April 2019 Philadelphia Sixers Wiretap

Joel Embiid Out At Least One Week With Left Knee Soreness

Feb 20, 2019 1:57 PM

Joel Embiid will be out at least one week with left knee soreness.

Embiid underwent an MRI after the All-Star break and it revealed no structural damage.

Embiid will undergo treatment involving physical therapy and load management. 

RealGM Staff Reprt

Tags: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Joel Embiid Has Sharp Words For Referees After Loss To Boston

Feb 13, 2019 1:12 PM

Joel Embiid voiced his frustration with the referees at the end of his postgame press conference following the Philadelphia 76ers' 112-109 loss to the Boston Celtics.

"The referees f---ing suck," said Embiid.

Embiid's comment was unprompted but likely referring to a play in which he was hit across the arms by Al Horford and lost the ball but no foul was called.

Boston is now 10-2 against Philadelphia since the beginning of last season.

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Tags: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA

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NBA Rules Magic Johnson Didn't Commit Tampering On Ben Simmons

Feb 12, 2019 6:53 PM

The NBA has ruled that Magic Johnson did not break any tampering rules when he spoke about meeting with Ben Simmons.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the NBA said: "We have concluded that Magic Johnson’s statements regarding Ben Simmons do not constitute a tampering violation. The Philadelphia 76ers initiated the contact with the Los Angeles Lakers by requesting a meeting between Johnson and Simmons. Both organizations ultimately concluded that such a meeting did not make sense at this time but in that context, Johnson’s response to a media inquiry regarding Simmons does not run afoul of league rules."

Johnson revealed over the weekend that Simmons expressed a desire to meet, through an intermediary.

NBA.com

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA

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RealGM Radio: Kevin Pelton on the Revamped Eastern Conference

Feb 12, 2019 4:53 PM

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Kevin Pelton of ESPN (@kpelton) talk about the state of the NBA after the trade deadline. 

They discuss the new hierarchy in the Eastern Conference, what they are watching between now and the playoffs, potential impacts on 2019 free agency and much more.

 

Sponsored by Peter Millar (petermillar.com/realgm), Art of Sport (ArtofSport.com), Betonline.ag and TrueCar

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on iTunes or via the RSS feed

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia Sixers, Toronto Raptors, NBA, RealGM Radio

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Elton Brand Apologizes To Magic Johnson For Ben Simmons Story

Feb 12, 2019 10:49 AM

Elton Brand called Magic Johnson to apologize for insinuating the Los Angeles Lakers called unprompted to receive permission for Johnson to speak with Ben Simmons.

In the interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Monday morning, Brand said, "[Lakers GM] Rob Pelinka called me and said that Ben wanted to talk to Hall of Famers after the season; Magic was on the list. He asked for authorization ... I said no."

Brand didn't mention that someone from the 76ers contacted Pelinka first at the urging of one of Simmons' brothers.

The Lakers issued a statement later Monday that read: "To clarify, last November the 76ers sent an email to the Lakers asking if Ben Simmons would be able to speak with Magic Johnson about his Hall of Fame playing career. After receiving the email request from the 76ers, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka contacted 76ers General Manager Elton Brand and informed him that Magic could only do so if the 76ers gave him pre-written approval. That was the end of the matter."

Brand told ESPN earlier Monday that Simmons simply wanted the Sixers to help him facilitate "chatting with some of the game's all-time greats."

"No issue," Brand told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "I have a great relationship with Ben and [his agent] Rich [Paul] and we expect him to be a Sixer for a long time. He has taken interest in chatting with some of the game's all-time greats and we're supportive.

"I had brief dialogue with Rob Pelinka, who I've known for a long time, but nothing is planned. Our collective focus is on making a postseason push. Again, we're not sweating this -- end of story."

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: Ben Simmons, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Ben Simmons Would Like To Receive Mentorship From Magic Johnson

Feb 11, 2019 1:49 PM

Ben Simmons reportedly reached out to the Los Angeles Lakers about receiving some level of mentorship this offseason from Magic Johnson.

"[Simmons] reached out to me, not to me directly, to the Lakers to find out if we can get together this summer," Johnson said. "I said, 'Hey, you got to clear it with the league,' and if everybody -- the Sixers sign off, we sign off, the league sign off -- fine, I will do that. But if everybody doesn't sign off, then we can't get together.

"But I love his game. I love his vision. I love also, too, he's very, in terms of basketball IQ, very high basketball IQ."

Simmons said he isn't focused on speaking to Johnson "right now," but he touched on why that conversation could be beneficial.

