Sixers

Sixers Emerge As Front-Runner For Jrue Holiday

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The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a front-runner for Jrue Holiday. The rumors comes courtesy of Shams Charania, who dialed into The Pat McAfee Show. “Philadelphia has interest in him, and Philadelphia is going to be going hard at him. So, James Harden would have to be a part of a transaction like that,” Charania told McAfee. Holiday was originally drafted by the Sixers back in 2009 and played with the team until 2013.

It’s certainly an interesting proposal and would solve the ongoing dispute that the Sixers have with James Harden. Furthermore, users on social media theorize that the trade would also involve the Clippers, who were the only team that Harden was being traded to earlier in the offseason. Holiday is suddenly on the market after being included in the Damian Lillard trade. However, it’s unlikely Holiday is likely to remain in the Pacific Northwest as Portland is happy with their complement of young guards.

Read More: LeBron James “Preparing Like A Rookie” Despite Entering 21st Season

Lillard Trade Opens The Floodgates

For much of the offseason, the Lillard trade, or lack of one, had the rest of the league in a holding position. Now, with Dame in Milwaukee, the rest of the league can resume business. With Harden seemingly off the table, Holiday has become a primary focus for contending teams. Despite turning 33 earlier this year, he remains a solid contributor. He had 19.3 points in 67 games last season, his highest average since the 19/20 season.

However, Holiday’s departure from the Bucks was mourned by his friend and teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo. “Jrue is my fucking brother for life. I love his family, I love him. I appreciate him and I wish him nothing but the best. He blessed me with a fucking championship. He’s the one who made that huge steal in Game 5 of the Finals. I went to battle with him multiple times. Fuck basketball. Fuck the media shit. This guy is my brother for life, and it’s always going to be like that. He’s going to thrive wherever he ends up.”

Read More: Damian Lillard Reveals Blazers Made Him Fake Injury For Better Draft Pick

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James Harden Reiterates Desire For Sixers Exit

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James Harden’s sign-to-trade return to the Sixers was one of the first major shocks of the NBA offseason. Since the veteran officially exercised his player option, the Sixers have attempted to find an equitable trade. However, hope remained within the organization that Joel Embiid, alongside new head coach Nick Nurse, could convince Harden to stay.

However, it appears that Harden is set on leaving the City of Brotherly Love. According to ESPN‘s Ramona Shelburne, Harden has reiterated his desire to be traded. Harden has played for the Sixers since a midseason trade with the Nets during the 2021/22 campaign. Across 79 games for the Sixers, Harden is averaging 21 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per game. During the 2022/23 season, Harden led the league in assists per game.

Harden Still Wants Out

“James Harden has spoken to Daryl Morey since the first trade request, and I think there was some cooling off period. ‘OK, let’s let this lie and see how things play out,’” Shelburne said. “And they’ve spoken again, and he still reiterated he wants to be traded. Now, this isn’t a demand, it’s a request. And I think the Sixers have said, ‘OK, we will try to trade you, but there is no hurry to do this. I think the Sixers understand here that they have the leverage here,” Shelburne continued. “[Harden] picked up his option, this is an opt-in to a contract and he’s going to be a free agent after this season. And so, at some point, he needs to play, whether that’s in Philadelphia or elsewhere.”

It’s an eerily similar situation to the one unfolding in Portland. Blazers GM Joe Cronin has said he is willing to wait “months” to trade Damian Lillard. This is because, despite Lillard’s desire to leave Portland, he has no leverage in the situation. The Blazers are able to wait on the right trade package, knowing the only person who gets hurt by retaliation is Lillard himself. Similarly, as Shelburne mentions, Harden can’t afford to hold out on the Sixers given that he will be on the free agent market season. However, contrary to the Portland situation, things still appear to be amicable between Harden and the Sixers. However, this is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Doc Rivers Convinced Patrick Beverley To Sign With Sixers

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The Sixers have been pretty quiet during free agency so far. Obviously, there is the whole James Harden re-sign and trade situation being worked on. However, in terms of tangible moves, there just hasn’t been a lot going down in the City of Brotherly Love. At the time of writing (July 5), their sole addition has been veteran Patrick Beverley. The Sixers agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.1 million with the 34-year-old.

Beverley began the 2022-23 campaign on the Lakers before a midseason trade sent him to the Bulls. He averaged 6.2 points and 3 defensive rebounds a game across 62 starts. Many people think he is a good fit for the Sixers, where he will play behind whoever the starting point guard is. Currently, that’s Harden but if he leaves, the Sixers will likely either roll with Beverley or look to swing a big name in return. However, Beverley recently opened up about just what exactly brought him to Philly.

