Section 215
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UPDATE: Sixers PR Confirms New Logo; New Uniforms to Be Unveiled June 18th

By Somers Price

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Back in February, Sixers CEO Scott O’Neil announced that the organization would introduce a new logo/uniform combination. O’Neil did not necessarily commit to a strict date, but did provide a general timeline for when the new look would be revealed.

It would appear that whomever is in charge of this decision is opting for the former in terms of the big reveal.

Personally, I don’t have much of an issue with the logo that the organization has been working under since their last uniform change. If anything, the consensus around fans is that there shouldn’t be too much overhaul to what the team has been sporting since the late-2000s. Nevertheless, the current regime in charge of the franchise has made self-branding and marketing a clear priority and feel a new look is in order.

The current look is much more of an homage to the team’s simplistic, minimalist uniforms of the 1970s and 1980s. After switching over to a more intricate design and color scheme for a stretch between the late 1990s and early 2000s, the organization decided to revert back to the look that they donned during their most successful era.

In addition to a new logo and uniform scheme, O’Neil also appears open to the possibility of the Sixers joining the handful of teams that offer longer-sleeved jerseys, citing the wearability for fans who’d prefer not to have their entire arms exposed.

It seems as if the current regime is finally committed to ending its two-season run of ‘tanking’, having also introduced a new team slogan of ‘This Starts Now’, replacing ‘Together We Build’ to go along with its new look.

The NBA Lottery takes place a week from Tuesday. Having finished with the league’s 3rd worst record, the Sixers can finish with no worse than the 6th overall selection with their own draft pick and have an outside chance of up to two of their protected picks, acquired in various trades, conveying for the 2015 Draft.

It’s tough to speculate which direction Sam Hinkie would go with whatever pick (s) the Sixers do end up with. The class does boast a pair of guards (D’Angelo Russell and Emannuel Mudiay) who many project as top-five selections. Given the dearth of talent in the Philadelphia backcourt, many figure them to be heavily involved in scouting each individual. On the other hand, the 2015 Class also boasts a pair of big men in Duke’s Kahlil Okafor and Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns who figure to hear their names called before Russell’s or Mudiay’s. Would Hinkie pull the trigger on yet another power forward/center type to throw into the mix with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid? Finally, a wild card to keep in mind has to be Croatian product Mario Hezonja. The 20-year-old Euro is quickly becoming one of the more fascinating players in the class given his versatility and swagger on the court. Hinkie has shown no hesitation in tapping into the overseas market for talent and Hezonja could have superstar potential.

Update 12:35 p.m.

CSN Philly’s John Gonzalez confirms that the Sixers will release their new logo tomorrow. Gonzalez also says that new uniforms will not be released tomorrow, but will be sometime between the May 20th draft lottery and the June 26th draft.

UPDATE 9:16 A.M — EST; 5/12

Though there has yet to be an announcement from the team, it would appear as if the logos that the team filed trademarks for going forward are making the rounds Tuesday morning. Here they are, courtesy of @AnaheimAmigos

Here’s each one as a stand-alone.

(H/T to @DerekBodnerNBA for posting the images on his website)

Considering these are only logos filed for trademark, they won’t necessarily be black-and-white on the team’s uniforms. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, this is the standard practice for instances such as these.

"Unless a color image is being submitted for a mark wherein color is claimed as a feature of the mark,"

As you can see, there isn’t much difference from the team’s logo they donned last season. Though that should leave many people relieved, considering the general approval of the team’s logo/uniform scheme, it also has to make some wonder why this was even made such a big deal of? Perhaps the team’s new uniforms, whenever they are released, will have more of a new look to them.

We’ll have our eye out for any type of announcement from the organization.

UPDATE: 9:35 A.M. — EST

Sixers Director of Public Relations Michael Preston confirmed the team’s new logos with a colored version of it. He also announced when the team would be unveiling its new uniforms.

Next: Sixers Mailbag: Ish Smith or Tony Wroten?

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