I am working on a monster of a post entitled “Ed Stefanski’s Master Plan for the Sixers.” I can’t finish it until July 1st at the earliest when I have a better picture of who is in and out of free agency. In the meantime I figured I throw this question out to you guys.
Who should remain on the Sixers roster next season and who should be gone? Why?
I’ve read a lot on this blog and in forums different views on who should remain on the team and who we should let walk. If you don’t already know its a 12-man active roster with 3 players inactive. Here is the current roster with estimated salaries. Players who are free agents are clearly marked as well.
Offer contracts to:
-Iguodala (5 years, $60 million)
-Lou Williams (4 years, $16 million)
-Herbert Hill (2 years, $2 million)
Let walk:
-Amundson
-Shavlik (I’d love to keep Shav as an energy guy, if it weren’t for f*cking Calvin Booth’s 2nd year he just exercised)
(I’d put Ollie on this list, except I feel it’s good to have a vet PG as a third stringer that costs an extra $500k, as opposed to a younger 3rd string PG that costs a bit less)
Explore the following to package with picks in a “tweak” trade:
-Willie Green
-Jason Smith (I don’t want either as part of our future plans)
Long term assessment…
To have a “bench mob” of
-Lou Williams (PG/SG – Barbosa like scoring/slashing/3 point shooting)
-Rodney Carney (Wing – slashing, occasional 3 point shooting, defense)
-Marreese Speights (groom as our future starting PF or 1st big off the bench)
Use this year as a year year to see if Iggy and Thad can mesh. Use first half of season to raise the stock of Andre Miller even higher (he should avg 8.5+ assists per game tossing lobs to all these athletic young guns). Use first half of year to raise stock of Thad, giving him more playing time.
-If Iggy and Thad can’t co-exist…keep one and trade the other for a more premier big man, or a future long term answer at PG.
-Explore trade scenarios with Andre Miller come all star trading deadline. If nothing good is out there, offer him a 3 year, 24 million deal.
-Try to get our hands on a long term, youngish PG to groom (Ramon Sessions, Felton, Udrih, Crittenton, Lowry) or to sign a short term vet if we look to move Andre M (Chris Duhon, Luke Ridnour, Earl Watson).
-Explore (now) signing Elton Brand, signing Josh Smith, trading for David Lee, trading for Chris Wilcox, etc.
Dave T: I’m with you most of the way. There are just a couple areas where I have a difference of opinion.
I am not yet ready to say that Jason Smith cannot be a part of our future plans. I’d like to give him at least one more full season to see if he will develop further, or not. If he can develop into a better defender and tougher rebounder, he can certainly help us as part of a solid big man rotation. Offensively, I’m ok with him consistently knocking down the 18 footer and cutting to the basket. I don’t think he must become a low post scorer to help us. As long as we bring in a solid PF via free agency or trade who can score in the post, that will work. In addition, Thad has shown a nice ability to score in the paint. He should have the advantage over most SF’s, which would allow him to post up consistently. I don’t see anything wrong with Jason taking his defender with him to the perimeter and opening it up for Thad to score inside. Finally, both Iguodala and Miller have shown that they can take opposing SG’s and PG’s down on the block and score. I think we can find enough post play, albeit somewhat unconventional, that having a big like Jason who doesn’t get many points in the paint won’t be a major problem for us.
That being said, I would include Reggie Evans on the list with Willie Green as players we can package for a tweak trade. I love his energy, toughness, and defense, but if I had to choose, I would keep Jason over Reggie. This may be meaningless, but I’m wondering about what kind of rule the league is going to institute in an attempt to limit flopping. If they really go into a crackdown mode against flopping, it could seriously impact Reggie’s defense. He is always flopping and flailing on both ends of the court. Take that away and I don’t know that he’ll be nearly as effective for us.