Doc Rivers Brought Beverley To Philly

The Sixers parted ways with coach Doc Rivers after the 2022-23 season after he failed to get them past the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Despite this, Rivers was the one who would end up landing them Beverley. Speaking on The Pat Bev Show, Beverley said he called up Rivers, who he views as “damn near a father figure”, for advice.

“I might go to Philly. Obviously, you was there. How’d you like the situation?” Beverley said that he asked Rivers. “This is a Hall of Fame coach that just got fired. His response, exact words: ‘I love Philadelphia for you. They need you. You will be great with Joel, James — he respects you, you would be great with him. If I had you last season, we would’ve been a different team.’” Beverley would have likely given the Sixers some much-needed defensive oomph last season. However, it’s doubtful that he would have completely revamped the team. He was 113th in drpg, 69th in bpg, and 97th in defensive win shares. However, hopefully Nick Nurse will find a way to utilize the veteran thanks to Doc Rivers.

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LA Clippers Most Likely Destination For James Harden

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The NBA offseason got its latest twist when James Harden exercised his player option with the Sixers hours before he would have become a free agent. However, that didn’t mean that Harden was staying in Philly. Per Shams Charania, Harden exercised his option year so that he and the Sixers could work out a trade. It’s a bizarre turn of events after Harden was reportedly “pretty on board with everything that Nick Nurse was saying in terms of trying new ways to optimize him, trying new ways to kind of re-vamp or re-tool that Philadelphia 76ers offense.”

Later, there were reports that a Harden trade wasn’t a guarantee. Instead, it was believed he could stay with the Sixers if an equitable trade to a contender wasn’t possible. Despite this, the Clippers and Knicks were both floated as interested parties. Now, it appears that the needle has swung back towards ” trade”. Furthermore, it appears that the Clippers are the primary landing spot for the 10-time all-star.

Sixers, Clippers Reportedly Working On Harden Trade

Per Sam Amick and Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Harden has identified the Clippers as his preferred destination. Furthermore, trade talks between the two sides are already underway. Furthermore, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are both reportedly “on board” with the addition of Harden, per league sources. The question will be as to what the Sixers will want in return.

Read More: Kyrie Irving sets up shock meeting with Phoenix Suns at the start of free agency

With Harden essentially pushing for a trade, the Sixers can’t exactly push for a king’s ransom. However, the Clippers can’t exactly swindle the Sixers given the need to offset Harden’s $35.6 million salary. A package involving Norman Powell, another player with a big enough salary, and some picks would likely get the deal done. No formal trade has been agreed to yet, However, both sides will likely be eager to get the trade completed quickly so they can better focus on free agency, which officially begins at 6pm ET on June 30. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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James Harden Exercises Player Option, Trade Expected

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In the latest twist of the NBA offseason, James Harden has exercised his $35.6 million player option with the Sixers. This means, unlike almost expectations, Harden will not test free agency. The news was somewhat expected, given the most recent reports of a positive meeting between Harden and new Sixers coach Nick Nurse. However, that’s where things stop making sense.

Per Shams Charania, Harden has opted-in into his option year so that he and the Sixers can work out a trade to send him out of Philly. It’s a bizarre turn of events after Harden was reportedly “pretty on board with everything that Nick Nurse was saying in terms of trying new ways to optimize him, trying new ways to kind of re-vamp or re-tool that Philadelphia 76ers offense.”

Read More: Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks to pursue Bruce Brown in free agency

Sixers To Trade Harden

The move comes about 25 hours before the start of free agency. It has been suggested that the move comes as a result of a muted free agency market for the 10-time all-star. Now, the Sixers will be able to work within the bounds of Harden’s existing contract, while trying to find an equitable trade for the veteran player. Per additional reporting from Charaina, the Clippers are expected to emerge as suitors for Harden’s services. However, it is still very much a developing story, so more teams could make themselves known in the coming days.

