It seems Allen will be avoiding jail time — for now.

According the the celebrity gossip juggernaut TMZ.com, shortly after Iverson’s ex-wife Tawanna Iverson filed paperwork stating that Allen owed her $40,000 in child support, Tawanna was back in court filing additional docs insisting Allen had all 5 of their kids holed up at an Atlanta hotel and refused to hand them over to their mother on the designated exchange date.

I an not a an attorney, but that does not sound like a positive series of events for Iverson.

However, according to TMZ’s sources, “The Answer” has in fact returned his kids to their mother.  Allen also testified in court that he was never holding them hostage in the first place.

More from TMZ on Allen’s latest court appearance after the jump.

According to TMZ sources, Allen appeared in Fulton County court in Georgia last Wednesday and told the judge his ex-wife had full access to their kids during their stay at the hotel and therefore he wasn’t doing anything wrong.  TMZ notes that Tawanna also testified that she could have picked up the children from Allen but didn’t want to drive 45 minutes to his location.

After “Bubba Chuck’s” latest testimony, the judge decided the former 76ers star didn’t deserve to be thrown in jail — despite his ex-wife’s request that he be put behind bars — before the hearing.  The kids — ranging from ages 3 to 16 — were returned to their mother following the hearing.

Additionally, sources connected to the case tell TMZ that Allen and Tawanna have worked out some of their issues and she has already allowed Allen to spend more private time with the kids.

There is no word on whether or not Allen has paid Tawanna the $40,000 in child support he allegedly owes her.

There has been no public comment from either side in this ongoing drama.

My question is, “What do you think all of this is costing Iverson in attorney’s / court fees?”

As a reminder, this Philadunkia question and answer series is “loosely based” on ESPN.com’s highly successful, NBA related series of posts titled “5on5″.  Our version of this genre of posts will ask 4 Philadunkia scribes to answer 4 topical, hot button questions about our Philadelphia 76ers.

Now you’re probably asking, “Why not simply stick with the “5on5″ format that ESPN.com uses?”

Well as any great hoops coach will tell you — playing 4on4 is the best way to truly learn the game of basketball.

After the jump four key questions that are currently facing our 76ers and some answers from four Philadunkia scribes.  Included in this week’s edition are questions surrounding the upcoming NBA Draft, the Sixers coaching search and what the Sixers should do in free-agency.

1. On a scale of 1-10, how frustrated have you been by the Sixers coaching search?

Jeff McMenamin:  8. It’s incredible that the Sixers have been without a coach since April 18 and yet little to no progress has been made in the candidate search. Other quality coaches are being swept away daily, while the pickings keep getting worse and worse for the 7-6. I don’t agree with going into the draft and potentially Summer League without a coach. The point of a draft is to find players that will fit a coaches gameplan on top of team needs. All signs point to Michael Curry taking over the reigns in the 2013-14 campaign.

Steve Toll:  0. It seems to me that Michael Curry is going to be the head coach next season.  Players win championships, not coaches and this team isn’t close to winning anything.  Sam Hinkie and Josh Harris had a plan in place at the time of his hiring.  I think this was part of the plan.

Michael Kaskey-Blomain:  8. I didn’t want them to rush into the search, but seeing all these candidates get snatched up by other teams is kind of disheartening. It seems counterproductive to get a coach after the draft when other roster moves could potentially be made.

Jake Fischer:  0. I’m not frustrated at all. Sam Hinkie has made it clear that the Sixers are going to find the team’s players before the coach and I like that approach. Yes, coaching is extremely important, despite what naive fans say. Look at this current NBA Finals: it’s a chess match. But, at the end of the day, a coach can only do so much and you need the players on the court to win ball games and perform. If the Sixers don’t hire a coach until Summer League, I wouldn’t be surprised nor upset.