The rest of it is a bit difficult to get into because each decision, as far as what we need or whom to trade, is contingent upon the previous decision. Each free agent acquisition or trade will change the equation and determine subsequent moves. For example, I feel that, unless we sign Andre Miller to an extension soon, it is just as important to find a replacement PG as it is to get a PF right now. Unless we have a PG in place who has been through a full training camp with us, I don’t see how we could possibly trade Miller at the deadline. I don’t want to chance any disruption by trying to incorporate a new PG at mid-season. If we can’t bring in a PG now, I feel we need to keep Miller the entire season, whether or not he has signed an extension.
Bski, I’m absolutely with you as per the importance of getting some kind of PG help, great call. I do not want Lou our backup. If we resign A-Miller to a 3 year deal (somewhere in the $20-25 million range), we def. need either another vet backup in place, or a younger guy to groom…if we don’t extend him, we need a youngish-mid 20′ish guy with upside and enough experience to take over if we plan on offering Andre as trade bait.
And on another note…Baron Davis, and most importantly, ELTON BRAND HAVE OPTED OUT OF THEIR CONTRACTS AND ARE FREE AGENTS!!! I want Stefanski on a damn tent on Brand’s private home tantalizing him by the minute with the idea of playing with a veteran pass first point, a solid center, and two ridiculously athletic wings.
We have $11-12 million to spend, and Ed Snider said he’d be willing to go a bit over the tax to pay for someone that would help us win. There is no reason for us not to offer Elton Brand $14-15 a year to try to entice him here. Be damned with the luxary tax Sixer’s owners…overpay for a winner!
Why is Iggy and Thad’s ability to co-exist mentioned so much on posts? Did I miss something? I can’t imagine they would have issues with each other, or is it that they are similiar ballplayers playing the same position?
Dre I don’t know for sure. My only thought when people say “coexist” they mean in terms of team success. Can you play Thad at the three and Iggy at the two and the team be successful. I don’t think it has anything to do with personalities or getting along.
I have heard Stefanski say Young is a small forward and that is the long-term position for him. But I have not heard him say Iguodala will be the shooting guard at any point. So is the team just playing a wait and see if Young becomes too good you can’t have him siting on the bench? One of those players will have to be traded if Iggy can’t play the 2 or the Sixers don’t want to put him there.
Dannie, I think I remember Stefanski saying during last season that he thought Igoudala at the 2 was what he was thinking, but he has not mentioned it very prominently either then or recently.
As for the roster, Shav, Amundsen are gone. Ollie and Hill may be back for the right price. Smith, Green, Evans and Carney are trade bait, although I would prefer to use Evans and Green first. Igoudala and Lou have to be back, unless Stefanski can use them in a major trade to upgrade from either one of those two, a difficult trick I would think.
Bringin in Brand, moving Young to the 3, and Iggy to the 2 is undoubtedly the best bet. Only player I’d rather see through FA than Brand is Biedrins, but I don’t think there is a chance the Warriors let him walk.
As for players I think should go…I’d ship Green, Evans, and even Smith if you can get any value back.
did somebody just say they would rather have biedrins rather than brand??…brand def isnt happening in philly so we should stop talking about that…
josh smith is on his way for a visit..
ideally in my mind for the sixers to be competitive next year—-sign josh smith and use their mid level exception to get a player like james jones or pietrus who can both shoot the three real well…
Can someone please explain to me 1. what position is Biedrins is playing and 2. why the hell would the Sixers blow their cap space on him?
MOLE: I could be confused, but I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that if the Sixers use their cap space, they can’t use their mid level exception. It’s one or the other, not both. Please correct me if I am wrong.
bski – That is correct. Here is the follow up question. If the Sixers sign their desired FA quickly eating up that cap space, then goes to the business of signing their restricted guys Iggy and Lou. Can they use the mid-level exception at that point since they no longer have excess cap space?
DANNIE: I found the source of my confusion. Yesterday, Phil Jasner’s article, “Sixers Williang and Able to Pursue Free Agents”, says this: “And don’t think about the possibility of the Sixers using the mid-level exception: They don’t have one. By rule, a team can have money under the cap or the exception, but not both.”
