HoopsHype.com Rumors

As reported in the Inquirer this morning, the 76ers have assigned second-year forward Craig Brackins to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. Brackins had appeared in eight games this season. “He actually asked for that; I respected that a lot," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "He just said, ‘You know, I’ve made a position change and we’re winning and there’s really no place for me to play, and I’d like to go down and play.’ I was proud of Craig. He wants to play and he wants to be in this league and there just weren’t any minutes there for him this year.” Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, D-League, Craig Brackins 

The Sixers today announced MRIs were negative on the back and Achilles tendon of Sixers center Spencer Hawes, but he will still miss a second straight game tonight against Tim Duncan and the Spurs. The Achilles' issue has become chronic, and the Sixers worried that a disk problem in his back was the root of it, especially since Hawes battled back soreness earlier this season. The exams, performed Tuesday, showed neither a disk problem nor any tearing of the Achilles'. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Injuries, Spencer Hawes 

Center Spencer Hawes had an MRI exam of his lower back on Tuesday and is doubtful for the Spurs game. Starting power forward Elton Brand, who did not play in the Sixers' impressive 95-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, might miss his second game in a row because of a sprained thumb. "He's a little sore," Sixers coach Doug Collins said of Hawes on Tuesday during the team's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Injuries, Spencer Hawes 

The MRI, according to the Sixers, was conducted to determine whether there is some connection between the injuries. "His Achilles is sore again, and that's what I was worried about," Collins said. "I was worried about wear and tear. You knew looking at this season there were going to be a ton of injuries and how you were going to be able to survive them and how much depth you had was going to be important." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Injuries, Spencer Hawes 

Sixers second year forward Craig Brackins has been assigned to the NBA Development League where he'll play for the team's affiliate Maine Red Claws. This will be the fourth time Brackins will head to the D-League. Last season he went three times to the Springfield Armor, the Sixers' old affiliate, where he averaged 20.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in close to 38 minutes a game. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, D-League, Craig Brackins 

Spencer Hawes: Loving the sonics flag behind the bench. Shout out to those guys in portland. Twitter

Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Spencer Hawes 

Personally, I blame my colleague at the Daily News, Dick Jerardi, for the incident that truly cemented Bryant at the bottom of the hearts of Philadelphians. After Game 3 of the 2001 NBA Finals here at the First Union Center, Bryant was on his way to the interview room when someone suggested he go back to LA. Bryant's infamous response was, "We're going to cut your hearts out Wednesday." So, the next day prior to Game 4, DJ, after hearing about the comment, asked Kobe if it, indeed, happened the way he had heard it. "Yeah, it did," Kobe responded. "Hey, I'm honest." Philadelphia Inquirer

Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Kobe Bryant 

A reporter told Bryant that a caller on a local sports radio station said Monday that if Bryant would apologize for his remarks made before the Lakers went on to beat the Allen Iverson-led Sixers 4-1 in the Finals, then Philadelphia would embrace their native son again. "In terms of an apology, I'm not apologizing for saying I'm going to come kick some ass," Bryant said after flashing a wide grin when hearing the comment. "I'm just not going to do it. But I certainly embrace the city and I love everything that it's taught me. So, I'm deeply appreciative of it." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Kobe Bryant 

Years later, when asked by the Daily News' Phil Jasner to reflect on that comment, Bryant replied, "If anything, they should understand where I was coming from. That's Philadelphia. If I was playing in Philadelphia and I said that about going to LA, they'd have loved it." Philadelphia Inquirer

Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Kobe Bryant 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Someone screams "F U LeBron" as national anthem starts. Philly. Twitter

Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, LeBron James 

Martin Frank: By the way, league source confirms that #Sixers are not interested in Hornets center Chris Kaman. First reported by http://si.com. Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Trade, Chris Kaman 

