Guys (and any ladies) free agency started at 12:01 and I think by the end of July we will get to see a few things:
- What will happen with Andre Miller?
- How the Sixers final roster (main rotational players at least) will shape up.
- How the entire NBA will look and where the balance of power will lie. This is important to note for us to see how the competition will have grown or decreased in our division and conference. How good you are is always relative to the competition.
I will update this post ongoing as I hear anything Sixers related or major league wide. You guys are always on top of things as well, if you find something leave a link in the comments and I will add it to the post and give you credit.
Also this is the general post to use for your thoughts and ideas for what the Sixers should be doing in free agency.
Free Agency
FYI: Teams and this summer’s 100-plus free agents can reach verbal agreements at any time over the next seven days, but new contracts can’t actually be signed before July 8 while the league finishes determining the salary-cap figure for next season. The 2009-10 cap is likely to be close to last season’s $58.7 million per team based on the latest league-wide projections.
- Houston Rockets are going after Gortat hard.
Sixers Rumors
DEBUNKED: Miller for Blake and Outlaw
The Portland Tribune reports Kevin Pritchard shot down a rumor that Portland would send Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to Philadelphia in a sign-and-trade for Andre Miller.
“No,” Pritchard said in a text message when asked if the trade would happen.
“Nothing to it,” a 76ers representative told the newspaper. – Portland Tribune
Sammy and Willie for Tracy McGrady?
From Ricky – Sixers4guidos this rumor about Sammy to Houston.
The Sixers could have a match now that Houston Rockets center Yao Ming might miss the entire season and possibly more with a foot injury.
The Rockets would also like to trade Tracy McGrady, who is entering the final season of his contract worth $23.2 million.
According to an NBA source, the Sixers might look into such a deal. In order to make the salaries match within 25 percent, the Sixers would have to include another player or two. Dalembert has two years and $23.6 million left, including $11.4 million next season.
But Dalembert also has a 15 percent trade kicker, which would add $3.8 million to his contract. That has been a huge roadblock in the Sixers’ previous attempts to trade him.
Another roadblock could be the other player, or players, the Sixers would have to include in the deal.
The Sixers would most likely be willing to include Willie Green ($3.7 million) and perhaps a future draft pick, but not Lou Williams ($5 million). – DelawareOnline.com
Not much to it really the obligatory “NBA source” is in there but that’s about it. Houston does need center depth with Yao hurting and Dike gone. Sammy can play defense, but they need better than just Sam since Yao was also their main source of individual offense and offensive flow. I don’t see it happening but who knows.
I will say this, if Houston said add Lou to the deal along with Sam (and someone else so we don’t take back TOO much extra salary) for McGrady I think I would be all over it. Willie can play Lou’s role off the bench fine in my opinion and I really just don’t see a need for him on this team. Fill that spot with Christmas or some other shooting guard and allow Holiday to be the back-up point right away.
Sixers contact Mike Bibby
Concerned that 33-year-old Andre Miller wants too much money ($30 million) and too many years (three) to remain with the Sixers, team president Ed Stefanski has reached out to the Hawks’ Mike Bibby, according to a source close to the situation. – Tom Moore
The Sixers would have to get lucky to get a guy like Bibby or Kidd because they can’t outbid anyone. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Andre Miller Talk
I personally don’t want to see Andre Miller back. I’d prefer to move on. He just doesn’t fit my idea of the point guard the Sixers need. They need a defender first and foremost. They need a decent perimeter shooter at the position. They need a pass-first guy who doesn’t need to dominate the ball in order to score. I really don’t think Miller fits with any of those traits. Sadly I truly believe Stefanski’s #1 priority is to resign Miller and will get right on that today if he hasn’t already begun talks this morning.
As far as the point guard situation this is how I see the Sixers progression this summer:
- Attempt to resign Andre Miller to a 2-year deal in the range of $14M – $16M. I’ve heard nothing but Stefanski saying they want Miller back if both sides are on board and can come to a good price that is what they will do. Andre Miller’s agent has said nothing but his client wants to stay in Philly. It’s all about the years and $$.
- If that first deal isn’t acceptable for Miller I think Stefanski has 3 options. 1. Punk out and give him what he wants, locking the Sixers into another bad deal with an aging core player. 2. Immediately look for sign and trade partners and make the most out of any value Miller has left in the market and 3. Wait him out with the belief that no team will offer him the deal he wants (3-years, $30 M – speculated). When that happens over the deal above again first see if he bites, if not add a $1M or $2M to it but remaining at only 2 years.
- Sign and trade Andre Miller for value and stop gap at point to ease Holiday’s transition and development and still compete for a middling playoff spot. Also get another position/skill of need in the deal in order to make the most of any interest in Miller (Portland) and not just let him walk and get nothing. At the end of the day we can still offer him the most money.
- Let Miller walk and hope to god we can find an adequate replacement with our MLE.
- Sign a guy for the veteran’s minimum to run point (Brevin Knight, Ronnie Price, Anthony Carter, Tyronn Lue, Kevin Ollie etc.) with the idea of having Holiday possibly play a bigger role earlier than expected and maybe even (ugh) have Lou play more point and use the MLE on another/best available player for the money if PG isn’t doable.
- Iguodala run some point forward and Willie take some ball handling duties (ugh)
- Lou is the starting point (double ugh)
- Toss Holiday into the fire (ugh but would get me excited to see something new)
Thoughts?
Updates:
Andy Miller, the agent for Andre Miller believes the Sixers should sign his client to a contract which reflects his production on the floor.
“Our position hasn’t changed,” Andy Miller told the Philadelphia Daily News. “Andre has a strong interest, a strong desire to come back.
“We feel, from his body of work, Philadelphia should obviously reflect that in an offer, in appreciation for what he has done or what he can do for them in the future. We know the team has financial commitments elsewhere, but we also know Andre has continued to produce and deliver.
“If the fans want a team that can make the playoffs, that can win in the playoffs, the Sixers would be hard-pressed to find someone at the position who can produce like Andre.” – Philly.com
Mid-Level Exception Usage
I’ve been on the Marcin Gortat bandwagon for a while now. I think he is the best available option for the Sixers as a center of the future at a modest price this summer. He makes Dalembert even more expendable and you no longer have to worry about his blow-ups or mishaps and benchings. Word is Houston is going after him hard and I believe the Knicks are seriously interested as well so the Sixers have competition. To be honest I would approach him with the idea that he can come in and compete for the starting job, that it isn’t a lock that Sam as the incumbant has it locked by default.
More to come…
{ 128 comments… read them below or add one }
A 3 year deal for Miller would be so very wrong headed. 2 years tops, although my first preference is to let him move on via a sign and trade. In which case, find a cheap stop-gap and/or throw Holiday to the fire – what does this team have to lose?
My best case scenerio; sign-n-trade Miller for Outlaw and Blake; trade Outlaw [4 mill. exp.] for a s.g. [Azuibuke,V.Wafer(s&tr.)].Sign a young center [Sene,Swift,Gray?] for 1 mill. and move Sam if possible. Does D.Gooden work here as a high post center next to Elton? [4 mill. max.]
Dannie how about the latest Dalembert+Green for Tracy Mc Grady rumor?
I am praying, please join me…
Ricky – Link?
