Category: Philadelphia 76ers Blog

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In G League, Jameer Nelson named General Manager of Delaware Blue Coats

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today the promotion of Jameer Nelson to General Manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.

Nelson previously served as Blue Coats Assistant General Manager/76ers Scout since November 2020, a tenure that included three-straight trips to the G League Finals, a 2021 Winter Showcase Cup Title, and culminated with the 2022-23 NBA G League Championship.

“Jameer has approached his front office and scouting roles with the same tenacity that he approached the game during his playing career. He is a great talent evaluator who is well-respected by players, agents, coaches and executives alike, suiting him for success as the next General Manager of the Blue Coats,” Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said.

“Jameer succeeds Prosper Karangwa, who led the Blue Coats to their first-ever G League title last year and has done an incredible job in growing the program. We are thankful to Prosper for what he’s done in Delaware and are grateful he’s an integral member of our 76ers front office.”

A 14-year NBA veteran, Nelson was named an All-Star in 2009 as a member of the Orlando Magic. Nelson was a first-round pick (No. 20 overall) of the Denver Nuggets in 2004 and averaged over 11 points, five assists and three rebounds across a career with Orlando, Dallas, Boston, Denver, New Orleans and Detroit. Collegiately, the Chester, Pennsylvania native starred at St. Joseph’s University, guiding the Hawks to the Elite Eight in 2004 and was named National Player of the Year, a first-team All-American selection and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year.

The Blue Coats also announced the team’s coaching staff for the 2023-24 season. Under first-year head coach Mike Longabardi, newcomer Ryan Ayers completes the Blue Coats’ bench, joining returning assistant coaches JP Clark and God Shammgod Jr.

Sixers will reportedly trade James Harden to Clippers

Per the LA Times:

As teams with NBA title ambitions in Milwaukee and Boston fortified their rosters in recent weeks and days, the Clippers arrived at training camp with a roster virtually unchanged from the end of last season.

That began to change late Monday, when after months of discussions with Philadelphia, the Clippers and 76ers began to move toward finalizing a trade that would see All-Star guard James Harden land in Los Angeles, according to people with knowledge of the discussions not authorized to disclose them publicly.

In addition to Harden, the Clippers are receiving P.J. Tucker, a 38-year-old defensive stalwart forward and career 36% three-point shooter. The cost: Trading away Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris Sr. and Robert Covington — their trio of veteran forwards, all on expiring contracts — as well as young forward Kenyon Martin Jr., who was acquired from Houston during the offseason.

FULL ARTICLE

NBA Players of the Week, Week 1: Nikola Jokic and Tyrese Maxey

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey were named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 1 of the 2023-24 season (Oct. 24-29).

Other nominees:

West: Stephen Curry (GSW), Anthony Davis (LAL), Luka Dončić (DAL), Kevin Durant (PHX), De’Aaron Fox (SAC), Paul George (LAC), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) and Zion Williamson (NOP)

East: Jalen Duren (DET), Joel Embiid (PHI), Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith (IND), Donovan Mitchell (CLE), Kristaps Porzingis (BOS) and Franz Wagner (ORL)

The latest on James Harden and the Sixers

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer:

One can only hope the James Harden saga gets resolved quickly.

The point guard is either going to come back and play for the 76ers or hurry up and get moved to another NBA team.

He is practicing with the Sixers and performing his normal post-practice shooting routine. He’s “ramping up” with the hope of being available to play in the Oct. 20 preseason finale against the Hawks at the Wells Fargo Center. But skeptics wonder if Harden is only doing this because he expects to be traded.

So what’s going to happen if the Clippers, who are interested, backs out of negotiations? What will Harden do then? Will he become a distraction and make things uncomfortable for the Sixers?

FULL ARTICLE

76ers sign Kelly Oubre Jr.

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Kelly Oubre Jr.

And in a related move, the team has waived Marcus Bagley.

The eight-year pro joins Philadelphia after averaging a career-high 20.3 points (43.1% FG, 31.9% 3FG), 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 48 games (40 starts) with Charlotte last season. He logged five games with at least five made three-pointers, the second-most of any season in his NBA career (12, 2021-22).

