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Devin Booker replaces Nerlens Noel in 2016 Rising Stars Challenge game

devin booker

Phoenix Suns rookie Devin Booker will replace injured U.S. Team selection Nerlens Noel of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 12 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star features first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against first- and second-year NBA players from around the world. TNT will televise the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge in the U.S. at 9 p.m. ET, and Sportsnet ONE and TSN will simulcast the game in Canada. ESPN Radio also will provide coverage.

Booker, the 13th pick of NBA Draft 2015 presented by State Farm, is averaging 10.6 points and shooting 40.3 percent from three-point range in 48 games. The 19-year-old guard is averaging 15.2 points in his 23 starts, including a career-high 32-point performance against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 19. Booker will also compete in the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Air Canada Centre as part of State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night.

Noel, a second-year forward-center, will not play due to tendinitis in his right knee. He is averaging 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.6 blocks in 46 games.

Sixers enjoy blowout win vs Blazers

On Thursday night, the Philadelphia 76ers let a 24-point lead slip away in an especially difficult overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Two days later, they made sure that wouldn’t happen again.

Jahlil Okafor had 25 points and 10 rebounds and the 76ers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 114-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.

Richaun Holmes added 17 points, and Ish Smith and Robert Covington scored 16 apiece for the Sixers. They improved to 5-37 with their most lopsided win of the season, erasing many of the lingering bad feelings that come from blowing a game they thought they had in the bag.

— Associated Press

Joel Embiid is still not playing this season

The Philadelphia 76ers are 4-37 this season and are still all about the future. Here’s The Intelligencer with an update on center Joel Embiid, whose NBA career so far has been spent on the injured list:

Joel Embiid is still not playing this season

Injured center Joel Embiid playing this season has “never been a consideration,” according to Jerry Colangelo.

During an oncourt interview prior to Thursday’s game against the Bulls, the 76ers’ chairman of basketball operations said that despite Embiid being ahead of schedule, the organization is targeting the outset of the 2016-17 season for him.

“No one’s rushing him back — there’s no reason to,” Colangelo said. “The goal and objective at the start of next season is to do everything we can do to get him in the best position to be successful. Because if he can hold up and he’s OK, he’s a game changer.”

Sixers will retire number of Dolph Schayes

Sixers will retire number of Dolph Schayes

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today the team will retire the late Dolph Schayes’ number “4” in a special halftime ceremony on Saturday, January 23, 2016, when the Sixers host the Boston Celtics.

Schayes, a 12-time NBA All-Star, Hall of Fame inductee and member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history, passed away on December 10, 2015 at the age of 87. Schayes was one of the league’s most dynamic players for the Syracuse Nationals from 1949-63 and led the team to an NBA Championship in 1955, when he averaged 19 points and 13 rebounds during the playoff run. He accompanied the franchise in its relocation to Philadelphia, where he spent the 1963-64 season as player/coach. Additionally, at the time of his retirement, he was the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (18,438 points).

“Dolph Schayes is a legend of the game and we are proud to rightfully raise his number to the rafters alongside his fellow Sixers greats,” said Sixers Chief Executive Officer Scott O’Neil. “It is heartwarming to know that, prior to his passing, Dolph was humbled and excited to learn of our plans to retire his number this season. We will miss his presence dearly on January 23, but look forward to honoring his life and career as one of the pioneers of the Philadelphia 76ers organization.”

In addition to its new place in the rafters, the number “4” will continue to be represented on the court by Sixers forward Nerlens Noel.

“I am honored to continue wearing the number four as a way to recognize one of the most dominant big men ever to take the court,” said Noel. “I take the responsibility of wearing the Sixers uniform very seriously and will continue representing the organization – and now the legacy of Mr. Schayes – to the best of my ability.”

“Our family is completely humbled by the graciousness of the Philadelphia 76ers organization. My father’s jersey represents not only his great basketball career, but also the dedication and love of his family, teammates and friends with whom he was blessed throughout a very happy life,” said Schayes’ son, Danny, who played 18 seasons in the NBA. “Nerlens Noel is a blossoming star in this league and the Schayes family is honored that he will continue to wear the number four.”

Schayes was originally drafted by both the New York Knicks (fourth overall) in the 1948 Basketball Association of America draft and the Syracuse Nationals of the NBL (the merger forming the NBA happened the following season), after a four-year collegiate career at NYU. A six-time First-Team All-NBA selection, Schayes held career averages of 18.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in the professional ranks.

He coached the Sixers for two additional seasons following his retirement and netted NBA Coach of the Year honors in 1966. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973.

Schayes will join Allen Iverson (3), Julius Erving (6), Maurice Cheeks (10), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Hal Greer (15), Bobby Jones (24), Billy Cunningham (32) and Charles Barkley (34) as players with their numbers retired, along with legendary public address announcer Dave Zinkoff (microphone).