Is the thought of being held hostage that much of a deterent as far as restricted free agents? What is Detroit thinking? Villanueva over Milsap and Lee?
sorry Danny…
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090701/SPORTS03/907010361/1002/SPORTS
Suede – In general I don’t think the outside teams going after restricted free agents have much to lose. They know it’s unlikely they get the player in the first place so it’s just about offering a reasonable contract they are comfortable with and hope the home team isn’t. The bad teams are the ones that go overboard and blast the home team out of the water and overpay for a guy when the market doesn’t suggest he is worth that much.
In this particular case I don’t know since all three players are forwards/PFs. Detroit could go after the easy target in Charlie if that is the guy they really want, that’s one option. But also teams tend not to want to set the market. So which ever of those guys gets an offer/agrees to a deal first will set the market for the others.
Another option is offering the deal they really want to sign their main target to, to a restricted guy in hopes of setting the market at the price range they want to pay.
It’s all a game I am sure.
What would our lineup look like with McGrady inserted in?
Would he play the 2 or the 3?
Guest – McGrady would play the two. But he won’t even be back from injury to start the season. Honestly he is a rental and I would have his ass coming off the bench as to not crew up Thad’s development or the chemistry that hopefully we develop through training camp, preseason and the first quarter or half of the season.
If the Sixers could pull it off, it really just frees up the cap space 1 year earlier than expected and opens up minutes for young front court players as well as a roster spot and minutes in the back court (with Lou gone) with which to use the new acquired cap space next off-season.
The trade proposed in the Delaware Online article actually wouldn’t work under the salary cap – McGrady is scheduled to make over $23 million next season, and even with Dalembert’s trade kicker, he and Green combined would still be just short of $20 million.
HOWEVER – it wouldn’t be totally out of the realm of possibility to work a sign-and-trade with Miller and Dalembert to Houston, giving the Rockets both the “Yao Insurance” they need at center and the veteran PG (you know, who’s NOT a total headcase “playground legend”) they’ve craved for so long…depending on how much the Rockets would be willing to pay Miller, you might even be able to get them to throw Kyle Lowry into the deal…
Would they take Sammy, Lou, and Willie? In my opinion that would be ideal. McGrady could come off the bench and run the point/forward in relief of Jrue. When…not if…TMac gets hurt, at least by bringing him off the bench it won’t screw up the chemistry of our starters. The question then becomes do we throw Speights/Smith into the fire or Jrue at the point? I wouldn’t think we’d be able to get a solid center and a point guard with our cap situation.
Dannie, why dont you don’t think Miller is “a pass-first guy who doesn’t need to dominate the ball in order to score”?
Tracy McGrady: On the Dan Patrick show about a month ago, T-Mac said he was WAY ahead of schedule from the initial time table given, that he could be ready by mid-training camp in October, and that the rehab process was going great. We should do this deal IN A FREAKING HEARTBEAT. Rent T-Mac for a year to stay competitive, and have his salary come off the books? Hell yeah.
Unfortuantely, Daryl Morey (Rockets GM) seems to really want Gortat and met with him right after midnight, and is in a bidding war with the Knicks and Mavs right now. If the red sign Gortat, obviously any Dalembert deal is off.
Lou Williams: It cracks me up that all columnists write about Lou Williams as this piece that would be a sticking point in any trade…aka a great piece the Sixers would never want to give up…whereas all Sixer fans are going, like the Mista Mista lady in Happy Gilmore: “Get…him…OUT OF HERE!!!!!”
Suede (off your free agent prediction from other page): You made a nice call there that is a player being undertalked about that can be a solid contributer…Zaza Pachulia to the Thunder, bolstering their frontcourt. I like that. Although it sounds like, by all reports, the Thunder and Grizz are going to be the two teams offering D Lee a long term contract, and if he chooses Thunder, I can’t see Presti committing more money. Also, with the Hawks trading for Crawford and then drafting Teague, it’s doubtful the Hawks resign Bibby.
A-Miller: I love what he has done for us, has been a pro’s pro, knows the game, and has kept this team affloat too many times to count. But, two very important words to keep in mind: BAND-AID. And that is never, ever the route to go. Let him walk, lets sign a backup PG or trade for one and have them split time 60/40 with Holiday for the PG spot.
Best backup PG’s that are FA’s: Brevin Knight, Anthony Carter. I’d be very, very happy with either. Knight’s bball IQ is off the freaking charts, his passing ability in EJ’s offense would be a great boost; plus he is probably the best example the NBA has right now of a true pass-first, 100% unselfish PG…and lord knows we need that trait rubbed off on Lou and Holiday as much as possible.
Mike Bibby: What do people think of him as a FA signing? He’s certainly younger then A-Miller, more athletic, and offers better shooting (defense still pretty crappy though. I wouldn’t like the move; Bibby would ask for too much money, I dont want to be committed to any more guys in the twilights of their careers (a la from the LB era: Kukoc, Big Dawg, C-Webber, DC…and now A-Miller) and I think for far less we could sign a capable backup like B Knight or A Carter (who have both logged a lot of starters minutes over their careers) that would be perfectly capable as a stop gap solution.
Adam – This is purely with the eye test and specifically with his play on the Sixers. I go to half the home games and watch at least 95% of the rest.
Have you watched much Sixers the last year and a half? What do you see?
What I see is Andre Miller bringing the ball up court, sometimes he will run the offense, many times he will just take his guy straight to the low post and try to score one-on-one on the block. He calls iso’s for himself often. He has been successful scoring the ball, but I don’t think that is the best direction for the offense going forward. I think more guys need more touches and I am not sure he is the guy to do that. That isn’t exactly pass first to me, but of course if he is back he could prove me wrong.
Even on the break he tends to look to finish before pass. He is great and tossing the lob when it’s there and my HOPE is that in this new offense and with a healthy Brand, more polished Thaddeus Young and a legit three point shooter his shot attempts go down and his assists go up. That is the hope.
Rudy Fernandez is not thrilled with the idea of the Blazers pursuing Turkoglu. What do you guys think about Fernandez if we do get Blake?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4300407
Real Rob: Hell would freeze over before Portland included Rudy Fernandez in any deal.
Although a move that has really flown under the radar is the Kings picking up Sergio Rodriguez from Portland for peanuts. I will say, I would not mind having Sergio on our team as a young PG to take a mini flyer on. Talk about opposite skill set as Holiday…would be an interesting combination. Alas, not to be.
Shaun Livingston: Anyone hear any news with him? That’s a guy that might be worth a look as well. Obviously, huge health concerns, and he didnt impress the Heat enough last year for them to resign him. But given his immense talent, and maybe some more recovered time = more health, a nice little gamble.
Dave T – Livingston is an unrestricted free agent. I would pass on him at this point we have Holiday as the young, unproven point guard. Someone will pick him up but he will have to rise back up to where he was in terms of being an NBA starter. Gotta do work and show some people what he can do now that he has recovered.
Real Rob you beat me to the punch on Rudy. Dave before Rudy blew his stack it would have been inconceivable to add him in a deal. But now they have an unhappy camper on there roster, anything is possible. He would be perfect for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok if we could trade Sammy, willie, and lou in a deal for Mcgrady’s salary I would promise to make love to fat women for a month! That would be unbelievable. Whether Mcgrady ever gets on the court for us is a non issue. I have a hard time believing that they wouldn’t trade Lou in that deal, does Ed still believe that Lou has value?