Read More: Kyrie Irving surprises everyone with free agency meeting with the Suns

Earlier in the offseason, the Clippers were in line to acquire Malcolm Brogdon from the Celtics. However, that deal fell through over dubious medicals. Brogdon remains in Boston, with Marcus Smart heading to Memphis as part of a three-team trade to get Boston Kristaps Porziņģis. However, the Clippers do have the space to accommodate Harden. A trade including the likes of Marcus Morris and Normal Powell could work out for the two sides. Where do you think Harden will land? Let us know in the comments. Furthermore, this is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Philadelphia 76ers Meeting With Nick Nurse

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The firing of Doc Rivers as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers came as a shock to many. However, Rivers had failed to progress the team past the second round of the playoffs. This was despite improving their regular-season wins total year on year. That meant the Sixers would join the Bucks, Pistons, Raptors, and Rockets in the hunt for a new head coach.

Like their fellow coachless franchises, the Sixers’ expected pool of candidates carries both great depth and breadth. Names include experienced head coaches and long-time assistants. Furthermore, there have been calls for the Sixers to consider outside-the-box candidates, with The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Mike Jensen arguing the Sixers should interview Dawn Staley. All this comes along with the news that James Harden has chosen to test free agency.

Sixers To Interview Nick Nurse

Nick Nurse coaching in the NBA
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 27: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors reacts to the officiating against the Golden State Warriors during an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 27, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers have scheduled a meeting with former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. Nurse, who lead the Raptors to a championship in 2019, was let go after the franchise’s slow decline over the last five years. However, Nurse is also an experienced coach. His career dates back to 1989 and includes a decade at the NBA level. Nurse originally joined the Raptors as an assistant in 2013 before being promoted to head coach in 2018.

Furthermore, Nurse is a success-driven coach who preaches a fluid basketball philosophy that calls for situational awareness and adaptability. In regard to the news, many fans expressed hope that Nurse would be able to fix the Sixers’ defensive woes. A lack of meaningful defensive adjustments were a major contributor to their early playoff exit. However, the Sixers are still early in their process and proceeding “carefully”. They are also expected to speak with two other recent Championship coaches in Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer. What do you think about the possibility of Nick Nurse to the Sixers? Let us know in the comments.

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Sixers Players Will Not Influence Coaching Search

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The Philadelphia 76ers parted ways with head coach Doc Rivers on May 16. Rivers had been in charge at the Wells Fargo Center for three seasons and was well-liked by many players. However, he also failed to get the Sixers past the second round of the playoffs every season, despite improving in wins year after year. After the blowout loss to Boston that ended the Sixers’ season, Rivers fell to 16-33 in Game 7 scenarios.

The departure came as a shock to many members of the Sixers organization, especially MVP Joel Embiid. Embiid had an incredibly close relationship with Rivers and was not aware that the coach would not be returning next season. However, it appears that is the exact culture GM Daryl Morey is attempting to build in Philly.

Morey Says Coaching Search Will Be “Careful”

CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 15: President of basketball operations Daryl Morey responds during a press conference at the Seventy Sixers Practice Facility on February 15, 2022 in Camden, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Conducting his exit interview before the offseason, Morey spoke at length about the search for a new head coach. The Sixers are expected to speak with Mike Budenholzer, Nick Nurse, and Frank Vogel amongst a number of other candidates. Other local media has also proposed a number of other candidates. Philly Inquirer columnist Mike Jensen argued that the Sixers should speak with University of South Carolina women’s head coach, and Philly native, Dawn Staley. The Sixers join the Bucks, Pistons, Raptors, and Rockets in hunting for a new head coach.

However, Morey warned the assembled media that a decision will not come soon. “We’re taking a careful process with the coach,” Morey said Wednesday. “We do not think it will move quickly. We have to be careful with the process word but it is true.” Despite this, Morey was also very firm that the decision would be made by the front office, not the players. “It’s my job to help convince him the new coach is someone he’ll have a great relationship with, as well,” Morey said of Embiid. Furthermore, Morey was confident in his ability to lead the Sixers to that ever-elusive title. “Frankly, I feel like I’m the best guy to lead the 76ers and ownership believes that,” he said. Who do you think the Sixers should hire? Let us know in the comments.

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Doc Rivers Fired By The Sixers

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Doc Rivers is a head coach who has been hit with a lot of slander in the past. Overall, this is mostly due to the fact that his teams always lose spectacularly in the postseason. Although he does have an NBA title to his name, he has been part of some historic collapses. From 3-1 blown leads to various other breakdowns, Rivers has seen it all. Consequently, there has been this narrative amongst fans that he isn’t a good coach. Instead, he is a product of the Boston Celtics super team from 2008.

Having said that, fans came to his defense after the Sixers lost to the Celtics in Game 7 of the second round over the weekend. Typically, fans would roast Doc Rivers. However, James Harden and Joel Embiid were so bad that it was not his fault. It could have been any coach and those two would have found a way to stink it up. Regardless, Rivers has been made the scapegoat by the franchise. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Rivers was fired by the team today.

