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Sixers Waive Christian Wood

January 5th, 2016 at 7:24pm CST by Chuck Myron

TUESDAY, 7:24pm: Upon clearing waivers, Wood is expected to join the Sixers’ D-League’s affiliate, the Delaware 87ers, a league source informed Adam Johnson of the D-League Digest (Twitter link).

MONDAY, 12:47pm: The move is official, the team announced via press release.

11:39am: The Sixers will release power forward Christian Wood to make room for Elton Brand, reports Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Brand is poised to sign with the team today, as Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported about an hour ago, and the Sixers, with 15 players on the roster, have to offload one of them to make way for Brand. Wood has a four-year deal for the minimum salary, but only $50K was guaranteed. He’s earned more than that $50K by sticking on the roster as long as he has, so the Sixers won’t owe him any more money if they cut him today.

It would be no surprise to see Wood go, as he’s seen only 13 minutes of action for Philadelphia since November 20th. The Sixers have assigned him to the D-League three times since then, and the team has yet to recall him from his most recent assignment, which began December 18th. The undrafted rookie from UNLV has averaged 3.6 points in 8.1 minutes per game in 14 appearances on the NBA level. His D-League numbers were much better, naturally, as he posted 15.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per contest, but it appears they weren’t attractive enough to keep him on an NBA roster.

Philadelphia chose to retain Wood for opening night instead of shooting guard Scottie Wilbekin, in spite of Wilbekin’s $200K partial guarantee. Wood, one of the most well-regarded prospects to be passed over on draft night this year, reportedly struck a deal with the Rockets shortly after the draft, but that never materialized into a formal signing, allowing the Sixers to swoop in. Houston has an open roster spot, though the Rockets would have to wait for Wood to clear waivers to revisit the idea of adding him.

Do you think we’ll see Wood in the NBA again soon? Leave a comment to tell us.

Atlantic Notes: Yormark, Grant, Crowder

December 18th, 2015 at 6:39pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Nets CEO Brett Yormark admits that the franchise is having attendance issues with fans in the Barclays Center, particularly with no-shows, but said he expects that the franchise will rebound and be a “major player” in free agency next summer, NetsDaily.com relays. Yormark is banking on free agents being drawn to the team’s youthful core and believes that its $50MM Sunset Park training facility, scheduled to open in February, will attract top players, NetsDaily notes. Brooklyn is currently projected to have approximately $32MM-$38MM in free cap space next summer, depending on the amount of next year’s salary cap.

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Knicks rookie Jerian Grant has been struggling mightily this season, and the point guard chalks much of his woes up to his failure to adapt to the triangle offense, Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News relays (via Twitter). Grant is averaging 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 17.2 minutes per contest on the season.
Jae Crowder‘s grit, defense and wide-ranging skillset have come to embody the current Celtics team philosophy, despite the small forward being considered a throw in when he was acquired as part of last season’s Rajon Rondo trade with the Mavericks, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes in his look back at the swap.
The Sixers have assigned power forward Christian Wood to their D-League affiliate in Delaware, the team announced via a press release. This marks Wood’s third stint with the 87ers on the season.

Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Celtics, Sixers

December 14th, 2015 at 8:14pm CST by Will Joseph

While some of the Raptors‘ highest-paid players continue to struggle, cheaper commodities that were obtained during the summer such as Bismack Biyombo and Luis Scola are carrying the team, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun details. Scola, who signed a one-year deal for $2.9MM, and Biyombo, who agreed to a two-year pact for nearly $5.755MM, have emerged as dependable starters. Meanwhile, stats indicate that the team is better when DeMarre Carroll, the team’s highest-paid player, is not on the court, according to Wolstat.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:

The Celtics have recalled Jordan Mickey from their D-League affiliate, the team announced (on Twitter).
The Sixers recalled Christian Wood from the D-League, Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com tweets. Wood averaged 19.3 points and 11 rebounds per game in three games in the D-League.
Kelly Olynyk, whom the Celtics exercised their fourth-year option on in October, is enjoying a strong season in part because he is shooting the ball more than he ever has, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com details. “He brings something different with his ability to really stretch the floor,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “Not only from 3-point line shooting it, but also with his ability to make plays off the bounce when he catches it outside the arc. We need him to continue to play well for us to be a good team.”

