MLK Day Matinee: 76ers at Target Center

My apologies that I haven't posted since halftime of Friday's loss at Memphis.

You didn't much after that, not after that dreadful third quarter when the Wolves got outscored 40-22.

I had Internet problems that prevented me from posting after Friday's game, then traveled Saturday and have been immersed in a long narrative story I wrote for the paper on Monday's 50th anniversary of the Minneapolis Lakers' chartered plane going down in an Iowa cornfield: read it here

As for the Wolves...

Ryan Hollins practiced Saturday and Sunday after missing six games with what the team is now calling strep throat.

But Rambis commented Saturday on how tired and worn Hollins looked, so I'll bet he doesn't play Monday afternoon (2:30) in the Martin Luther King matinee against Philadelphia.

Rambis' postgame media address lasted just eight seconds and 21 words after Friday's horrible second half. He called practice for both Saturday (a brisk 70-minute workout) and Sunday (an unusual morning practice so players could watch or attend the Vikings-Cowboys) game.

After watching that game, I couldn't help but think this:

The best bet with all that money they've socked away for next summer might be spent on throwing money at restricted free agent Rudy Gay ($12 million a year?) and hope it's too rich for the financially strapped Grizzlies. I believe he's already turned down. He sought a five-year, $50 million deal from the Grizz last fall and didn't get it.

They're not going to get Joe Johnson, let alone Bosh, LeBron and D-Wade of course.

After that, there are going to be teams with money but few players worth splurging on.

Who else is worth spending that money on, unless you decide to use it on multiple players?

And if David Kahn and Rambis really want to run, the dude can run.

Yes, you worry he's an underachiever and yes, he needs (or wants) the ball, but he's only 23 and he has played in Memphis all his career.

Add him, draft Evan Turner or Xavier Henry for your 2 guard, use one of those other first round picks to draft a long, athletic shot-blocker type or sign Pekovic or trade his rights and -- with Ricky Rubio still to be added or dealt (or Jonny Flynn) -- you're on your way somewhere.

You can decide on what to do with the Jefferson/Love dilemma later. No need to force that decision now, not with this team still two or three years away at best from being seriously competitive.

All of a sudden, Corey Brewer and/or Ryan Gomes are your seventh, eighth or ninth guys.