Dannie, I moved to NY in the last year and saw one Sixers game at MSG and a few others on TV. I was always under the impression that Miller was a pure point guard who was more team first, i.e., pass first, and not one to look for his shot first. But as someone who has not seen much Sixer basketball in the last year (I used to watch 90% of the games when I lived in Philly), it’s interesting to hear you say that. My original comment wasn’t saying you were wrong, I just wanted to know why you felt that way. I will take your word for it.
Mike Bibby was born in Cherry Hill New Jersey, never knew that. I would love to have him for 2 years, not probable though.
Just checking out Ronnie Price’s stats, and their god awful. I would love to see him play a game of horse with Sammy.
Dannie………Can’t argue that Andre Miller dominates the ball, but I’ve always felt that it has been more out of necessity with us.
I believe that he would be much more of a pass-first PG if he had more superior scorers around him. He knows he is one of the better scorers (most likely the 2nd best last season) on the Sixers squad, so he looks to score more.
We have seen many, many times where the Sixers offense struggles to score. When we get into those situations, that is usually when Miller looks to take over and score for a stretch.
I just get the sense that the combination of playing some young, inexperienced guys who are inconsistent, having a key component in Brand out of the equation, and, maybe most important of all, the fact that under Cheeks, and then DiLeo, we ran no half-court offense to speak of forced Miller to dominate the ball more than he naturally would.
I’m not saying that this explains away all of his ball-dominating ways, but I’d say it answers for the majority of it. Am I the only one who see it like this?
according to Tom Moore Miller asking for too much!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.phillyburbs.com/opinions/blogs/intell_blogs/intell_blogs_details/article/634/2009/july/01/sixers-miller-asking-for-too-much.html
Hit the road quiet man.
BTW, I agree that 2 years is the max we should commit to him. If he wants more, it’s time to part ways. As good as he’s been and as much as he’s helped keep us afloat, he’s not worth overextending for.
Thanks, Greek. Just as I’m posting my opinion re: Miller, you post that link. If Miller is really sticking to that then it’s time for us to move on. Hopefully we can find a sign-and-trade partner(s) and turn him into something more suitable for ourselves going forward.
No team probably gives him 30 mill. over 3 years, but if Turkaglu was offered 60 mill. over 5 years [Raptors], who knows. Bski, I agree he does what is needed but does he fit an offense full of cutting and pull up jumpers, not sure. My main issue with him here is Holliday getting at least 15 to 20 min. a night but I guess A.Miller can slide to the s.g. once in a while.Read somewhere Ivey is still a possibility also, I say nay to that also, let Jrue lock guys down at the end of a game.
……does he fit an offense full of cutting and pull up jumpers……
Yeah, Suede, maybe I’m seeing what I want to see or something that isn’t there. Curious to see if having more, and better, pieces this year (Brand, Kapono) makes a difference in Miller’s approach, but in no way am I willing to commit 3 years and $30 million to find out.
Portland has to renounce its rights to Kapono and Freeland to clear cap space for Turkaglu, and Toronto is backing out,[they have to renounce 5 players] so if we do a sign -trade get some young overseas assets also, boy would that be a change of pace. Freeland is a big, I believe.
Dannie, Gordon got 5 years,55 mill.; does a Sam and future #1 for Rip work or wouldn!t you do it.
Suede – NO. You need to be reserved to the fact that no team is going to offer the Sixers a fair or good deal to acquire Samuel Dalembert. Hamilton is a freakin’ all-star shooting guard. Come on.
I am really curious though to see what Detroit does now with two high caliber shooting guards. Hamilton last year said he was fine coming off the bench as long as the team won, they didn’t and he wasn’t cool with sitting on the bench of a mediocre team. I understand that. Recently he has said he didn’t like the way Curry handled the situation either, by not informing Rip privately before announcing it to the team (Curry was fired shortly after).
I gotta imagine Gordon is find coming off the bench as long as he gets his minutes and he got his money so he might be cool with it. Another alternative is to just bench Stuckey, he is the weaker of the three guards in my opinion.
Curious to see what they do. But the Sixers are sliding by default at this point. We really are banking on Brand adding a lot of wins in order to keep up with the rest of the East.
Also keep an eye on Jason Kidd. Rumor is the Mavs are going to offer Kidd 3-years around $25M. In terms of salary that is less than what Miller is rumored to be asking for.
I am curious to see what is Millers strongest sticking point the years or the $$.
Dannie, Detroit seems to be sending the same mixed signals our team has sent, win now [Gordon,Villanueva], or later [Daye,no center].
As link makes evident, free agent Gortat has stronger motor than Sam; would fit in nicely with Pistons:
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/10/marcin-gortat-drives-fastest-car-in-nba/
Z.Randolph got traded again [Q.Richardson]; Sam may be moved yet.
Suede, Sam is 6′ 11″, has 2 arms & 2 legs, is ambulatory. Of course, other NBA teams will be interested. And most probably aren’t even aware that he can outdo most Radio Shack computer technicians in his sleep.
Suede, Forgot about his 10 per annum contract with 2 years remaining & trade kicker. Moving him would require a mildly desperate or deep-pocketed team (Houston, if Gortat goes Broadway?) or an executive dunce.
Jumpin, Randolph makes 35 mill. over the next 2 years and is an ax murderer, gotta have hope.
Villanueva is soft, dude loves jacking trye’s. 258 of them last year, even Sammy the techi can tell you those are pussy like numbers for a big man. 44% from the field, thank you Detroit for signign this loser!! This is a team in transition, 2 years from now I bet that Rip and Prince are gone. Has Detroit passes us up? No, not this year and certainly not in the future.
Suede, Hope is in Arkansas. Sam is in Phila. Serious Sixer winning is in an unseen future. You’re positive attitude is commendable though. And points have been earned by your sense of humor.
The Greek,
Villanueva’s numbers aren’t astounding but watching him play last year you can tell that he improved tremendously from years passed.
I think the Gordon/Rip situation is intriguing. If they don’t hire the right coach than they will find themselves in the exact same position as last year. No chemistry, no defense. Especially with the amazingly overrated Stuckey running the point. Is it just me or did the Pistons jump the gun on naming this kid the starting PG?
The Greek, I’d trade Sixers’ roster in a Great Lakes’ minute for Pistons’.
You’d actually prefer Sixers talent (I’ll grant ya Miller)?
Yes I’ll take the sixers roster over the Pistons JJG. Like I said, Rip and prince are on there way out sooner or later. There winning hand was often supplied by Billups, but now with jokers such as Villanueva in the mix they are no longer to be respected. No Rasheed either!
Guest, I haven’t seen enough of Stuckey … except when he helped to stick the Sixers in ‘08 playoffs. Tend to trust Dumars’ judgement, but Rodney has been underwhelming to date.
As for Gordon & Rip: never hurts to have two guys that can fill it up.
Both are tough as nails; Mt. Vernon, NY & Coatesville, PA students of life. Nice tandem.
I just don’t fear them. Our next major move is what we will do with Willie’s/Sammy money slot. That move will be major in our pursuit of a championship. So if they could speed up the process and trade those 2 for Mgrady, then I am all for it.
The Greek, I don’t write ‘em off as you do. Dumars isn’t done tweaking. And they have two, maybe three, offensive players better than anyone in Sixers’ camp and a more consistent winning legacy which transmits in subtle ways.