Eastern Notes: Fournier, Green, Young

December 8th, 2015 at 2:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

Evan Fournier‘s camp sought significantly more than $10MM a year in extension talks this fall, sources told Zach Lowe of ESPN.com. The Bouna Ndiaye client turned down a four-year, $32MM offer from Orlando, as Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported earlier. The Magic might wish they’d upped the number in their proposal, Lowe opines, believing that the team’s decision to bench former No. 2 overall pick Victor Oladipo is, at its simplest, because Fournier is a better player and better option for the Magic as a starting two guard than Oladipo is. See more from the Eastern Conference:

Gerald Green drew criticism for his defense from Suns coach Jeff Hornacek last season, but the Heat signed him in large measure because they saw potential in him for that end of the floor, and the 29-year-old has embraced that part of the game, as Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post details. He wants to parlay his performance on a one-year, minimum-salary deal into a long-term contract with the Heat, Lieser writes. “I’m trying to find a home, and can’t Miami be my home?” he said. “That’s where my intentions are. So what is a Miami Heat requirement? To D-up. I know if I want to be here the rest of my career, [forget] offense. I gotta D up. That’s where my mind is at.”
Frequent D-League assignee James Young had perhaps his best NBA game Monday against New Orleans, an auspicious sign for the development of last year’s 17th overall pick, and it wouldn’t have happened if not for Celtics coach Brad Stevens, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. It was Stevens who decided to cut short Young’s latest D-League assignment Friday, believing he might need him for depth purposes with R.J. Hunter out.
The Sixers have assigned Carl Landry and Christian Wood to the D-League, as Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com relays via Twitter. It’s a rehab assignment for Landry as he continues to make his way back from a right wrist injury, Seltzer notes, and he’s not expected to play any games for the Delaware 87ers, the Sixers affiliate, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

Atlantic Notes: Scola, Okafor, Wood, Early

December 2nd, 2015 at 11:02am CST by Chuck Myron

Luis Scola harked back to his Rockets days as he added an effective 3-point shot to his repertoire for this season, telling Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today that the difference is that he’s allowed the shot to come natually to him, unlike his attempts to add the long-range look in the past. Scola is one of several big men around the league who are extending their range, as Zillgitt examines, and it’s added value to the one-year, $2.9MM deal Scola signed with the Raptors in the summer.

“Houston loves analytics and is big on that. I tried to learn from them a lot,” Scola said. “They planted that seed and said, ‘You’ve got to do this if you want to move forward with the NBA.’”

See more from the Atlantic Division:

TMZ Sports obtained a video that depicts second altercation involving Jahlil Okafor on November 25th, the same night he was allegedly involved in a fight with a heckler outside a Boston nightclub. Boston police officials told TMZ that charges are likely to be filed. The Sixers will provide Okafor with a bodyguard going forward, coach Brett Brown said Tuesday, clearing up some confusion from earlier.
Neither the Sixers nor their D-League affiliate formally announced the move, but the Sixers assigned Christian Wood to their D-League affiliate Tuesday and recalled him later in the day, according to the D-League. Philly sent the rookie down so he could practice with the D-League team, the Delaware 87ers said, according to Adam Johnson of D-League Digest (Twitter link).
The Knicks assigned Cleanthony Early to their D-League affiliate today, the team announced (on Twitter). New York had just recalled Early on Monday, and the plan is for him to again rejoin the NBA squad in time for tonight’s game, tweets Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Atlantic Notes: Stauskas, Wood, Porzingis

November 11th, 2015 at 8:27pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Sixers may have taken Nik Stauskas with their second first-rounder during the 2014 draft if the sharpshooter was there, but the team is happy to have the guard on the roster now, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun reports (Twitter links). “He’s been good. I think his upside is high. I think the bounce and the athleticism has always intrigued us,” coach Brett Brown said. Philadelphia instead took Elfrid Payton with the No. 10 overall pick and traded him to Orlando for the rights to Dario Saric and a future first-rounder.