Then today, in Joe Juliano’s article, “Sixers Expect Busy First Day of Free Agency”, he says: “A second priority would be a long-range shooter, but the Sixers might not have any more than the veteran’s minimum to offer. According to NBA rules, teams over the salary cap may use only their midlevel exception, which is about $6 million; the actual total will be set later this month.”
I think that the Jasner article is correct. Since we are not over the salary cap, we do not have a mid-level exception. I don’t believe we would be allowed to use our exception if we went over the salary cap now(like if we signed Brand).
yea, once a team falls under the salary cap by more then the mid-level exception (which is approx. $5.8MM) then they lose the mid-level exception until the following year…
obviously, the sixers can’t get both via free agency–that power free agent, in addition to a shooter–it seems impossible…acutally it is..there is just not enough money and i think that is why the sixers tried to do some things on draft night, to no avail–they wanted to try and free up more cap space by trading a player (i.e. willie green for a draft pick). I think at the end of the day, if a Brand or Smith signs, they would have to go about getting that shooter through some sort of creative trade…or sign and trade…but it doesn’t seem like the sixers have those pieces to acquire anything via trade, they tried that route to an extent already, again..to no avail…
@mole
No one said what you think they said. Reread Duke’s post.
@bski, Dannie
You can use the MLE when you are below the cap. For example, a team 3 million under the cap will choose to use the MLE, and not the 3 million because 5.55>3.
So, yes. One of the other essentially. You can’t use cap space and then the MLE and you can’t use the MLE and then cap space. The latter would never be attempted I don’t think.
That is my understanding of the CBA.
@Original Post
Plyers to keep: Lou(if the price is right), Iggy(if the price is right), Speights, Thaddeus.
Players to deal if an offer comes along: Sammy(would have to be a terrific offer), Smith, Carney.
Players to shop: Reggie, Willie
Keep an eye on: Hill
Gone: Lou A, Shav, Ollie, Booth.
@Dave T.
If interested… In your first post you mention paying more to keep Ollie as a vet leader. He would cost more against the cap, but all veteran minimum players count for the 3 year minimum amount to the owners. It is detailed here…
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#11
JPRIII: Thanks for clearing that up. I guess that means the Sixers better use their cap space on the right guy, since he will almost certainly be the only major piece we will add this year.
JOE: I don’t think Calvin Booth can be gone. He exercised his player option, didn’t he? If so, we’ve got him whether we want him or not.
bski: exactly…they have barely just enough money…if they could have cleared just a bit more salary…they’d be so much more of a player, but really they did a good job even getting to this point when you consider the contracts of the past that they rid themselves of…
“Only player I’d rather see through FA than Brand is Biedrins.but I don’t think there is a chance the Warriors let him walk”
pretty sure i am reading this right, you may have not written it correctly, i interpret that as meaning you would rather have Biedrins than Brand, but please correct me if i misunderstand
,
Joe: your right–my mistake
i think he is saying outside of brand (if brand is not available), sign biedrins…i disagree with that too…but i am not sure what kind of money you would give biedrins…are you talking $10-$11MM? if so, are you kidding me? But, irregardless of what someone is gonna pay biedrins, I think it is clear that if the Sixers can’t get Brand or Smith, thier focus needs to turn to Maggette…
INTERESTING NOTE: Play-by-play of the unfolding Josh Smith free agency courtship period from Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “I poked around a bit more and found that not only has [Sixers honcho Ed] Stefanski been intrigued by Smith’s talent since he was a high schooler coming out in the 2004 draft, he also has a longstanding relationship with one of Smith’s agents, Brian Dyke, who is also Kenyon Martin’s agent. Stefanski worked in a similar capacity in New Jersey when Martin was there and was in almost the exact same situation as Smith (if you remember, the Nets dared Martin to find a team willing to pay him more than they wanted to and he did just that and left in a sign-and-trade deal with Denver).”
