According to multiple reports, former Sixer Andre Iguodala will opt out of his contract with the Denver Nuggets next season to become a free agent.

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.

Continue Reading

Here at Philadunkia we have attempted to keep you updated on the life and times of 76ers legend Allen Iverson now that his playing days are over.  Unfortunately, today there is more bad news.

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…

Continue Reading

There are an unlimited number of NBA mock draft websites available on the Internet and their predictions for which prospect the 76ers will select on June 27th, 2013 are almost as limitless.

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?”

Continue Reading

The list of quality head coaching candidates is shrinking every day.  The Pacers are dragging their feet on giving teams permission to speak with Brian Shaw.  And Billy Cunningham ain’t walking through the Sixers locker room doors.  So the Sixers are in a bit of a predicament with their coaching search.  But are they desperate?

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.

Continue Reading

The City of Brotherly Love’s own Philadelphia University played host to the third annual Mary Kline Classic, yesterday. The MKC, which was founded, and is still run, by Alex Kline of TheRecruitScoop.com in honor of his later mother, Mary, features some of the top high school basketball prospects in the country while raising thousands of proceeds to National Brain Tumor Society and Brain Tumor Research at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

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?

Continue Reading

Following upon the coattails of greatness, ESPN has recently put out it’s own future NBA power rankings.

Unlike the one I bestowed upon the readers of Philadunkia last week, this is a 3 year projection by ESPN with a different set of criteria.

They use 5 categories to rate the NBA teams; Players, Management, Money, Draft, and Market.  The 76ers were ranked 24th in the NBA and 11th in the Eastern Conference over the next 3 years.  This list (like all long term projection features) need to be taken with a grain of salt, especially if you have a functioning brain and see the Knicks ranked behind the 76ers.

Today at Philadunkia, I will take a closer look at these ESPN ‘Future Rankings’ and see how things shake out.

My thoughts on ESPN’s ‘Future Rankings’ after the jump.

Continue Reading

With the news that the Atlanta Hawks hired longtime San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer yesterday, there have now been three coaching hires in the NBA since the 76ers parted ways with Doug Collins.

The soon-to-be Charlotte Hornets have hired former Lakers assistant Steve Clifford and the Phoenix Suns have moved on from the Alvin Gentry era by hiring former Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek.  Further, the Milwaukee Bucks met with Michael Curry and the Nets requested and were denied an opportunity to meet with Doc Rivers.

But, outside of a small Dei Lynam blurb last week that the Sixers talked to Brian Shaw during the NBA Draft Lottery, Sam Hinkie and company have made no news and generated zero rumors in terms of their search for a new sideline general.

So, is it time to start panicking in Philadunkia nation?   

Continue Reading

Todd MacCulloch may not be a name synonymous with NBA success, but for a period of time in the early 2000’s he was a big part of some very good teams. His numbers were never eye-popping, but he was a consistent contributor to two Finals-bound teams, and enjoyed four solid seasons before a chronic foot condition forced him into an early retirement.

Most notably, he was a member of the most recent Sixer team to make it as far as the Finals, serving as a backup to Dikembe Mutombo. Recently, Todd sat down with Steven LeBron Radio to discuss his time in the NBA, playing with Allen Iverson, and his career as a pinball player.

It’s always good to hear from Todd.

After the jump, check out some highlights of what he had to say, and be sure to check out the full podcast at Steven LeBron radio.

Continue Reading

Several weeks ago, Sports Illustrated published a highly entertaining feature titled, “Hollywood Big Board: 20 Movie QBs Who Would Get the Call on Draft Day”.  In the article/post, Sports Illustrated writers did some work in the “film room — and Youtube and Netflix” in order to compile a list of the best quarterbacks — from the movies — who could get drafted into the NFL.

So today at Philadunkia we are taking a page out of the “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” playbook and publishing a post with a similar theme.  The scribes here at Philadunkia were asked to choose one “amateur” basketball player from the silver screen for the 76ers to select with the 11th pick in the 2013 Draft.  

The only guideline provided to our scribes was that the movie character they chose for the Sixers with the 11th pick in this June’s draft could NOT be a “professional” basketball player (NBA or other league) in a film.  It’s also assumed that the movie character will be available at #11 when the Sixers are on the clock.  Lastly, for this post we suspended the NBA’s no high school players in the Draft rule.  

Our 2013 Hollywood picks for the 7-6 after the jump…    

Continue Reading

Unfortunately, Sam Hinkie is in a position to fail.  There is no other way to look at it.  He is a smart guy, but he isn’t that smart.  The Eastern Conference was underwhelming this year, but in the NBA things go in cycles.  Over the next 4 years, there is no realistic way for the 76ers franchise to taste the kind of success that the fans of the organization are clamoring for.

The 76ers cupboard is bare, similar to the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers.  The only thing more disappointing than what is going to happen the next few years is the shock and confusion over what is plain to see for the trained basketball eye.

After the jump, I’ll go ahead and rank how the franchises in the Eastern Conference will perform over the next 4 years.  The criteria involves a wide range of elements — Championship Equity, Room to Improve, Salary Cap Factors and Fan Expectations, etc.

Continue Reading