Coach Doug Collins, choking back the words, said, "It hit me hard. It reminded me of when I got fired in Chicago, with my kids."
"Willie was my rookie when he joined the Sixers," McKie said. "He's like a little brother to me. He's cut from old-school cloth; his approach is always the same - he's already ready. He had called me [Wednesday] night about coming in to work out. It was about an hour after I had found out something could be happening."
Green's run of seven seasons playing for six different Sixers coaches is over after 422 games and a 9.4 career scoring average. Smith's more modest run of three seasons that included 132 games, averages of 4 points and 2.8 rebounds and reconstructive knee surgery was equally done. But Green, who can be a free agent next summer, is going to a team that, having traded Darren Collison to Indiana, had desperately needed a backup point guard behind Chris Paul.
"In some respects, this could be better for Willie, because he'll have a better opportunity to play and he'll be with a team that should be in the thick of the playoff hunt," said Green's agent, Noah Croom. "He's going to get meaningful minutes."
Interestingly, Green still might have gotten some minutes here, because every one of his previous coaches eventually found a comfort level and measure of trust with him. But Collins, president Rod Thorn and general manager Ed Stefanski understood the necessity of finding time for No. 2 pick Evan Turner, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams and Jodie Meeks.
Green was unavailable for comment, having left directly after being informed of the trade to take his family on a brief, prearranged vacation.