What is the point of committing to Cory Maggette for $10M per (which is what he wants if not more)? He isn’t any better than Iggy from 3pt range so you aren’t solving your shooting problem and he is a bit of a black hole on offense. He gets the ball and shoots. Not a passer at all. The one thing he does great is get to the foul line. And he can run which fits with the Sixers. But I don’t think I want to commit to him for 4-5 years.
I cant wait for the day that people wake up about Igoudala. People really overrate his talent in this town. Maggette is sooo much better than Igoudala.
Kevin: No.
In other news, it looks like Baron Davis is going to the Clippers, so the Brand pipe dream is likely finished. Josh Smith or bust, baby!
@bski
My mind kind of wandered mid-post.
@Morty
You mean Josh Smith or next year… when we might have more space!!
@Kevin
When you don’t take into account defense and age, perhaps Magette is the better player to have.
@Dannie
What makes you think Magette will command 10 million a year? I am curious. He has no leverage. The Magic are a suitor, but can only pay him 5 years 33 million or so(aka the entire MLE) at the most from what I know… I think 8 million would be a far higher offer than he would get from anywhere else.
KEVIN: I’m not sure what the basis is for your statement that Maggette is so much better than Iguodala. Let’s compare their career numbers:
Maggette Iguodala
Games 589(9yrs) 322(4yrs)
Started 364 322
Mins per game 29.1 37.5
FG% .450 .468
3pt% .329 .331
FT% .819 .765
Off Reb 1.2 1.1
Def Reb 3.9 4.5
Total Reb 5.1 5.7
Assists 2.2 4.1
Steals 0.8 1.9
Blocks 0.2 0.4
Turnovers 2.35 2.38
Points 16.1 14.8
Looking only at the numbers, it would appear that Iguodala is the better player. I’m not sure that Maggette has better intangibles than Iguodala but, based on how the Clippers played this past season, you would have a difficult time convincing me of that, as well.
JOE: You just made an interesting point that nobody is talking about. If we can’t get Brand or Smith, should we spend our money on the best available because we have it to spend , or should we put it in our pocket and hold it for next year? Since we are most likely two years away from truly contending, I would prefer holding on to the money until next year. We’ve got one shot at this and I want a major impact player. I don’t want the best available.
Look I am not a big numbers guy. I will admit, you look at those numbers and they say Igoudala is better. But numbers are easily influenced by the talent level around you. There is no doubt, Sixers have more talent then Clippers. Plus Maggette played better comp in the Western Conf. Tell me the numbers are affected by these things. I’ll stick with watching them, and determing who is better by my eye.
I am sick of Igoudala using his jump shot to set up his drive, the jump shot he doesnt have by the way. When he drives to the basket he is always looking to get bailed out by the ref. He rarely drives hard to the basket. He almost always try some circus shot with his back to the basket, and the ball down at his knees. Give me a brake, take it up like a man. And on top of that I dont like the constant sniping at his teammates after they miss a shot, or another of his ill advised passes. Put Maggette on this squad and his numbers sky rocket.
And what exactly did Igoudale prove this year? This is not his team. This is Andre Miller’s team. No Andre Miller last year, no playoffs and we might be worst then the Clippers. Then we would have a fair comparison of Maggette vs Igoudala intangibles.
To Kevin:
I really can’t see how you are putting Maggette ahead of Iguodala.
Iguodala, for all his faults:
-Is a very good passer for a SF, evidenced by his 4-5 assists per game. Most of his high turnover rate comes from bad timing on his passes, but if you watch him play closely it’s clear he has a good “sense” of where to be moving the ball, and where to pop it to on drives.
-Is an excellent defender, with the potential to someday be an 2nd Team All NBA type defender individually.
-Has slowly developed a decent jumper and improved his 3 point shot. Neither are where we want him to be at, but he’s shown slow but steady improvement.
-Is a high rising athletic freakshow in attacking the rim.
