Philadelphia 76ers Wiretap

Giricek: He Got No Respect, Making Trade No Surprise

Unlike the player he was traded for, Gordan Giricek was neither surprised nor nostalgic when he was dealt to the 76ers.

Giricek joined the team yesterday in Portland after being traded on Saturday along with a future first-round pick from the Utah Jazz for Kyle Korver.

Giricek is earning $4 million in the final year of his contract, and he also had an expiring relationship with Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan.

This season, Giricek had seen limited playing time and had an ongoing feud with the veteran coach.

"I think it's not worth any more to discuss those things," he said before yesterday's game at the Rose Garden against the Portland Trail Blazers. "It has to be water under the bridge. They did everything to help their team, and Philadelphia made their moves and we start from here."

Giricek said he wasn't surprised by the trade because he had asked for the move.

"I loved the city, but somehow I couldn't find a right spot with the team," he said. "The only thing I asked always is to be respected as a man. Not as a basketball player, just as a man. And I didn't feel that was so."

Via Philadelphia Inquirer


Karl Envious Of Utah Acquisition

Not that Nuggets' Coach George Karl thinks the scales have been tipped in the race for the Northwest Division, but he expressed admiration for Utah's acquisition of sharpshooter Kyle Korver.

"Very disappointed," Karl said. "I was a lot of angry yesterday. A lot of cussing. They made a bad situation (possibly) be very good."

Utah traded disgruntled guard Gordan Giricek and a first-round draft pick to Philadelphia for Korver, one of the NBA's better 3-point shooters, on Saturday. Korver holds the 76ers' record for 3-pointers made in a season (226) and owns a career average of 40 percent from behind the arc.

Via Denver Post


Blazers' Winning Streak Hits 13 As Sixers Fall

While Brandon Roy is Portland's top scorer, the Trail Blazers look to Travis Outlaw in the fourth quarter.

Outlaw, a reserve, was 1-for-7 from the floor for the first three quarters but took over in the fourth as the Blazers went on a 21-0 run to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-72 on Sunday for their league-leading 13th straight win.

Via USA Today


Sixers Dec 2007 Archive