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While it’s not like Howard and Rivers are esteemed Sixers alumni who also had more success elsewhere, they have added to their past success in recent years. What’s funny is that they were both with the team at the same time.

Rivers guided the Sixers to three consecutive Eastern Conference Semifinal appearances from 2021 to 2023. He never got them over that hump, but he came very close.

Howard thrived as Joel Embiid’s backup in his lone season with the Sixers, averaging 7 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 58.7%. His play as the Sixers’ second-string center put him in the discussion with Paul Reed and Andre Drummond as the best centers to back up Joel Embiid.

Both will likely make the Hall of Fame
Both Rivers and Howard have accomplished plenty in their respective NBA professions.

When he was in his heyday, Howard was one of the NBA’s best players. He was so good in his prime that he once beat LeBron James in a playoff series.

Rivers is one of the NBA’s winningest coaches. Although he has received much criticism for his playoff failures since winning his lone title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, teams coached by Rivers usually win many regular-season games.

If and when they get elected into the Hall of Fame, they won’t be remembered much for what they did with the Sixers, but both deserve credit for the mark they made on the NBA.

MORE SIXERS NEWS: 76ers may help Heat solve Jimmy Butler drama by assisting in blockbuster trade

In the aftermath of their deflating 144-93 defeat at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors have been as close a name as ever to watch as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches.

Their record has dropped to 14-12 and the team is situated as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference after a marvelous 12-3 beginning through the team’s first 15 contests.

Golden State’s complete unraveling did plenty to remind the franchise that problems within their roster still run rampant, even after their recent acquisition of point guard Dennis Schröder via trade.

Following this eye-opening loss, new reports have indicated that Golden State is not finished making moves prior to the trade deadline.

Rumors suggest that Warriors’ general manager Mike Dunleavy could have his eyes set on acquiring a rising star and Sixth Man of the Year candidate from the Atlanta Hawks, De’Andre Hunter.

“At the same time, the Warriors adding two or three key secondary talents before the trade deadline after just trading for Schroder is not out of the question,” wrote ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel Friday afternoon.

“Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kyle Kuzma, Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Matisse Thybulle, and De’Andre Hunter are all players that have been on Golden State’s radar in recent weeks, sources said.”

The 27-year-old Hunter is currently enjoying a marvelous campaign for the Hawks, averaging 19.8 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 45.3% on 6.2 attempts from three-point range.

Even though he has only started two games for Atlanta this season, Hunter is proving to be a versatile scoring forward and one of the deadliest distance shooters in the entire league.

Hunter’s 6-foot-8 frame and great agility also make him a possible defensive upgrade, especially if he were to fully buy into the Warriors’ system.

In a potential deal for Hunter, the Warriors would likely deal either an established player like Wiggins or prospects like Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody and others on top of sufficient draft compensation.

Coming off an embarrassing 51-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, the Golden State Warriors desperately need to shake things up.

The Warriors were first in the Western Conference right before Thanksgiving, but since Nov. 23 they have lost nine of their 11 games and are currently on pace to be in the Play-In Tournament.

NBA trade rumors have long pointed to the Warriors going big-game hunting. During the offseason, they were linked to Paul George and Lauri Markkanen. Since the season has started, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Vučević and Cameron Johnson, among others, have been linked to them. However, Brandon Ingram, who is averaging 22.2 points this season with the New Orleans Pelicans and has long been on the trade market, is not a realistic target.

“Golden State did not express interest in Ingram during the summer, and it is unlikely they would do so now,” wrote NBA insider Brett Siegel on Friday.

“There has not been much of a market for the 27-year-old due to his injury history and his steep contract demands from New Orleans. Ingram will be entering free agency next summer as one of the better-scoring talents available since he is on an expiring $36 million contract.”

If the Warriors want to add Ingram, they would need to be willing to throw big money his way this summer to keep him. With cash tied up in Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Curry, adding another $30 million dollar man (or more) is simply unattainable, regardless of who the Warriors send out in a trade.

For now, smaller targets like Dennis Schröder seem to be more realistic, and the Warriors are not expected to be a major player before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The Golden State Warriors’ record sits at 14-12 after their disappointing 144-93 defeat at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night. The team is now positioned as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, a far cry from their marvelous 12-3 beginning to the season.

The Warriors’ utter collapse against the Grizzlies showed the team that they are still missing several key pieces if they intend to be title contenders come season’s end.

