Wiz Trade for James and Crittenton

The Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets have agreed to a three-team trade that will bring two new guards to the Wiz.

Washington will receive New Orleans’ Mike James and Memphis’ Javaris Crittenton in the exchange, with the Hornets acquiring Washington’s Antonio Daniels and the Grizzlies coming away with a future first-round pick. New Orleans also received a conditional second-round pick from Memphis.

Arenas has yet to play this season for the Wizards since signing a new $111 million contract in the offseason. A firm timetable for Arenas’ comeback has not been established, but he has yet to be cleared to participate in contact drills, making a return by Jan. 1 very unlikely.

The Wizards also released former Illini guard Dee Brown to make roster room for their new players.

Sixers “Actively Involved” in the Brand Hunt

According to ESPN.com’s Mark Stein:

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday night that the Philadelphia 76ers are again “actively involved” in the Brand hunt — and now a very serious threat to tempt him away from L.A. — after initially fearing that they couldn’t compete financially with the Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

…sources say that the Sixers are growing increasingly confident in their ability to create additional salary-cap space by trading away swingman Rodney Carney and center Calvin Booth, setting them up to make a sufficiently rich offer Brand would struggle to refuse.

Dealing away Carney and Booth — with Minnesota and Memphis quickly emerging as possible destinations — would shed nearly $3 million from the Sixers’ payroll next season as long as the trade doesn’t require new GM Ed Stefanski to take any salary back.

…and if the Sixers can finalize a trade to part with Carney and Booth — it’s conceivable that Philadelphia could possess the financial flexibility to start a five-year offer to Brand at a first-year salary in the $15 million range.

Ed Stefanski is on the move and I like where his head is at.  He looks to finally make a push for the biggest piece of the puzzle, something that could potentially propel us to ‘Contender’ status in the East, something we have coveted for a long time to no avail, a power forward.

Sixers Mangle the Griz

The 76ers cruise into the All-Star break with a season long five game winning streak after taking it to the Grizz 102-88 last night at the Wach. After going on an 18-0 run in the 3rd putting the Sixers up by 22, things got a little shaky. The Grizz climbed back into it and cut it to six, 92-86, late in the 4th. However, Iggy and Andre Miller proved too much connecting on a smooth alley-oop late, to highlight a 10-2 run and seal the deal. Some highlights:

With the win, the Sixers move into a tie for the 7th spot in the East if the playoffs were to start today. However, the Nets and Hawks both own the tie-breaker over the Sixers.

Philly native Hakim Warrick and ‘Nova grad Kyle Lowry were back in the (215) representing the Griz. Warrick had a great game in front of his hometown crowd with 23 pts and 8 boards. Lowry also had a decent outing off the bench with 15 pts, 6 boards, and 6 assists.

Game Ball: Andre Iguodala – 29 pts, 8 boards, 8 assists

Interesting Fact: The last 5-game win streak going into the All-Star break was a 6 game streak in 1961-62 when they were known as the Syracuse Nationals.