The Sixers are “seriously” considering joining the ranks of the East Rutherford Giants/Jets, the Santa Clara 49ers, and the Foxboro Patriots, according to Tom Bergeron at ROI-NJ.com:

Officials from the state of New Jersey sent details to the owners of the Philadelphia 76ers regarding an opportunity to use state-owned land in Camden for a massive mixed-use development that would include a world-class arena as well as commercial, residential and retail offerings, ROI-NJ has learned.

The multibillion-dollar project, championed by Gov. Phil Murphy and supported by the Legislature, would be built on the former state prison site area that is adjacent to the Delaware River and north of the Ben Franklin Bridge.

The project, which would be self-financed by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (the entity that owns the Sixers), would be eligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives.

Because the project would contain both an arena and a full-scale mixed-use component, HBSE could be eligible to receive two Aspire tax credits worth up to $400 million each.

In addition, the Governor’s Office aims to work with the Legislature to enable the structuring of up to $500 million of special-purpose bonds supported by fees and surcharges on tickets, concessions and parking (meaning there will be no impact to New Jersey taxpayers) to support the development of an arena.

No chance, right? Over Sixers fans’ dead bodies. Not so fast my friend.

A spokesperson for the Sixers said they’ll take “all potential options seriously” –

“We have worked tirelessly for the past five years to build an arena in Philadelphia and negotiations remain ongoing with city leadership regarding our proposal at Market East,” the spokesperson said.  “The reality is we are running out of time to reach an agreement that will allow the 76ers to open our new home in time for the 2031-32 NBA season.

“As a result, we must take all potential options seriously, including this one.”

Do I see this happening? Absolutely not. This is another power play by the Sixers in a laundry list full of them on both sides. I don’t think there is a chance the Sixers will move (Kinker: There’s a 0% chance the Sixers leave the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as long as Sixers superfan Josh Shapiro is Governor).  It’ll put the kibosh on their already-difficult relationship with fans and the city would be dumb to lose out on millions of tax revenue a year. The most important factor though isn’t money, status, or ego. The most important factor to the Sixers staying is minority owner David Adelman doesn’t want any part of losing his man card if he moves the team across state lines. How do I know? He offered it up to us in an interview last year:

Listen, do I want to take David’s man card? Absolutely not. I liked him that one time we talked through a computer screen. But a promise is a promise. My hands are tied. If he moves the team to New Jersey I’ll grab his man card, cut it up, and put it in a special Man Card collaboration with Michael Rubin and Fanatics. The first of its kind Man Card card. Don’t make me do it, David! I know Comcast is talking about cutting secret deals with the Mayor.  I know Inga Saffron, the apparent building czar in this city, needs to be put out to pasture because she’s ruining her legacy with each tweet about the arena and articles about how TD Garden runs on gamedays when there was no game. I know they’re hiring activists moonlighting as journalists over there. I get it. It’s all an uphill battle. But here’s the thing – if you put one shovel, no a spade, in New Jersey land, I’m going to have no choice, but to take it.