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Prior to the 2015 draft, Christian Wood believed he could have been selected as high as No. 13 by the Suns and that he wouldn’t fall past the Grizzlies at No. 25, but the forward understands why that didn’t happen, Jake Fischer of SI.com writes. “Memphis told me how much they liked me,” Wood said. “A lot of NBA teams didn’t want to take the risk. Some teams thought I was lazy, some teams thought I didn’t give effort 100% all of the time. I think that played a big part into it.” Wood signed a four-year, partially guaranteed deal with the Sixers before the season started.
The Nets will send their first round pick this season to the Celtics as a result of the Kevin Garnett trade and with the team struggling so far, the pick is looking like it will be a top selection. While sending that kind of asset to a division rival isn’t ideal, Brooklyn shouldn’t sacrifice any more future assets in order to improve the team this season and therefore send a worse asset to Boston, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post opines. Bontemps notes that Brooklyn could have close to $40MM in cap space next summer, so while the team may endure a down season, it’ll have an opportunity to make a quick turnaround.
Kristaps Porzingis has exceeded expectations for the Knicks and some around the league are comparing him to Dirk Nowitzki, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. “That kid is going to be a heck of a player,’’ said Raptors coach Dwane Casey, who coached Nowitzki for three seasons. “He’s long — nowhere near Dirk yet. But he’s Dirk-like from his length, his range with his 3-point shot. He’s fearless and he’s long and a rebounder. He rebounds with his length. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with in this league for a long time.’’

76ers To Cut Scottie Wilbekin, Keep Christian Wood

October 26th, 2015 at 1:46pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Sixers will waive Scottie Wilbekin and have told Christian Wood that he’s made the opening night roster, reports Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Wilbekin has a partial guarantee of $200K, while Wood’s partial guarantee is worth only $50K. The move takes the Sixers closer to the regular season roster limit of 15, though with Wilbekin, J.P. Tokoto and Pierre Jackson the reported cuts today, the team still must part ways with at least two more players.

Wilbekin, 22, displayed a scoring touch in the preseason, averaging 10.0 points in 17.6 minutes per game across five appearances. Still, it wasn’t enough for the undrafted shooting guard from the University of Florida.

Wood, another undrafted rookie, joined the Sixers after a deal with the Rockets fell through. The 20-year-old power forward from UNLV posted 6.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game over five preseason contests with Philadelphia.

Atlantic Notes: Clarke, Fisher, Wood, Young

October 22nd, 2015 at 8:14pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Derek Fisher experienced a difficult rookie season as Knicks head coach, but he feels that 2014/15’s growing pains are merely part of the learning process, and Fisher, who defied expectations throughout his playing career, may end up doing the same as a coach, writes Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. “Just continuing to chip away at what my vision is for coaching and teaching and leading,” Fisher told Ding of his approach this season, “Last year, coming in, I was learning and trying to figure out the best leadership styles. How do you work with players? How do you criticize players in a constructive way? All these things were unknowns. Just really learning as I went along. Not that I know the world of basketball a year later, per se, but I’m just more confident in what it is I expect and better able to articulate that to our players. Being really clear about what I want and not so much me trying to find that vision.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Combo forward Coty Clarke, who was waived by the Celtics on Tuesday, will play this season for Boston’s D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, Adam Johnson of D-League Digest relays (via Twitter).
Being passed over in this year’s NBA Draft is what is driving Sixers power forward Christian Wood throughout the preseason, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Wood, who is signed to a partially guaranteed deal, believes that he has a solid shot to make the team’s regular season roster, Breen notes. “I want to show every team what they missed out on,” Wood said. “I’m hustling on every loose ball. Giving it my all and giving it my 100% on every possession. I’m lucky to have a shot with the 76ers.”
Celtics swingman James Young chalks up a hefty chunk of his rookie difficulties last season to growing pains and believes he’s now on the correct path as a player, Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald writes. “Last year, I just wasn’t thinking straight about the game,” Young said. “Now, I feel like I’m by that and I can just play my game.” When asked what was weighing on his mind last season, Young told Bulpett, “Hesitating, going back and forth to the D-League, off the court issues with my mom, family stuff. Everything’s caught up now, so I’m good.”

Atlantic Notes: Anthony, Robinson, Holmes, Wood

October 14th, 2015 at 9:28pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony issued a challenge to the team’s coaching staff to hold him accountable for any mistakes he makes on the court, and he hopes that this tactic will help make him a better player, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes. “Call it out in the film session so everybody can see that and hear that. By them doing that, it kind of forces me to be at the top level of my game on both ends of the court,” Anthony said. “Call it out in the film session so everybody can see that and hear that. By them doing that, it kind of forces me to be at the top level of my game on both ends of the court.”

