(Notice: The following interview was conducted during the second round of the playoffs and runs unedited.)

 

1.) Congratulations on the Sixer season by the way. Beginning the year not much of anyone gave the Sixers a chance of making the playoffs. We're going to be talking specifics but in the most general sense of the word how satisfied are you with the Sixers season?

As a Sixer fan you had to feel Mo Cheeks came into his own as a coach, Thaddeus Young as a player, the team had real chemistry and while they lack the bench, their run at the end of the season proved they finally learned to win as a team.  In the playoffs they managed to put a scare in a team that was much better, so overall I'm happy with the direction.

 
2.) How do you feel about Ownership and Front office of the Sixers as they are structured today?

The ownership is fine and has deep pockets, the great thing is they finally jettisoned Billy King who completely destroyed the team during his tenure after initial success with Larry Brown and AI, his drafts were spectacular failures by any standards and he handed out idiotic long term deals to sub-standard players that crushed the team in terms of cap.  Most disastrously right when they were coming out of the cap wilderness he brought in a fading Chris Webber and his onerous contract that promptly buried them again.

 
3.) There were rumblings early on about Maurice Cheek's job being in jeopardy but by season's end Doc Rivers came out and said Cheeks should have won coach of the year for the job he did in Philly? Play GM for a minute. Do you keep Cheeks? An Extension?

I'd keep Cheeks because you can't give somebody a decade's worth of Billy King  blunders and then blame them for the shoddy result.   As for an extension if they were going to boot him then they should have made a run like the Knicks did at the Suns coach.  So yes I'd give him an extension.  A coach is only ever as good as his players.

 
4.) Sam Dalembert has always been a rebounder. He has been beset with what seems to be a number of injuries for a big man. Tell us about where you see Sam's future with the Sixers and what he could do to avoid these nagging injuries?

The center position in basketball is a lot like 3rd base in baseball.  It used to be a high offensive output position but as the game has moved to the perimeter the impact o####reat center has diminished somewhat.  I'm not saying they couldn't use an upgrade, a young guy I like and I think they should go after with guns blazing is Chris Kaman, he plays for a cheap stupid owner with a history of trading good players with an upside rather than pay the next contract bump and Kaman is a great scorer and rebounder.
 
5.) Andre Miller will be 33 and entering his 9th year next season. Still, since he came over in the trade for AI it seems he's been the most stable PG the Sixers have had in many years. How do you feel about Miller?

I think Miller has some good seasons left, he's a leader and has game so I'd keep him, that being said in the draft you'll come across way more SG's and tweener's who I never like, so the thing there is to add depth at PG with a guy that can spell Miller and eat up some minutes to keep his wheels fresh.

 
6.) You're the GM still. Give us a rundown on who you would keep, who you would build around (and why) and who in your mind is sucking up salary and needs to go?

Thaddeus Young.  Thaddeus Young and Thaddeus Young.  I don't think they need to blow the team up they need to draft smart and get the best player available instead of projects from Bosnia...I'd rather they keep the team young than squash the cap with veterans.
 
7.) What's your situation on draft picks? Seems a number of name underclassmen are coming out.

 With the exception of Thaddeus Young the Sixers have turned the draft into a perennial sucking chest wound.  What I'd like to see them do is draft players that can contribute now rather cleverly waste picks drafting players for other teams which has killed them in the recent past.   No projects!

 
8.) The Eastern Conference has the top two who are considered equal to anyone in the West and the Magic are expected to get better yet again while the Cavs still have Lebron. Look into your crystal ball and realistically project the highest seed you can see the Sixers achieving next season?

I'd be happy if they made the playoffs next year and got out of the first round.

 
9.) Over the course of the next 3-5 years pick who you consider to be the top teams in both the East and West and who you think will cycle out of contention (if anyone)

An interesting question I think the West is fracturing somewhat but there are so many toxic waste dump teams in the East it's hard to say.  Other than die hard  homers who else thought the Lakers would have a winning season after Kobe's Tantrum-gate in the 2007 off season?  Yet after the Grizzlies went four paws up in that trade for Pau suddenly they looked pretty damn good.  But even there future HOF'er Kobe Bryant can still talk that team into the toilet because no matter how good he actually is, (or the other players are), fundamentally he's egotistically stupid, me-me-me-ball doesn't get it done in the NBA.  He should take a cue from Jordan and realize it's the supporting cast that gets you the rings no matter how great you think or actually are...

 
10. Last question but perhaps the most important. As Beer lovers we're asking everyone to list their 3 favorite beers from their region.

Yuengling, Rolling Rock and Reading Premium Beer