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Sixers add Solomon Alabi and Nayal Koshwal to training camp roster

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced they have signed free agents Solomon Alabi (Ala-bee) and Nayal “Mac” Koshwal. The Sixers training camp roster now stands at 20 players.

Alabi (7-1, 250) was originally the 50th overall pick by Dallas in the 2010 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to Toronto. The 25-year-old played two seasons for the Raptors in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Last season, Alabi played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League and Ikaros Chalkidas of the Greek League. Alabi was an early entry candidate following his sophomore season at Florida State, during which he averaged 12 points, six rebounds and over two blocks. The Nigerian-born Alabi was twice named to the ACC All-Defensive Team as a sophomore and a redshirt freshman.

Koshwal (6-10, 255) was an early entry candidate for the 2010 NBA Draft following his junior season at DePaul, during which he averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. The Sudanese-born Koshwal was one of three BIG EAST players to average a double-double that season. Last season, the 25-year-old competed in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas before spending time on several minor league teams.

Vander Blue, Darius Morris, Hollis Thompson, Rodney Williams, Khalif Wyatt join 76ers training camp

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced their training camp roster in preparation for the 2013-14 NBA season. Training camp will take place at Saint Joseph’s University’s Hagan Arena beginning tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 28, and runs through Wednesday, Oct. 2.

In conjunction with the start of training camp, the Sixers have announced the signing of five players.

Vander Blue (6-4, 200) is a rookie from Marquette and was an early entry candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft following his junior season, during which he averaged 15 points, three rebounds and two assists en route to earning All-BIG EAST Second Team honors. Blue increased his scoring average, along with his field goal, three-point and free throw percentage across each of his three collegiate seasons. He averaged 12 points and nearly six rebounds in the 2013 Orlando Pro Summer League.

Darius Morris (6-4, 195) was the 41st overall pick by the L.A. Lakers in the 2011 NBA Draft. In two seasons with the Lakers, Morris appeared in 67 games with 17 starts. During the Lakers First Round series vs. San Antonio in the 2013 playoffs, Morris averaged 11 points and three assists in 26 minutes per game. Morris entered the NBA Draft as an early entry candidate after his sophomore season at Michigan, where he averaged 10 points and five assists en route to earning All-Big Ten Third Team honors.

Hollis Thompson (6-8, 206) is a rookie from Georgetown and was an early entry candidate for the 2012 NBA Draft following his junior season, during which he averaged 13 points and nearly six rebounds en route to earning All-BIG EAST honorable mention. Last season, he played for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, averaging eight points and four rebounds.

Rodney Williams (6-7, 205) is a rookie from Minnesota and was eligible for the 2013 NBA Draft following his senior season, during which he averaged 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. He also shot over 51% from the floor for his collegiate career. Williams averaged eight points, two assists and a block and a half per game in the 2013 Orlando Pro Summer League, while playing for the Sixers’ Summer League team.

Khalif Wyatt (6-4, 205) is a rookie from Temple and was eligible for the 2013 NBA Draft following his senior season, during which he averaged 20 points, four assists, three rebounds and nearly two steals en route to earning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors. The Norristown native played for the Sixers in the 2013 Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging a team-high 14 points along with three assists and over a steal and a half per game.

Sixers forward Arnett Moultrie out for months after ankle surgery

Philadelphia 76ers forward Arnett Moultrie suffered an injury to the medial malleolus of his left ankle last week and underwent surgery on Thursday, September 26. Moultrie is not expected to return until some time in the new year.

The Sixers are rebuilding, and while their rotation for upcoming new season wasn’t quite clear yet, it was expected that Moultrie was going to play a solid role.

Sixers center Kwame Brown suffered a right hamstring strain during off-season workouts and will receive a second opinion.

Philadelphia 76ers sign rookies Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have signed rookies Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams. They were both first-round draft picks, and therefore were guaranteed to receive contracts. So, this move is standard and was expected.

Carter-Williams (6-6, 185) was the 11th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2013 NBA Draft. As a sophomore at Syracuse last season, the 21-year-old averaged 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals en route to earning All-Big East Second Team honors. Back in July, Carter-Williams averaged 14 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals for the Sixers in the Orlando Pro Summer League.

Noel (6-11, 228) was originally the sixth overall pick by New Orleans in the 2013 NBA Draft. The Sixers acquired his rights along with a 2014 first round pick from the Pelicans in exchange for Jrue Holiday and the 42nd pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. As a freshman at Kentucky last season, the 19-year-old averaged 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals while leading the NCAA with nearly four and a half blocks. Noel was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-SEC.

