Sixers staying put, Josh Harris assures

Managing owner Josh Harris reiterated Sunday that the 76ers are not moving to North Jersey.

"My answer to the fans is I love the Sixers in Philly. I'm committed to it," Harris said during his state-of-the-Sixers news conference.

Harris' keeping the franchise in Philadelphia isn't a surprise to people who know the billionaire businessman. They will tell you the surprising thing is that he's on board with the Sixers' tanking this season.

"I want immediate results and immediate upside," he said. "But I think that the reality of professional sports is that things don't change overnight."

The things that will allow Harris to keep his sanity during what will be a trying season are his offseason moves that were geared to bring a championship to Philadelphia in a few seasons.

Gone are coach Doug Collins, general manager Tony DiLeo, and team president Rod Thorn. Added were coach Brett Brown, general manager Sam Hinkie, and chief executive officer Scott O'Neil.

"These are people that are 'A' players," Harris said of Brown, Hinkie, and O'Neil. "So I feel very, very excited about those moves. And then you have to work on obviously putting pieces in place on the court.

"That doesn't happen overnight. It happens over time."

The Sixers have only six players with more than two years of NBA experience and are expected to challenge for this season's worst record. Yet no one in the team's front office is complaining.

The franchise could have two lottery picks in the 2014 draft and about $36 million to lure free agents next summer.

"And we continue to talk broadly about analytics, sports science, health-fitness nutrition," said Harris, noting the things the Sixers are now incorporating.

"So these are edges, over time, that are going to make us competitive, make us win," he said. "I'm very confident we are going to get there."

And if the Sixers do get there, he reiterated they will do it as the Philadelphia 76ers, not the Newark Sixers.

Harris and business partner David Blitzer bought the NHL's New Jersey Devils and the lease to the Prudential Center for $320 million in August. With that came the speculation that they would attempt to move the Sixers into the Newark arena or sell the team.

"I'm totally focused on the Sixers and won't change one iota how driven I am to make this team a championship team," said Harris, who has family ties to both Philadelphia and Newark.

He said he is prepared to do that through the draft or free agency, or via trades. Harris said trading for Andrew Bynum last summer proved that the Sixers will spend money and be aggressive when they see the opportunity.

The 7-footer came to Philadelphia from the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team trade last summer. He made $16.9 million despite missing all of last season with chronic knee injuries before signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer.

"I still believe you have to measure decisions and not outcomes," Harris said. "In sports, there's an element of randomness. Going for Andrew Bynum was the right decision because it is very tough to get a player of that caliber."

So don't be surprised if the Sixers try another blockbuster trade down the road.

"Like I said, we are big boys," Harris said, "and we will do it again if we see the right opportunity."