While some may chide the Sixers for their rebuilding through the draft lottery strategy, the team could most certainly get the last laugh, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. In comparing the Sixers and the Celtics, Bulpett favors the Sixers situation because they have more actual NBA prospects on the roster, rather than having to gamble solely on future first-round picks working out favorably.
Here’s more from the east:
- The Knicks were one of the teams that attended Kentucky’s weekend scouting combine, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com reports (Twitter link). New York possesses a first-rounder in next year’s NBA Draft, a rare occurrence for the franchise in recent years, and the Wildcats are expected to field a number of lottery prospects this season.
- New Cavs head coach David Blatt is transitioning from Europe to the NBA, and Jordan Brenner of ESPN.com chronicles his journey. Brenner traces Blatt’s steps back the the U.S., and opines that establishing a rapport with the game’s best and most powerful player, LeBron James, will be his most crucial task.
- New Knicks point guard Jose Calderon is destined to become a fan favorite, mainly because Calderon is replacing the departed Raymond Felton, Frank Isola of The New York Daily News writes. “Well, I want to be better,” Calderon said of replacing Felton. “I don’t know if it’s going to be because of me. I’m going to try to do my best for this team to do the best we can do, go as far as we can go. It’s not only one thing. I think we are a team, too many things to say only one position, one weakness. Last year, I don’t know how many wins they had — 30-something — don’t think it’s only one guy.”
Chris Crouse contributed to this post.