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Perhaps skipping season is best for Sixers rookie Nerlens Noel

The Philadelphia 76ers won’t be a good team this season. They may be fun to watch, because young players are fun, but if winning is your thing, don’t look at Philly for now. And with that under consideration, perhaps there’s good reason for injured rookie Nerlens Noel to take his sweet time before stepping onto the court. Here’s Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Three words of advice for Nerlens Noel as he rehabilitates his surgically repaired left knee: Take your time.

The 76ers rookie originally was expected to need 10 months of recovery and rehabilitation because of the anterior cruciate ligament tear he suffered during his lone season at Kentucky.

The 6-foot-11 center is working hard to make that return possible. But missing the entire 2013-14 season might not be a bad option, considering what’s at stake for the Sixers and their 19-year-old franchise player.

I’m tired of hearing that Noel would be better off returning this season. I don’t think returning would be a good decision. And even if he’s prepared to do so, here’s some advice for the Sixers: Don’t tell him. Don’t give Noel any reason to be encouraged to play this season.

Sam Hinkie focused on rebuilding the 76ers

Tearing a team down for a full rebuild is sometimes necessary. When a roster simply isn’t going to amount to much, sometimes it’s best to say goodbye to a lot of players and start again, from the ground up. Here’s Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:

While the moves he made weren’t always popular, Hinkie decided to reshape the franchise.

He traded all-star point guard Jrue Holiday on draft night to the New Orleans Pelicans for rookie center Nerlens Noel.

He did not re-sign free agents Andrew Bynum, Damien Wilkins, Nick Young, Dorell Wright, Royal Ivey, or Charles Jenkins.

Instead, he made risk-free deals to acquire fringe players who are either in the last year of their deals or have non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts.

Hinkie also acquired the rights to Furkan Idemir (Turkey) and Arsalan Kazami (Iran), two power forwards who are playing professionally overseas.

Philadelphia 76ers waive Rodney Williams and Gani Lawal

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they waived the contracts of guard Rodney Williams and forward Gani Lawal.

The NBA regular season starts Tuesday night, and teams around the league must trim their rosters to 15 players or less. So, lots of players signed to non-guaranteed or low-paying contracts are being let go.

Sixers waive Royce White, Vander Blue, Khalif Wyatt and Mac Koshwal

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they waived the contracts of guards Vander Blue and Khalif Wyatt, and forwards Royce White and Mac Koshwal.

NBA preseason ends tonight, and so teams around the league are steadily saying goodbye to players until their rosters contain 15 players or less. The NBA regular season starts Tuesday.

Starting 76ers lineup appears set

There are only two definites about the 76ers’ roster.

The first thing is that Michael Carter-Williams, James Anderson, Evan Turner, Thad Young and Spencer Hawes are the clear starters. The second thing is that power forward/center Lavoy Allen is an experienced NBA talent that’s finding his way back into shape.

“And after that, who knows?” Sixers coach Brett Brown said before Monday’s 104-93 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Schottenstein Center.

“You have six NBA players and then you have a bunch of guys who are fighting for spots and want to be seen and need opportunity,” Brown added.

Reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Sixers face rough road ahead

Even if they don’t read the papers or worry about what is said in the electronic media, as forward-center Spencer Hawes advises, 76ers players and members of the organization won’t be able to escape the negative vibe following the team this season.

The team’s strategy is simple: clear as much cap space as possible and build with younger players on a road back to respectability.

It’s a route that often takes longer to travel than originally anticipated.

While that seems like a sound strategy, the reality is what the team faced last week, two blowout preseason losses in which the only things missing were the offense, defense, and any answers against two teams of differing skill levels.

Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Sixers sign Daniel Orton, waive Tim Ohlbrecht

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced they have signed free agent center Daniel Orton. The Sixers preseason roster stands at 20 players.

Orton (6-10, 255) was originally an early entry candidate for the 2010 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Kentucky and was selected with the 29th overall pick by Orlando. The 23-year-old spent last season with Oklahoma City and also played for the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, averaging 12 and a half points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and over two blocks per game while shooting 53% from the floor.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived center Tim Ohlbrecht.

The 76ers are very likely going to struggle in dramatic fashion this season. They have a very young, inexperienced roster mostly filled with bench players. They’ll need luck in discovering some hidden gems.

76ers: Evan Turner has no interest in losing

“I don’t think we’re going down,” Turner said when asked how he’ll cope with all the losing this season, as the Sixers take a run at the top overall pick in next summer’s draft. “I never woke up and thought I was going to be unsuccessful in my life. Pretty much, my teammates and I are going to go out and play every single game and play hard and take it from there.

“There’s different type of successes, in general, personal and team-wise. We’ve got to keep getting better,” he said. “But I’m not going to sit here and be a loser. … I’m not a loser. Period. Point blank. So I’m not going to sit there and dwell on it. Period.”

Turner (6-7, 205) has failed to live up to fans’ lofty expectations since the Sixers selected the 2009-10 NCAA player of the year out of Ohio State with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. The 24-year-old is entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract that pays him approximately $6.7 million this season, making him a possible trade candidate.

Reported by Jason Wolf of Delaware Online (Blog)

Thaddeus Young assumes a leadership role for Sixers

When Brett Brown took over as the 76ers coach, he knew what kind of offensive production he could expect from Thaddeus Young, who averaged 14.8 points last year. Brown has been pleasantly surprised by Young’s leadership as well.

Young turned just 25 in June, but he is entering his seventh NBA season, and on this Sixers team that qualifies him as a graybeard.

The book on Young was that he was athletic, a hard worker, and a team player. But leadership was not mentioned. Brown is finding out otherwise.

“He has been far more vocal and far more instructional with the young guys,” Brown said after Sunday’s lengthy practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer

James Anderson playing well for 76ers in preseason

In three seasons with San Antonio and Houston, Anderson appeared in 116 games, with six starts, and averaged 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 11.1 minutes played.

But he has been one of the Sixers’ best players since coming to Philadelphia.

Anderson is averaging 12.3 points through three exhibition games and shooting 50 percent (6 of 12) on three-pointers.

“This is definitely a great opportunity for me,” he said of being a Sixer. “I feel like this is the best one I have so far.

“I definitely want to take advantage of it.”

Reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer