Looks like the Sixers best power forward option might be Josh Smith.
“Some say Atlanta doesn’t want to go above $11 million per year to sign restricted free agent Josh Smith. If that’s the case, look for Smith to end up in Philadelphia.
The Sixers would love to get Elton Brand, but word is that he doesn’t want to take a pay cut from the $16 million-plus he’s due next season — except to go to Miami.
So with Brand pretty much out of the question, Philly will look at Smith and Antawn Jamison. The Sixers can start either one at $11 million with 8 percent annual increases.” - Chris Broussard’s Blog, ESPN
The top three power forward free agents the 76ers would consider, in order of importance, are Elton Brand, Josh Smith and Antawn Jamison. Among Sixers fans everyone wants Brand, and I am sure Ed Stefanski feels that way as well. But there have been mixed signals as to whether:
- Elton Brand was going to opt out and leave over $16M on the table with the Clippers
- Philadelphia was a destination Brand would be happy in
- He would be willing to take a pay cut
Sixertown got excited when Elton Brand was on 950 ESPN with positive things to say about coming to Philadelphia. Since then everything I’ve read makes that outcome increasingly less likely. If he does make a move his first choice is Miami. And as much as I really believe Brand is focused on winning now, I don’t think he wants it at the expense of $4-5 million dollars in annual salary.
So that brings us full-circle to Josh Smith. At least on this blog there has been very little talk in the comment section about how Smith will fit with our team and if Sixers fans even want the guy. So here are few questions I have for you guys:
- Do you want Josh Smith? (I really do! I think we become one of, if not the, best defensive team in the Eastern Conference with the addition of Smith.)
- What is our projected starting line-up with Smith on the team?
- How does the potential addition of Smith alter, if at all, who the Sixers should/will draft? (Stefanski, at least in the media, has been hell bent on drafting a big man. And recently said “even if the team drafts a forward prospect, that doesn’t preclude signing a free agent at that position, too.”)
Consider this post a nice Sunday Conversation starter.
31 comments ↓
Dannie, where you been? Wow, this is interesting, I’ll have to think about Josh in a Sixers uni, I had it in my head that Atlanta would match any offer for the guy.
Some quick thoughts:
1. For the playoffs, our starting frontcourt would have frohawks.
2. It weakens Atlanta, increasing our probability of making the playoffs next year.
3. With all the money going towards Josh, do we re-sign Miller?
4. When Sam has his “off” days, it won’t be as much of a factor anymore.
5. We need his passing from the frontcourt position.
6. We generated a lot of offense (and wins) last year from Thad running amok at the pf position, and with Josh Smith we can continue doing that (Stefansky wants Thad to play the “3″).
7. He doesn’t have that low-post game that everyone thinks is necessary (not me), but if the Sixers can help him develop some passable go-to moves, it’ll do.
8. I love the ability to mix and match with our bigs. No matter who we put out there, it’d be quality.
9. Our big guys’ (which would include Josh) inability to play really tough one-on-one defense (a Reggie strength) is negated somewhat by their great ability to play help defense (a Reggie weakness).
10. One of my faves on the team, Jason Smith, gets to play more PF than C.
11. Josh has a reliable (relatively) jumper and great hands, when the opposing defenses collapse on our guards’ drives they have someone who can bail them out with a short mid-range J or a cut to the basket.
12. If someone comes off Josh to help, Josh will make them pay. Sam can do this with lobs only, Reggie’s Reggie, and Jason’s still learning.
13. We change our team up, just when other teams thought they were onto us we add this combustible dimension to team, they’ll have to re-learn everything about the Sixers all over again.
14. Just by going up against him in practice and being around him, Jason and the big guy we draft can learn a lot.
15. Does this free us to take a guard with #16, perhaps CDR, Rush, or Chalmers?
16. Bring on the Celtics!
Dave T, what do you think?