A New Orleans native, Oubre Jr. swiped a career-best 1.4 steals in 2022-23, aided in part by a career-high six steals at Orlando on Nov. 14.

In 527 career NBA games across eight seasons with Washington, Phoenix, Golden State, and Charlotte, Oubre Jr. has averaged 12.8 points on 43.4% shooting (33.0% 3FG), 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 steal. He has produced at least 15.0 points in each of his last five seasons dating back to 2018-19, while tallying back-to-back seasons with at least 100 three-pointers and 50 steals.

Originally selected by Atlanta with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Oubre Jr. played one collegiate season at Kansas. There, he helped lead the Jayhawks to a 27-9 regular season record and a No. 2 seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. He was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team as he scored in double figures 15 times, including a 25-point outing against TCU.

Oubre Jr. will wear No. 9 for the 76ers.

Sixers sign Marcus Bagley

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed forward Marcus Bagley.

The 6-foot-8 Bagley spent parts of three seasons at Arizona State where he posted career averages of 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 17 total appearances.

During his time as a Sun Devil, he also shot 35.1% from beyond the arc on 5.5 attempts per game over his three years.

He is also the younger brother of Marvin Bagley III who has played five NBA seasons after being selected with the No. 2 pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2018 Draft.

76ers sign David Duke Jr.

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed David Duke Jr.

Duke Jr. appeared in 23 games with the Brooklyn Nets last season as a two-way signee, averaging 3.7 points (46.2% FG) and 1.3 rebounds in 9.9 minutes. He posted season highs in points (15), rebounds (eight), and steals (three), while dishing out a career-best four assists against the 76ers on April 9.

Across his two professional seasons, both with the Nets from 2021-23, the Providence, R.I. native has produced 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 12.6 minutes in 45 NBA games.

The 23-year-old has also appeared in 35 career regular season games (all starts) for Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, posting averages of 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals. He led the team and ranked fourth across the G league with 23.0 points in 22 games last season, finishing third in the 2022-23 Kia NBA G League Most Valuable Player award voting.

Sixers announce coaching staff for 2023-24 NBA season

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced the team’s coaching staff under Head Coach Nick Nurse. Bryan Gates, Bobby Jackson, Rico Hines, Matt Brase, Coby Karl, Mike Longabardi and Doug West will serve as assistant coaches.

John Corbacio (Assistant Coach/Head Video Coordinator), Fabulous Flournoy (Assistant Coach/Player Development) and Jason Love (Assistant Coach/Player Development) also join Nurse’s staff, while TJ DiLeo, Terrel Harris, Toure’ Murry and Reggie Redding will serve as player development associate coaches. Kareem Thawer is the team’s assistant video coordinator.

In addition to his duties as a 76ers assistant coach, Mike Longabardi will serve as the head coach of Philadelphia’s NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Delaware captured the 2022-23 G League championship and 2021 G League Showcase Cup championship under Karl, who joins the 76ers’ bench this season.

“Assembling a great staff with a rich collection of experience was paramount on my to-do list this summer,” Nurse said. “I’m proud to have built many relationships in our league that have led me to feel as confident as I am in every member of this group. I can’t wait to get to work as we embark on our journey toward an NBA title.”

2023-24 Philadelphia 76ers preseason game schedule

The Philadelphia 76ers have announced their four-game preseason schedule ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.

The schedule begins when the 76ers travel to Boston on Sunday, Oct. 8 to face the Celtics with tipoff set for 6 p.m. ET.

Philadelphia then returns home to face Boston for its second preseason game on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at The Center at 7 p.m. ET.

The third game of the slate takes the 76ers to Brooklyn on Monday, Oct. 16 for a 7:30 p.m. ET game against the Nets.

That will be followed by the final exhibition which will come on Friday, Oct. 20 when Philadelphia welcomes the Atlanta Hawks for a 7 p.m. ET game at The Center.