2. DraftExpress.com has the Sixers taking Cody Zeller at #11, good or bad?

Jeff McMenamin:  Bad. I’ve watched Zeller play. The last thing the Sixers need is another soft big man filling the paint who thinks he has range. My current NBA player comparison to Zeller is a poor-man’s Nick Collison. He has an array of post moves that can make him successful around the rim, he’s knowledgeable and he’s money from the free-throw line but he’s severely lacking in athletic ability. At best he’s a high energy guy off the bench. Against the top big men in the NBA he doesn’t stand a chance. The Sixers should use #11 on a quality scorer such as Shabazz Muhammad and try to get back into the first-round for a athletically gifted project with size such as North Texas’ Tony Mitchell.

Steve Toll:  Good. Cody Zeller is going to be a legit NBA power forward.  He might not be a good one until he is 23/24/25 but that’s not a big deal.  It is perfectly in line with the improvement curve of players his size.  I’d be totally content with picking him at #11.  That would allow the 76ers to move Thaddeus Young to small forward, FULL-TIME. Zeller, Arnett Moultrie and Lavoy Allen can fight over the 48 minutes at power forward and throw in Spencer Hawes if Bynum is re-signed.

Michael Kaskey-Blomain:  Bad. They could get some size at a better value later in the draft.

Jake Fischer:  Bad, but not for the reason that most fans think. Zeller isn’t the sexy pick for Sixers fans, because members of Philadunkia nation automatically affiliate a white center with Spencer Hawes. It’s sad, but true. Honestly, having an athletic seven-footer that has tremendous lineage and professional work ethic is never a bad thing. I just think he would have a better impact as a role player on a contender or as a rebounder off the bench. I’d rather see the Sixers go for a two-guard and say goodbye to Evan Turner instead.

3. Rumors have swirled about the Sixers packaging their two second-round picks for a late first-rounder, good move?

Jeff McMenamin:  Definitely a good move. The second-round is a crapshoot. Why not take a shot at getting an extra first-rounder where at least history has shown a greater success rate? The Sixers needs are another scorer and a big man. The plan should be to take the best available at #11. There seems to be more quality scorers then big men at that pick. It would only make sense to try and trade back into the first-round for a chance at one of the three targets at the top of Hinkie’s big man wish list.

Steve Toll:  It all depends on who they draft and how the trade would affect the future in trying to receive a late first-round pick.  It’s really tough to make that prediction right now.

Michael Kaskey-Blomain:  Depending on what they do with the pick at #11 it could be a good one. If they were to use the 11th on the best available/scorer, and then get some size later in the first-round then it may be favorable for them.

4. Who do you see the Sixers going after in free-agency, not named Andrew Bynum?

Jeff McMenamin:  This is a tough question to answer until after the draft, but if the Sixers don’t lock up Bynum to a deal then they absolutely need to find a quality big man who can rebound and defend in his place. I don’t want the team to go after Al Jefferson, Josh Smith or J.J. Hickson, but It’s worth a shot for Hinkie to work some magic and try to work a trade for Thomas Robinson on Houston. I’d also be a fan of the team going after veteran scorer’s with a cheap price tag such as Stephen Jackson or even checking to see what Tracy McGrady has left in the tank.

Steve Toll:  If the 76ers don’t sign  Bynum, I’d like to see them go after guys like Dorell Wright, Jose Calderon, Matt Barnes, Chris “Birdman” Anderson and Ronnie Brewer.

Michael Kaskey-Blomain:  Although I think that the Sixers should keep the offseason signing to a minimum in order to keep the cap open for the future, I could see the team pursuing a frontcourt option. There will be several of them on the market, and assuming they don’t re-sign Andrew Bynum they will desperately need some depth there.

Iguodala, whose lone all-star season came with the Sixers in 2012, is set to make $16.2 million next season. By opting out, he’ll have the ability to sign a five-year contract with the Nuggets or a four-year deal with another team.