They don’t hve anyone who can score with their back to the basket. Villanueva is a pure downgreade from Rasheed in every category except maybe attitude and Charlie V has never been one to be called a leader. I think that we could take then JJG, even in our very own transition years.
Unlike most people in Philly I am ready and excited to support Elton Brand. I don’t understand why people are so quick to rule this guy a deadbeat. Now if he goes down for the whole season again then i might change my tune.
The Greek, Don’t mean to douse your enthusiasm, but I have ZERO faith in Brand as a leading performer. His back is to the basket but his best days are long gone. And he’s essentially a GQ-er.
It’s all good JJG, he will just have to win you over. With Thad he doesn’t have to be the 20-24 pt scorer that we craved when we signed him. If Speights could ever learn how to Play defense then he would be just an amazing offensive complement to Brand parking himself down low while Elton worked the elbow/high post.
I’m pumped for the season man. I am leaving for Greece in 2 weeks for a couple of months so when i get back we will be just about ready to hit the courts. Hopefully the miller situation will be resolved within the next 2 weeks.
Good stuff, Greek. Coincidentally, I was looking at pictures of Crete today. Looks nice over there. Sam, Willie or Lou will limo you to the airport. And Miller may be your seatmate if he doesn’t find enough NBA money.
good discussion here
nt sure what Dumars is thinking, I used to consider him a great GM but the Billups trade, signing Kwame, the whole Curry situation and mainly the Villanueva signing don’t look so smart, honestly
now they have one All star + another potential one at SG, so that Rip will probably leave
still have no decent C and a questionable PG… uhm… Detroit is not done in this offseason…
Ben Gordon: People have been talking about the move from Dumars POV…what I dont understand is the move from Gordon’s point of view. Earlier in his career he had butted heads with Skiles on numerous occassions when Gordon felt he had earned the right to start, and then was continually sent back down to the bench. There is no more talented bench player (except maybe Jason Terry) that is deserving a starting spot in the league then Gordon. Why sign to a team in transition, with a combo PG having just finished an off year, where they have a SG that has been in place for eternity? I dont get it, unless Gordon really means it now when he says “bench or no bench, im happy as long as I get my 35+”. Will be interesting to see if Rip will be moved this offseason.
If you’re Gordon, wouldn’t you want a team that had a huge gap at SG? Toronto would seem to be the most perfect fit to me; Raptors need an IMMENSE improvement as far as a scoring punch from the backcourt; Gordon is a trigger happy SG that can score 18 ppg in his sleep. Granted, given that no one knows if Marion has game left, and that Bosh is probably gone, long term Toronto is kind of a walking duck this season.
Charlie Villanueva: It’s very true he has improved the past season…but his career stats, as far as the arc he’s taken, are deceiving as well. His rookie season, when logging legit minutes, he scored 13 pts, 6.5 rebounds. If he had continued along on this progression, with steadily rising minutes and improvement on his game, im sure he would have been at his current numbers long ago.
But instead he was traded, and quickly caught in logjam situations on the Bucks, splitting time equally with other forwards and only receiving 25 mpg (as compared to almost 30 his first year). It’s not like Villanueva “got worse” and then “got better”…I think the minutes he re ceived this past year just more accurately reflect the stats he probably would have been putting up all along. The 27 mpg this year shouldnt fool anyone; really for a good half the season he was logging 37+ mpg once Michael Redd and Bogut went down with injury, giving him a green light to score.
He DID improve his game though, which you can see just by watching him, so I dont want to cough up his “big improvement” all to stats. He certainly plays less soft, and with more umph, and less passively than he did before. More aggressive in driving to the basket, and a much improved shot. But I just think his stats per minute, and his role on various rosters, arent being talked up enough.
He’s very much still an unknown wildcard…Im sure it’s conceivable he could turn into a PF that can face up and nail threes as well as take people down low and be good for 21 and 8 on a lesser team…or he might continue his soft, pussyfooting, shoot jumpers first ways. Time will tell; I’m surprised Dumars didnt go for Millsap, the tough banger…but aiming for Villanueva’s potential is a legitimate gamble.
Zach Randolph: Ok, someone please explain how on earth the finances of this deal worked. Salaries need to match, in any trade, a combined 25% within each other. Zach Randolph is slotted to make roughly $17 million next year; Quentin makes about $9 million. The trade, as reported, appears to be straight up. How is this possible under the current CBA?
Boozer and Okur: Have opted to take their player options and stay with Jazz.
Next big dominoes in FA:
-Turkoglu: Toronto offered $60 million, Portland $50 million.
-David Lee: With Griz trading for Zach, Lee seems to be down to OKC, Toronto
-Ron Artest: Been reported he will likely leave Houston, what with their lack of long term financial offer, and injuries to Yao + T-Mac. Lord only knows where he’ll go.
-Rasheed Wallace: Spurs, Celtics, Cavs, Nuggets
-Paul Millsap: Utah, OKC, New Orleans
-Ariza: Lakers aren’t budging about going over mid-level, and seem to be deciding on Odom…choosing between Blazers and Raptors.
-Gortat: Houston, NYC, Dallas, Indiana
-Brandon Bass: Orlando, New Orleans
-Anthony Parker: Boston, (hopefully us), San Antonio
DaveT., Memphis was under the cap, they can take in a serial killer,I mean more salary.
Count me among those confused by Detroit’s moves. Gordon, Stuckey and Hamilton sounds like like one scoring guard too many to me. When do we trade for Hamilton?
Did anyone see Jasner’s column today where he mentions that without a Miller return, and/or another guard signing, the Sixers see their starting back court as Holiday and Williams?
So Detroit saying that Gordon knows he’s coming off the bench. Seems like a lot of money, and talent, to bring off the bench. Still wonder how the minutes get doled out.
Morty, A backcourt of Holiday and Williams could lead to a stagnant offense. Not sure I would be very excited for the season to start with those guys running the point. I wish there were some way we could get Anthony Parker.
The Houston situation is also going to be interesting to watch. If they don’t have T-Mac to start the season, and no Yao or Artest… than they are in some trouble. In the West it always seems like only a couple games separate the 1-2 from the 7-8 seeds. You can fall out of contention quick.
Gordon is playing the Manu role, difference is Detroit doesn’t have an automatic reserve guy in the starting line-up like the Spurs did with Bowen and Finely. Sounds like less minutes for Stuckey and or Prince.
Guest - HUGE difference between the first place team in the West typically (Lakers) and even the #2 team (11 games last year). Its much more tighter between 2-8 (6 games), and more specifically 2-5.
Dannie: Right. So you either run a PG-less lineup with Gordon and Hamilton and a 3 guard lineup that matches up Hamilton with the opposing SF when you’ve already taken a big defensive hit by exchanging Villanueva for Wallace.. I’m no Detroit expert, but it seems like a bad idea.
Back to the Sixers: all the rumblings I read suggest that ES will stick to a no more than 2 year deal for Miller – which is encouraging.
Morty – I think they are banking on McDyess coming back, along with Maxiel in terms of front court depth and defense.
Are we better off signing Miller or Kidd? Anybody have a thought,Im not sure.
Kidd – But I don’t think it’s a possibility at all. We can’t offer anywhere near what the Mavs can offer and we don’t have the relationship or appeal with him that D’Antoni and the Knicks have that would get him to take less money to leave Dallas.
