Category: Philadelphia 76ers Blog

Philadelphia 76ers center Jason Smith underwent successful ACL reconstruction surgery on his left knee today. The surgery was performed by Dr. David Altchek, the Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy observed the surgery.

Smith will stay the night in the hospital and is scheduled to be released tomorrow afternoon.

Smith suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during normal basketball activity on Wednesday, August 6, 2008. No timetable has been set for Smith’s return.

A product of Colorado State University, Smith appeared in 76 games during his rookie season and averaged 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 14.5 minutes per game. In the playoffs, Smith appeared in all six games and posted averages of 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game. In the recently completed Las Vegas Summer League, Smith appeared in five games and averaged 18.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game.

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has agreed in principle to a contract extension with Head Coach Maurice Cheeks.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement are not disclosed.  This extension is in addition to the one Cheeks signed back on February 20.

“Over the course of my time here, Coach Cheeks and I have developed an excellent working relationship, one which I look forward to continuing with him as we move forward in an effort to achieve our collective goals,” Stefanski said.

“I just want to thank the 76ers organization, particularly Mr. Snider, Peter Luukko and Ed Stefanski, for continuing to provide this team with everything necessary to compete and achieve our goals,” Cheeks said. “My focus remains the same as it was when I first arrived – to do whatever it takes to help us win basketball games.”

This past season, Cheeks finished fourth in voting for the NBA’s Coach of the Year award, after guiding the Sixers to a 40-42 mark and their first playoff appearance since 2005.  On February 4, the Sixers were 18-30 but won 18 of their next 23 games, becoming just the sixth team in league history to go over .500 after being at least 12 games below .500 at some point during the same season.

Cheeks was named the 21st head coach in franchise history on May 23, 2005 and has posted a 113-133 (.459) mark during that span and has a career record of 275-272 (.503).  Prior to joining Philadelphia, he posted a mark of 162-139 (.538) in three-plus seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, helping them reaching the playoffs in each of his first two seasons there.  Cheeks spent seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Sixers, working under head coaches John Lucas (1994-96), Johnny Davis (1996-97) and Larry Brown (1997-2001), with whom he helped guide the Sixers to a 56-26 (.683) record and an Eastern Conference title.

Cheeks played 15 seasons in the NBA, the first 11 with Philadelphia, and retired in 1993 as the league’s all-time steals leader and was fifth on the all-time assist list.  He was selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team five times, played in four NBA All-Star Games and was a member of the Sixers 1982-83 NBA Championship team.

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has signed free-agent forward Donyell Marshall. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Marshall at this point is basically good for coming off the bench, firing a few outside shots, maybe grabbing a rebound (two at the most), and sitting down. The only problem is, lately he’s actually missing those outside shots. In which case, he’s not helpful at all. He’s an old veteran. If he can’t contribute on the court he can tell the younger Sixers players about the good old days, when there was no electricity and basketballs were made out of wood and stuff like that. And, here’s more about Donyell:

“Donyell Marshall has proven time and time again his value as a player in this league,” Stefanski said. “We believe his ability to stretch defenses with his perimeter shooting will prove to be a great asset for our team and we look forward to having him back home in Philadelphia.”

Marshall (6-9, 245) has played for seven teams during his 14 NBA seasons, averaging 11.4 points (43.5% FGs, 34.8% 3FGs, 73.3% FTs), 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.90 blocks in 932 games with 422 starts. He has also appeared in 41 career playoff games, averaging 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game.

Since the start of the 2003-04 season, Marshall has hit 520 3-pointers in 335 games played while shooting 37.0% from behind-the-arc. In a game for the Toronto Raptors against the Sixers on Mar. 13, 2005, Marshall tied the NBA single-game record for most 3-pointers made with 12.

The native of Reading, Pa. was the fourth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by Minnesota following his junior season at the University of Connecticut in which he was named a consensus All-America First Team selection and Big East Conference Player of the Year.

Midway through his rookie season, the Timberwolves traded Marshall to the Golden State Warriors, where he would spend the next five seasons. Marshall enjoyed two of his best seasons with the Warriors, averaging a career-high 15.4 points in 1997-98 and averaging a double-double with 14.2 ppg and a career-high 10.0 rpg in 1999-00.

