While his basketball team stood in stasis, going most of the summer without hiring a head coach or signing a free agent, Sixers owner Josh Harris was busy purchasing the NHL's New Jersey Devils. That's led to speculation that the Sixers could join Harris' hockey team in the Garden State, but Harris seemed to dispel that sort of chatter when he spoke to reporters today, including Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, saying, "My answer to the fans is that I love the Sixers in Philly. I'm all in it." Pompey, Tom Moore of Calkins Media and Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com pass along more from Harris via Twitter, and we'll hit the highlights here along with other notes on the team most Hoops Rumors readers believe will finish this season with the NBA's worst record:
- Harris deemed last season "a big disappointment," so, "That made me feel empowered to make some changes," he said.
- Andrew Bynum didn't play a game for the Sixers last season, but Harris doesn't regret the trade that brought the center to Philly. "Getting Andrew Bynum was the right decision," the owner said. "I'm a big boy. We made a decision. It didn't work out."
- Harris acknowledges some of the team's other player personnel decisions haven't been sound, but he remains confident that the team can become a winner sooner or later.
- The owner said he's been traditionally more of a fan of basketball than hockey, and he insists he will remain committed to his NBA team even though he has the Devils now, too. "I'm totally focused on the Sixers," Harris said. "It won't change one iota how driven I am to make this a championship team."
- James Anderson is on a non-guaranteed contract, but he's practicing with the first unit and, as Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News points out, he appears to be the Sixers starting shooting guard for now (Twitter link).
- The team's strategy of overlooking this season's win-loss record might not sit well with fans, but at least the Sixers are doing so as part of a greater plan, Pompey opines.
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