After the 76ers parted ways with Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, and Louis Williams and others last season, they were in need of a veteran leader. The Sixers found their man in veteran point guard Royal Ivey, who was an excellent locker room presence for the Thunder last season, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Royal Ivey and the Andrew Bynum-less Sixers are taking on the Pacers in Indiana tomorrow night. Here's more from around the Association..
- The Grizzlies' hiring of John Hollinger and Stu Lash won't change the status of current General Manager Chris Wallace, sources tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Hollinger was hired by Memphis earlier today as the club's new Vice President of Basketball Operations.
- Hawks forward Josh Smith is happy in Atlanta, and he discussed his new found zen in detail with Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype. "I've always had a good relationship with the management. It's nothing against Rick Sund, but Danny Ferry worked for a lot of successful organizations in Cleveland and San Antonio, so I think he brought that winning attitude to this team and it has trickled down to the coaches and the players," Smith said.
- The Blazers are happy with the EuroLeague assets they received in their Ray Felton/Kurt Thomas trade with the Knicks, writes Nick Gibson of Sheridan Hoops. Small forward Kostas Papanikolaou is shining for Olympiacos and has nailed at least 50% of his threes in all but one game this season.