The news is somewhat surprising, considering the Nuggets held a 57-25 record last season. Yet as a No.3 seed in the Western Conference, the Nuggets were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors. Their head coach George Karl was fired and their GM Masai Ujiri also left for a job with the Toronto Raptors.

What’s more surprising is the move by Iguodala to decide to take less money in order to have a better shot at an NBA title.

Iguodala averaged 13 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 assists last season, his first with the Nuggets after arriving in a four-team blockbuster trade from the Philadelphia 76ers that also involved Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum.

The question now is what destinations Iguodala could possibly pursue?  The obvious choice would be for Iguodala to sign with the Cavs who’re in need of an athletic point-forward like Iguodala, but their sights seem to be set on bringing LeBron James back in town.

Another team that could fit for Iggy is the Detroit Pistons who just hired Maurice Cheeks to be their head coach. Cheeks used to coach Iguodala on the Sixers. They could also use a forward of Iguodala’s caliber and they have over $20 million to spend in free-agency this summer. Iguodala teaming up with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond would wreak havoc defensively on opposing offenses.

Lastly, maybe Kobe Bryant got Iggy on the horn? There’s a lot of talk that Dwight Howard will likely be out of L.A. by summer’s end and Iguodala and Bryant seem to have a good relationship. They’re constantly going back and forth on Twitter and were members of Team USA together last summer. It seems as if Iggy misses the spotlight as well and he’d instantly have that again as a member of the Lakers.

Wherever he decides to go, he will be a valuable asset to any team and as of now it seems like he’ll come at an affordable price tag.

Follow @SixersBlog

Team USA brought him back for the Summer Olympics last summer where once again he played exceptionally well and helped his team bring home the gold medal.

That’s why Sixers fans should be excited at the announcement that Jrue Holiday was selected today as one of 27 players to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp, held July 22-25 at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Accepting invitations to participate in the mini-camp’s were: Ryan Anderson (New Orleans Pelicans); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors); Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers);Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers); Ty Lawson (Denver Nuggets); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons); Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets); Larry Sanders (Milwaukee Bucks); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors); Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats); John Wall (Washington Wizards); and Tyler Zeller (Cleveland Cavaliers).

USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo explained why this group of players were selected.

“The group of players we have assembled for the mini-camp are extremely talented and very versatile,” said Colangelo.  “This is an important opportunity for each one of them because we will be evaluating which players will continue to be involved in future USA National Team training camps and teams.”

Holiday, who turned 23-years-old today, was also a member of the 2012 USA Basketball Select Team that helped prepare the U.S. Olympic Team last summer.

Colangelo talked specifically about Jrue’s placement on the Select Team last summer saying, “In naming Jrue to our Select Team we’ve added an athletic guard who can get to the rim and someone who is also a good 3-point shooter. Both those skills will be invaluable in helping prepare our National Team for this summer.”

Jrue also competed for the USA Basketball Junior National Select Team as a high school senior in the annual Nike Hoop Summit in 2008.

Last season, Holiday averaged career-highs of 17.7 points, 8.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds and was named to his first All-Star Game, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to achieve that honor.  He was the only player in the league to average at least 17.0 points and 8.0 assists in 2012-13 and just the second player in franchise history to hit those averages in a single season (Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68).

Going toe-to-toe in practice with players like Bradley Beal, Mike Conley, DeMar DeRozan, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Ty Lawson, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters and John Wall should help Jrue in taking his next step as a player. The Sixers last season lived and died on Jrue’s production, so they’re going to need all he has to offer in the 2013-14 campaign.

Follow @SixersBlog

But, one thing is for sure: Sam Hinkie and Co. have been working out a ton of prospects.  While there’s no official tally on how many guys a team is supposed to bring in, based off what I’ve heard from scouts around the league and have read around the web, it seems as if the Sixers are currently in the top five of the NBA in terms of the number of players they have worked out.