The answer has changed from week to week since Hawes last played against Milwaukee on Jan. 16. The Sixers, however, are now leaving the decision up to Hawes. He missed his ninth game in a row Wednesday with a strained left Achilles tendon. "I hope so," Hawes said when asked before Wednesday's game with Chicago if he will be back by the end of the week. "I hope it will be as early as possible, but I said that last week. Right now, I'm done with predictions." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Injuries, Spencer Hawes 

The 76ers' Andres Nocioni will play for Argentina at the London Olympics. "We're getting the group together for one last run," the former Bull said of the country's longtime core featuring NBAers Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino and Fabricio Oberto. "We're still young." Chicago Tribune

Philadelphia 76ers, Andres Nocioni, Argentina, Olympics 

Bulls.com's Sam Smith reported legendary 76ers statistician Harvey Pollack handed Derrick Rose a copy of his annual book pregame. When Pollack told Rose he had been in the NBA since its inception, Rose asked Pollack to autograph it. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Derrick Rose, Harvey Pollack 

The Sixers are missing their two top centers — Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic — because of nagging injuries, but they have no plans to pursue New Orleans’ Chris Kaman in a trade, according to a source familiar with the team’s thinking. SI.com

New Orleans Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Trade, Chris Kaman 

Philadelphia, sitting atop the Atlantic Division at 15-6, could build an offer for Kaman around Andres Nocioni’s $6.65 million expiring contract, but it would have to add nearly $3 million to that to meet the NBA’s new salary-matching requirements for teams over the cap. The Sixers could have put together enough salary, but doing so would have involved moving at least one player the team views as a key piece in its bench rotation this season. Adding Kaman and sending out only the minimum amount required — about $9 million — could also take the Sixers a hair over the luxury tax, something the team would like to avoid. SI.com

New Orleans Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Trade, Chris Kaman 

As he walked in the tunnel on the way to the Sixers’ locker room moments later, Turner, a second-year swingman, tossed the towel into the air. Asked after Tuesday’s practice if he’s “cool” with Collins, Turner replied, “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” When a reporter brought up Monday’s events and wondered if it was just the heat of the moment, Turner said, “I guess so. I’m not really thinking about it anymore. I went to sleep. It’s a new day.” phillyburbs.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Evan Turner 

A csnphilly.com story Sunday, citing an unnamed source, claimed the 76ers have inquired about the Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire and characterized the interest as "due diligence." Asked about the report Monday, team president Rod Thorn said there was no truth to it "whatsoever. Neither team made an inquiry." Stoudemire, 29, is averaging 17.7 points (7.6 fewer than a year ago) and 8.2 rebounds for the 7-13 Knicks. The 10th-year pro doesn't appear to be meshing well with Carmelo Anthony in New York. phillyburbs.com

New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Trade, Amare Stoudemire, Rod Thorn 

According to a 76ers source with knowledge of the situation, there have been no talks, preliminary or otherwise, between the Sixers and the New York Knicks regarding a potential trade for New York Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire. "No, that's completely false," the source, speaking under conditions of anonymity, said. "There have been no conversations with them about Amar'e." Philadelphia Inquirer

New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Trade, Amare Stoudemire 

But most of the time, the interim head coach finishes the season as quietly as possible, is thanked for his work via the bump in salary that he got when he took over, and moves on to the next assistant coaching gig. Sometimes, though, a guy makes the most of his chance. "You pick the one you think is the best to keep the ship afloat in the interim and hire him," said 76ers president Rod Thorn, who stepped in as interim coach of the Bulls in 1982 while general manager, replacing Jerry Sloan. "Almost all the time the assistant is amenable," said Thorn, noting the exception of Phil Johnson in Utah -- who walked with Sloan last season, instead of taking over for him as the team offered, after Sloan resigned as coach of the Jazz. "If you've chosen the right one they will then execute whatever plan you have and go forward. (It's) never easy, but not as dicey as you might think unless you have picked one that does not have a clue that some things have to be changed. Most times there is an immediate uptick. But reality will soon rear its ugly head." NBA.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, Coaching, Rod Thorn, Randy Wittman