-Has the potential to be one of the best “2nd options” on offense on any NBA team…just a great versatile, selfless talent that has unfortunately been pushed into the role of alpha dog.
Maggette:
-His defense is terrible, I dont have any idea who was defending him on that front. In fact it’s an awful sign to have a guy THAT athletic as he is, and be THAT subpar on one v. one defense.
-He’s a decent three point shooter and like Iguodala, has slowly improved his jumpshot, but nothing too amazing there.
-His one real skill is attacking the rim and getting to the FT line. Period.
He’s a very one dimensional offensive player, and while he is still very young (mid 20′s, hard to believe), and has upside still…he’s really just a 3rd banana option on offense only good for slashing and FT’s. Attitude has never seemed great in LA, he’s always whined about minutes and his contract, is not a good passer, stats going up directly correspond with increased minutes, and not improvement of skill…I like his talent and he could fill a nice scoring wing role on a team (Toronto would be perfect)…but better then Iguodala? C’mon.
Baron just made an oral agreement with the Clippers for:
-5 years, $65 million (13 a year).
Given the fact that Baron, when playing like he can, is probably a top 10-15 player in the game, and one of the few that can hoist a team on his back and win games by himself…that’s a steal of a signing. Getting a guy the caliber of Baron Davis at $13 mill a year is amazing, IMO…compare that to overpaying for Arenas, who is about to get the max and kill the Wizards or G-State’s mobility…or the fact that we might be paying Iguodala around 11-12 mill a year.
Baron joining the Clips just shut the last nail in the coffin for our chances at Brand…let’s hope Josh Smith is sick of Atlanta.
We can just agree to disagree. I went to about 35 games this past year, and that is not what I saw from Igoudala. Yes I give you one thing, on a fast break he can finish as well as anybody in the league. And that defense that everyone raves about, he is caring less and less about that, as he believes more and more that he is the man.
And name one players that has been happy playing for the Clips. Come on, you cant hold that against him.
His jump shot is just as good Igoudala. Difference is that he uses his slashing ability to set up his jump shot. Not vice versa like Igoudala. And when he gets in the lane, he knows how to finish.
And let us not forget that horrendous playoff series. That was Phillies lineup in the playoffs bad. We would have gotten swept if it werent for AM. Were was that excellent defence in that series? He got smashed by Tashaun. And offensively he was an embarrassment.
Kevin, the one thing we can agree with is that I’m not a number-crunching guy. I think John Hollinger is an abomination…I really think you need a balance between having stats to gauge a guys talent, and then watching them actually play to fill in the holes in the stats and how they can manipulate. Seems like you share the same philosophy, and we just see Iggy vs. Maggette differently.
I’ll give you that Iguodala “cared less about defense” this past year and slipped there…but I feel that’s because he had to be our top option on offense all year long, and couldn’t/didn’t expend that much energy on both ends. We should all expect a better effort from him next year in the defense department.
Also…I’m not saying Iguodala is the better shooter…I’m just saying that neither are really shooters. They are in the same boat in that both are athletic slashing type wings, and both have slowly improved their shots to where they are managable, and I’d say Maggette has a (slight) edge. But I just think Iguodala understands the game better and brings far more intangibles and energy, whereas, like Dannie said, Maggette is more a one dimensional slasher and sometimes black hole.
KEVIN: I’m ok to agree that we disagree about Maggette being better than Iguodala, and leave it at that.
As a side note, Chad Ford says that the Phoenix is a likely landing place for Maggette. Apparently the Suns are interested in a sign and trade where they send Barbosa to the Clippers. I really don’t see that but, then again, Steve Kerr is doing some job with those Suns, isn’t he?
Whoa I go to play some ball and come to back all this.
Joe – Why would Maggette opt out of $7M just to sign for the MLE of roughly $6M. He is a 20ppg scorer who got to the line almost 10 times per game last year, didn’t shoot all that bad and will only be 29-years old this season. Most importantly this league pays a premium for points. I just think teams will bid on him and when its all said and done he will be around that $10M mark. I am just hoping the Sixers aren’t one of those teams.
