Philadelphia 76ers Blog – Page 81 – NBA Blog

Sixers advise Andres Nocioni to skip Worlds

The Philadelphia 76ers announced that due to forward Andres Nocioni’s injured left ankle, the team has advised him to withdraw from the upcoming FIBA World Championships, effective immediately.

The MRI of Nocioni’s left ankle was reviewed by Dr. Jack McPhilemy of Main Line Health Services, who recommended that Nocioni stop all basketball and impact activity until the team opens Training Camp at the end of September, at which time he will be re-evaluated.

Upon Nocioni’s return to Philadelphia, another MRI will be taken of his left ankle.

March 21, 2010 Los Angeles, CA..Kings' Andres Nocioni in action during the NBA game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Kings defeated the Clippers, 102-89..Josh Thompson/Cal Sport Media.

Evan Turner signs Li-Ning shoe deal

The Philadelphia Daily News reports:

China’s top athletic footwear brand is banking on Evan Turner being a star with the 76ers.

Li-Ning announced yesterday that it had signed the No. 2 overall pick to a multiyear contract. Turner will begin appearing immediately in the company’s global marketing and will wear Li-Ning as a rookie. He will have his own branded sneaker and apparel in the second year of the deal.

CNBC first reported the contract.

“This is truly a game-changing moment for the Li-Ning brand,” Brian Cupps, Li-Ning’s brand initiative director for basketball, said in a statement.

Discuss this and shoes in general in our basketball sneakers forum.

Full 2010 preseason schedule

The NBA today released its 2010 preseason schedule, which is highlighted by a comprehensive international slate of games that includes seven contests in China, Europe and Mexico. The preseason slate tips off on Oct. 3, when the New York Knicks visit Armani Jeans Milano – the former team of Knicks forward Danillo Gallinari and head coach Mike D’Antoni – in Milan, Italy, and the New Jersey Nets host Maccabi Haifa.

As is the case these days, the action starts overseas, with a few NBA squads heading to Europe.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about teams playing preseason ball overseas. Because generally it’s just a warmup. I think if NBA fans overseas are going to get a rare taste of live NBA action, it should be the best basketball possible, and we usually don’t see that before the regular season begins.

See the complete 2010-11 NBA preseason schedule.

Sixers name Rod Thorn team president

The Philadelphia 76ers today named Rod Thorn, an NBA veteran of more than four decades, as the team’s new President. Ed Stefanski, who had served as the team’s President and General Manager since December 4, 2007, will continue in his role as General Manager.

“Rod is one of the most respected basketball minds in the game today,” said Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider. “When we learned that he would not be re-signing with the Nets, we realized that this would be a terrific opportunity to bring one of the top executives in the NBA to the Sixers to work closely with Ed Stefanski. I’m really pleased to be adding him to our organization. I’m confident that Rod will be a tremendous asset for our team and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

“We felt with the direction we are now heading that it was important for us to have two very strong basketball minds leading the Philadelphia 76ers,” said Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko. “We are building a strong organization and we’re off to a terrific start with the addition of Coach Doug Collins, the best available coach, and Evan Turner, who we feel was the best available player in the draft. Now we have added another top-level executive to help lead us into the future.”

“This is a great opportunity to join one of the most-storied franchises in the NBA,” said Thorn. “I look forward to once again working with Ed Stefanski and helping Ed Snider and Peter Luukko build a championship team here in Philadelphia.”

Thorn, the 2001-02 NBA Executive of the Year, spent the past 10 seasons as President of the New Jersey Nets, joining them on June 27, 2000. During his tenure in East Rutherford, the Nets won the Eastern Conference in 2002 and 2003 and captured four Atlantic Division titles in five seasons.

Thorn engineered two major deals the final week in June of 2001, trading the Nets first pick in the 2001 NBA Draft (Eddie Griffin-7th overall) to the Houston Rockets for their three first round picks (Richard Jefferson-13, Jason Collins-18, and Brandon Armstrong-23). The next day he negotiated a major six-player blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns that landed the Nets three-time First Team All-NBA guard Jason Kidd in exchange for Stephon Marbury.