After doing a little bit of research and digging, the Sixers worked out Colton Iverson, Steven Adams, Alex Oriakhi, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, Jamelle Hagins, Norvel Pelle, Mason Plumlee, Shabazz Muhammad, Kelly Olynyk, Scott Wood and a few more just last week alone. They’ve been bringing in prospects since May 24, when Carrick Felix and several others visited PCOM.

This can only be a positive for the Sixers, who have picks No. 11, 35 and 42 in the Draft on June 27. When you consider the first 15 picks of the second round have a history to produce many sleepers that have immediate impacts in the League and that Sam Hinkie has a history in Houston of finding those diamonds in the rough, picks 35 and 42 could prove huge for the boys in red, white and blue.

And, honestly, when your team was as pathetic as it was last season, they should be working out as many prospects as they can and are planning to. The team is expected to bring in guys up until the week of the Draft. They will hold group workouts on June 21, 22 and 25.

What I like about these Sixers workouts the most is that they have all been group workouts instead of individual. Lottery teams often bring in prospects for individual workouts to see how they can handle the pressure of the spotlight only on them. But, a group workout, that features six players going through drills and finishing up with a half-court game of three-on-three, players have to compete against other guys at their position in live-ball action.

So, while many fans have constantly complained about the Sixers’ apparent lack of initiative in filling their head-coaching vacancy, they’re at least spending a heck of a lot of time on putting dozens of Draft prospects under the microscope.

While finding a coach is important, ultimately the players on the court decide the outcome of games. I like the meticulous approach the 76ers are taking to the upcoming 2013 NBA Draft.

You should too.

Follow @JakeLFischer

Over the weekend, the celebrity gossip powerhouse TMZ provided us with some “breaking” news on one of our favorite 76ers of all-time.  Twelve years after his tremendous performance in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals, Iverson has a date this week with the same judge who earlier this year basically described #3 as the worst parent on the face of the earth.

According to court papers obtained by TMZ, Iverson’s ex-wife ex, Tawanna is claiming that “The Answer” owes her $40,000 in child support.  Since the judge that will preside over this new hearing is not a big fan of Iverson’s – and that’s putting it lightly – this court date will probably not go very well for Iverson.

More details from TMZ after the jump…

First, back in December of 2012, Iverson’s Atlanta home was foreclosed on.  Then in February 2013 TMZ was the first to report, that Iverson’s divorce from Tawana was finalized.  At a family court hearing in Atlanta, the judge assigned to the case wrote that Allen “does not know how to manage the children; has little interest in learning to manage the children and has actually, at times, been a hindrance to their spiritual and emotional growth and development.”

Tawanna was awarded legal and physical custody of the children.  Allen was given some visitation rights if he abides by certain conditions, many of which have to do with tending to what the decree calls “an obvious and serious alcohol problem, which has caused him to do inappropriate things in the presence of the children while impaired,” the decree says.

Iverson was ordered not to drink any alcohol over the next 18 months and will have to avoid alcohol within 24 hours of his time with the children until they all reach age 18, according to the decree.  He is also supposed to see a psychiatrist and attend AA meetings for a year, the decree says.

Now TMZ has learned Iverson’s ex, Tawanna, has filed docs with the court saying that Iverson has failed to honor the child support agreement that was handed down back in January.  The order stated that Iverson was to pay $8,000/month in support for their 5 kids.  Tawanna claims Iverson has missed every payment he was ordered to make.

Tawanna wants the judge to order Iverson to fork over the $40,000 he owes in support and even suggested the judge put Iverson behind bars for violating court orders.

However, if we are looking for a clue as to what moves the Sixers could possibly make on June 27th 2013, we may want to ask ourselves, “What Would Houston Do?”  Or W.W.H.D. for short

Hinkie was one of the members of the brain trust that was at the helm of Houston’s draft board for the past six seasons, so taking a look at trends that occurred during his tenure with the Rockets could provide the most insight as to what Hinkie may do during his first draft as the 76ers head man.