Joe: The Magic would have to work out a sign and trade to get their hands on Maggette…aka- free up enough money via trade to give him $10MM plus. He aint going to Magic for a MLE…are you crazy? He made $7MM last year and will command more due to the season he had. He didn’t opt-out of LA to take a MLE. He’d most likely get a 5 yr deal in the $50MM plus range…to think that Maggette won’t get more then $6 or $7MM is a bit off-base, in my opinion…
To everyone- I think the sixers are committed to spending…I understand the rational to waiting to another year, but big ed looks poised to fire away and I think no question it will come down to Smith (who is due in Phila in the morning) or Maggette unless they get super-creative.
Who’s paying Magette this 10 million dollar a year money?
I am interested to see your responses.
Philly? Nope. If they did, I would freak out because it makes no sense imo. He is a SF who can’t defend.
Memphis? Must I explain…
Golden State? They are in rebuilding mode. They won’t bid against themselves to pay him 10 million per.
He can’t be signed and traded in a deal since noone has his bird rights. He is getting the MLE…
Warriors maxing out Iggy has to be a concern. Uggh.
Joe: If the Clippers renounce the rights to Corey Maggette, which is expected, they do lose Bird Rights, but that does not mean they CAN’T sign and trade him as you noted. It only means that they can only sign him (then trade) for as much as they are under the cap. It is expected that the Clippers could still offer him a deal upwards of $45MM over 4 or 5 years, which puts him in the $8-9MM range–more then the $7MM he made last year, and significantly more than what the MLE is widely expected to be. Now, the only other consideration with regard to the Clippers is that they will then be limited in any sign and trade as to who they can acquire. Per CBA, they can only acquire 150% plus 100K over the salary they traded away.
My point though is the fact that the Clippers still CAN sign and trade Corey Maggette! It is not true that the Clippers CAN’T sign and trade Maggette due to losing his Bird Rights.
Regardless of whether people like/don’t like Maggette’s talent, or what his market worth is, it’s pretty safe to say we won’t be pursuing him as a 3rd option is we strike out on Brand and Josh. Josh Smith, even though not a natural PF, is 6’9, has a post game, and he would definitely work as part of a small, uber athletic lineup with Iggy at 2, Thad at 3, and Josh at the 4.
Maggette is a clear wing man, always has been, is an ideal SF, and could slide to SG, but is definitely not an option at PF. Seeing as how we have Iguodala, Thad and Carney, I’d say 0% chance of us chasing another SF, even if he’s a talented 20 ppg scorer.
Joe: After crunching the numbers that math may be thin, due to what Baron Davis is gonna get. Maggette may have to hope Sixers or Grizzles give him more then the MLE because the Clippers (per CBA) in any “sign and trade” scenario are only going to be able to offer him what they are under the cap and that doesn’t seem like much esp, in relation to what the MLE is expected to be in 2008-09. But, in theory, if the Clippers had more cap space available they could of renouced his rights, still signed him, and still traded him to a willing party (i.e. PHX or Orlando). The inability to “sign and trade” in this scenario is a direct result of the fact that the Clippers have no cap space available (after signing Davis), not a question of Bird Rights. But, your right–it is tougher in this particular market than I thought for Maggette to gets what he deserves, which in my opinon is $10MM, unfortunately.
This is for anyone. Can cap space be carried over from year to year os is it like my vacation time at work , use-it or lose-it?
DRE: As far as I know, a team can stay under the cap year after year, if it so chooses. I don’t know if there is any floor to how low they can go. You know, to prevent some ridiculously cheap team from having a $20 million payroll year after year.
