Former Sixer Poirier criticizes team after trade

Share

Vincent Poirier and Terrance Ferguson are currently out of the NBA after being traded from the Sixers to the Knicks in the team's trade for George Hill and later waived by New York.

Poirier isn't pleased with how the process played out on the Sixers' end.

In a French interview with Le Parisien translated by Eurohoops, Poirier said the following: 

“I wish someone had told me, ‘We were wrong,' ‘You can’t play with us.' I like it when things are straight. The coach didn’t even send me a message, although I know he sent others. I’m not asking him to give me compliments but just a message to wish me good luck. We are not commodities, we are still human beings. It’s a minimum of sending a message, to say that the situation was complicated, but thank you for your professionalism. A bogus thing, even if he doesn’t really mean it.”

Sixers head coach Doc Rivers on Thursday said, "I don't get involved in that crap. Vincent and I have talked. That kind of talk and all that kind of stuff, that's for, I guess, newspapers. I'll let you guys do that. I don't get involved in that stuff."

After playing in 22 games for the Celtics last season, Poirier was traded to the Thunder in November and then sent to Philadelphia in the deal that brought Danny Green to the Sixers. That trade wasn't formally completed until Dec. 8, meaning Green, Ferguson and Poirier couldn't join the Sixers until during training camp.

Poirier made the Sixers' opening-night roster over Justin Anderson, who only had a partially guaranteed contract. He played 39 minutes for the Sixers, all of which came in blowouts. 

The Sixers went from having four traditional centers available to start the season in Joel Embiid, Dwight Howard, Tony Bradley and Poirier to one after the trade deadline. Embiid is expected to return this weekend from a left knee bone bruise, while Bradley is now a member of the rebuilding Thunder.

Poirier told Le Parisien he's been working out in Philadelphia and is willing to return to Europe to continue his career. He led the EuroLeague in rebounding before joining the Celtics, averaging 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds for Baskonia during the 2018-19 season. 

Contact Us