Take a minute to look down the list of Houston’s draft picks since 2007:

2007:  Aaron Brooks (Rd. 1); Brad Newley (Rd. 2)

2008:  Nicolas Batum (Rd. 1); Maarty Leunen (Rd. 2)

2009:  **HOU had no picks but via trades landed Jermaine Taylor (Rd. 2); Chase Budinger (Rd. 2); Sergio Lull (Rd. 2)

2010:  Patrick Patterson (Rd. 1)

2011:  Marcus Morris (Rd. 1); Nikola Mitrotic (Rd. 1); Chandler Parsons (Rd. 2)

2012:  Jeremy Lamb (Rd. 1); Royce White (Rd. 1); Terrence Jones (Rd. 1);

After the jump, I’ll analyze a couple of items that leap out almost immediately from that list.

First, it appears Hinkie is attracted to international players, as Houston used a host of picks to draft or acquire players from overseas, several of whom have yet to actually play in the NBA. In July 2007 they traded a 2^nd round pick and other considerations to San Antonio for Louis Scola from Spain. They also drafted Brad Newley from Australia in 2007, followed by Nic Batum from France in 2008 and traded for the draft rights to Sergio Llull from Spain in 2009.  Nikola Mirotic from Spain was selected in 2011 and they acquired Turkey’s Furken Aldemir from the LAC during the 2012 Draft.  Both have yet to make the trip over to the NBA.

This shows that Hinkie is unafraid of dipping into the international talent pool, even if it doesn’t pay immediate dividends.  This year’s draft has several intriguing international players such as Dario Saric and Rudy Gobert, and maybe Hinkie is keen to consider players along these lines.  Although going international was somewhat successful in Houston, the Sixers need immediate help and one can only hope that Hinkie doesn’t spend a top pick on an international prospect.

Another thing that stands out from Hinkie’s Houston draft days is the fact that he likes to stock up on picks, and is unafraid to move them.  Houston was on the search for a superstar for several seasons, and the front office used a plethora of picks and trades to finally land and sign James Harden last season.  It took their newest first round pick, a starting shooting guard, and future first and second round picks for Harden to be had; one can only assume that he will employ a similar philosophy in Philly.  Houston had six first round picks between 2010-2012 and the only one that remains on the Rockets’ roster is Terrance Jones.  So it may be difficult to determine if a pick is made to be part of the future of the franchise, or as an asset in an attempt to sign a star.

Lastly, Houston was able to take advantage of their second round picks and find some solid NBA players in the League’s latter round.  Although some picks were used on prospects as is often the case with late picks, Carl Landry, Chase Budinger, and Chandler Parsons highlight Houston’s second round picks during the Hinkie era.  The Sixers have two second round picks this year, numbers 35 & 42, so I would expect Hinkie to be well-prepared to add an impact player at those draft positions.

If the 11^th overall pick isn’t spent on an international player, expect one of the second rounders to be; maybe Livio Jean-Charles from France, or even Gobert if he drops that far.  The other pick might be spent on a proven college player like Kansas’ Jeff Withey or Syracuse’s James Southerland.

It will be interesting to see how Hinkie handles his first draft as the basketball brains of Sixers, and if his plan is anything like the one he employed in Houston than complacency shouldn’t be expected.

However, among the more reputable sites on the world wide web, there a consistent theme has developed which indicates that the Sixers will draft a big man later this month.

In fact when you read the predictions from the sites that are historically “in the know”, two names get linked with the Sixers time and time again – Kelly Olynyk and Cody Zeller.

Try to contain your excitement.

Neither of these centers projects out as an all-star caliber or franchise type player.  But let’s be honest, finding that level of baller at the #11 pick is rare.  However if developed properly, either one of these offensively skilled kids could be a key piece that helps Hinkie & Co. get this franchise turned around.

After the jump, we’ll take a look at both players through “expert” analysis and video.

Then we want to know, Olynyk or Zeller – “Who ya got?”

