Goodridge is looking for a fresh start out west.

Though the news doesn’t involve the 76ers, it does involve a former member of the Sixers’ summer league roster. Vernon Goodridge, who played little to no minutes in the past summer league, signed a training camp contract with the Golden State Warriors.

Goodridge was stuck behind Marreese Speights and Trent Plaisted in the Summer League and never got much of a chance to prove himself. However, he proved to be an asset in the shot-blocking category during his college days at Lasalle, averaging 1.6 blocks per game.

Playing for the Warriors will give him a fresh start, as well as some hopeful minutes during the preseason. With injuries already striking Golden State, who will be donning a new look logo this season, Goodridge has a legitimate chance to find a spot on the roster. With both David Lee and rookie Ekpe Udoh battling through injuries this early on, Goodridge will need to prove he is NBA material in order to impress the Golden State organization.

Iguodala has survived the first set of cuts

The first four cuts have been announced, and are as followed:

• Gerald Wallace, Charlotte
• Tyreke Evans, Sacramento
• Javale McGee, Washington
• O.J. Mayo, Memphis

The only surprise name in this group is Mayo, who performed well in the Team USA showcase game, scoroing 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Evans was an easy cut since he sprained his left ankle early on in the practices, and McGee was just a fill in for the showcase game. Wallace, who is a very underated player with Charlotte, didn’t have a good game whatsoever in the showcase, scoring four points and missing all four shots from behind the arc.

With the cuts, the roster now stands at 15, and will eventually be trimmed to 12. Iguodala still remains on the team, and the departure of Gerald Wallace and O.J. Mayo certainly helps him out with his chances of making the squad. Here’s my projection for the final three cuts, which will come in early August:

• Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Clippers
• Kevin Love, Minnesota
• Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City

Iggy has been receiving a lot of praise for his performance at Team USA's camp.

If Andre Iguodala can find his way onto the 12-man roster for Team USA, the Philadelphia 76ers will be benefiting in many ways. As of now, it appears that Iggy will indeed make the roster due to his strong week of training and overall performance in the team’s final scrimmage. Playing on Team USA during the course of the FIBA championship would give Iguodala so much more experience that not many players are exposed to, and it would in turn, make him a better player.

The Sixers are in the midst of building up their team for the future. But they may be a surprise team in 2010 if they can get production from their three weapons: Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, and Andre Iguodala. Both Turner and Iguodala can get hot on any given night, but the one thing that separates the two is Turner’s ability to play in the spotlight. At Ohio State, Turner was the focal point of the team throughout his collegiate career. However, Iguodala  was never accustomed to being a featured player before he was thrust into the position following the departure of Allen Iverson early on in his career. Even in college at the University of Arizona, Turner still wasn’t the team’s star player. Iguodala is best suited as a wingman, someone who can pick his shots and put up a quiet 15 points and 8 rebounds per night. We all know that Iggy hasn’t lived up to his hype, but I believe this is due to the fact that he’s been labeled the team’s “star” player. Because of this, teams are doubling him up, and putting more attention on him. If Evan Turner can step right in and be the big time player that we all expect him to be in his rookie season, then that will allow Iguodala to take a step back into Turner’s wingman, and thus relieving him of his pressure.

So what would playing for Team USA do to Iggy’s game? For starters, he would be coming off the bench and being a second-hand man. This is where Iguodala is most comfortable (not coming off the bench, but not playing in the spotlight). He would also gain a lot of experience that would assist him in his progression as an NBA player.

Another way one could see his presence on Team USA helping him would be that he is playing in a very competitive tournament, which draws a lot of media attention. If Iggy can survive through the tournament and provide key minutes for Team USA, then there’s no telling what he could when he comes back to Philadelphia. Simply put, playing in the spotlight while not being the team’s focal point may give Iggy more confidence and make him more comfortable in the spotlight.

Either way, if Iggy can make the Team USA’s final 12-man roster, the Sixers will be receiving a better player when he comes back from overseas.

Live blog coverage of Team USA's scrimmage!

