RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 January 2025

• Sixers Could Turn Attention To Keeping Top-6 Protected Pick If They Struggle Into All-Star Break

  The Philadelphia 76ers have maintained that they will continue to work towards turning around their season, but the next few weeks could lead them to shift strategy. The Sixers play against teams with a .500 or better record in 10 out of their next 11 games. They will also be without Joel Embiid for at least the next 7-10 days as he has had swelling in his knee return.

  The decision by the Sixers in how they approach the remainder of the season impacts whether or not they retain their draft selection as it is top-6 protected. If the Sixers are outside of the top-6, the draft pick will convey to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

  The Sixers are currently two games behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, which puts them in a precarious spot to even reach the play-in.

• Joel Embiid Out 7-10 Days With Swelling In Left Knee

  Joel Embiid will be reevaluated in seven to 10 days as he receives treatment to address swelling in his left knee. Embiid participated in a workout on Thursday after missing the previous six games due to a left foot sprain. The sprain has healed, but the knee swelled up following Embiid's workout.

  Embiid has played in only 13 games this season and is averring 24.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 29.4 minutes.

  In September, the Sixers and Embiid agreed to a three-year, $193 million extension, which was the maximum he could sign for. Embiid entered the 24-25 season with just under $300 million in guaranteed money over five seasons through 2029.

• Sixers Sign Pete Nance To Two-Way Contract

  The Philadelphia 76ers have signed Pete Nance to a two-way contract.
  
  Nance, who was waived Jan. 7, signed a two-way contract with the 76ers on Dec. 3 and appeared in one game at Portland on Dec. 30, tallying three points (1-1 3FG) during his first stint with the team.
  
  He has appeared in 14 G League games between the Cleveland Charge and Delaware Blue Coats this season, averaging 16.7 points on 50.0-percent shooting, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.6 blocked shots.

• Sixers Announce Plans To Build New Arena In South Philadelphia In Partnership With Flyers

  After spending years trying to build their own arena downtown, the Philadelphia 76ers have announced that they will work together with Comcast, which owns the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, to build a new arena in South Philadelphia, where venues for the four major teams in the currently reside.

  They will each own 50 percent stakes in the project. Comcast will also buy a stake in the 76ers and its parent company, Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, and work with them to bring a WNBA team to Philadelphia.

  "This is a lot," Philadelphia mayor Cherelle Parker said Monday at a press conference announcing the deal. "This a curveball none of us saw coming. Nevertheless we are here."

  Josh Harris admitted this was not the first plan but it is where the franchise "pivoted," including after an intervention by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts also cited the role of the NBA and Silver in getting the two sides to work together.

• Sixers Abandon Efforts To Build $1.3B Arena In Downtown Philadelphia

  The Philadelphia 76ers have pulled back from their plans to build a $1.3 billion arena downtown. The move is surprising as the Sixers had just received approval from city council a few weeks ago.

  The council had voted Dec. 19 to approve the downtown arena after more than two years of heated debate over the proposal, and the owners of the NBA team had hoped to move into what would be called 76 Place by 2031.

  The team owner, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, had pushed for city approval by year's end so it could meet the target opening date.

  The Chinatown community has fought a series of proposed developments since the 1960s, including casinos, a prison, a baseball stadium and a highway, the last of which dissected the neighborhood when it opened in 1991.

• Sixers Don't Believe Joel Embiid Has Long-Term Foot Issue

  The Philadelphia 76ers hope to have Joel Embiid back in the lineup soon. Sixers coach Nick Nurse said Embiid's sprained left foot isn't considered a long-term issue. The All-Star center could return as soon as Sunday.

  Embiid has missed 23 of Philadelphia's first 36 games. He's dealt with knee soreness, a sinus fracture, a three-game suspension and now the sprained foot.

  The 76ers are 7-6 in the 13 games Embiid has played. The team is 8-15 in the 23 games that Embiid has missed this season.

• Jared McCain Ruled Out For Remainder Of Season

  The Philadelphia 76ers have ruled Jared McCain out for the remainder of the season after he was reevaluated by the surgeon who repaired his torn meniscus. With McCain undergoing a repair and not a removal, a longer recovery was always anticipated.

  McCain underwent the surgery on December 17th and the Sixers indicated his recovery is going well.

  McCain averaged 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 25.7 minutes over 23 games with the Sixers.

• Sixers Waive Pete Nance

  The Philadelphia 76ers have waived Pete Nance.

  Nance appeared in one game for the 76ers after signing a two-way contract on Dec. 3.

• Sixers Tried To Trade For Jimmy Butler In Offseason

  The Philadelphia 76ers attempted to engage the Miami Heat on a trade for Jimmy Butler this past offseason, sources tell Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. Joel Embiid pushed for the trade as they were previously teammates for part of the 18-19 season before Butler left in a sign-and-trade to the Heat.

  The Sixers were unable to gain traction on the talks and instead signed Paul George in free agency.

  Butler has given the Heat the list of the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets as he seeks a trade.

• Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named NBA Players Of Week 10

  Tyrese Maxey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 10.

  Maxey averaged 32.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers went 3-0.

  Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 35.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder went 4-0.