Sixers' Dorell Wright Is Expecting A Lot Of Open Shots This Year
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Sixers will open training camp next week as they prepare for one of the most anticipated seasons for the franchise in years. They have a lot of new faces on the roster this season and, while most of the attention will obviously be focused on center Andrew Bynum, another key acquisition could prove to be Dorell Wright.
The 26-year-old forward was picked up from Golden State back in July as as part of a three-team deal and on Tuesday he called in to KYW Newsradio and said he has spent the past couple of weeks settling in, in Philadelphia.
"Just enjoying the city," Wright says. "Fortunate enough to have a few friends here that lived in California, so I'm having a good time. Hanging out with the guys, just trying to get acquainted with those guys, get a little chemistry on the court. So it's been a fun two weeks so far."
Listen to Matt Leon's entire interview with Dorell Wright:
Wright had spent the past two seasons in Golden State and says he was surprised to learn he was headed east.
"Definitely wasn't expecting it. I went into the summer thinking I was going to be back in Golden State, but it's part of the business. Now I'm really looking forward and putting all my attention to this team and just trying to get where I want to be, which is back in those playoffs."
He is also looking forward to getting the chance to play with Bynum.
"A guy I've been able to watch for the past few years. Somebody that is a very dominant player, all-star and a winner. So who doesn't want to play with a guy like that? It's going to be a lot of fun."
One of the best three-point shooters in basketball, Wright is a career 37% shooter from behind the arc. Long distance shooting was a weakness for last year's Sixers, so he is eager to fill it up for Doug Collins.
"It's great to be a part of this team now, a young talented team. I'm really looking forward to it, man. There's going to be a lot of open shots, a lot of guys driving and kicking to me on the perimeter, so I'm really looking forward to it."
Wright averaged 10.3 points a game in Golden State last season. He was a first-round pick of the Miami Heat out of high school back in 2004.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