Just not happening. I would pass on Miller either way and either eat the MLE this year and sign no one or pick up the best available shooting guard (Anthony Parker maybe, Von Wafer is out there) with the MLE and let Miller walk. If they are going to sign Miller it needs to be for no more than 2-years $15M-$17M
Johnny: I’d rather let both walk and sign a veteran PG to split duties with Holiday, which would cost about $1-2 million a year (Anthony Carter, Brevin Knight are my two favorites). Never a good move to sign twilight players to 3 year deals unless you are in contention. And since we are not, imo, it would only be a band aide move helping us get to the 2nd round. Not worth it.
The more I think about it, the more I like the A-Miller for Blake/Outlaw, or Blake/Webster deal. It would give us a veteran PG that is a rock solid, unselfish veteran that knows EJ’s system well, and both Outlaw and Webster would be great pieces to have off the bench, who are both still young and improving. Not optimal talent in return for A-Miller, but likely the best we’re going to get.
Although with Portland seemingly ready to throw 5 years $50 million at Turkoglu, and their 2nd choice a reported $36-40 million at Ariza, it’ll be interesting to see how that effects them pursuing Miller. But since the salaries of Blake/Outlaw or Blake/Webster add up so evenly with what A-Miller is talking about with an extension, AND it makes basketball sense…the swap definitely seems realistic. I think if they signed either SF, that is a sign they are wanting to move closer to contention, and would be MORE willing to get A-Miller and fully commit to “winning now”.
NBA improvement about talent accumulation. Pistons: essentially, swapped 35 (leg-aging) Wallace for 25 Villanueva & 33 (non-fitting)
Iverson for 26 Gordon. Upgrade.
Sixers: have added 1 vet head coach w/losing history, 1 19 “al dente” talent & question mark; are playing footsies w/’crafty on O, drafty on D’ Miller, who will most likely sign here as he is not as valued as some
believe, and he knows where his bread is buttered (much like
graybeard Moyer across the street). Dubious progress. The good news: it’s July 2.
Both teams lacked good chemistry last season. Will be interesting to watch effects of Pistons’ pending head coach insert & Eddie Jordan here.
Kidd over Miller on days ending in ‘y’.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com suggests these signings as suggestions for teams this offseason. He was wrapped on the idea of Kidd being with the Sixers (I doubt it), but take a look:
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/07/01/schuhmann.fivesignings/index.html
From John Hollinger’s chat today:
No one really wants Andre Miller. He doesn’t fit in anywhere. What team would he really put over the top? He’s a decent player, but is just not enough of a play maker for people to overlook his non-existent jumper and terrible on the ball D. I’ve said I won’t hate a 2 year deal, but a larger part of me just wants to move on already.
Yeah Dallas how do you like your slice of Matt Geiger served?
Gortat gives verbal to Dallas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13165
…and:
-Artest committing to LA Lakers
-Boston big three “wooing” (says ESPN) Sheed to the green machine.
Greek, Gortat is 25, coming into his prime, and every single aspect of his game, with the possible exception of that ugly post up-turnaround bank shot Matt had, is head and shoulders above Geiger. Dallas just got the steal of free agency by signing him to a mid-level deal. I have no idea why you keep trashing the guy, he’s a fundamentally sound center that should make a great starter.
That said, much like Gordon choosing to sign with Detroit (where they already have a scoring point in Stuckey and established SG in Rip), it mystifies me that Gortat would leave Orlando, backing up Dwight and only get 15 mpg…to join…Dallas? Where instead of starting, he will be splitting time at C 50/50 with Dampier, who still has another two years on that awful deal Cuban signed him to years ago. I guess they can slide Terry to the 1, Josh Howard to the 2, Dirk to 3, Gortat to 4 and Damp to the 5 to give Marcin extra minutes, but why not go to a team where he’s the clar starter? (aka: NYC, or Miami once J Oneal’s contract comes off the books).
I think the interesting FA orgy is now between:
-OKC
-Toronto
-Portland
-Houston
…all of whom are in the mix for one of David Lee, Paul Millsap, Turkoglu and Ariza. And god only knows what will happen with:
-Allen Iverson (apparently he likes the Grizzlies? and the Heat contacted him)
-Shawn Marion (washed up, or has some good years left in him?)
I bashed him because I wanted no part of him, maybe he will turn out to be good. Show me, and if he is I will line up with you Dave in 5 years and beg to sign him. But right now we need to have financial flexibility first and foremost. That money that you wanted to give to Gortat, I would rather use in on a shooter/Pg
DaveT., I think Gortat and Geiger is a good comparison, both active big bodies that are a little raw offensively. Before his knees went I liked Geigers energy, jumping up top to double the ball,ala J.Smith his rookie year. But I am not sold on Gortat completely, he has to prove he can stay on the court,fouls, and at least be a threat offensively.
Rob Kurz a free agent bargain?
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13160
…and Ariza goes to the Rockets.
And to the poster that said earlier we might go into the season with a starting backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams…I almost hung myself when I heard that haha, please don’t suggest such things for the health and sanity of all Sixer fans.
count me among the Gortat doubters. Geiger was by far a better player to me.
Of course Gortat has time to improve but as for now he’s nothing more than a good rotation man, a stronger version of Jason Smith.
Not sure if and how he can be a valuable starter, maybe in a .500 team (like Sixers, LOL)
D.Harrison, a young defensive big [Indiani previously] is playing for Cleveland in the summer league and M.Almond is playing for the Knicks, these are the types I would like to see here but Kurz is on our summer league roster, a possible replacement for Donyell?
Figures. Another ES coup. More polite Penn Charter grads, please (Jason Smith will stand next to you in picture). Onward and upward, those Sixers. Come to think of it, Sean Singletary would be better than Williams at PG. Or maybe they can lure entertaining Sam Cassell out of retirement. Or Doug Overton. Or Pepe Sanchez. Or Alphonso Ford.
It seems like the elite teams are able to get anyone they want while we’re handcuffed.
Cleveland decides they want Shaq. They go get him. Orlando goes “Oh yeah?” and lands Vince Carter. Ariza leaving L.A.? No problem – hello, Ron Artest. Meanwhile, Boston is talking to ‘Sheed…
It’s maddening to see how a team mired in mediocrity is limited by the contstraints of the salary cap while teams that are way better than us are able to pull off all these deals. Yes, we did have the financial flexibility to make a splash last year – hello, Elton Brand – but we’re still mediocre.
Any predictions on when (and how) the Sixers will make the jump from “mediocre” to “good” to “legitimate contender?”
Unfortunately, without the benefit of a lottery pick or two, later rather than sooner, given that the organization has a composite 732-876regular season record (.455 winning percentage) through the last 20 seasons, recording more than 44 wins only 4 times during that long stretch. Something in the water.
Drollz– “Hello!” LOL.
Man after all this free agent talk this year I am upset at how ridiculously we overpaid for iggy, if turk can only command 5 years 50 million, thats is somewhere around what Iggy should have commanded, turk is coming off playing a big role for a team that went to the finals iggy was coming off a terrible playoff performance and got wayy more money that was ES’s biggest mistake not the elton brand move.
I really hope we can do the sign and trade with the blazers or the sammy move to houston with gortat signing elsewhere is that now an option? Both would be awesome I would be excited about seeing a whole group of new players, we have had too many of the same bums on this team for too long, Sammy, Willie especially.
Can someone tell me how a team that has 10 people on its roster and desperately needs shooters doesn’t go out and sign Almond?