"He's been in multiple situations where he's had to play the 5, and he won a championship that way, and just a Hall of Famer, one of those guys who is in the position I'm in ... I think he can help," Simmons said.

When asked about Johnson's comments on Simmons, a team spokesman for the Sixers declined comment to ESPN.

According to Elton Brand via 95.7 The Fan, the 76ers rejected a request from Rob Pelinka for Simmons to meet with Johnson.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Ben Simmons, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Tobias Harris On Sixers Debut: 'Couldn't Ask For Anything More'

Feb 9, 2019 1:18 PM

Tobias Harris finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds in his Philadelphia 76ers debut as they beat the Denver Nuggets 117-110. The game featured Moses Malone's jersey getting retired at halftime.

"It was awesome. In all seriousness, you couldn't ask for anything more. Me personally, I'm just sitting here like, 'Wow.'...it was funny...after the game, somebody texted me and sent me a video of me smiling after a play. They wrote, 'This is literally the first time I've ever seen you actually smile in a game.' And I was like, 'You ain't lyin.'", said Harris.

The Sixers unveiled a starting lineup of Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid, which also closed the game.

That lineup played 17 minutes and outscored the Nuggets by 14 points, posting a 124.1 offensive rating and 89.2 defensive rating.

Redick noted the versatility of that lineup.

"I thought it looked great just coming off the court right away. We have a lot of options, a lot of versatility, and you saw a glimpse of it down the stretch tonight where I think each guy made a play down the stretch, and that's who we can be."


Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Tags: Tobias Harris, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Elton Brand: Sixers 'Are In A Position To Contend Now'

Feb 9, 2019 2:07 AM

Elton Brand stated that he realized that the championship window for the Philadelphia 76ers was open after seeing how much Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons improved over the summer. 

“So the window is now. The opportunity is now. So once I saw that [Embiid and Simmons improved over the summer], we discussed taking a shot at it now, because who knows how long that window is going to be open?”

On trading for Tobias Harris, Brand added that "we believe we are in a position to contend now, and our moves reflect that.”

Brand said he received assurances that Sixers ownership was willing to spend this summer to keep the group together.

“I’ve gotten assurances from the managing partners that we can bring them back and sign them for what we need to sign them for. A lot of things need to happen before that. But we are all on board to keep this core together a long time.”

Keith Pompey/The Inquirer

Tags: Tobias Harris, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Official Trade

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76ers, Pelicans Reportedly Had Conversation On Ben Simmons For Anthony Davis

Feb 8, 2019 5:10 PM

The Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans reportedly had discussions on a trade centered on Ben Simmons for Anthony Davis.

Both Davis and Simmons are represented by Rich Paul.

"That's why I was so intrigued by the Ben Simmons for Davis (scenario)," said Bill Simmons. "By the way, I heard there were conversations on both sides with that."

Simmons will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason and his fit with the 76ers is not quite settled.

Bill Simmons/The Ringer

Tags: Ben Simmons, Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Clippers Don't Consider Jimmy Butler One Of Their Top Free Agent Targets

Feb 8, 2019 3:18 PM

The Los Angeles Clippers are not expected to have Jimmy Butler as one of their top-tier targets in free agency. Butler may not even be pursued at all by the Clippers.

The Clippers are known to prefer Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant for their 2019 free agency.

Butler was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Philadelphia 76ers in November. With the cost to acquire Butler and the ability to offer him an extra season, the 76ers are widely considered the frontrunners to re-sign him.

Butler has had strong ties to Los Angeles over the years.

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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76ers, Pelicans Discussed Markelle Fultz For Nikola Mirotic Trade

Zach Lowe/ESPN

RealGM Radio: Trade Deadline Special

RealGM Staff Report

Magic Acquire Markelle Fultz From 76ers For Jonathon Simmons, OKC's 2020 FRP

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Rockets Trade James Ennis To 76ers For 2021 2nd Round Swap

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Hawks, Magic Have Expressed Interest In Markelle Fultz

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

76ers Acquire Malachi Richardson, 2022 2nd Round Pick From Raptors

RealGM Staff Report

Sixers Trade For Tobias Harris, Plan To Re-Sign Harris And Jimmy Butler To Create Big 4

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Knicks Receiving Interest In Wesley Matthews

Marc Berman/New York Post

Wilson Chandler To Miss 2-3 Weeks With Quad Strain

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Brett Brown On Sixers' Needs Before Trade Deadline: 'Depth Is The Holy Grail'

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Sixers, Jazz Express Interest In Nikola Mirotic

Sean Deveney/Sporting News