Don’t get me wrong, Josh Smith is an “exciting” player, but I’d much rather have Elton Brand or Monte Ellis in our lineup next year. In my mind Josh Smith is really a G/F and we have three of those already. Smith shoots 45% from the field and 25% from the the 3pt line. What kind of numbers are those for a supposed PF? Smith would be an exciting signing, but I’m not sure how much he would improve our greatest weakness: the half court game. Adding Brand’s FG% (53% in 06-07) or Ellis’s (53%!! 07-08) would have a much greater effect than Smith’s beautiful blocks and dunks.
PG: Andre Miller/Loius Williams
SG: Iguodala/Williams/Carney
SF: Young/Josh Smith/Carney
PF: Josh Smith/Evans/Jason Smith/Herbert Hill
C: Dalembert/Jason Smith/Calvin Booth
I’m sticking with Speights or CDR, whichever one is available.
Zack - I got a Wii so been caught up in Tiger Woods golf lately. Back now and will probably be posting like crazy leading up to the draft and certainly after.
What do you guys think of some sort of live blogging for the draft were we all just chat?
Raro - I think you missed a point a little bit. This is not a Josh Smith or Elton Brand question. I don’t think there is any debate on that. We all prefer Brand. The assumption with this post was that Elton Brand to Philly simply isn’t going to happen so here is the next best available PF the Sixers can get.
I like Monta Ellis a lot - on Golden State. I don’t like him as much on the Sixers. Now we have an undersized shooting guard and undersized small forward (Iguodala) in the starting line-up. No power forward of any substance (Thad Young isn’t the answer there and forcing him to play that position IMO stunts his overall growth a bit). If Iguodala is going to get paid from the Sixers why go out and sign another shooting guard when you can draft for that position if you really a shooter/wing scorer?
And I think at 22 years old Smith is still developing his inside PF game and look for tremendous growth in that area. In the mean time I will repeat this Sixers team will rival Boston as the best defensive team in the East/NBA with the addition of Smith.
Interesting report. If the Sixers netted Josh Smith in the 13 million range, which I absolutely think is worth every penny…in fact, I’d be willing to offer about 15-16 million for him…we’d have an interesting lineup. Namely, we’d be starting three small forwards at what should be the SG, SF and PF slots.
I’m not buying the whole “Josh Smith the PF” thing. He has the height and body of a PF…doesn’t mean he is one. Sure he can learn a post move or two, and I think he will to make his game more complete, but this guy is a versatile G/F. He is and always has been a swingman…the guy isn’t going to all the sudden reinvent his game. If they were to stick him on the block, it would completely waste his talent.
I’ve always thought Josh Smith, Gerald Wallace and Andre Iguodala (all roughly the same era/age) are all part of a very select crew in the NBA: SF’s that play both ends of the floor, are great defenders, and extremely versatile for their positions, that have great upside and work ethic whose games are still growing. Of those three, I think Josh Smith has clearly established himself as the “premier” NBA talent. I think Josh Smith has multiple time all-star potential…he’s a freak.
Here’s the problem. We are already arguing about whether Iggy and Thad can coexist, because neither can shoot…add Josh Smith to that list. The one part of his game that is completely unreliable is his shooting. True, he’s slowly developed a “decent” midrange J…but it’s hardly reliable…and he has horrible shot selection in using it.
That said…this guy has the potential to pull a 26 ppg, 8 rbs, 4 asts, 2 stls 2 blks kind of stat lines, can shut people down defensively, and is an athletic high rising freak that would bring fans in the building (the last of my personal concerns, but not ownerships). I say we do it…go crazy, start three SF’s that are ultra talented, none of whom can shoot, resign Andre, let him distribute the rock, see what happens. If it doesn’t work (and I’m sure it wouldn’t) then we package one Thad or Iggy with another piece (Carney, W Green or Jason Smith) for a legit big man.
The one thing should is SCARY about Josh Smith…aside from the fact that he could be a future 10 time all star and legit #1 option on any team someday…is that for all his supposed attitude and ego problems, his work ethic is OFF THE FRIGGIN CHARTS. This guy, out of all the high schoolers picked in that two year span, started out by far as only an athlete that was totally raw and did not know the game at all.