If I could go back into the past and change what made me a 30 year long sixers fan I would. I am stuck with this horshit team. 10 man roster? Nickel and dimes, the only hope we have is if Snider sells this team to someone with big money and the hunger to win.
Too bad Croce lost the poker game with Snider. Now we’re stuck with Bert Piel as GM/card shuffler. Iguodala, Williams & Brand. Iguodala, Williams & Brand. Iguodala, Williams & Brand.
Iguodala, I hope that he stops making those someone farted in my face from 1 inch away faces that he makes.
Lou, is it harder to believe that he actually has trade value or that Stefanski doesn’t just give him away if he could. You know what Dannie, I take back what I said 2 months ago. I would jump at the opportunity to trade Lou for a 2nd round draft pick, just to get rid of his stench.
Brand, the man with the iron hand. Makes no sence but hey it rhymed.
Can someone tell me how it is a good thing to bring in O’koren as head assistant coach and also bring pack pistol packing aaron mckie along with career losed lynam? What can these guys teach? Who is responsible for the D?
Clippers of the East
Mike Bibby – from RealGM:
“Mike Bibby appears to be intent on remaining in Atlanta.
The 76ers, uncertain of whether or not they’ll be able to retain Andre Miller, reached out to Bibby this week.
According to a source, Philadelphia came away believing that Bibby is focused on remaining with the Hawks.”
Don’t even get me started about us not signing Almond to the summer league team guys!!! I’ve made enough rants about my love affair for this kid’s game after watching his career at Rice to fill about four Sixers blogs haha. NYC has a steal on their hands and is already talking about signing him for the year. He will excel in Walsh’s system, and should finally get some PT now that he’s out of Utah’s team of 20 mediocre swingmen. I cannot believe we have made no move to acquire this guy, which would be one of the cheapest skilled young shooters in the NBA.
Drolz: It’s not like teams just “go out and get ‘em”…many of the deals you are talking about took a long time to put together, and are things these teams have been back and forthing for weeks before the draft period before finally pulling the trigger. Much like politics in the US, major deals that genuinely improve both teams are very hard to get done in the NBA.
That said, it is frustrating…but let’s remember that for the most part, none of the players acquired are really needs for our team (Artest, Ariza, Turkoglu…we dont exactly have huge needs at SF given the Iguodala/Thad situation. And let’s also remember our team doesn’t have too much manueverability given the fact that our movable parts (Lou, Green, Dalembert, J Smith) are not exactly hot commodities in the NBA.
One thing I do wish: that GM’s came out to the fans after striking out…and at least let us know the players they were trying to get. Obviously you’re not going to mention which players from our team were involved, as that would kill the morale of any team and be a blatent disrespect to the players…but fans want to know if/when their GMs have been active. It’s also in the GM’s best interest, as he looks a whole lot better if he’s been trying to get deals done and verbalizes it, as opposed to giving us the silent treatment, where we can assume anything.
I know for myself, when Stefanski came out and said he tried to acquire Jerryd Bayless from Portland last year in the A-Miller deal and that was the main sticking point for a deal not happening, that relieved me a lot, and I at least saw he was trying to do something, not just twiddling his thumbs, and went about it with the right idea.
No loss. Bibby’s as lame as Miller defensively. If it’s the Grizzlies or Kings version of Bibby, fine. Wouldn’t help much now. Can shoot a little – that’s it.
Hedo Turkoglu will join the Trailblazers! What does this mean for Andre Miller?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4304805
Jason Kidd is taking 3 years $24 mil to resign with Dallas. Prediction: Andre Miller resigns with the Sixers for 2 years and +/- $15 mil, but not until well into August.
How about Marbury? Ok maybe not. Welcome Back Miller… be generous and don’t ask for too much money.
I wouldn’t say “welcome back Miller” just yet. From Portland’s end, in just signing Turkoglu:
-They are much more in “win now” mode
-They have a plethora of wings off the bench (Rudy, Outlaw, Webster, Batum)
-They still need an improvement with PG to put them over the top.
A Blake/Webster or Blake/Outlaw combination would make salaries work with a re signed Andre Miller. It gives them a legit, improved vet PG to lead the team, and clears up their SG/SF logjam a bit in giving us Webster or Outlaw. I think they’d MORE look into making this deal now that Turk is signed.
I would take webester over outlaw
That’s true… I was thinking Portland would pass on Miller just because of Hedo’s ability to make plays for others and handle the ball. That’s basically all you can use Miller for is to get others involved. He was a scorer for our team but with Roy, Turk, & Rudy there it would be hard for Miller to be a 15 ppg scorer.
But you are right, it does put them into a more “win now” team, but they still are very young and majority of their players are the type that get better as the get older (Oden, Rudy, Roy, Batum). Maybe they want Miller to seriously compete for the next 3-4 years, but they can’t possibly think that it’s now or never. With the Lakers, Spurs, & Nuggets all looking like championship contenders… it’d be hard to make it in the West. I still think they are looking into the future for their opportunity to win.
Breaking News: No deal between Turkoglu and Blazers occurred!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4305310
I wonder if Marion will now go to Portland, or somewhere else.
Also very curious to see which teams are looking at Anthony Parker (hopefully we are one of them).
Cleveland is said to have interest in Parker. DaveT., I don!t understand Toronto, they may have to start a minumum contract guy and fill out their roster with C.B.A. guys, all for one player, and that player isn!t Labron. If I!m Pritchard ,Odom or Marion are my next move.
Carlos Delfino………….go get him asap…..It wont cost that much
Orlando Pro Summer League games wont be on nba tv. What the hell, does anyone know if these games will be streamed online?
Not sure I understand what need Miller would fill for Portland. They are an excellent offensive team, but a mediocre defensive team.
Hoopsworld on Sixers and Bibby:
“In an effort to entice point guard Mike Bibby to join the 76ers, team president and general manager Ed Stefanski offered the Atlanta Hawks’ free agent a one-year deal this week, said a source who was close to the situation. But Bibby apparently wasn’t interested and ruled out the Sixers on Thursday.”
Has Ed Stefanski gone insane? Someone please explain to me why on earth a one year, high contract offer for Bibby is something he would want, and more in particular something WE want to offer? How does this make any sense? I’d spurn us too.
bibby would be a nice addition but he should have been offered a 2-3 year deal
Some players might want a one year deal (or a player ETO) given that teams are more likely to spend money next summer. Risky proposition given risk of injury and the economy.
2one5 – Way off base with your Hedo / Iguodala comparison there. Check their playoff stats head to head this year. This year Iguodala was better in the playoffs in almost all statistical categories even 3 pt%, only ft% and tov were worse. Hedo did play a big role on a team that went to the finals so he did it over a longer period. Check their roster and ours, I think you’ll see a GLARING difference. Compare their age, and wonder why Hedo is only getting 10 mill per, then truly think about Iguodala’s contract and the one Turk is supposed to be getting and tell me who is the one who is overpaid, or who will be overpaid on the 9th.
Us Philadelphia fans are funny as can be, bash the hell out of someone when they don’t do well, when they step up and hit BIG shots and perfrom well but the rest of the team sucks ass, we still find a way to overlook it.
I’ve been thinking a lot about detroit lately, they have a young SG now and an older one who goes by RIP that is under contract for a little too long as well. Now that they are losing Sheed and are shaping up to be pretty soft up front past Maxiell and Dyess, might be a way to get them to swap for Sam, maybe?
