First Speights, now Turner … Collins makes wrong move for Sixers

Philadelphia foolishly traded
talented big man Marreesse
Speights earlier this season.

I always call it like I see it and from where I’m sitting, I think Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins is clearly making a huge mistake by bringing along second-year swingman Evan Turner far too slowly for a player that was selected with the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

First, Collins dropped the ball in a big way by trading young, sweet-shooting big man Marreesse Speights to the Memphis Grizzlies for basically a bag of marbles, even though Philly, like every other team in the league, needs competent big men.

How Speights could immediately move into a starting role for the Western Conference title-contending Memphis Grizzlies, but couldn’t even find his way on the court for Collins and the Sixers is beyond me, but clearly there’s some sort of problem with Collins’ penchant for not playing certain youngsters.

Having said that, Eye On Sports NBA hardwood lovers, I also have to rip Collins for his even more glaring failure to play Turner consistently this season even though he clearly has a bunch of positive skills that could help Collins’ young ballclub.

Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick in the 2010
NBA Draft, needs to play more minutes - now!

After playing Turner just 23.0 minutes per game as a rookie last season, Turner’s minutes have not gone up this season with the former Ohio State superstar averaging just 23.8 minutes of playing time per contest.

The multi-faceted swingman is averaging just 8.2 points per contest after averaging 7.2 per game a year ago.

Just looking back at the 2010 NBA Draft should bother Turner and the Sixers, seeing as how several players that were picked after Turner have established themselves as either starters or integral parts of their respective teams’ current and near futures.

No. 5 pick DeMarcus Cousins, despite his immaturity issues, is a starter for the Sacramento Kings while No. 7 pick Greg Monroe also starts in the middle for the Detroit Pistons.

Sixers head coach Doug Collins has made some serious
personnel mistakes during his tenure with the team that drafted him over three decades ago.

Versatile forward Gordon Hayward, the No. 9 pick in the draft is averaging just over 27.0 minutes per game for the Utah Jazz and No. 10 overall pick, shooting guard Paul George, is starting to look like he’s got real superstar potential as the starting two guard for the blossoming Indiana Pacers.

I mean really, the Knicks nabbed a starter in Landry Fields with the No. 39 overall pick while Utah’s slam dunk champion Jeremy Evans was selected with the 55th overall pick and now looks like he’s going to be serious contributor for the Jazz for years to come.

Collins needs to start Turner and get him on the floor with young point guard Jrue Holiday so the pair can grow together and form the foundation for Philly’s franchise for the next decade. For Collins to fail to recognize that Turner needs to play and play right now – is a mistake of epic proportions and one that could come back to haunt the Sixers for years to come.

Feelin’ Feverish in Philly

Jrue Holiday

Things are feelin’ feverish in Philly where the vastly-improved – and red-hot 76ers are apparently looking better each and every time they step on the floor.

Thaddeus Young

Not only are the Sixers sitting pretty with the second best record in the Eastern Conference, (they’re tied with Atlanta and Miami) but more importantly, the young Sixers have arguably as big an upside as any team in the league these days with a core of young players that apparently have the chance to reach all-star potential inside the next few seasons.

Third-year point guard Jrue Holiday and second-year swingman Evan Turner clearly both have a chance to be special players – and I believe Philly already has a potential superstar in reserve power forward Thaddeus Young (Why isn’t he starting Doug Collins?). Throw in another solid young player in third-year shooting guard Jodie Meeks and impressive rookie power forward Lavoy Allen and it’s easy to see why Philly has such a huge chance to become one of the better teams in the league over the next few seasons.

Oh, lest anyone forget, the Sixers are led by do-it-all swingman Andre Iguoadala and have a veteran locker room leader in Elton Brand. Even with promising center/power forward Marreese Speights no longer on board (dummy!), the winds of change are clearly taking place in the NBA and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers are a big part of teams on the upswing!

Foolish Philly Misses on Marreesse!

While the Philadelphia 76ers are clearly on their way up this season, with a team style of basketball that is refreshing, to say the least. Unfortunately, the Sixers foolishly traded away a player that could have bee a huge part of their future when they parted ways with talented big man Marreese Speights.

The 6-foot-11 245-pound power forward/center is in his fourth season in the league after Philly nabbed the former Florida star with the 16th overall pick in the 2007 draft. While Speights showed flashes of brilliance whenever he did make it on to the floor for the Sixers, the fact of the matter is that he never got a fair chance, whether right or wrong – and his numbers bear that out with the near seven-footer never averaging more than 16.4 minutes per game.

Remember you heard it here first Eye On Sports hoops fanatics …  the Philadelphia 76ers and head coach Doug Collins are going to rue the day they traded Marreesse Speights!