He has worked his a** off to improve, and it’s shown. His stats have gone up every year in EVERY category, and just by watching him play you can see his bball IQ and knowledge of the nuances of the game have improved tremendously. He is going to be SCARY in another year or two…I say shell out 14-16 million in a heartbeat to land him. It’s not overpaying with his talent level. We can worry about what to do with Iggy and Thad later…just get them on the court together and let ‘er rip!
Dave T,
I live in Atlanta and have the “pleasure” of seeing the Hawks play alot. (tickets are easy to come by)
Josh Smith may never be the prototypical PF, but he his a beast on the defensive end and he can shoot when he gets into an early rhythm.
I disagree with your comment “He is and always has been a swingman…the guy isn’t going to all the sudden reinvent his game. If they were to stick him on the block, it would completely waste his talent.”
Josh CAN play on the block with his back to the basket, not for 40 minutes but he’s young enough to develop more moves to go along with his spin and hop over poeple move. His biggest flaw, IMO, is that he displays a playground mentality at times, meaning if he doesn’t get the ball when he feels he’s open he tends to pout. He’ll snatch a rebound and go coast-to-coast with the rock no matter the situation and jack up an ill-advised three. I don’t see that happening with the leadership the Sixers have in place both on the court and off. Atlanta doesn’t have that type of leadership. Joe Johnson is not the type of guy to get in someone’s face and settle him down.
Josh Smith can be seen as immature but I see it more as his competitive nature running amok where he’ll try to take over a game all by himself. (that’s one thing he can’t do yet).
As far as how much he should get paid goes I tend to stay away from those discussions because the difference between 11 mil and 14-15 mil is way beyond my understanding, (LOL).
Yep, all things being equal I’d rather have Brand because he is a proven commodity, but after that, Smith would be the most exciting addition. A lineup with Sammy, Thad, Smith and Igoudala is scary athletic, and could prove, with the right coaching, could be among the best defensive teams in the league. Plus, with our #1 pick, Jason Smith, Carney, Lou, Green and Evans, we would still have some good trade pieces and a decent bench.
The good thing about Smith is that he is so young, thus if he turns out not to fit in with our team, a big contract would likely not be an impediment to trading him.
There is no doubt Josh Smith looks like he has one of the brightest futures of any young star in the NBA. This guy is an absolute freak in every (good) way. If we sign him, we will have the most athletic, exciting team in the league. I think having 3 of the best young SFs in the league has the possibility to work also. I like that Josh Smith really accentuates our strengths (defense, fast breaks, athleticism, 1on1 offense, youth, health) instead of trying to cover up holes.
With that said, there is a great possibility that this just won’t work. A really strong one. And if we don’t resign Andre Miller, this team is going to go down the tubes faster than the Bulls did this past year. Without a top tier point guard we won’t have anyone on the team who can score by themselves. I’m getting the feeling that barring an outstanding team performance this will be Andre’s last year in Philly too, which gives us a one year trial window for this trade to be evaluated.
So if we don’t get immediate results, this team will be facing an ugly blow-up situation at the end of the year. One good thing about having so many strong, young players at the same position is that you can make good trade bait and hopefully make a balanced team out of it. But I am wary. Do we really have any other choice right now? I don’t think so. I just hope Stefanski has a plan B in mind because there is no way we can run JSmoove, Iggy, and Thad and hope that they find ways to score on their own and still hope to win.
D.E.- There is no question that Josh Smith is a great defensive player, though he is a better “roaming” defender, than an actual zoned in, half-court, man on man defender–evidenced by the fact that Smith has continually seems confused on half court coverage schemes. That, hoever, is not my issue with Smith, because I believe he will learn to get better in that department.