Ryan F: Good call about the gaping hole in the middle for Detroit…but they don’t have Dyess under contract. He’s a FA, and I’m sure wants no part of the rebuilding mess that is Detroit right now. Kwame Brown is their only other frontcourt player aside from Maxiel, sadly for Dumars.
At this point though, unless we landed a truly legit talent in return for Sammy (and since his stock is terrible around the league, that isnt happening anytime soon!), I think it might be more in our favour just to keep him, plug him in the new system, and hope that he produces. The more production we get out of him the better, as if teams see him next year as not only just a big expiring contract, but someone to rent for a year with some talent, a trade would be much easier to pull off.
Plus, Rip’s contract lasts through 2013, and for someone whose been a good but not great NBA player for his career at SG, that would be a huge commitment for a guy that would only be helping us contend for the 2nd round of the playoffs. No benefit for us to getting Rip that I can see.
We are the definition of the 46-48 win team right now that is looking only good enough to be a 2nd round playoff team, at absolute best. What a miserable, only slightly above mediocre situation to be in. Bleck. And considering:
-The Celtics will be healthy, hungry and potentially adding Sheed and/or Anthony Parker
-The Magic, with the VC trade and soon to sign a frontcourt bench guy like Bass or Dyess, will at least still be a mid 50’s win team
-The Wizards who imo are going to be the darkhorse of the conference and should be massively improved with healthy players for the first time in FOUR YEARS and adding Foye and M Miller as huge options off the bench.
-Raptors for having a clean slate to start next season with, and an added Turkoglu to the lineup, and a hungry Bosh eagerly looking to play for his contract money.
-The Bulls will have a healthy Luol Deng…and have Salmons and Brad Miller (which allowed their run last year) from the starting gate…a more experienced Rose, and improvement from Ty Thomas and J Noah.
…none of this is exactly helping our chances to make a dent in the east. We are lost in a pack of teams in the 3-8 spots.
Anthony Parkers is probably going to cleveland. Go get Delfino
Dave – Thats why I think that RIP could be attainable, length of contract. I think he would definitely improve our team, and even though it will take him into his mid 30’s, he has been in great shape throughout his career and will be able to pop off screens and run around defenders and make open shots for the length of his contract, and would address out Sg woes for the next few years. If there is a better back court player for EJ’s sytem, I sure can’t think of it. I think we could at the least compete with those teams if you add a player of his caliber in a position that is so weak on our roster.
Just because there are some really good teams out there you can’t just try and stay mediocre. You have to improve or get worse and stack up picks and I don’t see ES having a fire sale anytime soon.
My perception:
The C’s – We know they’re going to be good, of course, but they’re getting older and older and I am not so certain they’re going to be hitting 60 again.
Magic – Seriously took a team tht just went to the finals and took 10 steps backwards. They lost Turk, Lee, Alston and Gortat. I don’t think anyone believes a 32 yr old VC is going to fill that void, even though he was pretty nasty last year.
The Wiz – yeah they added some pieces, but they’re the Wizards, they can go either way, and if I remember correctly, Arenes was supposed to be healthy sometime last year and we saw how that ended up playing out.
The Raptors – Far worse off imo, they added Turk, sure. At the expense of having no depth past Evans and Graham. I am not sure MJ and PIP could win a lot of games with the players they’re going to be putting on the floor night in and night out. Bosh doesn’t have to play for his contract either, he will get paid even if he is injured all year.
Bulls – They will be a good team but in no way good enough you let your roster take a back seat because of it.
No matter what you have to put your team in a position to win ball games, no matter who is in front of you, you can’t fold just because there are good team out there.
A trade like that may not even be possible, and could even leave the team worse off, while we’ve all been on the trade Sam bandwagon, you can’t be sure how weak our team will be w/o him till he’s gone. Either way you can’t stay idle and wait for them to fall, because someone else will creep up and take their place before you.
If you’re out one night and some big guy with a bunch of knucklehead friends is giving you shit, you go and get your biggest friends even if they’re smaller, walk up and slap the dude in the mouth. Then you worry about getting your ass kicked. Am I right?
Please stop with the Sam and Rip trade. It’s not even a maybe. It’s a very strong “never ever going to happen.” It doesn’t make any sense for two reasons. 1. Stefanski has been trying to trade Sam for at least a year now, no takers. Every NBA reporter out there at one point in time has said that and that NO ONE wants Sam and no one is going to give us something of value for him.
2. Detroit is still trying to win now. They still have Prince and Rip and added two young players with talent and they aren’t going to be in bad cap situation either. That means they aren’t trading Rip right now unless they get back some real value, who actually believes Sam to be that? They will try out this team this year see what it looks like under the new coach. If it doesn’t work then they might look to move Rip for immediate cap space, but not before.
Rip is a good player and will be for a few more years. Detroit had depth and talent at guard right now. Why in the hell would you assume Detroit is in a rebuilding period? Their cap situation is not bad at all with Kwame’s $4.1 coming off next off-season and in my opinion not going too far overboard paying Gordon or Villanueva. Also Prince becomes a high value expiring contract in a year as well. In my opinion they are probably in as good a situation as us probably better.
ALSO, why would anyone assume Dyess wouldn’t return to Detroit? Don’t forget he opted to not stay with Chauncey (who asked him to as well as Karl) in Denver on a superior team out West to go back to that “rebuilding mess” anyway for less money. Now I am not saying he is definitely going to back to Detroit and I don’t know how much Dumars is offering if he is at all. But I think that is the most likely scenario at the moment.
Greek – Why in the hell are you talking about Carlos Defino? Seriously. You don’t like Gortat but you like Delfino? Makes no sense, he provides nothing to the Sixers at all he is a 40% shooter and an average at best three point shooter.
We woke the sleeping beast, that’s what I’m talking about.
You’re right Dannie, that trade is just a dream on my part, but it can’t be completely impossible after Dumars basically gave up Chauncey and Sheed for the ability to sign Gordon and Charlie V. can it? To say that you wouldn’t be interested because other teams in the east are too good, that’s what I was responding to.
Just some food for thought to keep the masses fingers typing.
Roddick v Federer on NBC, been a good one so far, in the last set.
Ryan F – I would say yes it wouldn’t be completely impossible IF Sam was coming off the books next off-season which would position Detroit to go after another really good player (Boozer, Amare, Bosh etc.) in a position of need in free agency. That isn’t the case which is why I don’t see Sam going anywhere until at the VERY earliest the 2010 trade deadline where a team wouldn’t have to pay all his 2010 salary, his trade kicker would be decreased and they would only have him for one playoff run and one season – and he becomes a pretty value expiring contract for that team. Right now just feels too soon.
Delfino has improved greatly in the one year that he has been away from the NBA. He was awesome last year during the olympic’s for Argentina, and he played really well for khimki moscow this season.
He is 6′7′ 230, a great 3 pt shooter and a good defender. Is that not worth half of the MLE?
Sometimes you just get players at the right time, and this might be the right time to get this guy because he is going to blossom.
No. For one when did Delfino become “a great 3pt shooter?” He is an average at best NBA 3pt shooter. His stats for one year over seas are unimportant to me since the line is 3 inches shooter. He is an okay defender. In fact he is just okay at just about everything and shoots horrendously from the field 40% in 262 and 4485 minutes NBA games.
