”I think that when you look at just where I believe Zhaire can be Womens Andy Dalton Jersey , there are some common denominators that Kawhi had when we first brought him to San Antonio,” Brown said.High praise for the Texas Tech guard.But why settle for a rookie who may never develop into a franchise player when the Sixers can try and aquire the real deal?The 76ers are open for business this summer and an organization that has long preached patience is now in the market for marquee talent to team with
blossoming stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.”We are star hunting or star developing,” Brown said Friday. ”You’re not going to win a championship any other way.”Brown hit on the ”star hunter” phrase at Thursday’s draft and again when he introduced Smith, acquired from Phoenix in a swap of first-rounders, and Wichita
State guard Landry Shamet at the team’s New Jersey headquarters.Brown had called Smith the team’s 1-B choice in the draft after they traded their 1-A pick, Villanova forward Mikal Bridges, to the Suns in a trade that
also saw the Sixers net an unprotected first-rounder in 2021.Sure, the Sixers could keep that pick until `21 when draft rules are expected to change in time for high school graduates to again be eligible. But the real
perk of the pick is the ability to dangle it as trade bait as the Sixers hunt in
the rarefied air of NBA stars.”It’s a tiny number of players,” Brown said. ”As we figure out who we deem to be stars, we understand that’s going to be a challenge. We also understand we
don’t have to solve all this now.”Meaning, the 2019 free-agent crop sure looks good, too.Brown is calling the shots in the front office as the Sixers look for a new general manager in the wake of Bryan Colangelo’s resignation. Brown made the
final decisions on draft night and – though he said he has no desire to balance
dual roles – he’ll be the face of the franchise with plenty to offer in talent;
success (52 wins; playoff series win); a first-class training facility; and at
least $26 million in salary cap space.The Sixers are also dealing with a wild card in Markelle Fultz Matthew Stafford Jersey White , the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft whose rookie season was slowed by shoulder and mental issues that resulted in a broken
shot and no playing time in Philadelphia’s last seven playoff games.Fultz has been working with noted skills coach Drew Hanlen on rebuilding his mechanics. Fultz will likely skip summer league as he works on his jumper and
tries to join Embiid and Simmons to form a trio of homegrown talent capable of
making the Sixers contenders in the East. There’s always a chance Fultz could be
packaged with a pick to try and pry Leonard from the Spurs.Brown was an assistant with the Spurs and has a solid relationship with Leonard. Leonard, the 2014 NBA Finals MVP and two-time NBA defensive player of
the year, has requested a trade from San Antonio after missing most of last
season with a right quadriceps injury. Spurs GM R.C. Buford said there was a
fractured relationship between Leonard and the only franchise he has played
for.Leonard is due just over $20 million next season, and can become a free agent in the summer of 2019. He is eligible to sign a $220 million extension with San
Antonio.If the Sixers strike this summer, they’d have to be confident Leonard would be willing to re-sign with them instead of walking away with nothing to show for
the gamble.The Sixers have their own free agents to deal with, and they’d love to have 3-point ace JJ Redick return, perhaps on another one-year deal. Wayne Ellington
and Tyreke Evans, both Philly-area natives, are unrestricted free agents that
would fit in a happy homecoming. And, of course, Paul George and LeBron James
are on just about every team’s wish list this summer.The Cavs can offer James a five-year, $209 million deal this summer. It’s possible James could choose to sign a one-year deal again with a player option
and go through the free-agency dance again next summer.The Sixers will get to make a pitch after letting others do it for them.At Barclays Center Jeff Skinner Jersey , the NBA draft site, a plane flying above the arena carried three banners. One had LeBron James’ No. 23 with a crown and the Liberty
Bell; another urges him to ”Strive for GOATNESS”; and the last reads
(hash)PHILLYWANTSLEBRON.Power Home Remodeling, a Philadelphia-based company, has become a James recruiter, originally setting up three billboards in Cleveland urging him to
come to the city. The company also flew Thursday’s billboards in Brooklyn.”We’ll be aggressive and attractive in the free-agent marketplace,” Brown said.But will it be enough?—The Nashville Predators are having their best season yet – and are nowhere near satisfied.Ryan Ellis scored the go-ahead goal with 9:54 left and the Nashville Predators beat the San Jose Sharks 5-3 Thursday night to set a franchise record
with 111 points this season.”This is just part of where we’re trying to get to,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. ”I think they understand that the more we win, the better
chance we have to secure home ice. Playing in front of our fans and in our
building is something we talked about. We want to get that done. We knew that
was something that could be done tonight. The guys played hard for us.”With their 50th victory, the NHL-leading Predators padded their lead to four points over Boston in the chase for their first Presidents’ Trophy. Nashville
topped the mark of 110 points set in 2006-07 on a night where the franchise also
notched its 100th consecutive sellout, a streak that started April 7, 2016,
against the Sharks.They also lead Winnipeg by seven points with five games remaining apiece in the Central looking for their first division title.Forward Filip Forsberg said the defending Western Conference champs started the season with the goal of making the playoffs.”Once we nailed that off Matt Calvert Jersey , now we want to finish as high as we can,” said Forsberg, who had three assists. ”Figure that the best season in Preds’ history
is a good way to do it.”Craig Smith and Viktor Arvidsson each had a goal and an assist, and Kyle Turris had a goal. Nick Bonino added an empty-net goal with 17 seconds left for
Nashville, which won the season series against San Jose 2-1.Juuse Saros made 39 saves for the win, including stopping Logan Couture on a penalty shot with 1:53 left. The goalie also helped the Predators kill a penalty
with 3:10 remaining with a flurry of stops.”Oh my goodness,” center Ryan Johansen said of the Predators’ backup goalie. ”He was phenomenal. I was pretty impressed being his teammate and watching him
play. He was probably the reason we ended up winning that game. He just
deserves, if not all, most of the credit.”Couture, Brenden Dillon and Mikkel Boedker scored for the Sharks. San Jose snapped its nine-game point streak.”It’s a tough place to win,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. ”We played hard and had some chances to get some points here tonight, just didn’t happen.”Turris opened the scoring at 5:26 when he pounced on a rebound of P.K. Subban’s shot from the point Youth Greg Olsen Jersey , beating Martin Jones with a snap shot from the left circle. Ryan Johansen stole the puck near the blue line, and he and
Forsberg had nobody in front of them but Jones. Arvidsson scored off the pass
from Forsberg for his team-leading 29th goal this season midway through the
first.Couture took advantage of Evander Kane in front of Saros to score on a wrist shot at 6:55 that went over the goalie’s right shoulder. Dillon tied it at 2 at
12:05 with a shot from the point over Saros’ right shoulder off the
crossbar.Smith put the Predators up 3-2 at 10:38 of the second with a wrister from in front that slipped under Jones’ left pad.For all the Predators’ success, their biggest issue has been the power play. They came in 3 of 44 since March 1 and went 0 of 5 against the Sharks, which
included 41 seconds of a 5-on-3. Rookie Eeli Tolvanen, who signed his three-year
entry-level contract earlier Thursday , could help when he makes his highly
anticipated debut, likely Saturday night.Boedker beat Saros with a wrist shot at 5:54 of the third.Ellis put the Predators ahead to stay with a slap shot after the puck bounced out to him off a shot attempt by Forsberg.NOTES: The Predators are 66-21-13 during their current sellout streak. … Nashville also matched its top mark for wins in a single month with 11. The
Predators won 11 in March 2010 and January 2012.UP NEXTSharks: Visit the Golden Knights on Saturday night.Predators: Host Buffalo on Saturday night.— Womens Carolina Panthers Jerseys