Stefanski was Thorn’s General Manager in New Jersey for nine seasons and was instrumental in the 2004 blockbuster transaction that brought All-Star Vince Carter to the Nets in exchange for Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning and two first-round draft picks.

Prior to joining the Nets, Thorn spent 14 years working for the NBA’s league office in Manhattan, where he was the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. At the NBA office, Thorn oversaw all-on court operations, including officiating, game conduct and discipline.

During seven seasons as General Manager of the Chicago Bulls (1978-1985), Thorn selected Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft and actually coached the team for 30 games in 1982.

Thorn was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets as the second overall pick in 1963. After playing one season in Baltimore, Thorn spent a season and a half in both Detroit and St. Louis before finishing his career in Seattle. He was an assistant coach of the Nets in 1973 when the Nets were in the ABA, helping lead the team to their first-ever ABA Championship. Two years later, Thorn became head coach of the ABA’s Spirits of St. Louis. In 1976, Thorn was named an assistant coach with the Nets when they moved into the NBA.

Thorn graduated from the University of Washington (Seattle) with a B.A. in political science. He also holds an honorary degree from West Virginia University. He served on the Board of Directors of West Virginia University for five years.

2010-11 76ers preseason schedule

The Philadelphia 76ers announced their 2010 preseason schedule today, highlighted by two home games at the newly renamed Wells Fargo Center (formerly Wachovia Center) in Philadelphia on Oct. 12 vs. Boston and Oct. 20 vs. New York.

The Sixers will open the preseason against the New Jersey Nets at the Roanoke Civic Center on Oct. 5. The Roanoke Civic Center is operated and managed by Global Spectrum, the public assembly facility management subsidiary of the Sixers parent company, Comcast-Spectacor. It is the first game for the Sixers in the state of Virginia since playing in Norfolk back in 2003 and is the first professional basketball game at the Roanoke Civic Center since 1997, when the Charlotte Hornets faced off against the Detroit Pistons in the preseason.

“We are excited to bring the Philadelphia 76ers to Roanoke,” said Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko. “Through Global Spectrum’s affiliation in the Comcast-Spectacor Family of Companies, we are able to utilize all of our company’s resources to bring events like preseason 76ers basketball to our Global Spectrum facilities.”

New Head Coach Doug Collins and Evan Turner, the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, will make their Philly debuts against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics on Oct. 12. The Sixers close out the 2010 preseason at home on Oct. 20 against the retooled New York Knicks, featuring free agent addition Amar’e Stoudemire.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 2010 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION VENUE TIME

Tues., Oct. 5     New Jersey          Roanoke, VA              Roanoke Civic Center        7:00 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 6     Boston                 Boston, MA                TD Garden                        7:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 9       New Jersey          Newark, NJ                 Prudential Center              1:00 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 12   Boston                 Philadelphia, PA         Wells Fargo Center           7:00 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 13    Toronto                Toronto, ON                Air Canada Centre             7:00 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 19   Cleveland             Cincinnati, OH            U.S. Bank Arena               7:00 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 20    New York             Philadelphia, PA         Wells Fargo Center           7:00 p.m.

(All times are Eastern and are subject to change)

Andres Nocioni sprains ankle while training for Argentina

Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News reports:

The 76ers’ Andres Nocioni sprained his left ankle Friday while training with Argentina’s national team and is out indefinitely pending results of X-rays and an MRI exam.

A report in Argentina suggested Nocioni could be out for roughly 20 days.

Ed Stefanski, the Sixers’ president/general manager, said he was awaiting the test results, which will be forwarded to the Sixers’ medical staff.

76ers arena now named Wells Fargo Center

Comcast-Spectacor, owner and operator of the Wachovia Center, is changing the name of the 21,000-seat home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers, to the Wells Fargo Center, effective immediately, to reflect the name change in the financial institution, it was announced today by Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko.