So no that is not at all worth any of the Sixers MLE in my opinion. If we are talking Toronto players the conversation is about Anthony Parker. Otherwise sign a young undrafted rookie player for the minimum who can do the same as Delfino has.
Dannie, it seems to me they won!t use the m.l.e. on a player that doesn!t have 1]possible upside 2]definitely more impact than Green or Williams at the s.g. 3] young enough to be part of the future core .Every guy I would like them to go after has question marks. Wafer,Watson,Carney fit the age group but are all guys that may not be much of an upgrade over Willie and to over pay would be a mistake.A.Parker is an upgrade but in 2 years may not have anything left. Gortat passes all my qualifications but he would not allow us to address the p.g. position, so I understand their thought process. My hope is by saving money now, and giving our young guys courttime that in 2 years when we hopefully can challenge for a championship, money saved now will be used tenfold to get whatever is needed to get over the hump.This mindset allows me to bite my tongue with each signing by other teams because hopefully E.S. has this in mind
Ryan F - I wasn’t bashing Iggy at all I just think we over paid for him by about 20 mil. I also wasn’t comparing this years playoff stats I was talking about last year which is valid because it was the year before he signed his contract which is this year for Hedo. I just think that we made a mistake not seeing what offers he would get from other teams like the Hawks with Josh Smith.
Iggy def played better this year in the playoffs and did hit some big shots. I am not a hater on him at all I just think that with the state of the team that we need to be better with $.
Jason Kidd – 3 years, about $25M.
Market has been set for Andre Miller and Mike Bibby. In no way should he get more than that from anyone. 2 years $15M would be my offer to Miller.
Suede, Why would you expect ES’s future personnel decisions to be any more astute and progressive than those already on the ledger? 2 years into his “plan”, post-Billy King decisions have boxed Sixers into a financial corner without attaining the BASKETBALL talent to seriously contend, and the organization is cranking up a third coaching regime to boot. Honeymoon’s over.
66-67 Sixers champs had Billy Cunningham. 82-83 champs had Bobby Jones. 00-01 Finals squad had George Lynch w/Larry Brown at helm. It’s historically evident that this organization requires a Tar Heel for any championship excitement to occur. Sixers entered draft needing a young, winning PG. Yet 3 yr. NC PG starter (of college ball’s most potent offense & national champion) Ty Lawson was bypassed in favor of UCLA freshman “sensation” Jrue Holiday who didn’t start at PG but averaged 8 as a SG. Where’s the logic in that selection beyond body build preference and projection of individual growth of a 19 yr. old, aka in some instances fantasy? Maybe Stefanski’s challenges as a stubby Penn PG clouded his judgement, fed a
predisposition against selecting the shorter but more proven, polished and accomplished Lawson (42-1 at Oak Hill Academy too). Choice, still hard to believe.
Dannie: You’re right in that Delfino is only an average 3 point shooter…but I do think you’re underselling his defense a bit. I agree with Greek, a 6′7 wing defender is a nice option to have…for a team not named the 76ers. No need for him when we already have Willie.
Ryan F: With the Sam/Rip thing (which def. aint happening, but its interesting to talk about)…I agree with what youre saying about other teams getting better. Im not saying “just sit there and do nothing” though…I just think it’s a mistake to start running around adding pieces and patching things up with “pretty good” options, that aren’t “Great” or true steps forward. I see those moves as treading water, or moving sideways.
Rip would be a band aid. He wouldn’t help us come closer to winning a title…he’d help us stay on par. I think it’s the job of the GM to not just slightly improve the team, but align things so that a time can come when we can make the proper move to REALLY improve the team…and adding a long term contract of a guy that will chip in some midrange jumper points I just dont see adding that much to our team.
Also…he wouldn’t really help the SG position at all…because he’s never been a good 3 point shooter. Doesn’t even take a lot, let alone make a lot. I’d much rather have the Iggy/Thad Young combo at SG/SF then a Rip/Iggy at SG/SF.
Dave T – No need for him when we already have Thad, Iguodala (6-7 or better wing defenders with a lot more game and almost guaranteed 30 minutes per night locked up), Willie AND Kapono who is actually a great three point shooter.
And I tend to always undersell because everyone else seems to love to oversell (how often do you see the word “great” tossed around for players who aren’t even better than just average). My way of creating balance in the world of basketball hype. Sadly in people’s minds it’s not just hyperbole.
Dave T – Disagree about Rip only helping us stay on par. He makes the Sixers better and deeper by adding something we don’t have now.
I think you should consider more than the fact that he is an average at best 3pt shooter.
More importantly what he is, is a different type of offensive player, one that Sixers do not currently have. Thad/Iguodala are redundant offensively. Both, prefer to drive than shot. Neither is a capable on the move, off screen shooter. The only difference is that Thad is developing a better post game and Iguodala is a better play maker.
Rip adds a different dynamic to the offense with his ability to get open with regularity on the move and his ability to catch and shoot well from the perimeter. Think about it another way, in order for back-cutting to be effective you need some defensive pressure on the wing. The only way you get that is if you are a great player and the defense wants to deny and overplay you or you are a dangerous shooter and the defense can’t give space for fear of clean looks. On the roster what offensive wing player fits into either of those categories? Rip would without question fit into the latter. On top of that he isn’t a liability shooting the three at times he has been quite good (’06 and ‘08) AND he adds championship experience to a team with nothing more than weak playoff experience.
Just something else to consider.
With that said I don’t know if I would want Rip considering his age and length of contract (less to do with his actually ability and what he brings to the team on the court). I would do it not this year but next year if this core shows us something this season. I don’t think Stefanski can do anything major until he sees what he this team does on the floor under the new coach. Than we all will have a better idea what direction to go.
If you’re gonna run a cut, catch & shoot O, ya need cut, catch & shoot players. Rip fits the bill very well. Present stable of horses don’t. They’ll still be fine when they D, rebound & run. Halfcourt, another matter entirely. Can’t see this group setting up, running the Princeton well. It’s about read, options, smart decisions, outside shooting accuracy. Takes more than backdoor lob skill and penchant to make it work.
Dannie: Point well taken on massive “overselling” of players.
And about Rip…I agree with everything you and Ryan are saying. He would certainly add a dynamic to our team that we dont have and would be a definite improvement. But I’m saying it wouldn’t put us over the top. It doesnt make us contenders. Its not a homerun. We’d have a lovely collection of 2nd and 3rd banana players between Iggy, Rip, Brand, and Thad…that would be a 2nd round playoff team. With the length of Rip’s contract, the move doesnt make sense to me, its not a big enough improvement to take on another four years of his contract.
JJG: Didnt know Lawson went 42-1 at Oak Hill, nice stat. That’s is one sick little record right there. I wonder if Lawson knows Brendon Jennings from the Oak Hill connection via the coaching staff at all.
He sure looked like a great 3 point shooter in the olympics and for his moscow team last year but I don’t mean to make an issue of whether or nor Delfino is a great 3 pt. shooter, I would just like us to sign him. Not everyone that you pick up can be a rockstart, sometimes you have to delevelop that player into a rockstart.
Where are the games on the web? Link???????????????????????? This is what I care about, anyone, someone? Tipoff is in 80 minutes
meant to type rockstar, whatever need a link fellas!
Watch summer league games live online.
much obliged! I’m pumped to watch Jrue!
This is what I meant by Detroit could probably get more for Hamilton than Sammy.