that I hear it. But the reaction is that it’s a business. Those things are going to come up no matter who the player is. You have to feel honored somebody else respects your game and your work ethic. Where my focus is right now, along with Elton and the other guys, is to get this team where it needs to be."
Iguodala on resting during training camp: "I think I’m going to try to play Ed Stefanski for training camp: just watch from afar and just really learn the guys. I think that’s a really good thing, though, honestly, just seeing how guys react in certain situations … just watching and learning from the guys."
Iguodala on changing his game: "When you lose, things get magnified. Just looking to attack the basket, get to the line, play freely. I’m not hung up on the three pointer thing. I need to take less, but not really hung up on it too much."
Brand on losing weight: "Yeah, I had a talk with coach early on in the summer and he had a certain number he wanted me to be at ... He wanted me to be at a number and I came in two weeks ago and was a few pounds under that number … 255, that’s what he wanted."
Jrue Holiday on his main goal: "To run the team. Again, my goal is to be one of the top 5 point guards in this league."
Evan Turner on playing without the ball: "Coming out of college, I had the ball in my hands 90 percent of the time. I think once the system gets put in, players get put in, I have options to read, I think I’ll learn well. It’ll take time to learn, to be great without the ball."
Lou Williams on trying to beat out Jrue for starting spot: "Coach said that. I don’t think it’s any stronger consideration, he feels like we should be competitive in camp. That goes for everyone, not just Jrue and myself."
Here on Deep Sixer, we'll be hitting training camp hard so check back in after tomorrow's first session, which ends at 1 p.m.
--Kate
Kate Fagan is the coolest!— padillaflotilla- Even though it's just training camp, it'd be nice to see some videos of their practices (if that's even allowed). Keep it up Kate!— FlySixPhiEagles
- Any takers for Lou Williams? He is clueless.— fillyfan
- same old b/s....new year ,same story,no need to pursue melo'he doesn't wanna come here.let that story die,please.now, lets see what these young guys can get done.time for all the hi hopes,and broken hearts,and maybe, just maybe, the 6ers acan win some games.— t_darb_56
- the rumor is T Young and Evan Turner plus Kapano and 2 first rounders. The sixers wanted to send AI instead of Turner. The Nugs laughed— LGbalsac
- Why would Melo ever want to come to the Sixers. He wants to be in New York. If Melo does come East to another team it means less wins for Sixers.— Drew777
- Somehow I don't believe LGbalsac's comment since everywhere I've seen and everything I've read say that the Nuggets have been high on Iggy for a while now.— cg
- The Nuggets are not high on Iguodala, bunch of nonsense. Contracts like his get GMs fired.— JonKap
- Why do newspapers participate in spreading gossip? Maybe gossip is a stretch, but they are crossing the line when they are involving themselves in trade discussions. I believe in freedom of the press, but there is a difference between being journalists and being busy bodies.— incog69
- For the fools who keep crying about Andre's contract, please check the list of players who will make roughly the same money as him next season.— incog69
LGbalsac: Your rumor is a joke!!- I like Iguodala. I like his mind-set coming back from winning the gold. I like how he's taking notice of other player's games. He should be able to help Jrue, Evan and Lou. I like that Brand is coming in a little lighter and that he'll have more room without Sammy. I'm not sold on this team yet, but I like the direction they seem to be moving in. Given their position at the end of last year, I think they did the best they could with what they had.— BeFrank
- ESPN reported Iggy was not included in the Melo deal.— Coach Cle
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
