Michael Carter-Williams puts up big game in latest Sixers loss

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting a bit of positive news from the loss-heavy world of the 76ers:

Michael Carter-Williams puts up big game

If Michael Carter-Williams ever needed a confidence boost, he received one Saturday night.

The 76ers point guard recorded his third career triple-double in a closer than expected 110-103 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Wells Fargo Center.

Carter-Williams finished with 18 points, a career-high 16 assists and a season-best 10 rebounds. The second-year player struggled from the field, making just 4 of 13 shot attempts. But he made up for that by going 10-for-12 from the foul line. Last season’s rookie of the year was also the Sixers’ unquestioned floor general on this night.

Carter-Williams credited his teammates for his best game of the season.

Michael Carter-Williams slow to get game back

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams is putting up nice stats, but only if you ignore his shooting percentage and turnovers. But more importantly than a bunch of numbers, he still doesn’t feel quite like his usual explosive self just yet. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

Michael Carter-Williams slow to get his game back

Michael Carter-Williams is in a funk.

The 76ers point guard is not the player he was a season ago, when he won NBA rookie of the year.

“When I’m out there, I don’t feel as explosive,” Carter-Williams said. “I don’t feel like I’m in the passing lanes [defensively]. My steals are down. The little things I did last year are not what I’m doing this year. I need to get back to those things.”

Carter-Williams was sidelined six months after right-shoulder surgery on May 6. He made this season’s debut in a 123-70 loss at Dallas on Nov. 13.

Sixers sign Robert Covington, waive Chris Johnson

Sixers sign Robert Covington, waive Chris Johnson

The Philadelphia 76ers signed free agent forward Robert Covington today. The first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Development League Draft by the Grand Rapids Drive, Covington is the fifth D-League to NBA “Call-Up” of the 2014-15 D-League season.

In a related move, the Sixers waived Chris Johnson.

As a rookie last season, Covington saw action in seven games for the Houston Rockets while spending most of his time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League. In 42 games (41 starts) for the Vipers, Covington averaged 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in 34 minutes per game while also averaging 3.2 3-pointers made on 37.0% shooting.

In addition to being named the 2014 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year, Covington also earned D-League First Team honors and won the MVP award at the D-League All-Star game after scoring a record 33 points in helping his team to victory.

Covington was eligible for the 2013 NBA Draft following a standout four-year career at Tennessee State. He earned Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a senior and a sophomore and First Team distinction as a junior.

K.J. McDaniels playing well for Sixers

K.J. McDaniels playing well for Sixers

Yeah, I know. There is little reason to take the Philadelphia 76ers seriously this season. And naturally a few players will emerge only because, well, somebody has to put numbers up. All that aside, this is still the NBA, and talent will rise. So, meet K.J. McDaniels. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer:

K.J. McDaniels playing well for Sixers

A growing portion of 76ers fans are wondering why K.J. McDaniels isn’t in the starting lineup.

Understandably so.

The rookie guard has been the team’s most exciting player. Yes, even more exciting than Tony Wroten, who averages a team-best 21.9 points. McDaniels, a former Clemson standout, is posterizing opponents will alley-oop dunks (ask Orlando Magic’s Moe Harkless) and swatting shots into the third row (ask the poor lady sitting in the stands in Toronto after McDaniels’ volleyball spike of Greivis Vasquez shot nearly gave her a concussion). He’s also the team’s best three-point shooter at 42.1 percent.

“It would mean a lot,” McDaniels said of being in the starting lineup. “But I still have to go in there and do my job, you know coming in here, bring excitement either coming off the bench or starting.”

Sixers sign Drew Gordon, waive Malcolm Thomas

Sixers sign Drew Gordon, waive Malcolm Thomas

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed free agent center Drew Gordon from the Delaware 87ers, its NBA Development League affiliate. He is the fourth D-League to NBA “Call-Up” of the 2014-15 NBA Development League season.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived forward Malcolm Thomas.

Gordon appeared in six preseason games for Philadelphia, averaging 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game while shooting 64.5% from the floor. He also played for the Sixers entry in the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Since being eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft, Gordon has played overseas. He spent his final two collegiate seasons at New Mexico after transferring from UCLA. Gordon averaged a double-double in both of his seasons with the Lobos, earning Mountain West All-Conference First Team honors as a senior and Second Team distinction as a junior.

Gordon’s younger brother, Aaron, was the fourth overall pick by Orlando in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Sixers begin NBA season 0-7

Sixers begin NBA season 0-7

The Philadelphia 76ers are in serious rebuilding mode, and aren’t expected to win many games this season. With an 0-7 record, they are the only team in the league through Sunday that hasn’t won a game yet. No huge surprise. All part of the plan. The short-term hope in Philly is that point guard Michael Carter-Williams, when he soon returns, at leats helps make things more competitive.

Here’s the Philadelphia Daily News reporting:

The infamous 1972-73 Sixers have company.

For the second time in franchise history, the Sixers are winless through seven games.

Two days after a one-basket loss to the Chicago Bulls, a trip across the border only amplified the 2014-15 Sixers’ futility.

The Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors walked all over the shorthanded Sixers last night en route to a 120-88 victory in front of 18,470 at the Air Canada Centre.

