Certain Sixers employees to face temporary salary reductions

The economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak are now being felt by members of the 76ers organization.

As the coronavirus crisis continues to rage, certain members of the Philadelphia 76ers organization will start to feel the economic effects of the outbreak.

Per Marc Stein of The New York Times, at-will employees of both the Sixers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils (both owned by Joshua Harris) that make more than $50,000 will be subject to temporary salary reductions of up to 20 percent, starting April 15 and continuing through the end of June.

The economic impacts of the outbreak became inevitable as the crisis deepened, and athletes across the sports world have rallied to help some of those affected.

Stein also notes that contracted employees, like members of the coaching staff and front office, have been asked to participate in the program but cannot be forced. According to Stein, Sixers general manager Elton Brand, team president Chris Heck, and Blitzer Sports and Entertainment CEO Scott O’Neil have agreed to participate.

A source told Stein that the move was made in hopes of avoiding layoffs and that no changes were made to 401k or health benefits.

Honestly, this isn’t the greatest look for Harris, but hopefully, the move will prevent the necessity of more drastic measures. On the bright side, it’s nice that Brand, Heck, and O’Neil voluntarily participated. [lawrence-related id=28082,28024]

Sixers update status of Ben Simmons, will miss at least 3 more weeks

The Sixers announced that Ben Simmons is “progressing” and will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been without Ben Simmons for two weeks after he suffered a nerve impingement in his lower back against the Bucks on February 22. On Wednesday, the team updated Simmons’ status, and the news wasn’t particularly encouraging.

While the team said that Simmons “continues to progress” and “is gradually increasing the activities in his strength and conditioning program,” there was no specific mention of basketball activities and the statement concluded with the announcement that he will be re-evaluated in three weeks. As such, we know Simmons won’t return to the court until at least early April and that he will miss at least 11 more games.

The Sixers have gone 3-4 since Simmons’ injury, 3-5 if you include the Bucks game in which he played just five minutes before leaving with the injury.

The timeline given by the team on Wednesday would put his next evaluation date on April 1, with the next game after that period coming on April 3 against the Wizards.

The good news is that the Sixers have a manageable schedule over those next 11 games, with the likes of the Wizards, Hornets, Hawks, Suns, Wolves, Bulls and Blazers. The stretch also includes more challenging contests against the Pacers, Raptors and Rockets. You would think the team has enough to navigate that stretch with a winning record.

The bad news is plentiful. Most obviously, you want Simmons back as soon as possible. In addition, it’s concerning that there was no mention of basketball activities and that we were given another evaluation date rather than a timeline for a return. Finally, even if Simmons was able to return immediately after the next evaluation, there would be only seven games remaining before the start of the playoffs, not giving Simmons or the team a ton of time to develop some rhythm and momentum heading into the postseason.

Also, the team hasn’t inspired a ton of confidence that it can handle business against “lesser” teams even when at full strength, so it’s possible it could continue to stumble without its All-Star point guard.

For now, the Sixers will have to hope Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson can return to full health and help the team stay afloat as they await Simmons’ return and that he can get back on the court shortly after the next update. We won’t know for another three weeks.

Josh Richardson diagnosed with concussion after leaving Clippers game

The shorthanded Sixers are dealing with more injury problems as Josh Richardson has been diagnosed with a concussion.

The shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers put up a valiant effort Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Clippers, coming up just short in a 136-130 loss. Unfortunately, the already injury-plagued Sixers didn’t make it out of the game healthy.

Josh Richardson left the game in the second quarter after colliding with teammate Alec Burks. Richardson sat on the court for an extended period of time before walking off with a towel covering his face. The Sixers quickly ruled Richardson out for the rest of the game with what was called a “nose contusion,” and now we have learned it’s a bit more serious than that as the team announced he has a concussion and has been placed in the league’s concussion protocol.

Obviously, this is the last thing the Sixers need right now as they are already without Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and have another tough game against the Lakers coming up on Tuesday.

As Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin notes, Richardson will be reassessed tomorrow, and hopefully, he will return sooner than later as the Sixers jockey for playoff positioning and try to build some momentum heading into the postseason. [lawrence-related id=26871,26854]

 

Glenn Robinson III opens up on trade, slow start with Sixers

Robinson III discussed the difficulties of transitioning to the Sixers and shared his thoughts on his new team’s potential.

The trade deadline acquisition of Glenn Robinson III by the Philadelphia 76ers hasn’t provided the boost the team had hoped through the first six games of the experiment. Instead, Robinson’s short time in Philly has mirrored the up-and-down, drama-filled movie Sixers fans have been watching all season long.

