Sixers Press Releases

Ed Stefanski 6/10/2009 teleconference transcript

On the trade…
What happened on the trade; I always feel both sides have needs and in this trade, Toronto’s need for an aggressive, tough player who can defend and rebound was a need for them in the off-season. Perimeter shooting was a need for us. We traded a player who is a tough guy to them, (in Reggie), and then we got a very good outside shooter in Jason Kapono. So you make the trade, hope that it works. We’re happy to have Jason. We feel he’s going to fit our style and he’ll extend the defense for us, which is, no question a need for us the last couple years.

Is it possible he could start on the wing with Iguodala?
That would be obviously Eddie’s call in the pre-season. Eddie’s thing was he can play both a guard and a swing-forward position, either one. He was just very happy to get a shooter of his elk; he was very happy to get him.

Was this trade something he looked at for a while?
No, we try to match-up contracts all the time because of the collective bargaining agreement. I’d say this trade has been in the works maybe a couple weeks, just back and forth. Again, we’re constantly talking to all teams all the time. This one got more steam as it went along.

Does this change your Draft strategy at all? Do you look more now toward point guard as opposed to maybe shooting guard now that you’ve got Jason?
No, I think we’re going to look for the best guard available, which we’ve been talking all along. We’re looking for the best guard available and that’s what Eddie wants. He’s more concerned with the best player at one of those spots if that happens. Who knows what’s going to happen in the draft, but all along we’ve said we’re looking for perimeter help. This year, this draft is probably perimeter oriented.

Is the price you pay basically that you’re 1.2 million closer to luxury tax? Is that a drawback at all?
Yes, anytime you add money you’re closer to the luxury tax, correct.

Are you now in the market for a rebounder off the bench?
The one thing that Reggie brought to us, (and I said this to Reggie on the phone yesterday), is that he had an asset for us in order to get a shooter like Kapono. But the one spot that Reggie played is where we have more depth than probably anywhere, with Elton back with Speights, who we want to get on the floor more with Jason Smith and with Thaddeus Young. So that spot has a lot of people that can play that spot. So that was a situation where, since Reggie was an asset, we were able to move on.

Did Reggie’s struggles in the magic series make him a liability?
You always want the better offense when Reggie was on the court, but the bottom line is what happened here was there were two teams in definite need. That just filled the bill for us. Reggie will do a good job for them up there because he fits that need. We were fortunate enough to get one of our needs. We weren’t thinking on those lines though.

Do you see Jason playing 20-25 minutes per game as he has throughout his career?
It’s a good question. I don’t know because I don’t know what’s going to happen in the Draft and other things that could happen here in the off-season. But you’re right; he’s averaged close to 20-plus minutes a game for his career. But there’s no doubt what he does for us is now gives us a threat out there that guys have to respect him. Even if he’s not knocking them down on a regular basis, but he does, he shoots pretty well. You have to get out and get him and I think that’s going to help, as we talk spacing all the time. Part of our problem has been our spacing on the floor and this definitely helps that issue.

How would you compare and contrast Kapono’s abilities to Korver’s?
I was only with Kyle for a little bit. Kyle probably rebounded the ball better than Kapono. I think Jason Kapono’s average at shooting the three’s a little bit better than Kyle’s. The other thing, I don’t know what Kyle’s stats are at turning the ball over so I don’t know it and I’m not saying he did turn it over, but I do like the idea that Jason Kapono doesn’t really turn the ball over much. So are they a little bit different? Yea, but they’re both sharp-shooters, which is obviously a need. Once we traded Kyle we created a need there, which we knew we were going to do. Right now we have a guy who hopefully can replace him.

Is it possible that the physicals are anything more than a formality?
Both guys played just about every game for the last two years so you’d think not, but who knows? You never know. Nothing becomes official until you do the physicals and the NBA approves it.

Are you concerned how Kapono will fit in with you guys defensively?
That’s an Eddie Jordan question. But Eddie had a big smile on his face when I told him we got Jason Kapono. You always concern yourself when it’s on both ends of the floor. But as I said before, if we could get a shooter who could really defend too, that’s an All-Star. Jason Kapono, I know the kid is a gamer. He showed that in the playoffs. When he got in there, he doesn’t mind taking big shots and putting his nose in there. So he’ll compete but, he’ll have to play on the defensive end too for Eddie. There are always deficiencies on one end or the other. Most guys are not that well rounded to do that well on both ends.

Are you getting any sort of a sense of how much maneuvering teams want to do in this Draft?
Not yet. I think it’s too early. We haven’t heard. We’re talking to teams, but there hasn’t been a lot of action. After the first pick in the Draft, it’s pretty much open for people arguing whose going to go 2, 3, 4, 5 and down the line.

Do you get the sense that Kapono could benefit Elton as much or more than anyone?
Elton texted me. He’s very happy to get him. Andre Iguodala’s extremely happy also; I guess he feels it’ll clear lanes for him. Obviously, this kind of player for us will help a lot of guys on that end. Thaddeus Young was happy about that last night, too. Not that they didn’t like Reggie. They all like Reggie, but we’ve been sorely missing a player like this.

How could you describe this as a different level player than what we were able to bring in last off-season?
Not disparaging Donyell Marshall, he played 15 years in the NBA, but he’s at his age. This guy [Kapono] just turned 28 in February. He’s at the prime of his game. So it’s different. There’s no question he is. When you watch guys you’ll say, wow it’s going to go in all the time. But there’s some players out there, (obviously the great shooters), when they shoot you think, holy smokes it’s going in. This is the kind of guy that, when he’s open and has his feet set, you think, he’s going to make his shot. So it’s nice to get a player of that caliber.

Will this effect playing time for guys like Willie Green or Lou Williams?
It all depends where we play different things. The one thing is, people are versatile and can play different positions. Lou could benefit by this too because of Lou’s quickness and how he plays. I’m saying all these players could benefit from Jason Kapono, but we have forgot too, Jason Kapono said to me last night, he’s going to benefit by the athletic people he has who can go up and get in the lane, and Elton posting. So Jason Kapono is happy, coming from the other side of what the other guys can do for his game.

Do you have any new or updated feeling about how Andre Miller might be leaning or how you might be leaning, in terms of Andre Miller?
No, I have not spoken to Andre Miller or his agent because I can’t do it until July 1st.