Sixers sign Elton Brand, waive Christian Wood

Sixers sign Elton Brand, waive Christian Wood

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to terms with free agent forward Elton Brand, who will mostly serve as a mentor for Jahlil Okafor and other young Sixers.

In a related move, the Sixers waived forward Christian Wood.

Brand has played 16 seasons in the NBA, most recently two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks (2013-2015). He has appeared in 1,041 career NBA games and made 867 starts, posting averages of 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game. His 34,685 career minutes played ranks him 70th all-time in NBA history. Brand was also the recipient of the 2005-06 Joe Dumars Trophy, presented each season to the player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.

Brand will join the Sixers for the second time in his career. He spent four seasons in Philadelphia from 2008-2012, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds per game. Brand averaged 16 points and eight rebounds for the Sixers in the 2011 NBA Playoffs and averaged 11 points across 18 total playoff games during his tenure in Philadelphia.

A two-time NBA All-Star, Brand was the first overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and was named Rookie of the Year.

So far, Ish Smith is helping the Sixers

The Sixers have won two of their last four games, which doesn’t sound like much. And they’re still a bad team in the middle (???) of a rebuilding period. But they’ve looked better lately. Here’s CSN Philly reporting on guard Ish Smith, who is shooting a low FG percentage in his four Sixers games but otherwise is clearly adding structure to the squad:

So far, Ish Smith is helping the Sixers

Call it the Ish Smith effect.

Since acquiring the point guard from the New Orleans Pelicans on Christmas Eve, the Sixers have been noticeably more competitive. They’ve even won a few games.

New chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo, who has spent some time with the Sixers during their trip out on the West Coast, has seen a drastic change in the team firsthand.

“There’s a different feeling about the team right now,” he said during the broadcast of Sixers-Lakers on Comcast SportsNet Friday night. “They really believe they have a chance to win every game they’re going out to play now. It’s amazing what one addition can make. In this particular case, Ish has been a great, great addition in terms of raising the bar for all the players.”

Sixers trade for Ish Smith, waive Tony Wroten

Sixers trade for Ish Smith, and waive Tony Wroten

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today the team has acquired point guard Ish Smith from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for two second-round picks.

In a related move, the Sixers waived guard Tony Wroten.

We at InsideHoops.com think this move is good for Smith. After a very good November, he’s been benched in December. In Philly, he has a clear shot at a bigger role.

Smith, a five-year veteran, has appeared in 27 games this season and is averaging nine points, six assists and under two turnovers in 23 minutes per game. He is fifth in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.42-to-1), sixth in assists per 48 minutes (12.0) and ranks among the top 20 in assists per game. He is currently the only player in the NBA this season who has at least 150 assists while committing 45 or fewer turnovers.

Smith appeared in 25 games (starting 14) for the Sixers during the 2014-15 season, where he averaged 12 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal in 27 minutes per game.

Mike D`Antoni is new Sixers associate head coach

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced the team has agreed to terms with Mike D’Antoni to become Associate Head Coach. D’Antoni brings 25 years of coaching experience to the Sixers’ staff, including 12 seasons as an NBA head coach.

D’Antoni most recently served as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2012-2014 after four seasons at the helm for the New York Knicks (2008-2012), five seasons for the Phoenix Suns (2003-08) and one season for the Denver Nuggets (1998-99). All told, D’Antoni owns a NBA coaching record of 455-426 for his career.

In Phoenix, D’Antoni amassed a 253-136 record with the Suns, where he coached point guard Steve Nash to back-to-back Most Valuable Player Awards in 2005 and 2006. The Suns eclipsed the 60-win mark in 2004-05 – after which D’Antoni was named NBA Coach of the Year—and in 2006-07. The Suns made back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Finals in 2005 and 2006.

D’Antoni has also served on the USA Olympic Basketball coaching staff under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, where he helped guide Team USA to gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He has nearly a decade of additional international head coaching experience.

Originally a second round selection by the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in the 1973 NBA Draft out of Marshall University, D’Antoni went on to play out a 13-year career for Olimpia Milano of the Italian League and became the club’s all-time leading scorer, winning multiple league championships.

Sixers deny that team is for sale

Here’s CSN Philly with the latest on a report concerning the 76ers owner’s plans:

Sixers deny that team is for sale

A Forbes magazine story claiming that Sixers managing owner Josh Harris was looking to sell the team was rebuked by a team spokesperson on Thursday.

The Forbes story states that Harris and co-owner David Blitzer are “gunning” to own the first NFL team in London and “want to flip the Sixers.”

Prior to the game at the Barclays Center against the Brooklyn Nets, the team statement was delivered by director of public relations, Michael Preston.