Robinson debuted for the Sixers on February 9 against the Bulls with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting in just 12 minutes of action, providing a bit of fluidity and movement the offense has been sorely lacking. However, he’s failed to score more than six points since that debut and hasn’t knocked down a single 3-point attempt in a Sixers uniform (0-for-9) despite connecting on a 40% clip from deep while with the Warriors.

On Thursday, in an interview published on basketballinsiders.com by Spencer Davies, Robinson opened up about the midseason trade and the slow start in Philadelphia.

Robinson discussed the human element of the trade, the challenge of uprooting your entire life in a short period of time, and the difficulties of trying to meet his responsibilities as a professional through all that.

While Robinson has a point there, there’s another quote that, fairly or unfairly, is going to garner the headlines.

“When you come here and your role’s not really explained or you don’t know what’s going on with the trade — it’s not like it was a trade where you come in and immediately have an impact. It’s a little different, so… this team is full of wings, full of guys who can play. So really, I don’t really understand it.”

On the surface, that’s a pretty scathing indictment of the coach. It’s the coach’s job to integrate new players, get them up to speed, and find ways for them to help the team. Robinson clearly feels that Brett Brown has failed to do those things, and the early returns support that notion.

However, it’s a two-way street. The player needs to have a professional attitude, and at the end of the day, it’s the player’s job to go out and make shots. Robinson’s 3-point prowess was the main factor in his acquisition by the Sixers so that 0-for-9 looks bad and takes a little weight out of Robinson’s complaints about his role. Make the shots you are expected to make and you’ll stay on the court.

Now, there’s more at play here than X’s and O’s. Robinson is in a contract year and was having a career-best season with the hapless Warriors. Pretty good timing for a guy looking for a payday. But after starting 48 out of 48 games for the Warriors and averaging nearly 32 minutes per game in Golden State, Robinson has started two of his six games as a Sixer and is playing just 14.5 minutes per night. The move to a contending team could potentially disrupt Robinson’s quest for a lucrative contract.

Coming off a loss to the lowly Cavaliers and facing injury concerns regarding the team’s two franchise players, the last thing the Sixers need is a disgruntled employee making comments to the media and seemingly throwing the coach under the bus. However, in fairness to Robinson, there are a few things we have to consider.

First, his frustration is understandable. He’s a basketball player and a competitor, and he wants to play, compete, and show what he can do. He was getting that opportunity with the Warriors, and now it’s been significantly reduced. Furthermore, the window to get paid for professional athletes is a rather small one, and it’s only natural that Robinson wants to take full advantage of the opportunities he has to do so.

Second, while the above quote is the part of the article that will elicit eyeball emojis and consequently draw all the attention, it doesn’t paint the full picture. Robinson went on to discuss the prospects of success for the Sixers and put forth an optimistic front.

“A lot of talent. I think we can go as far as we stick together and want to go. We’ve just got a lot of great players and they know how to play the game. That’s the biggest thing, so as long as we can stick together, come together… it’s about defense for this group. We’ve got all the talent in the world to score. I think that we’ve got high chances.”

That doesn’t sound like a guy who is completely displeased with his circumstances or one who wants to let personal frustrations get in the way of team goals. The timing and tone of Robinson’s comments weren’t ideal, but they also weren’t the “one bad apple spoils the bunch” type of comments that they will be made out to be.

The good news, at least for Robinson, is that with injuries to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid he is likely to get a more extended opportunity to show what he can do. Hopefully, for both him and the Sixers, he can get back to playing the way he was in Golden State as the Sixers desperately try to salvage a once-promising season. [lawrence-related id=26229,25936,25657,25412]

 

Sixers achieve dubious feat in latest road loss

The Sixers made the wrong kind of NBA history with Wednesday’s 108-94 loss to the Cavs.

The road has not been kind to the 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a sparkling 27-2 home record and a 36-23 mark overall, the team is a dismal 9-21 away from home.

The latest setback came in Wednesday’s disappointing 108-94 loss to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. Adding to the frustration and disappointment is the fact that the most recent defeat gave the Sixers an unflattering distinction in NBA history.

The loss marked the team’s seventh straight road loss, each of which came by double digits. The Sixers are now the only team in the history of the NBA to lose seven straight road games by double-figures while having a winning record. The dubious feat was dug up by NBCS Philly’s John Clark.

It’s a shocking stat that serves to really highlight Philadelphia’s baffling performance on the road.

The team is currently dealing with a litany of problems, from injuries and coaching concerns to inconsistent play, roster construction, and salary concerns, and the road woes serve as a microcosm of many of those issues.