The veteran scorer also noted that the team is taking more of a group approach to coaching this season, which is a change from last season when coach Derek Fisher was the only one calling players out for their errors, Begley adds. “It’s more of a collective unit,” Anthony continued. “… We’re just sitting down with [members of the coaching staff and video department] and sitting down with players on the team kind of going through different scenarios, different situations and just kind of wanting to be held accountable out there.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Thomas Robinson is hoping to shed the journeyman label that he has acquired and to resurrect his career with the Nets, writes Tim Bontemps of The New York Post. The combo forward also relayed that signing with Brooklyn this offseason was an easy decision for him to make, Bontemps adds. “Because they showed interest from Day One,” Robinson said. “Even at the draft, they showed heavy interest, and then the pick got swapped out. Over the years, I’ve just liked it was a new organization, and they were building something, and it’s New York. … I wanted to be here in New York. I’m glad I’m here a few years down the road, after the stuff I’ve been through. I’m more mature now than I was when I probably wanted to come here. [I want to] take advantage of all of my opportunities. I feel like I’m right back where I was getting drafted again … now it’s just time.”
Sixers rookies Richaun Holmes and Christian Wood were afterthoughts when the team began training camp, and now both have become key figures for Philly heading into the season thanks to a run of frontcourt injuries, Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Daily News writes.

Sixers Notes: Hinkie, Embiid, Brown, Landry

October 1st, 2015 at 12:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

Sixers owner Josh Harris admits that it’s difficult to watch his team lose, but he insists that he doesn’t want to sacrifice the franchise’s long-term rebuilding plan, notes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Harris is still supportive of GM Sam Hinkie, pointing to the work he’s done via trade, and he doesn’t question the team’s decision to draft Joel Embiid third overall last year despite the fact that he’s likely to miss a second season in a row because of his ailing right foot, as Tom Moore of Calkins Media observes (All Twitter links).

‘When we drafted Joel, it was a good risk to take. I was really disappointed [about the news of his second foot surgery],” Harris said. “When you talk to the doctors, they’re quite optimistic. You have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

See more from Philadelphia:

Harris and Hinkie didn’t talk about an extension for coach Brett Brown, whose contract expires at the end of the 2016/17 season, but they made it clear they’re fond of him. “I give Brett an A for the job he’s done. He’s an incredible player development person,” Harris said, according to Moore (Twitter links). “I hope and expect Brett to be around the team for a long, long time.” Hinkie believes Brown has also excelled in ways that aren’t readily apparent, as Pompey relays. “I’m proud to see all of you like Brett Brown as much as I like Brett Brown,” Hinkie said to reporters, including Moore, as he pointed to stories about the idea of an extension. “It’s been a real pleasure — and I suspect it’ll continue to be a real pleasure — to work with him. He and I have a great relationship. He’s been a fantastic partner.”
Carl Landry is still about five or six weeks away from a return following June 2nd surgery to repair a torn ligament in his wrist, but Hinkie indicated that the team intends for him to stick around despite his status as a veteran who’s making a relatively sizable amount of money, as Pompey details. His $6.5MM salary is the highest on the team. “We talked a lot about this situation and how it’s different the way people might perceive it [as nothing more than a salary dump], and the importance of his voice and how that might matter,” Hinkie said. “That doesn’t take away from his game. I think he will be able to play fine.”
Nik Stauskas, whom the Sixers acquired along with Landry via trade this summer, regrets approaching his rookie year last season with trepidation, as he tells Pompey for a separate piece. “Coming into last year, I had no clue what to expect,” Stauskas said. “I was a little bit nervous, maybe a little bit scared. Coming into the NBA for me was almost a different ball game. Looking back on it, that was probably one of the biggest mistakes I made. It’s still just basketball. It just happens to be with different players in a different league.”
Undrafted rookie Christian Wood has just a $50K guarantee on his deal with the Sixers, but he’s looked impressive so far, Pompey opines. Brown has praise for the power forward, and particularly for the development of his three-point shot.