Carter-Williams and Noel were teammates in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball during high school.

Sixers to add Greg Foster to coaching staff

The Sixers have hired Greg Foster as an assistant coach, according to a source close to the situation.

Foster, 44, joins Lloyd Pierce and Chad Iske on Brett Brown’s staff after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Texas at El Paso, his alma mater.

He played power forward and center for nine teams in a 13-year NBA career that included two trips to the NBA Finals with the Utah Jazz and a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001. He also played professionally in Spain and Greece.

Reported by Jason Wolf of the Courier Post (Blog)

Philadelphia 76ers add Brandon D. Williams to front office

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have added Brandon D. Williams to the front office. Williams will also oversee the Delaware 87ers as General Manager, the first in team history. The Sevens begin their inaugural NBA Development League season in late November.

Williams joins the clubs after serving eight seasons in the NBA’s League Office, most recently as the NBA’s Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations. Prior to that position, Williams served as the Director of Player Development in the NBA’s Community and Player Programs department. He worked closely with teams across the league in helping prepare players for the demands of being a professional athlete as well as aiding their eventual transition away from the game to a second career.

Williams is well versed in the challenges a young player faces in his pursuit of making the NBA. A standout player at Davidson, Williams earned All-Southern Conference First Team honors as a senior in 1996. After going undrafted, Williams played both overseas and in the Continental Basketball Association before appearing in his first NBA game as a member of the Golden State Warriors in 1998. The following season, Williams was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs, who went onto win the NBA Championship. All totaled for his career, Williams played internationally in six countries. He also experienced the D-League up close as an Honorable Mention All D-League player for the Huntsville Flight in 2003.

In addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Davidson, Williams received his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark in 2012. While enrolled at Davidson, Williams interned at the White House for the Domestic Policy Council during President Bill Clinton’s first term.

Khalif Wyatt agrees to terms with Sixers

Khalif Wyatt will become a 76er. The undrafted rookie free agent out of Temple agreed to terms with the team Thursday night.

Wyatt will sign a partially guaranteed, multiyear contract on Friday. The guard will be on the team’s roster when it opens the season against the Miami Heat on Oct. 30. However, there is a chance that Wyatt will spend part of the season with the Delaware 87ers, the Sixers’ NBA Development League affiliate.

Reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Blog)

Royce White being investigated for possible domestic violence, reports TMZ

NBA player Royce White — who famously missed his rookie season with the Houston Rockets due to mental health issues — is at the center of a criminal investigation in Texas after allegedly beating up his then-girlfriend … TMZ has learned.

We know … White’s ex-girlfriend Tania Mehra — a Maxim model — filed a police report on August 30 to report an incident that went down at Royce’s Houston-area home back in June.

According to law enforcement, records show someone called 911 on June 22, 2013 to report a laceration above Tania’s right eye. Cops say at the time, Tania claimed she suffered the injury from an “accidental fall.”

Reported by TMZ.com

Financial issues continue between Allen Iverson and ex-wife

Allen Iverson’s ex-wife is sick and tired of dragging him to court to squeeze out child support … she’s asking a judge to make him cough up the next 13 years worth RIGHT NOW — a cool $1.2 MILLION.

TMZ broke the story … after the couple’s nasty divorce Iverson was ordered to pay $8000/month in child support for their 5 kids. Problem is, Tawanna has gone to court on numerous occasions because A.I. won’t pay.

It came to a head in July when a judge threatened Iverson with jail, unless he forked over $40,000 in back support — which he did. But Tawanna says she doesn’t want to keep running into the same problem.

Reported by TMZ.com

76ers president Hinkie keeps eye on future

Still living out of a suitcase in a hotel, Sam Hinkie has yet to really settle in Philadelphia.

But in four months, he’s already become quite comfortable running the 76ers.

Hinkie has already made sweeping changes in his short tenure as Philadelphia’s president and general manager, hiring coach Brett Brown, trading All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday, hoarding future draft picks, and making moves for low-cost, low-risk players who could blossom in the right system.

He’s done it all with the simple mission of turning the Sixers into winners.

Just not this season.

In the NBA, fans like to call down seasons ”tanking,” though the Sixers prefer to call the 2013-14 season simply the first step in a rebuilding process toward the franchise’s first championship since 1983.

Reported by Dan Gelston of the Associated Press