Read More: James Harden Roasted Over Questionable Outfit

Doc Rivers Is On The Market

Once again, Doc Rivers will become a coaching free agent. However, it remains to be seen whether or not he will get another job. He has had numerous chances over the years and has yet to replicate that success from 2008. Although, there are plenty of teams who could use a new head coach. The Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks are some teams that immediately come to mind. That said, Rivers will likely want to take some time off to reassess some things. After all, it was a stressful season that ended in the complete opposite way the team was hoping.

Moreover, this is going to be an interesting offseason for the Sixers. There is this belief that James Harden is going to leave the team. That means the Sixers are going to need to find a new star to pair with James Harden. If they can’t find that, then this team is going to see a huge regression. Let us know what you think of this latest move, in the comments section below.

Read More: James Harden Gives Joel Embiid A Rolex For Winning MVP

Celtics Force Game 7 Against Sixers

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The Sixers were one game away from making their Eastern Conference Finals since 2001. They had edged the Celtics in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead after previously trailing Boston 2-1. All they needed was one more win. Going into a home-court Game 6, the Sixers were the slight favorites to win. However, they would need big performances from all their major contributors. MVP Joel Embiid couldn’t be expected to carry the load.

On the other hand, the 57-win Celtics were looking to stay alive. They had squandered a series lead through some bad shooting nights. They were staring down the barrel of elimination. Despite the powerhouse tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were struggling to overcome the MVP-led Sixers.

Celtics Clinch Low-Scoring Game 6

Both teams forgot how to play basketball at various points during this ugly Game 6. The Celtics started hot, jumping out to a 15-3 lead in the first. However, the Sixers finally found the right gear and only trailed by seven at the end of the quarter. That lead remained for Boston at the half as both teams scored 21 in the second. A big third quarter for the Sixers saw them lead by two going into the final frame but that’s when they once again forgot how to play basketball. Putting up just 13 in the fourth, the Celtics were able to take back the lead to squeak out a 95-86 win.

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey jointly led all scorers with 26 points. However, P.J. Tucker and Tobias Harris combined for just 10 points, which cost the Sixers greatly. Furthermore, Philly’s bench scored just 11 points. As for the Celtics, they were led by Marcus Smart’s 22. However, they also had two other scorers put up at least 17 each. Despite scoring just two points, Al Horford shook off his ice-cold Game 5 to put up 11 rebounds. The scrappy team effort gives the Celtics the chance to clinch on their home court. They can find the win, it will be the third time in the last five seasons that they have made it to the Conference Finals.

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Sixers Top Boston To Get Within One Game Of Conference Finals

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As expected, everything has been left on the court in the Eastern Conference matchup between the Sixers and Celtics. After Philly took Game 1, the Celtics responded by jumping out to a 2-1 series lead. It’s pitted MVP Joel Embiid against some of his fiercest competition of the season as both teams tried to take one step closer to an NBA title.

May 7’s Game 4 was an overtime thriller. Despite the Sixers carrying a nine-point lead into the half, Boston was able to get themselves back into the game and end regulation at 107-107. The defenses ramped up in the extra period with the teams combining for just 17 points as the Sixers managed to scrap out a 116-115 lead to even the series. That would mean Game 5, hosted by Boston, would allow one team to control their own destiny.

Sixers Take Game 5

Both teams had big performances in Game 5. Joel Embiid absolutely balled out for the Sixers, putting up 33 points and 7 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey wasn’t far behind him, scoring 30 and adding another 7 boards. Elsewhere, James Harden and Tobias Harris both put up double-doubles. However, the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum led all scorers with a 36-point double-double. His teammate Jaylen Brown scored 24. However, Tatum and Brown didn’t have the depth to rely on like the Sixers. The only other Celtic to reach double digits was Marcus Smart. Al Horford in particular had an awful night, playing just 25 minutes and going 0-for-7 on shots.

The lack of depth contribution from the Celtics cost the team dearly. Boston held the lead once in the entire game and trailed from the 90-second mark onwards. They were outrebounded by 13 and were unable to find answers for Philly at either end of the court. If the Celtics don’t want to see their season end in Philadelphia, they need to find and new strategy and fast. The potentially series-ending Game 6 takes place at Wells Fargo Center on May 11. ESPN analytics give the Sixers the end, while oddsmakers back Boston as slight favorites.

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