NBA OFFICIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Their putrid 33.3% three-point shooting compared to Memphis’ 56.3% accuracy from distance while connecting on a franchise record 27 shots from three-point range were both indications of the team not performing well at either shooting the long ball or defending it.

In the immediate aftermath of a contest the team wants to quickly forget, new reports have suggested that the Warriors’ general manager Mike Dunleavy could target a player in the trade market that could help solve both of these issues at the same time.

Specifically, rumors indicate that Dunleavy could pick up the phone to contact the Minnesota Timberwolves about their recently acquired shooting guard and former member of the Warriors, Donte DiVincenzo.

“At the same time, the Warriors adding two or three key secondary talents before the trade deadline after just trading for Schroder is not out of the question,” wrote Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints Friday afternoon.

“Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kyle Kuzma, Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Matisse Thybulle, and De’Andre Hunter are all players that have been on Golden State’s radar in recent weeks, sources said.”

An NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 and a 40.1% three-point shooter with the New York Knicks last season, the 27-year-old DiVincenzo has gained a reputation as one of the more solid two-way role players in the entire league.

A former Warrior for the 2022-23 season, the skilled and gritty defender already has a season’s worth of experience playing with the likes of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in the team’s system.

This makes it all the more likely that Golden State can bring back the talented guard at a perfect time for the franchise.

With the Knicks in 2023-24, DiVincenzo averaged a career-best 15.5 points paired with a solid 0.9 defensive box plus-minus. Though his shooting efficiency has dropped off this season, he looks to be an even more impactful defender due to his improved 1.4 defensive box plus-minus figure.

In a deal for DiVincenzo to help with the Warriors’ lack of shooting depth and defensive prowess on the perimeter, Golden State may be forced to ship out either sufficient draft compensation or a young prospect like Brandin Podziemski to Minnesota.

The Golden State Warriors’ record has been dropped to 14-12 following their disastrous 144-93 defeat at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday night, repositioning the team as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.

Following the most recent loss in a current three-game skid dating back to their NBA Cup Quarter-Final matchup against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 11, the Warriors have reached an interesting juncture.

NBA OFFICIAL HIGHLIGHTS

In season No. 16 of four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry’s career, the franchise looks to be nowhere near title contention in a loaded conference.

In order to extend their championship window with Curry, new reports have suggested that Golden State’s general manager Mike Dunleavy is interested in acquiring a former NBA champion and Sixth Man of the Year candidate from the Washington Wizards, Kyle Kuzma.

“At the same time, the Warriors adding two or three key secondary talents before the trade deadline after just trading for Schroder is not out of the question,” ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel wrote Friday afternoon.

“Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kyle Kuzma, Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Matisse Thybulle, and De’Andre Hunter are all players that have been on Golden State’s radar in recent weeks, sources said.”

Kuzma has become a frequently mentioned name to monitor ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, as the selling 4-21 Wizards are looking to ship out their most valued assets in exchange for future draft capital and prospects.

The 29-year-old’s reputation as a solid scoring wing and underrated defender has followed him since his first four seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

A member of the Wizards since the beginning of the 2021-22 season, Kuzma has averaged 20.0 points and 7.3 rebounds on a 45.3% field goal percentage.

As a volume shooter and versatile offensive weapon, Kuzma was a large piece of the Lakers’ 2020 NBA championship victory, and the Warriors front office could hope that he’ll have the same effect when paired with Curry instead of LeBron James.

In return for Kuzma, the Warriors would likely have to ship a prospect like Brandin Podziemski or Moses Moody to Washington along with first-round draft capital to assist in the Wizards’ rebuilding efforts.

For Oklahoma City, Chet Holmgren (hip), Jaylin Williams (hamstring) and Nikola Topic (ACL) are all out.

For Miami, no players are listed as out, however three guys are placed on day-to-day. Those players include Josh Richardson (heel), Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Pelle Larsson (ankle).

What to know
Leading by nearly 20 points at one point in their matchup with the Magic, SGA ended the game with 35 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals. It was a huge recovery game from his NBA Cup loss to the Bucks, however co-star Jalen Williams still appears to be on the struggle bus.

With only 11 points on 5/15 shooting and 1/5 from three, JDub is hoping to get back on track like he was earlier in the season. Luckily, players like Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso were there to pick up the shortcomings.

The Thunder has a whole will have to come prepared once tipoff starts. With no rest in between games, the Heat will look to capitalize at home. Five players on their roster are currently averaging double-digit points and they rank seventh in the league in three-point percentage. OKC’s historic defense will most definitely be tested tonight.