The final 12-player team for the USA basketball team has yet to be decided, and tonight, we will get to witness an inter squad scrimmage as all of the players compete for a spot on the final roster. There is one Philadelphia 76ers’ member out there, our very own Andre Iguodala. Will he make the team? With a strong performance in tonight’s game, he could possibly sneak onto the 12 man roster. Stay tuned to The Sixer Sense for updates throughout the game as we follow Iguodala’s progress, as well as the other competitors.

12:00 ET: The final quarter was once again dominated by Team White. Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose made some excellent passes, with Rondo pulling off perhaps the best pass to Jeff Green. The guard play for Team USA definitley isn’t a concern, but their frontcourt does remain a concern. Kevin Love played nicely, but Tyson Chandler did the best out of the big men. He utilized his height to haul in boards, as well as putting the ball back in the net and eliminating open shots. His prescence for Team USA will be a big must if they want to succeed against the top teams in the world. O.J. Mayo and Eric Gordon played great games, and certainly improved their stocks. The Sixers’ very own, Andre Iguodala, hit a three pointer in the final quarter, and had a steal in what ended up being a solid night all around. His chances of making the final roster are still up in the air, as Danny Granger, Rudy Gay, and O.J. Mayo are all competing for the same position.

11:30 ET: The third quarter has concluded, with the Blue Team dominating the White Team. Kevin Durant has eclipsed 20 points, and is clearly the star of the night. However, Eric Gordon has performed rather well tonight, and has shown his range throughout the night. Kevin Love, who could be a key role player for Team USA, held his own on the boards, and ended the quarter with an impressive outlet pass, which unfortunately wasn’t converted.  The quarter saw a lot of points scored, with the three’s continuing to rain down. The veteran leader of the team, Chauncey Billups, found his groove, hitting a few three-pointers in the early stage of the third quarter. The fourth quarter is getting underway, and some of the smaller named players should receive some good playing time. Hopefully Iggy can get things going in the fourth quarter.

11:00 ET: With the first half over, the updates in the second half will only occur at the end of the third quarter and fourth quarter. They will, however, be summaries of the half, as well insightful. So check back at the end of the third quarter.

10:52 ET:Derrick Rose hits the final shot of the first half, Team White leads 56-44. Iguodala, Durant, and Gordon have represented their team very well throughout the first half.

10:50 ET: Once again, Iggy has delivered another three pointer. His play is impressing everyone! Eric Gordon is another one of those guys who’s done nothing but help his chances of making the 12-man team.

10:45 ET:Steph Curry delivered a nice alley-oop pass to Iguodala, who finished it with a touch of the glass. The next possession for Team White ended with another alley-oop, this time it was slammed home by Kevin Durant, the star player to Team USA.

10:42 ET: Iggy hits another three pointer. So far, Iggy has been shooting very well, and appears to be playing solid defense. He’s done nothing but improve his chances of making the team… but will it be enough?

10:38 ET: Billups misses on his fast break layup, while Stephen Curry takes it the other way and converts on a layup in traffic. If there’s one player who’s impressing me the most, it has to be Curry.

10:36 ET:Good play is starting to pick up for both teams. Kevin Durant has hit 10 points, while Stephen Curry has shown his sharp shooting ability. Andre Iguodala has recorded an assist, and has drawn a shooting foul, but missed both of his foul shots.

10:30 ET: Javale McGee, who just joined the team following injuries, scores 6 quick points. Could he steal a roster spot?

10:25 ET: The first quarter has come to an end. Team White is shooting well, 70% from the field. Kevin Durant leads with 6 points, and the three-point shooting has been impressive up to this point. However, the turnovers (mostly Team Blue) are concerning, but then again, it’s expected since these guys are not accustomed to playing with each other.

10:21 ET: Well, Team USA appears to have an A+ in the three point shooting department. Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo and Eric Gordon have been exchanging three’s as of recent.

10:20 ET: Rudy Gay appears to be in a three way battle with Danny Granger and Andre Iguodala for the backup role to Kevin Durant. As of now, Iggy has the advantage according to the stats, but Granger is playing well too.