Kelly Olynyk — Gonzaga

7-0; 234 lbs.

Height w/out shoes: 6-10.75”

Wingspan: 6’ 9.75”

Standing Reach: 9’ 0”

18.1 ppg. & 7.3 rpg.

Chris Mannix of SI.com says:  With the future of center Andrew Bynum in doubt and with a hole at power forward, the Sixers badly need frontcourt help. There are questions about Olynyk’s strength and concerns about how, after three years at Gonzaga, he will match up with bigger, more physical defenders. But there is no denying Olynyk’s offensive skills. He has a variety of moves in the post and showcased guard-like perimeter shooting at the combine.

nbadraft.net says:  Very comfortable operating on the block, using textbook positioning … Shows an excellent understanding of the game and has become one of the most dominant bigs on the college level … Has the ability to score on the block with up and unders, pump fakes, drop steps as well as knock down mid range and even outside shots … Solid in the open floor but more effective in the half court … Has decent agility, just lacks much explosiveness. He’s not a stand out athlete, but he does have considerable touch and coordination for a 7-footer … Can play out on the perimeter effectively, showing the ability to pass the ball and even handle the ball to get to the basket … Does a good job of using his body to shield defenders from the ball when going to the basket … Solid strength and rebounding ability … Unusually polished post skills for a college player…Finishes very well around the basket, even after contact … Quick, reliable hands and good reflexes allow him to catch passes and go up for shots quickly … Excellent shooter…Not the most athletic guy. Below the rim type of “finesse” player … Foot speed and overall athleticism are below average for the NBA … While he gives solid energy and effort, his lack of foot speed and athleticism decreases his defensive abilities…Not a shot blocker, lacks the leaping ability to be an intimidating defensive force … Runs into trouble against elite level bigman athletes that don’t fall for his fakes as he is unable to bull his way to the basket and can struggle to get his shot off. Gets his shots blocked a fair amount, and that will likely increase against bigger and better athletes at the next level

Draftexpress says:  When he isn’t operating one on one in the post, Olynyk earns himself some easy opportunities by virtue of his size and activity level off the ball. He moves well within Gonzaga’s offense, cutting aggressively to the basket, plays exceptionally well off the penetration of his teammates, and provides a big target in the paint.  Away from the basket, Olynyk is still a reliable set shooter…Olynyk does not leak out to the perimeter often, but is still a threat to hit from the outside. His shooting ability has been a big plus for him at the free throw line…When defenders give Olynyk driving lanes when he operates away from the rim, he shows unique ball handling ability for a big man. Always appearing in control when he puts in the ball on the floor, Olynyk lacks the quickness to blow by defenders in isolation situations, but he can use his dribble to set up his defender for a move in the mid-post, or dribble into a jump shot…A versatile offensive talent, Olynyk is not without his faults. He ranks in the top 10 in turnoversamongst prospects in our top-100 per-40 minutes pace adjusted, being a bit too aggressive putting the ball on the floor when operating in the post…With that said, scouts will have significantly more pressing questions about his rebounding ability and defensive presence. Lacking the explosiveness to rebound outside of his area or provide a presence blocking shots from the weakside, Olynyk does not make a sizeable contribution in either area..Olynyk shows somewhat inconsistent intensity on the defensive end, though he does operate in a decent stance and moves his feet well for his size. His lack of lateral quickness and often poor awareness limit his impact on this end of the floor. He’ll need to improve his intensity and show better focus to help make up for his shortcomings as best he can on this end of the floor.

Cody Zeller — Indiana

7-0; 230 lbs.

Height w/out shoes:  6′ 10.75”

Wingspan:  6’ 10.75”

Standing Reach:  8’ 10”

16.5 ppg. & 8.1 rpg.