As the season moves towards the stretch run, there’s little indication that the team has the ability to get the road issues figured out, and based on its current position in the standings it’s hard to imagine it has much chance of making real noise in the playoffs without the benefit of home-court advantage.

This isn’t the kind of NBA history the team had planned on making when the season tipped off, and this unwelcome feat illustrates just how disappointing this season has been for the Sixers. [lawrence-related id=26589,26571,26562]

Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III won’t make Sixers debut Friday

Reinforcements for the Sixers haven’t arrived quite yet as Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III will not make their debuts Friday.

Mired in a four-game losing streak, the Philadelphia 76ers and their fans are desperate for any kind of change or infusion of energy. The most tangible possibility of those desires comes in the form of Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III, added by the team ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline from the Golden State Warriors.

The duo understandably missed Thursday’s tilt against the Milwaukee Bucks, a 112-101 defeat that closed a disastrous four-game road trip for the team and dropped Philadelphia’s road record to a dismal 9-19.

The team, mercifully, returns home for a Friday night matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. While the team hopes the return to friendly confines proves beneficial, it will still be without its two newest acquisitions as Burks and Robinson III will not make their Sixers debuts just yet as reported by NBCSPhilly’s Serena Winters.

The reason for the delay is unclear, but Sixers Insider Joe Johnson reports that the duo is expected to arrive tomorrow and “could” play Sunday against the Bulls.

For now, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and company will attempt to get back on track Friday night without the reinforcements. We’ll have to wait and see if we get any further clarification on the delayed arrival of Burks and Robinson III.

Sixers-Grizzlies is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip at Wells Fargo Center. [lawrence-related id=25136,25085,25077,25069,25062]

 

Acquisition of Burks, Robinson III creates more decisions for Sixers

Acquiring two players while not sending any out means the Sixers will have to find a way to trim the roster.

Elton Brand and the Philadelphia 76ers were expected to be active ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline as the club scrambles to right the ship and give itself a chance to live up to lofty preseason expectations.

Just after midnight Thursday morning, with about 15 hours remaining before the deadline, we got the first report of activity from the Sixers when Adrian Wojnarowski reported the team had acquired Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III from the Warriors for draft compensation.

By acquiring two players while not sending any out, the move will prompt further action from the Sixers as they find themselves over the roster limit. The only question is exactly what that action will be.

One option is to simply waive two players. Jonah Bolden, Kyle O’Quinn, Raul Neto, and Trey Burke would seem to be the most likely players the team would consider moving on from in this scenario.

The other possibility is that this move is a precursor to another one in which the Sixers send out two more players than they receive, a three-for-one for example.

It feels like the second scenario is the more likely one, as it’s debatable just how much the acquisition of Burks and Robinson III moves the needle for the Sixers.

However, it’s fair to question just how big of a move the Sixers could actually pull off, or if they are even interested in doing something drastic rather than improving on the margins. Even if they are just looking to improve on the margins, it’s still possible they could find a three-for-one deal to accomplish that.

What we know for sure is that the Sixers will need to shed two players one way or another. Whether that’s through waiving a pair of players or by making another move before 3 p.m. Thursday only time will tell. Until then, it will be interesting to see if Brand has anything else up his sleeve.

 

Sixers acquire Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III from Warriors

The Sixers have made their first move ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III from the Warriors.

Things have not been going well for the Philadelphia 76ers, prompting plenty of speculation that the team would be active at the trade deadline as they try to salvage a season that began with championship aspirations. With some glaring needs and the fact that the team has fully committed to win-now mode, it would certainly make sense that Philadelphia would want to fine-tune the roster as much as possible.

Shortly after midnight Thursday morning, we got the first news of trade activity regarding the Sixers. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Sixers acquired Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for draft compensation.

The Athletic’s Derek Bodner reports that the trade capital heading to Golden State includes Dallas’ 2020 second-rounder, Denver’s 2021 second-rounder, and Toronto’s 2022 second-rounder.

For Philadelphia, the cost was minimal as the team still holds a plethora of other second-round picks over the next four drafts, many of which are expected to more valuable than the ones the Sixers parted with to obtain Burks and Robinson III.

Burks, a 6-6 shooting guard, is averaging a career-high 16.1 points for the Warriors in his eighth season as a pro. He adds 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 37.5% from 3.

Robinson III is also averaging career-highs in scoring (12.9), rebounding (4.7) and assists (1.8) as he logs heavy minutes for the injury-depleted Warriors. The 6-6 wing is in his sixth season and is shooting 40% from 3. He had a 10-game run with the Sixers in 2015.

We’ll have to wait to see if Elton Brand as anything else up his sleeve ahead of Thursday’s 3 PM deadline.