The 32-point loss is the largest margin of defeat for this listless Sixers squad.

“That was not us. We give Toronto credit. We came in here and got manhandled,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said, adding, “we got jumped and we didn’t have any answers.”

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced today several additions and promotions to the basketball operations staff. Sachin Gupta has been named Vice President of Basketball Operations and Ben Falk has been named Vice President of Basketball Strategy. Vince Rozman has been promoted to Director of Basketball Operations & Scouting Innovation. Phil Jabour (Director of Scouting Development) and Danny Mills (International Scout) join recently promoted Rod Baker as new additions to the Sixers scouting department. NBA veteran Sean Rooks joins the Sixers as Player Development Coach and Philadelphia native Eugene Burroughs will serve as the Sixers Shooting Coach.

Gupta began his NBA career with the Houston Rockets in 2006 as General Manager Daryl Morey’s first hire, laying the foundation for the team’s extensive analytics undertaking. In addition to his responsibilities as an analyst, Gupta also assisted in managing the team’s salary cap during his six-year tenure in Houston. Prior to joining the Rockets, Gupta spent two years at ESPN where he developed the widely popular NBA Trade Machine. Gupta joins the Sixers in a full-time capacity after completing his MBA from Stanford, during which he served as a Sixers consultant.

Falk joins the Sixers after spending the previous four seasons as the Basketball Analytics Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers. While with the Blazers, Falk worked closely with both the front office and coaching staff, leading team efforts in integrating statistics and technology into coaching and management processes. Falk originally hails from Potomac, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Maryland.

Rozman begins his ninth season with the Sixers basketball operations department. Rozman served most recently as Scouting Coordinator prior to this promotion.

Jabour joins the Sixers from the Orlando Magic where he served the past two seasons as a Scout. Jabour previously worked five years in the scouting department of the Houston Rockets and served on the support staff of USA Basketball in 2006.

Mills, an Australian Native and a former player at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), was most recently the Video Coordinator of the Bakersfield Jam. Mills brings with him experience in international basketball outside of Australia, having served as an assistant coach in Europe with both Sigma Basket Barcellona and UPEA Orlandina Basket in Italy.

As was recently announced, Philadelphia native and Roman Catholic High School alum Rod Baker was a Sixers call-up from his role as Head Coach of the Delaware 87ers last season. The longtime coach from NCAA, CBA, ABA and the NBDL will join the Sixers full-time as a Scout.

Rooks spent last season as an assistant coach with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. Prior to that, Rooks served on three other D-League coaching staffs following his 12-year playing career, including stops with the Lakers, Mavericks, Clippers, Timberwolves, Hornets, and Magic.

Burroughs, a Philadelphia native who played high school basketball at Episcopal Academy, joins the Sixers as Shooting Coach from Marist, where he served as an Assistant Coach. Prior to Marist, Burroughs 18-year coaching career included stops at Penn State, the U.S. Naval Academy, Hofstra, and American University.

Sixers exercise contract options on Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, Tony Wroten

The Philadelphia 76ers, in serious rebuild mode and making decisions as to which players will be their building blocks for the future, announced today that they have exercised the third-year options on the contracts for Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel as well as the fourth-year option on Tony Wroten’s contract.

None of this is a surprise, as Carter-Williams and Noel are two of their prime young prospects, while Wroten has shown impressive skills lately.

The Sixers are focused on the future, gathering losses and lottery picks.

According to CSN Philly, “By exercising the deals, Noel is slotted to make $3.5 million as the No. 6 pick in the 2013 draft while Carter-Williams, the No. 11 pick, is due 2.4 million. Wroten, drafted by Memphis as the No. 25 pick in 2012, is set to earn $2.2 million in the last year of the deal.”

Carter-Williams was named the 2013-14 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, joining Allen Iverson as the only players to win the award in franchise history. He also joined Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only rookies in league history to average at least 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.

Noel made his NBA debut in the Sixers season opener at Indiana on Wednesday night and had a game-high tying 10 rebounds along with three blocks. The 20-year-old became the first player with at least 10 boards and three blocks in his debut since Dwight Howard in 2004.

Wroten started the season opener for the Sixers and had 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Last season, the 21-year-old joined Calvin Murphy as the only players in NBA history to average at least 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in fewer than 25.0 minutes per game.

Knicks trade Travis Outlaw to 76ers for Arnett Moultrie

Knicks trade Travis Outlaw to 76ers for Arnett Moultrie

Knicks trade Travis Outlaw to 76ers for Arnett Moultrie

The New York Knicks have traded forward Travis Outlaw to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Arnett Moultrie, according to team president Phil Jackson. In addition, Philadelphia received a 2019 second-round draft selection and the option to exchange 2018 second-round draft selections.

And in the same breath, Moultrie was immediately waived by New York. So, yes, this was basically a move for New York to part ways with Outlaw’s contract.

The Sixers acquired the right to swap the Los Angeles Clippers’ second-round pick (which the Sixers currently own) in 2018 with the Knicks’ own second-round pick in that draft.

Outlaw, 6-9, 220-pounds, was acquired on Aug. 6, 2014 from Sacramento in a multi-team deal and appeared in one preseason game for the Knicks.