Hooped Up

Canadian basketball has got to get rid of Leo Rautins, straight up to win anything!

“Samuel Dalembert hasn’t closed the door on playing basketball for Canada again but says he won’t don a Canadian jersey so long as Leo Rautins is coaching.

The 6-foot-11 centre was in Toronto yesterday as his Philadelphia 76ers beat the Raptors in an NBA pre-season game, just three months removed from his falling out with Rautins at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens.

“I think it would be very immature to just let one person ruin the great things that we have here,” Dalembert said.

But asked if he would consider playing for Rautins, Canada’s head coach, Dalembert said, “No. If you have one slap, you never know when you’re going to get another slap.”

Rautins dropped Dalembert from the team after he picked up just two points on 1-of-8 shooting and two rebounds in a loss to Slovenia – mere hours before Canada’s game against South Korea. ”

Toronto Star

This “beef” seems kinda weird because both of these guys hardly say a word, look like mannerable gents and are never involved in any donny brook-ery.  Maybe this beef cooked up because somebody didn’t say “thank you” or “hello” are something.

“ARGHHH!, I’ll teach you some manners laddy!!!”

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After signing with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free-agent this summer.  Elton Brand is ready to help repeat the success the young 76ers ended the season with,  that lead to a playoff birth.  

It’s hard to travel around the city and not be struck by the welcoming image of the 76ers’ $80 million blockbuster free-agent acquisition.

Much like the ads, Brand and the Philadelphia 76ers won’t sneak up on the NBA this year.

“I think we did sneak up on some teams for a little stretch,” coach Maurice Cheeks said. “But at a certain point, they knew we were coming.”

The team that shook off an abysmal start last season thanks to a fun and fast-breaking style that propelled it into the postseason has a new roster, new star and new attitude. The Sixers expect to win.”

USA Today

Donyell Marshall has been a straight up pro since day one.

“Donyell Marshall knows he won’t be the 76ers’ go-to guy this season. The 6-foot-9 power forward, who signed a veteran minimum contract Tuesday, understands the man above him on the depth chart - two-time all-star Elton Brand - will get the lion’s share of the minutes. That’s fine with Marshall. But when he does get in, he knows his role: spread the floor and make shots. Marshall said his main role, other than knocking down open shots, will be tutoring younger frontcourt players such as Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights and Jason Smith.”

Philadelphia Inquirer

One of the few NBA draft picks from 1994 still rolling.

“The 76ers have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent forward Donyell Marshall on a minimum salary contract, the Daily News has learned. Agent Andy Miller confirmed that Marshall is scheduled to meet with the Sixers tomorrow. It is likely that he will undergo a physical examination and sign a contract within the next few days. ”

Philadelphia Daily News

Theo Ratliff, 35, a veteran of 13 NBA seasons, has sifted through four offers and settled on rejoining the Sixers on a 1-year contract, according to a source familiar with the situation. The source said the 6-10 Ratliff could visit with the Sixers today and accept a 1-year contract for the veterans’ minimum of $1.4 million. By the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, a portion of the salary would be paid out of a leaguewide pool. 

Philadelphia Daily News

The Philadelphia 76ers and swingman Andre Iguodala agreed to a six-year, $80 million contract, according to a report by ESPN on Tuesday.

One of the most athletic players in the league, the 24-year-old Iguodala was an unrestricted free agent. If the two sides had failed to come to an agreement on a long-term deal, Iguodala could have signed a qualifying offer and become a unrestricted free agent after the 2008-09 season.

Instead, Philadelphia locked up its best player and has the look of a team that will be a contender in the Eastern Conference for years to come. The Sixers also signed free-agent forward Elton Brand to a five-year deal worth a reported $82 million earlier this offseason.

National Post

UPDATE:  Hold the phone, this deal is still in the works according to the Philadelphia Daily News

The Sixers have made a flurry of moves - three free-agent signings in three weeks - but yesterday they finally pulled the trigger on one of their own, agreeing with restricted free-agent guard Lou Williams on a five-year deal worth $25 million, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Ed Stefanski, 76ers general manager, had no comment, and Williams’ agent, Merle Scott, did not return calls. 

Philadelphia Inquirer

A lot of players will have much to prove next season but, these players have just that much more to prove.  

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