Henderson signs deal to join Sixers
LAS VEGAS - Gerald Henderson called signing with the 76ers a dream come true - one that he'll never forget.
LAS VEGAS - Gerald Henderson called signing with the 76ers a dream come true - one that he'll never forget.
That's partly because his father, Gerald Henderson Sr., played for the Sixers during the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons. The Sixers were also his favorite team growing in Blue Bell, a suburb of Philadelphia.
"No other teams could offer the feelings I have towards the organization," said the former Episcopal Academy standout, who signed his two-year, $18 million contract here on Saturday.
"The Philadelphia fans, I played in front of them growing up and been one my whole life, especially being in high school and watching AI [Allen Iverson] grow up," he added. "That's like my childhood. I think I got an Instagram post of AI playing against Kobe [Bryant]. I'm like, this is my childhood in a snapshot, really."
Henderson now hopes to help reshape the franchise that finished with a league-worst 10-72 record last season and went 47-199 the last three years.
Henderson may fit the Sixers' system perfectly. The athletic 28-year-old can defend and rebound well at the guard position. He's also an improved shooter who can score. The seven-year veteran will also be a leader in the locker room.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder averaged 8.7 points while shooting a career-best 35.3 percent on three-pointers last season with the Portland Trail Blazers. Henderson played his first six seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.
Waiters waits
It appears the free-agency talks between Dion Waiters and the Sixers have hit a couple of snags.
The Sixers want the South Philly native to take a two-year deal, which could include a team option in case he's not a good fit. Meanwhile, Waiters' representation wants a regular deal with more years. The Oklahoma City Thunder restricted free agent could receive up to a four-year deal from another team.
Another factor holding things up is that the Thunder are prepared to match any deal he receives. A team would have to give the shooting guard a four-year max deal that the Thunder would think twice about matching in order for him to go elsewhere. But Oklahoma City would certainty match a two-year deal that includes a team option.
Concern over Waiters' being a good fit and returning home to play are the holdups for the Sixers.
Waiters' 21-year-old brother, Demetrius Pinckney, was murdered in March in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia. At the time, Police Commissioner Richard Ross said the incident might have resulted from a years-old feud.
This was just the latest in a series of tragedies that Waiters, 24, has endured. When he was growing up, three of his cousins and a close friend were killed in his old neighborhood.
The Sixers are concerned there will be a negative environment close to home, a source said. There's also concern that the sometimes-blunt Waiters wouldn't mesh well with the Sixers' young players.
New Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo wants to clean up the team's reputation both on and off the court.
However, sources keep reiterating that the 6-4, 220-pounder has a strong desire to play for the Sixers.
