Dei Lynam at csnphilly.com is in Chicago for the NBA combine and has some quotes from the various bigs the Sixers are considering at #16. 

You can watch the NBA Combine live on ESPN3 and ESPNU today.

Staying with the 2011 NBA Draft…

• nbadraft.net and foxsports.com still have the 7-6 drafting 7-0 Lithuanian prospect Donatas Motiejunas.  We don’t think will happen as for some reason Motiejunas is sky rocketing up the 2011 Draft Board and probably won’t be around at #16.
• Over at SI.com, Sam Amick believes Rod Thorn & Co. will go with versatile forward Tobias Harris (Tenn.).
• Via Yahoo Sports, Jonathan Givony at DraftExpress.com predicts the 76ers will select 20-year old power forward Tristan Thompson.
• Sean Kane at csnphilly.com has the Sixers grabbing Kenneth Faried out of Morehead State.  We wouldn’t be against that as Faried is a monster on the glass and played four years of college ball, so he should be ready to contribute next year.  Here’s Faried’s profile from draftexpress.com.

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This Monday edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” — Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews upcoming 76ers opponents — features tonight’s foe, the Chicago Bulls, who are arguably the hottest team in the NBA. 

This is going to be an interesting game to watch tonight as it is match up of teams going in completely opposite directions.  On one hand, the Bulls are absolutely rolling right now and have their sights set on the #1 seed in the East.  Meanwhile, Philadunkia’s home team has struggled of late – losing 2 in a row and 3 of their last four.  To be honest the Sixers have played solidly from tip-off to final horn in only one game (W at ATL) since the big home win over Boston on March 11^th. 

If it wasn’t for the fact that the Knicks can’t do anything correctly right now, the Sixers would be clinging to the 8 seed instead of sitting comfortably as the 6^th seed.  Hopefully Collins can pull a rabbit out of his hat and help this team put together a complete game tonight, because the 7-6 will need it to down the Bull in Chi-town. 

From an X&Os standpoint, we think the Sixers are in a lot of trouble tonight.  First, the Bulls feature All-Star Derrick Rose, one of the best scoring point men in the League.  We know that starting Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday is a defensive standout, but even Holiday will have a lot of trouble containing the MVP candidate.  In the Sixers 105-99 win over Chicago back in January, Rose lit the Sixers up for 27 & 9 assists and he did it on 8 of 21 shooting from the field. 

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As well all know Andre Iguodala survived the last round of cuts for Team USA.  However, Coach K still has three players to let go.  SI.com’s Chris Mannix predicts that AI9 will NOT be one of the last players cut and he will make the 2010 version of Team USA, saying, ” The Sixers’ swingman was one of the standouts at camp last week, drawing praise from Coach K and Colangelo for his energy and defense. Iguodala can probably play three positions — shooting guard, small forward and power forward — in Turkey, a valuable asset on a team placing a premium on versatility.”

Good news, Foxsports.com does NOT have the 76ers ranked as one of the 5 worst teams in the NBA.

They have added a new coach, a host of new additions to the roster and Evan Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, but what NBA team would be complete without the dance team.  So, the Sixers recently announced their dance team for 2010-11.  You can check out the final auditions video here.

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The following post was inspired by fellow True Hoop Network scribe Ryan Schwan at hornets247.com who recently emailed the entire True Hoop Network asking for each blog to submit its home team’s best offer for Chris Paul.  Ryan will the gather the offers, rank them, and virtually trade Paul just for kicks.  

So of course we here at Philadunkia.com went to work right away on getting Paul into a 76ers uniform. 

Do you think Allen Iverson will be pissed if we let Chris Paul wear the number 3?

After the jump, Philadunkia’s trade offer for Chris Paul…

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On Wednesday TNT analyst David Aldridge reported that the Los Angeles Clippers, who are on the market for a veteran small forward, have set their sights on the Sixers own Andre Iguodala.  According to Aldridge’s report there is no indication on whether or not the Clippers will seriously pursue Iguodala, but there is at least an interest in the five year veteran out of Arizona.

Even though there is just the slimmest chance of a deal getting done at this time between the two parties, it is an interesting topic to think about.  Iguodala is guaranteed over 40 million dollars in the next three seasons and if this trade were to be completed, the Clippers would have to give away a pricey contract of their own.  The contract that works from a salary cap standpoint when compared to Iguodala’s, while also giving the Sixers an immediate missing piece to their puzzle, is the contract belonging to Chris Kaman.  Kaman is due 23 million dollars over the next two seasons and would serve as the starting center for the Sixers, which they desperately need at this time.  Please don’t throw Spencer Hawes at me either.  Hawes is a solid, developing prospect but plays nowhere near to the skill level of Chris Kaman.