Interesting tidbit in Jasner’s article today: “A distant rumor yesterday suggested that the Sixers were trying to clear additional space to increase an offer to whoever the final target turns out to be.” Sure sounds like they’re going after Josh Smith(or maybe Brand?) hard. It’s got to be Smith because I see we’re setting up a meeting with Childress, as well. ES must be trying to squeeze Atlanta in an attempt to pry Smith away.
celtics made an offer to maggette….
Mole – When I first heard that I was like why, where is he going to play. Then I thought well he could give some needed relief to both Pierce and Allen during the regular season and bring nice scoring off the bench. And it also helps Boston get a little younger.
THEN I thought signing him might come at the expense of losing James Posey and as good as Maggette is at what he does, losing Posey who I consider a “championship player” is not worth it.
I don’t think Maggette would do all the little things Posey does that wins games especially in the playoffs. And who would you rather have in the game to guard Kobe, hit a clutch 3 when it matters Posey or Maggette?
Do you guys really think Igoudala is a 2? I just cant see that experiment working out. Why waste a season trying to find out what we already know. Trade Igoudala while his value is still relatively high, not after next season when it will be lower. How can Boston possible afford Maggette with Allen, KG, Pierce. I just dont get that.
Kevin – I actually think Iguodala IS a shooting guard and would thrive in that position not having to defend or be defended by bigger players at the SF position who tend to bother him. Not exactly sure where you see a problem? Bench Willie Green (you do remember Willie Green is our starting shooting guard right?) start Iggy at the 2, Thad at the three and pray Josh Smith never really liked his hometown of Atlanta and wants to leave.
Maggette will go to Boston if he is willing to take a pay cut and a cut in minutes to compete for a championship. If he does, it says a lot about his desire to win.
Exactly, DE….miller, iggy, young, smith, dalembert…iggy at that 2 spot. in my opinion, that is exactly what he is a 2. Now, the fact that Smith is in Phila. today says alot to the ide tha he’s got to feel underappreciated by the Hawks…remember what happen with K-Mart when he was in Jersey. The Nets (which included Stefanski) said go field other offers, he felt slighted, underappreciated and took the next best deal out there.
Also, Smith has clashed with Mike Woodson who has been re-signed as coach.
@jprIII
When I crunch the numbers, I have the Clippers with 0 cap space and no MLE assuming Brand gets his 16 million starting salary which is likely imo. They had under 27 million in cap space to sign Brand and Baron from my numbers. Closer to 25.
15 million starting salary… sorry.
Yeah I just assumed that this FO is serious about getting better so that meant Willie would no longer be a starter. I wouldnt shed a tear if he was no longer on this squad. I do like the Miller-Igoudala-Young-Smith-Dalembert lineup MUCH more than I like last years Miller-Green-Igoudala-Evans-Dalembert lineup. We had two of the worst starters at their positions across the league in Green and Evans.
Hey I’m a Sixers fan, I would love for Igoudala to work out as a 2. I just dont think it’s going to happen. Unfortunetly we’ll probably be going to have this conversation again 2 months into the season. So we’ll revisit it then, and we can discuss why they wasted a season with this “experiment”, while they are trying to find a way to get a real 2 next summer.
To BSKI;
Doesn’t cap space go away when AI and LW are signed? That is why AI is not currently out entertaining offers. Because he expects to stay with the Sixers, he has to wait until they sign or trade for Smith or another player (Oakafor?).
If AI cannot play SG, then he would have to be moved for a true SG if Thad is going to get major minutes after a PF is obtained. Don’t be surprised if AI is signed and traded to make that happen.
Duracorr – If we sign no outside free agents and then sign Iguodala and Williams it will depend for how much but we wouldn’t use all of the $11M+ in cap space we have by signing them but most likely some of it.
My understanding is the way it works is the Sixers have Iguodala and Williams on the books at some salary number for 2008 which is called a “cap hold” if we were to sign them for more than the cap hold that eats into the excess cap space we have. If we sign them for the exact amount we lose none etc etc.
But you are right that is why the strategy is to sign outside free agents before taking care of your own as to not eat into your cap space and take you out of the market for certain players.