Rod Thorn and Doug Collins were almost giddy Wednesday afternoon as they sat in front of members of the media, able to talk about their team, their players and their plans for free agency for the first time since the NBA lockout began on July 1.
Their gift of gab was forthcoming.
They want to keep restricted free agent Thaddeus Young. Negotiations with his representatives are in the works, but having to match an offer sheet is a definite possibility after Dec. 9 when the free agency window opens. Thorn said the team will match as long as the offer is reasonable.
Spencer Hawes is also a free agent and while the affection for the starting center acquired in the summer of 2010 isnt as strong as that for Young, he is their starting center and such pieces are difficult to come by.
Those two players aside, the Sixers have a roster with 11 players under contract if you include their two draft picks from last springNikola Vucevic and Lavoy Allenboth of whom are returning from overseas to play for the Sixers.
When you are about to embark on a shortened season with little prep time, Collins believes continuity will play a significant role in having a strong start when the schedule gets underway in late December. Thus, his ready-to-go roster is a plus.
Going into camp, it is not going to be me selling them on anything. They know what our recipe for success is we just have to get back to it quickly, Collins sai,d chomping at the bit to see and talk with his second family.
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Collins was referring to all that was learned last season in terms of execution, time and possession, and the number of close games the Sixers played. He spoke of the irony in the season being 66 games this year because a year ago all he wanted to do was get rid of the first 16 when the team went 3-13.
We are looking at 38-28. The league did us a favor getting rid of those first 16 games, Collins joked.
Over the course of time, our team got better every month, Thorn added. I think that a team like us, assuming that everything falls into place for us, he (Collins) is in a better position to start a lockout-shortened season than some other teams that have fewer than seven, eight players on their roster right now.
Collins is aware that his team a year ago did not have a go-to guy. He also realizes that a splash is not coming with a big free-agent signing. But Collins knows basketball and its nuances. If he believes his team can be better, there is reason to listen to his argument.
When you have young players the one thing you really hope for is internal growth, Collins said. That the players that come back have really improved and gotten a lot better. They have taken the off-season and have gotten bigger or stronger. Like Evan (Turner) spent a lot of time this off-season working with Herb Magee with his shooting and where he is mentally this year at this point and time compared to where he was this time last year. The guys we are seeing in training camp this year are a lot different.
A year ago, Turner entered camp after having a very disappointing summer. Fans were down on him and despite his No. 2 overall selection in the draft, Collins laid the groundwork early that Turner would have to be eased into his role. The process was slow and often painful only because the expectations had been so high.
Turners numbers at seasons end were 23 minutes per game, an average of seven points, four rebounds and two assists. They are statistics that hardly made one say wow for the caliber of player Turner was said to be entering the league.
However, times are changing.
Evan, right now, feels like he is our best player, which is great, Collins said. I want him to keep that confidence level. Jodie (Meeks) does give us something a little different, but I think last year I think all that Andre (Iguodala) and Evan heard was that those two couldnt play together because there wasnt enough spacing and enough shooting. I think in the Miami series they got a real good feel for playing with one another, so I feel very good about Evan and Dre playing together.
Collins is laying the groundwork for a lineup change that will have Turner join Iguodala and Holiday as starters on the perimeter. Of course, the coach will hammer home that guys will compete in camp for playing time but this is one area of internal growth that has to be seen.
I know who these guys are now, Collins said. I know day-to-day how to deal with them because I have been around them enough to know what makes them go and they know me, and that helps.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.