76ers NewsRoom

Teleconference Transcript: Stefanski on Giricek Acquisition

Opening Statement

As everyone knows we traded Kyle Korver today to the Utah Jazz. Even though I have not personally been here over his career, I have seen his work from afar and obviously he's a good basketball player that you hate to lose. Besides being a good basketball player, he's an even better person. He is one of the terrific guys out there in the NBA. He also does a lot in the community so he will be missed both on and off the floor. We felt it was a move for the plan we're going to take and we're looking to secure cap space this summer. We're also going to be able to secure a first-round pick that could be a player for us or a chip in a future trade and we get the services of Gordan Giricek until the end of the year. All those things played into this decision, but obviously we will miss Kyle, as I said, both on and off the court.

On the details of the first-round pick

It is protected; it can start in 2009 and can go through 2014. It's a different protection every year.

On Gordan Giricek being a disruption given his previous relationship with Jerry Sloan

Not at all; it's a clean slate. I'm not concerned at all about that.

On having having Giricek beyond this year

That's something that we will see in the future. There was no commitment or playing time to Gordan and his agent. It will be Coach Cheeks' decision where he feels that he can help the team. We will both know if he's a guy that we want to keep going forward.

On why Kyle Korver was chosen to be traded as opposed to another player

Having called around the league with Tony DiLeo, Kyle's name came up a lot. There's no question he's a terrific shooter of the basketball. For a team that has low post players, they (Utah) could use a guy that can get them over the top. Kyle is a definite asset for someone and he's an asset for us, but where we're at right now we have to do more things and add more pieces to this puzzle. That's a compliment to Kyle; he was the guy people really wanted. People really want Andre (Miller) too, but I think where we are right now with Andre (Miller) playing at that high level with Andre Iguodala - this is a start. I'm not saying that we're done, but I'm really happy with the way that Andre Miller is playing.

On the Sixers being done with making moves

I'm all ears and as I've said all the time, a deal has to make sense both ways. I know that fans and the press want to dissect who got the "best" of the deal, but there were obvious different reasons why Utah wanted to make the deal and why we wanted to make the deal. We both feel really good about ourselves right now and that's what a trade is supposed to do - help both sides. Are we done? I couldn't answer that question with the trade deadline being so far away from us and we do have chips that people do like.

On Thaddeus Young's development having anything to do with being able to trade Kyle

Yes and no. No meaning we didn't make the trade thinking because Thaddeus was coming on, but we are happy with the progress of Thaddeus that he's getting more playing time. He is a rookie; he is going to make mistakes. What is nice is that he's making aggressive, energy-type mistakes. But, he's not Kyle Korver. Kyle is a veteran in the league and a good one. The guys that will benefit from this, and again this is Coach's decision, will be Willie Green, Lou Williams, Rodney Carney, and Thaddeus Young. Those four (players) will be competing for these extra minutes and the wild card will be Gordan Giricek and that's up to the coach.

On the timeline this trade took to be put together

We've been talking for a couple weeks.

On Ed Stefanski talking to Kyle today

Yes, I talked to Kyle. He's a terrific young man. It was kind of strange for me to call him because I haven't been around him long enough. I'm very close with his agent Jeff Schwartz, but Kyle has been a gentleman with me since I got here. I told Tony DilLeo, since he's been with him his whole career, that he should be the one to call him. I called him and thanked him for his services, but it felt a little strange since I've only been here a short term. He was gracious - he is just a terrific young man.

On Ed Stefanski starting to target players in free agency