Back for more?

Looking at the free agent picture for this upcoming summer, and knowing that the 76ers have a new GM who needs to make a splash, could the team possibly go after a dream scenario of bringing back Allen Iverson? Even with Iverson, the Nuggets are not real contenders in the West, and he was much more of a national star playing in Philly. He also has an early termination clause in his contract.

With the emergence of some young players, and a true point guard in Andre Miller, the original AI could be the missing piece to the puzzle. Thaddeus Young and the Andre Iguodala have both come on as threats with their all around games. Add in a dose of a true scoring threat like AI and the Sixers become immediate contenders, and Ed Stefanski makes his splash.

Recently, owner Ed Snider commented how he was surprised to see the 76ers poor numbers at the gate. That's shocking. He's been around sports long enough to know that stars on the court put butts in the seats. It's not a secret formula that should take forever to figure out. The Sixers are putting out a no frills product of emerging players, and the attendance is a direct reflection of that low level of excitement.

Bringing back a star like AI would do the trick at the gate and at the turnstile. But he's not the only potentially available player who can light it up. In Miami, the recently acquired Shawn Marion also has an early termination clause. He is one of the better all around players in the game, and could gel nicely with this bunch. He rebounds, scores (a combo that the Sixers currently lack) and plays with a never ending intensity. At his age (30 in May), he might also be with the Sixers longer term than AI (33 in June) would be.

Stefanski has an important summer coming up. With the draft and free agency, it'll be time to make a splash. Hopefully the end result will help Snider wipe the surprised look of his black & orange skinned face.

Sixers Preview - Grizz sighting in Philly

The sound of ping pong balls will be ringing in the air tonight as the 76ers take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams are looking at a lottery finish, and the winner of this game may be the loser.

The Memphis Grizzlies might be the worst team in basketball, but they may also be the most envied heading into the lottery. The Oden-sweepstakes leading Grizz have a gruesome 15-44 record. To top it off, like it matters, they're 34 games out of first in their division.

It's hard to believe that the Sixers were once on the brink of contending for the league cellar this season. They're still an antonym of the word elite, but they have been playing some inspired ball as of late. Yesterday, the team beatdown the Phoenix Suns juggernaut, and they're the only Eastern Conference host to achieve the feat all season. Philly even managed to lead from start to finish, another first against the Suns this season.

At 20-38, it's safe to say that the Sixers aren't headed to the playoffs, and they won't be the lottery favorites either. However, the team is showcasing its young talent (Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver, Rodney Carney), and using a crafty veteran point guard (Andre Miller) to achieve something Philly couldn't do last season, play with respect.

A squad with Allen Iverson and Chris Webber on the roster that doesn't make the playoffs is just a sad bunch to watch. The current incarnation, though virtually star-less, is an exciting group to see on the court. They play with a passion and hunger lost after the influence on big money.

I'm not a betting man, but if I was I'd... take the under. The teams scored a combined 220 points when they played in January, but Philly's defense has stopped Sacramento and Phoenix in their last two games.