10:18 ET: Kevin Love records a blocking foul for Team Blue. Team White’s aggresive style of play is translating into a pretty big lead for the moment. Off the bench, Eric Gordon drilled a three-pointer, but his lack of physical play could cost him a spot on the 12-man roster.

10:15 ET: Rajon Rondo of the Blue Team just missed on his pass across court. His turnover leads to a Kevin Durnat bucket on the other end.

10: 12 ET: Iggy gets defensive, gets a nice block in the corner. Team White continues to hold a six point lead, 12-6, and appears to be more prepared then their Team White counterparts. Tyson Chandler, standing at 7′1″, has been playing great on both sides of the court, something that Team USA is looking for from him.

10: 09 ET: Team White’s 3-2 zone defense seems to be holding up very well. Team Blue has four turnovers already.

10: 07 ET: Once again, Iguodala hits a shot, this time it comes from behind the arc. After a quick start, Iggy is leading Team White for the moment.

10:06 ET: Sixers’ Andre Iguodala nails a mid-range jumper to score his first points of the night. Hopefully he can continue to shoot well throughout the night.

10:04 ET: After a slam dunk from Kevin Durant for Team White, Rudy Gay nails a three-pointer for Team Blue.

10:03 ET: Stephen Curry nails the game’s first bucket. A three-pointer for Team White.

The newest member of the 76ers - Tony Battie.

The Philadelphia 76ers have finally made a move in free agency, and although it’s not a major move, the addition of Tony Battie will add some depth to the frontcourt. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Battie will be entering his 14th season in the NBA with the 76ers, and after a dismal season with the New Jersey Nets in 2009, hopefully he can provide the Sixers with some help coming off of the bench. His career averages of 6.8 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game are not eye-popping in any form, but if he could collect those numbers coming off the Sixers’ bench, then he will be doing exactly what Philly hoped for. His 6′11″ frame should have some sort of impact for Philly in the rebounding department.

“We see Tony Battie as a player who can come in and give us additional depth in the front court while also providing a valuable veteran presence for our younger players both on and off the court,” 76ers general manager Ed Stefanski said.

Could RMJ fit in with the Sixers?

With the big named players coming off the board, the free agent period may be in a lull, but there are still viable options out there. One such example is Roger Mason Jr., who could provide the 76ers with a great shooter coming off of the bench. But does Philly even have a chance to land him? Or are they even considering the acquisition of RMJ?

For starters, RMJ had a bit of a down year for the San Antonio Spurs in 2009, but that doesn’t take away from his shooting ability. He’s a career 40% shooter from the field, with his best season coming in the 2008-09 season with the Spurs. He finished that year shooting 42% from both the field and from behind the arc, and it was also the only time he finished with double digit scoring figures (11.8 PPG).

The five-year veteran has never been a full-time starter, with the 2008-09 season being the lone exception. But that makes you wonder, if Mason Jr. can receive a good portion of playing time for Philly, or whatever team he lands with, will he be able to put up double digit scoring figures?

The answer to that question remains to be seen. With the attention now turning to the cheaper guys on the market, RMJ is one of the better options in the pool of players. With Philly still looking for a scorer off the bench – though Jodie Meeks could possibly be that weapon – it would only make sense for them to AT LEAST consider him, and speak with him and his agent.

The only thing I am not quite sure about is his desired contract. The Sixers do have the mid-level exception remaining if they choose to use it, but I’m not sure if RMJ would take that offer.

This is just a rumor/opinion based story, so don’t take this wrong way and go telling your friends that I know the Sixers will pursue RMJ. In what is becoming a boring part of the season (with Philly making no splashes in the free agency period…for now), the site will be featuring lots of free agent profiles just to keep our fan base entertained…hopefully.

So what do you guys think? Would RMJ be a good fit, and do you think he would even consider playing here? Leave a comment with your though.

If you have a particular free agent who is unsigned and you think he could be a good fit for Philly, let me know with a comment and I will do a story on him.