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On September 25^th , 2000 Paul Pierce was stabbed eleven times in the face, back, and neck while attempting to break up a fight inside a Boston dance club.  That evening he underwent emergency lung surgery.  Things obviously looked bleak for Pierce.  Here he was, a young athlete, in the prime of career, cut down by a senseless act of violence that imperiled not just the only dream he’d ever had, but his life.  Everything hung in the balance. 

Pierce persevered though; made a recovery so complete, so miraculous, that he went on to start all 82 games for the Celtics the following season. This happened because he worked hard and never stopped believing in himself.  It also happened because Tony Battie, his friend and teammate, got him to the hospital so quickly that night.

Battie also was the No. 5 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft.

These are two very impressive facts about Tony Battie.  Especially the first one.  I wasn’t able to find a third though, because one doesn’t exist.

Fortunately (because I have a column to fill) there are plenty of unimpressive facts about Tony Battie that we can catalogue.  Here they are…

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While the 76ers finally struck gold with their talented and young (19 years old) starting point guard Jrue Holiday, the Sixers also currently have questions as to who will be backing up the club’s floor general and poster boy for a brighter future.  In my opinion, the Sixers still need to find someone that can give Holiday a breather once and awhile or (knock on wood here) fill in for Holiday should he miss a few games because of injury. 

The likely candidate for head coach Doug Collins is combo guard Louis Williams.  Williams is entering his fifth-season in the NBA (all with Philadunkia’s home team), but as we learned last year, his game is better suited to be a scorer than a facilitator of an entire offense.

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Yesterday, 76ers General Manager Ed Stefanski called into the Tony Bruno & Harry Mayes Show on 97.5 “The Fanatic”.   It’s the first time Ed has addressed the state of the franchise as a whole in a very long time and he had some interesting things to say, so we though we would provide you with a little recap.

To be honest Bruno & Mayes dropped the ball big time in this interview.  It’s obvious that neither of “The Fanatic” hosts have a deep knowledge of the current state of the 76ers as they didn’t know that the Stefanski has the $5 million mid level exception available to him so he has the ability to add a free agent to the roster for 2010-11.  Additionally, Bruno & Mayes asked to many “national” questions including several on the Lebron James to Miami drama and did not keep the interview focused on the 2010-11 Sixers, a topic on which we could have interviewed Ed on for hours.    

After the jump is a breakdown of Ed’s answers to Bruno & Mayes questions.   

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He’s certainly not a mega-star like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade or even Kevin Durant and you could make a strong argument that he has failed to take that next step to all-star status, but heading into the future I believe Andre Iguodala is a key component for the Philadelphia 76ers and thus Ed Stefanski should not trade the Sixers wingman.

After giving him a contract extension at a total of $80 million over six years, the Sixers organization expected Iguodala to elevate his level of play and develop into elite player in the League.  To be honest it has not happened.

Of course Iguodala has not had much help either.  For starters, AI9 has played under four head coaches in the last six years – not exactly the stability a young player needs to grow and develop.  But hopefully Doug Collins brings an end to that stretch.

Additionally, the franchise has never been able to find him a right hand man.  The front office’s latest attempt was Elton Brand, who was thought to be the complimentary star to Iguodala’s inevitable superstar.  Upon his signing, the Sixers envisioned Brand as an interior scorer that would change opposing defensive schemes and thus free up Iguodala.  Unfortunately at this time, Brand is not the same player who commanded nightly double-teams before rupturing his Achilles tendon and has turned out to be one of the worst free agent signings in modern NBA history.

Still the coaching carousel and the Brand debacle only make up half of Iguodala’s lack of growth.  He has failed to significantly improve many parts of his game since his contract extension.  In fact, many feel as though he has regressed over the last two seasons.  

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Eight years ago, the Orlando Pro Summer League was created as a chance for rookie draft picks to get acclimated to their new NBA setting.  Over time the summer league evolved into redemption ground for once successful college players who had become overseas journeymen.  Today I would argue that summer league is suited best for second year NBA players looking to improve their game.  These participants were normally reserves in their rookie season in the League and spent most of last year trying to adjust to the pro level.  Therefore, at an event like the Orlando Pro Summer League, second year NBA players are ready to dominate as their year of seasoning gives them an advantage over most international players and certainly over the NBA rookies who are just tipping off their adjustment period.  

After a week of watching the action in Orlando, I have composed a power rankings list of the best five players from the OPSL and as you will see, my list is heavy on second year NBA guys.

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