Chris Mannix of SI.com says:  Zeller picked up some momentum from the combine, and it’s unlikely he will slip out of the top 10. Teams still want to see how advanced his perimeter game is in workouts, but his tremendous athleticism and productivity in college are impressive. The Blazers are set at power forward, but with the dwindling number of power centers in the NBA, a Zeller-LaMarcus Aldridge frontcourt would have enormous offensive potential.

nbadraft.net says:  Bigman with an excellent basketball IQ and all around athlete …Runs the floor extremely well for a 7 footer.  He’s also has great body control for a center, showing unusual ability to convert plays on the break … Plays with great energy, a focused and intense competitor … Highly unselfish, team guy and a willing passer with good vision for a big … Puts winning and his team over individual accolades … Fundamentally sound…Great feel for the game…Never seems to be in a rush and very deliberate with his moves … Shows solid ability to face up and knock down mid-range jumpshots … Displays good hands, rarely fumbles the ball … Good rebounder, good technique, anticipation, getting low and boxing out …A solid defender.  Uses his size well to blanket opponents…Stays between his man and the basket and doesn’t gamble or bite on fakes easily …Hard working kid, who should only improve over time and become a very solid NBA player …Shows a willingness to battle in the post, and gets to the line at a good rate where he converts 75%, (averaging 5 of 7 per game) …Has the size and versatility to play either the 4 or 5 positions …Not a shot blocker or much of a presence on the defensive end…Can be overwhelmed by stronger and more explosive opponents … While very composed, his moves can be too predictable, leading to blocked shots … Unselfish to a fault. May never be a huge scorer in the league … Seems to be more comfortable in a secondary role. Lacks an alpha male personality.

Draftexpress says: The intrigue around Zeller continues to revolve around his excellent combination of size, athleticism and scoring instincts. A fluid, coordinated 7-footer, Zeller runs the floor as well as any big man in college basketball and can make plays above the rim with ease if given a running start. Zeller sports a near-complete offensive game, as he’s capable of scoring in virtually every way possible from almost anywhere on the floor and gets to the free throw line nearly ten times per-40, an unbelievable rate. He’s a very dangerous weapon in particular in the low-post, capable of slithering his way around defenders with quick spin-moves and excellent body control, and turning to either shoulder with very soft touch. A very good ball-handler for his size, he’s also adept at beating defenders off the dribble with an excellent first step going left or right, and then finishing with either hand in a variety of creative ways, sometimes using the glass…Despite the high skill-level and tremendous versatility Zeller displays, his offensive game is not a cinch to translate seamlessly to the NBA, unless he makes some stark improvement in certain areas…he still gets pushed around quite a bit inside by more physical opponents…Opposing teams seemingly recognized that he doesn’t love contact and tried to rough him up quite a bit as the year moved on, which he didn’t really respond to in the best way, especially in Indiana’s biggest games.  His short wingspan and seemingly small hands appeared to be a major factor when looking at his ability to finish over length at the collegiate level, as he has a low release point on many of his shots around the rim, and gets his shot blocked a lot more than you’d hope. With his frail frame, average explosiveness off two feet, and short arms, there are plenty of concerns about whether he’ll be able to finish consistently in traffic at the NBA level.

So, Olynyk or Zeller…Who ya got?

You can follow us on Twitter @philadunkia.

After reading a report from Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv you may think Hinkie & Co. are just that…According to Zagoria, the 7-6 are one of three teams that have contacted 72-year old Larry Brown about a head coaching vacancy.

The other two teams, according to the report, are the Brooklyn Nets and “possibly” the Los Angeles Clippers.

Now last month, I pleaded for the Sixers to at least meet with Phil Jackson who is in the senior citizen age bracket and has been out of the League for a bit as well, so I’ll be the first to say that there is nothing wrong with scheduling a sit down with LB.  On-court novices such as Josh Harris and Hinkie could certainly learn something from the only coach in basketball history to win a title in both college and the NBA.

However, that is as far as it should go.

It would be ridiculous to think that the Sixers are seriously considering a return to Philly for Brown.