Doug Collins has all but announced that Evan Turner will start at the two this upcoming season. Jrue Holiday will start at point guard, with Andre Iguodala moving back to his natural small forward spot. Whoever starts in the frontcourt is almost irrelevant seeing how Jrue, ET and Iggy all need the ball in their hands to perform. If you watched any of the Sixers summer league games (Take my word for it, i watched all five), you saw Holiday excel while Turner struggled. I’m a big Turner supporter and I think he will be a very good basketball player, but I don’t think hes a shooting guard now, and I don’t think he ever will be. Turner ran the point for Ohio State last year and dominated every second he was on the court, winning every player of the year award. Turner works best with the ball in his hands, penetrating and setting up scoring chances for himself and his teammates. I repeat, not a shooting guard.

So what do you do if your Doug Collins? Theres a lot of pressure on the first year coach to play Turner, to show off the #2 pick in the draft, and to win right away. I think the best way to do that is to bring Turner off the bench. Hear me out… The Sixers have no backup point guard. Lou Williams can come off the bench in the “JR Smith / Jamal Crawford” role that comes natural to him, while Turner can run the point for the second unit. Jodie Meeks has shown a lot of growth this summer, adding some strength and showing a toughness in the summer league that a lot of us didn’t know he possessed. Meeks could start at shooting guard, giving us an outside threat that the starting unit would otherwise be lacking. The second unit would be one of the more talented in the entire league (We all saw how far the Phoenix Suns bench took them in the playoffs this year).

Here’s how the depth chart would look with this scenario…

Starters:
Pg: Jrue Holiday
Sg: Jodie Meeks
Sf: Andre Iguodala
Pf: Elton Brand
C: Spencer Hawes

Bench:
Pg: Evan Turner
Sg: Lou Williams/Willie Green
Sf: Andres Nocioni/Jason Kapono
Pf: Thaddeus Young
C: Marreese Speights/Jason Smith

I think this scenario gives the Sixers the best chance to compete for a playoff spot. Only time will tell if Collins agrees with me…

Turner has signed his first ever NBA contract.

The Philadelphia 76ers have locked up their second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Evan Turner. The terms of the deal were not released, but it’s expected to be a pretty nice deal considering that he was selected right behind John Wall.

Despite his struggles in Orlando at the NBA Summer League, Turner should turn out to be a great weapon for Philly for not only this season, but for years to come. His long frame and natural athleticism will cause mismatches all season long, and if he can work well with veterad forward, Andre Iguodala, then Philly may be in for a fun season.

At Ohio State University, Turner was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, as well as being the first Division One player to average at least 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists per game since Oscar Robertson did it in the late 50’s.

The Sixer Sense will be sure to update the site as soon as the terms of the deal are released. Stay tuned!

Are you interested in writing for your favorite team? Do you want to share your opinions with other sports fans? Then look no further!

Here, at The Sixer Sense, we are seeking to build up our staff, and that’s where YOU come in! In order to climb the charts of Philadelphia 76ers blogs, we are going to need a quality flow of content coming in. With that said, I am looking for any interested bloggers out there to join my staff!

If you’re interested (the job requires little to no experience, just sports knowledge), please email me at fphlip9@yahoo.com, and I will get back to you ASAP and you will be one step closer to blogging for your favorite team!

Could Plaisted make the Sixers' roster?

Bobcats 77 – Sixers 76

Though the Sixers lost, it wasn’t necessarily a disappointment of a game. Their two main contributors in the Summer League, Jrue Holliday and Marreese Speights, both sat the entire game, giving Charlotte a major advantage. However, Jodie Meeks continued to produce in the Summer League, putting up 17 points and nailing four 3-point shots.

Now, we move to the man who is supposed to be a savior, Evan Turner. Once again, he failed to impress. In 18 minutes, Turner struggled to find a rhythm, going 1-6 from the field, and finishing with 5 points. His continued struggles are nothing to fret about, but it is something to ponder, “When will Turner adapt to the NBA?”. Hopefully for the Sixer Nation it’s soon, but only time will tell.

Trent Plaistead, who played more minutes today because of Speights’ absence, scored 14 points and secured 5 rebounds. His play thus far in the Summer League has been impressive, and he may find a spot on an NBA roster, quite possibly Philly’s.