“As the owner and operator of the arena, Comcast-Spectacor is honoring the contract as it was agreed upon with the bank that the successor shall keep the naming rights of the facility,” said Luukko. “Therefore, we will change the name of the arena to reflect the name change from Wachovia to Wells Fargo and continue to operate the arena as the world class facility which it has become.”

Workers will begin removing the Wachovia Center sign from the arena on Tuesday, July 27. The transition from Wachovia Center to Wells Fargo Center, which includes replacing all signs, is expected to be completed by Tuesday, September 14, when Lady Gaga performs the first of two sold out shows at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Wells Fargo Center will host the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March of 2011, as well as the 2013 NCAA Men’s First and Second Round Basketball Games, and the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four.

Since its opening on August 31, l996, the Wells Fargo Center has put Philadelphia on the map by hosting major national attractions such as the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, the 1997 and 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, the 1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the 1999 American Hockey League All-Star Weekend, the 2000 Women’s NCAA Final Four, the 2000 Republican National Convention, the 2001 NCAA Men’s East Regional, 2001 NBA Finals, the 2001 and 2002 X-Games, the 2002 NBA All-Star Weekend, the 2005 AHL Calder Cup Finals, the 2006 and 2009 NCAA Men’s First and Second Round Basketball Games.

Father of Shawn Bradley dies after falling from roof

The Philadelphia Daily News reports:

The father of former Sixer Shawn Bradley has died after falling off his roof in central Utah.

The Emery County sheriff’s office says 61-year-old Reiner Bradley fell about 15 feet while caulking a rain gutter Wednesday at his home north of Castle Dale.

Shawn Bradley says doctors told the family his father lost consciousness because of a heart attack, then fell off the roof.

76ers sign Tony Battie

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has signed free agent center Tony Battie. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We see Tony Battie as a player who can come in and give us additional depth in the front court while also providing a valuable veteran presence for our younger players both on and off the court,” Stefanski said.

Battie (6-11, 240) recently completed his 12th NBA season and is averaging 6.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.90 blocks in 772 career games with 418 starts. He has also appeared in 51 playoff games with 30 starts and was a member of the Orlando Magic’s Eastern Conference Championship team in 2008-09.

Originally the fifth overall pick by Denver in the 1997 NBA Draft, Battie was traded twice following his rookie season, ending up in Boston. After five full seasons with the Celtics, he was sent to Cleveland early into the 2003-04 campaign, which coincided with LeBron James’ rookie season.

In July of 2004, the Cavaliers packaged Battie in a trade to Orlando, one month after the Magic added Dwight Howard with the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Battie spent the next five seasons with the Magic, including 2005-06 when he started all 82 games with averages of 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds while playing alongside Howard.

Last summer, Battie was traded to New Jersey as part of Orlando’s draft day deal for Vince Carter following the Magic’s run to the NBA Finals in 2009. Battie appeared in 15 games for the Nets last season.

A standout at Texas Tech, Battie left as the Red Raiders all-time leader in blocks despite forgoing his senior season. His brother, Derrick, played basketball at Temple.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Yes, Battie is still alive and well, and in the league. No idea what he has left in the tank. Obvious assumption is that he’s good for 5-8 minutes per game to bang into some people.

Andre Iguodala can grow his name internationally this summer

Tom Moore of The Intelligencer reports:

Andre Iguodala has a chance to make a name for himself internationally this summer.

With most of the elite NBA stars – namely LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tayshaun Prince and Carlos Boozer – withdrawing from competition in 2010 for various reasons, Iguodala could make the USA Basketball National Team and play a key role at the FIBA World Championships beginning Aug. 28 in Turkey.

Iguodala’s versatility is probably his biggest asset.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for him,” said Sixers president Ed Stefanski. “When you’re putting a team together to go overseas to play, a guy like that who can guard 1s, 2s and 3s and play multiple positions at the offensive end is a guy that they’ll look at closely. But there’s competition.”