Here are a few reasons why this idea is simply insane for the Sixers:

• Brown doesn’t believe in advanced analytics/stats and their applications to the NBA (“They just don’t work in basketball.”), so he and Hinkie would not be a good fit together.
• He is 72 and has had major health issues in the past.
• The way he he left the Sixers back in 2003 was a disgrace and this fan base has not forgotten that fact.
• His time in Charlotte (his last NBA job) was a mess and numerous players turned on him in the media.

There are also a few reasons why the timing of these rumors seems peculiar for Brown & SMU:

• Brown and SMU have a strong incoming recruiting class that includes Texas guard Keith Frazier.
• Brown’s son, L.J. (Episcopal Academy), is an incoming freshman at SMU.  He is not enrolling on an athletic scholarship, but it is unclear if he will have a role with the basketball team.
• SMU has recently spent a fortune on improving their basketball facilities and support staff to help Brown.
• Brown disciples Eric Snow (SMU Dir. of Player Dev.) and George Lynch (SMU Strength & Conditioning Coach) would both be out of a job (Unless of course they follow LB back to the NBA.).

If you follow hoops closely, you know that Brown, who has not coached in the NBA since he was fired by Charlotte 28 games (9-19) into 2010-11 season, desires a return to the NBA someday.  So these rumors are likely being floated out there by Brown’s agent or his “people”.  I contacted two NBA front office executives on the idea of Brown returning to the Sixers.  The first one laughed at the thought of the Sixers hiring LB and the second emailed me back saying that he “highly doubted” the Sixers were giving Brown serious consideration.

For the Sixers sake, I hope that these reports are just rumors and that the godfather of playing “The Right Way” stays in Dallas-Fort Worth.

You can follow us on Twitter @philadunkia.

Of the 40 players that competed this year, 20 hailed from within 50 miles of Philly.  But, the idea that Philadelphia is a Mecca for high school basketball is not a novel concept.  National media and legend has praised the level of amateur ball Philadunkia has had to offer for generations.

College basketball also has it’s own mystique intertwined within the city’s history.  The Palestra and Big 5 hoops are known commodities far outside of the tri-state area.  And, even though there technically is no Big 5 tournament, winning the annual Big 5 series is an honor each college program in the City strives to reach because in Philly, reason to trash talk is a welcome consolation for hardware.

So with all of this in mind, why can’t Philadelphia become an elite destination for pro basketball?  Why can’t Philadelphia, a city rich in basketball history at all levels, be considered a location that NBA players desire to hoop in?

Unfortunately, even if Sam Hinkie miraculously turns the Sixers into a competitive team in the next few years, they will most likely still be the “fourth team” in this city.  The Eagles will always be number one in most Philadelphia fans’ hearts.  The Phillies, the most recent world champions, are still trying to make fans cling to the blessed memories of 2008.  The Flyers have a fan base that bleeds orange and black and that team will always be attractive to people in Philadelphia because of their blue-collar spirit. The 76ers?  Right now, they don’t really have a niche.  They don’t have an identity.

The Sixers happen to play in one of the best basketball cities in the entire world.  However, the people of Philly won’t be impressed by whatever brand of professional basketball resides in the Wells Fargo Center until fans can identify with the team’s product.  Fans need to be able to say, “The Sixers are my team because ________.”

This off-season is all about fixing that problem for managing owner Joshua Harris, new General Manger Sam Hinkie and whoever else is still left/brought in before the opening tip off this fall.  But, regardless of who this organization brings in on the court and in the front office, they need to focus on adding highly skilled players that will help this team win and build an identity for this franchise.  A winning NBA team with a high profile identity and a loyal fan base will attract great NBA players.

Until then, no matter what moves Harris and Hinkie make, Philadunkia nation will struggle to become a pro basketball town again.

No pressure fellas.

Jake Fischer is a Scribe for Philadunkia. Follow him on Twitter @JakeLFischer.  

You can follow us on Twitter @philadunkia.