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Celtics and 76ers both in rebuild mode

That the Sixers and Celtics are on parallel paths back to respectability is nothing more than the reality of the NBA. The league’s salary cap and the impact of even a single superstar often force a franchise to gamble that, by breaking apart its roster and struggling for a season or more, it will increase the odds that it will draft a player who can change everything. (A simpler way to say all this is that the league encourages tanking, but that’s well trod ground.)

For too many years, the Sixers were unwilling to accept this necessary evil. They didn’t want to bottom out, so they lingered on the periphery of the playoffs, sometimes reaching the postseason, sometimes missing it, usually inspiring little more than a shoulder shrug from a frustrated fan base. Everything about them became stagnant and stale. It was only when their attempt to “go for it” – their misbegotten trade for Andrew Bynum – failed last season that they effected the sort of overhaul in front-office personnel and philosophy they needed.

“This year is going to be a lot about development – bringing some of our young guys along, try to change the culture, what hard work looks like, what expectations look like,” Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie said. “We’re looking as long-distance as we can, versus next month or next year.”

At least the Celtics got to lengthen their legacy before hitting the restart button. With point guard Rajon Rondo and their trio of eventual Hall of Famers – Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen – they won a championship in 2008, then reached the NBA Finals in 2010 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012 for good measure.

Reported by Mike Sielski of the Boston Herald

Wolves rookie center Gorgui Dieng speaks fluent basketball

Raised in Senegal and now pursuing his professional life in America, Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng speaks five languages, and another one that Rick Adelman and any other coach understands.

During rookie karaoke night at training camp in Mankato last week, he stood on a chair and sang Happy Birthday to head athletic trainer Gregg Farnam in English, French and his native Wolof without ever demonstrating his knowledge of either Italian or Spanish.

During preseason games against Toronto and Milwaukee this week, he showed, even given his rookie status and late start in the game, he’s fluent in basketball.

“He’s a smart player,” Adelman said. “It doesn’t take long watching him to see that he knows how to play.”

Dieng is just 23 and didn’t seriously start playing the game until he was a teenager, but maybe there’s a reason his given name means “old man” in his native language.

Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Steve Novak misses New York

Steve Novak misses New York

Steve Novak never wanted to be traded by the Knicks, never wanted to leave New York. But the sharpshooter was the key piece in the deal that brought the Knicks new starting power forward Andrea Bargnani.

“I didn’t expect it,” Novak said after the morning shootaround. “ You understand this is the business we’re in. New York felt like home. It was a place I love to play and I miss. I miss those guys. It’s not easy being traded. But there’s no doubt Toronto is a great city and good place to be.”

Novak had his two best seasons with the Knicks – he led the NBA in three-point accuracy in 2011-12 – and was a fan favorite. But for the second straight postseason he was ineffective because defenses wouldn’t give him any room to shoot and ultimately Mike Woodson didn’t give Novak much playing time.

Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

Novak was part of the package of players and draft picks that brought Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks and sent him to Toronto in July.

And it’s clear he’s still rankled by the way his career ended, with him riding the bench, fully healthy, in the second round of the playoffs against Indiana, despite pleas to Mike Woodson that he’s ready to play. Soon he was traded to Toronto, a decision that left a bad taste in his mouth.

“It wasn’t like a rift [with Coach Woodson],” Novak said on Friday following his team’s shoot-around at the Air Canada Centre before the Raptors hosted the Knicks. “Obviously he knew the whole time that I wanted to play. I told him when I got healthy- don’t not play me because I’m hurt. I’m ready. And he went another way.”

Reported by Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News

James Jones letting it fly from outside

James Jones letting it fly from outside

James Jones wonders about the fuss. Given the opportunity, this is what he does.

A replacement starter for sidelined Dwyane Wade in the Miami Heat’s exhibition opener, and with additional opportunities amid the limited minutes for the starters in Thursday’s victory over the Detroit Pistons, Jones went into Friday’s exhibition against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Sprint Center at 6 of 10 on 3-pointers in the preseason.

“It’s just from work with the shooters in the offseason,” the veteran swingman said. “Me and Ray [Allen], we get a lot of shots up. The routine, it pays off. And the consistency helps, especially when you get consistent minutes.”

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel

Kendrick Perkins facing assault charge

An attorney for Thunder center Kendrick Perkins has released a statement proclaiming his client’s innocence in an misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a July altercation outside of a nightclub in Houston.

“Kendrick Perkins did nothing wrong, and I am confident that he will be exonerated,” said Matt Hennessy of DeGuerin, Dickson, Hennessy & Ward. “My client takes these charges very seriously. He is a respectful and kind person and is anxious to address these charges for the sake of his family and his team. We will defend these allegations vigorously in court.”

Reported by Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman

Wolves guard Kevin Martin is day-to-day

Wolves guard Kevin Martin is day-to-day

The Wolves will play on tonight in Sioux Falls, S.D., against the Bucks without starting shooting guard Kevin Martin, who played just six minutes last night in Toronto because of a sore Achilles.

Martin calls himself day to day, but I’ll bet you he doesn’t play Saturday against the Raptors in a rematch at Target Center, either.

The Wolves don’t play for another eight days after Saturday, so that would give him a good 10 days to rest and heal his body.

Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Rodney Stuckey catches thumb in car door, needs surgery

Rodney Stuckey

The Detroit Pistons announced Thursday that guard Rodney Stuckey has suffered a fracture of the distal phalanx on his right thumb. The injury occurred on Wednesday afternoon as a result of the thumb becoming caught inside the door jamb of Stuckey’s vehicle while the door was closing.

Pistons medical staff confirmed the injury this morning following an x-ray. He is scheduled to have surgery on Friday, October 11 and a timeline for his return will be determined following that procedure.

Royce White expected to make debut for Sixers tonight

Royce White

Before the 76ers left for nearly a week to play two games in Europe, one of the players who made a favorable impression at training camp was Royce White.

The 6-foot-8, 260-pound power forward was acquired in the offseason from the Houston Rockets. But White didn’t make the trip to Europe. He has a well-documented anxiety disorder and an aversion to flying.

White will make his preseason debut Friday when the Sixers meet the Boston Celtics in a 7 p.m. preseason game at the Carpenter Center in Newark, Del.

“I look forward to playing Royce tomorrow,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said Thursday after his team’s first post-Europe practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer