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As NBA trade deadline approaches, Sixers coach Brett Brown wants focus on court, not rumors

Sixers to celebrate Eagles' Super Bowl win at Tuesday's game against Washington Wizards.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown.Read moreYONG KIM/Staff Photographer

Brett Brown wants his 76ers to focus on capitalizing on their next five games — all at the Wells Fargo Center — and not on the upcoming trade deadline.

"That's the message to make me avoid [trade] stuff," the Sixers coach on Monday concerning Thursday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.

Brown pointed to the office of team president of basketball operations, Bryan Colangelo, when referring to making any roster moves.

"My office is this office," he said pointing to practice courts. "That's how I see the world right now. And it comes out of my mouth freely."

However, Tuesday's matchup against the Washington Wizards could be the last time fans see this particular Sixers unit intact.

That's because, with Markelle Fultz sidelined, the Sixers (25-25) don't have a guard who can create his own shot and  provide instant offense.

There are two on the market: Tyreke Evans of the Memphis Grizzlies and Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Grizzlies want to receive a first-round pick as part of any package for Evans. A league source has confirmed that the Sixers have expressed interest in the Chester native. There's also a report that they've inquired about Williams, who broke in with the Sixers.

It will be interesting to see what the Sixers decide to do in the coming days.

"In all my 17 years of doing it, I've never had five home games prior to an all-star break," the former longtime San Antonio Spurs assistant said, changing the subject. "We want to capitalize on that.

"If you said that the start of the year, at this, after 50 games, you are going to be 25-25, I'd say that's not too bad."

After facing Washington, Sixers host the New Orleans Pelicans (Friday) and Los Angeles Clippers (Saturday), then will entertain the New York Knicks (next Monday) and Miami Heat (Feb. 14) before the break.
The Wizards, at 31-22, are the fourth seed in the East. The Pelicans, who were blown out by Utah at home on Monday, have the West's seventh-best record at 28-25.
The Heat, who were edged by lowly Orlando on Monday, were still seventh in the East (29-25),  two games ahead of the eighth-place Sixers and Pistons (26-26).
The Clippers had the ninth-best record in West (26-25) heading into their late Monday night home game against the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks (23-31) are 11th in the East.

"There will be people on teams [and] their minds will be on Bermuda," Brown said. "I want ours in the Wells Fargo building here in this city. We know what we want. It's to be a playoff team.

"We have a chance in the next five games to make some ground and not play catch-up after the all-star break."

Sixers to unveil Bobby Jones sculpture

The Sixers will unveil a statue of Bobby Jones outside of their practice facility in Camden on Friday.

The forward averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks during his eight seasons in Philadelphia. He won the NBA Sixth man Award in 1983. The defensive standout also made two of his four NBA all-star appearances as a Sixer.

The organization retired his No. 24 jersey back in 1986.

Super Bowl celebration

The Sixes will celebrate the Eagles' Super Bowl victory at Tuesday's game. This is include a variety of in-game activities – including a special guest bell ringer, appearances by Swoop and Eagles players and personalities.