In August of 2000, Marshall was traded to Utah as part of a four-team, nine-player deal, which teamed him with future hall-of-famers John Stockton and Karl Malone. After two years with the Jazz, Marshall signed as a free-agent with the Chicago Bulls, where he averaged 13.4 points and 9.0 rebounds during the 2002-03 season. In December of 2003, he was traded to Toronto and averaged 16.2 points and 10.7 rebounds the remainder of the season for the Raptors.

Marshall signed as a free-agent with Cleveland in August of 2005 and played in all but two games during his first two seasons with the Cavaliers. In his first two seasons with Cleveland, the Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2006 and the NBA Finals in 2007. Marshall started last season with Cleveland before being packaged in a three-team trade to Seattle in February. Seattle, now Oklahoma City, waived Marshall back on Aug. 20.

The Philadelphia Daily News (Phil Jasner) reports: The 76ers have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent forward Donyell Marshall on a minimum salary contract, the Daily News has learned. Agent Andy Miller confirmed that Marshall is scheduled to meet with the Sixers tomorrow. It is likely that he will undergo a physical examination and sign a contract within the next few days… A minimum salary for players with at least 10 seasons of NBA experience is $1,262,275, with a portion covered by a leaguewide pool.

InsideHoops.com says: Marshall will probably play very limited minutes off the bench. He’s a decent 10th-12th man at this point.

Philadelphia 76ers center Jason Smith was examined yesterday afternoon by Dr. David Altchek, the Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

Smith received new MRIs which confirmed the ACL injury, and he has improved his strength and range of motion.  Per Dr. Altheck, Smith will continue with therapy and medication before a follow-up visit in early September.

No timetable has been set for Smith’s return. Additional updates will be provided when they become available.

A product of Colorado State University, Smith appeared in 76 games during his rookie season and averaged 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 14.5 minutes per game. In the playoffs, Smith appeared in all six games and posted averages of 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game. In the recently completed Las Vegas Summer League, Smith appeared in five games and averaged 18.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game.

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has signed free agent center Theo Ratliff.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement are not disclosed. InsideHoops.com unofficially hears it’s a one-year deal for the NBA league minimum.

“We are very fortunate to sign a player of Theo’s caliber,” Stefanski said. “He is a consummate professional, both on the court and off, who will provide us with additional depth in the front court while also serving as a mentor to some of our younger players.”

Ratliff (6-10, 238) has played for six teams during his 13 NBA seasons, including a 215-game stint with the Sixers from mid-December of 1997 till late February of 2001.  In 705 career games with 504 starts, Ratliff has averaged 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.63 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game while shooting 49.7% from the floor and 71.1% from the line.  He has also appeared in 33 career playoff games with 17 starts, averaging 6.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.91 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game.

One of seven players in NBA history to lead the league in blocks in at least three seasons (2000-01, 2002-03 and 2003-04), Ratliff ranks 18th all-time in total blocks (1,855) and is seventh among active players.  He also owns the ninth-highest blocks per game average in league history and is fourth among active players.  The Sixers now have three players who rank among the NBA’s top-11 active all-time leaders in blocks per game (Elton Brand, Samuel Dalembert and Ratliff).

A two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection (1998-99, 2003-04), Ratliff enjoyed his greatest success as a Sixer, capped off in 2000-01 when he was voted as the starting center for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team.  Unfortunately, Ratliff suffered a fractured right wrist in early February of 2001 and missed All-Star Weekend.  Shortly after, he was traded to Atlanta along with Toni Kukoc, Nazr Mohammed and Pepe Sanchez in exchange for Dikembe Mutombo and Roshown McLeod.

After missing all but two games with a sore lower back for Boston in 2006-07, Ratliff was part of the Celtics trade with Minnesota last summer for Kevin Garnett.  The Timberwolves waived Ratliff on Feb. 29, 2008, allowing him to sign as a free-agent with Detroit shortly after.  In a combined 26 games with nine starts last season, Ratliff averaged 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.46 blocks in 16.8 minutes per game while shooting 48.2% from the floor and 67.4% from the line.  He also appeared in 12 of the Pistons 17 playoff games, averaging 1.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.92 blocks in 10.9 minutes per game.