Where I am concerned about Smith is in the half-court–offensively speaking and quite frankly, where the sixers struggled and got exposed most against better teams and utltimately teams they will need to beat in order to advance in the playoff. To me, the key to the Sixers future success will be their ability to produce points in the half court. They have proven how efffective they can be in the open floor both creating easy chances and turnovers alike, however, the half-court is where the money is. To that end, Josh Smith would add nothing. Outside of questionable work ethic, this is a guy who on non-layup 2 point shots, shot 30% in 2007-08 and was also amongst the league’s worst outside shooters…outside foul line extended…let’s be clear about something–Josh Smith is not, i repeat not, a PF…which ideally is what the sixers need. He is a SF, with freakish athletic ability, yet less ability in the half-court both offensively and defensively.
Rosko - My rebuttal…
There is no question Josh Smith is still developing and I think trying to figure out where his game will be long-term. Whether that be a big SF or a versatile PF. I tend to believe he IS a PF. Every Atlanta Hawks game I’ve watched he has shown some good low-post game in him. He dominates down low whenever he has a smaller/weaker defender on him. And with his quickness and footwork he has the potential to run circles around bigger defenders in the post and on the perimeter. But it’s a matter of shot selection not ability. He settles for the jumper when he could easily go by bigger slower defenders if he doesn’t have an advantage on the block.
I think people get a false sense of this guy because he has poor shot selection, been around not great coaching and had a legit low-post player come in force him more to the perimeter in Al Horford. Smith in a way was relegated more to the perimeter to make room for Horford in the post. I think we would have saw a lot more of him down there if Horford wasn’t on the team. Also he has increased his shooting % that last two years while his shot attempts are also going up which is a key thing that I pay attention to.
Also I think Smith brings something to the half court that people often overlook. OK, so he isn’t Elton Brand in the post, but that isn’t the only effective half-court offense. I think he would be immensely effective in pick and roll situations with both Iguodala and Andre Miller because now you have a guy that can hit the mid-range shot (and teams will have to respect it) as well as handle tough passes rolling to the basket (something we absolutely don’t have right now). This is essentially what killed the Sixers defensively against Detroit.
As for his half-court defense I am less concerned about that. 1. there aren’t all that many elite PFs in the East to deal with and 2. I like that he can guard both types of PFs the guys on the block and the guys that play on the perimeter. Not many 6′ 10″ players even have that capability and he does. He isn’t being heralded as the best young defensive player in the NBA for no reason.
When you also add the fact that he is a relentless offensive rebounder and will blend perfectly with our running style I think this is a no brainer if it is available.
Oh yeah in this particular case him being 22 years old is HUGE like many of the other commenters have mentioned. So it isn’t like we would be getting a guy that will be untradable if something else presents itself.
Where I agree with you is regarding the point guard situation. But I think that needs to be sured up regardless of whether we get Smith or Brand.
Two Questions: (1) Can Sixers sign both Iguodala and Smith?
(2) If so, or even if Smith does come to the Sixers, regardless of Iguodala’s situation–who is making shots for this team? I think the Sixers need to find someone to do so NOW, not a player who is learning “shot selection”. At the end of the day, he has not consistently gotten better in this ability to shoot outside of the basket area. Two seasons ago, Smith started the season with bad shot selection and got better toward the end of the season–cutting down on 3’s and playing more “back to the basket” only to revert back to his old habits again the beginning of this past season.
At the end of the day, I like Antawn Jamision ability to score inside and out and could be very effective in an Andre Miller offense with his ability to knock down shots in the half-court. Having said that, he is not a great defender and is 32…which pose obvious questions. What is your take on Jamison?
I do like that Smith is young and could continue to learnand get better because he has, I
How one can say that our half court offense would not improve by replacing x number of minutes of Reggie Evans with Smith, and x number of minutes of Willie Green with Igoudala is beyond me.
Morty: In the end, I was making the point that he is not the piece I would prefer for the Sixers…it goes beyond ” improvement” and more to the point of to what extent they will improve and at what expense. I am concerned about his ability to make shots, esp. in half court…which is evidenced in the numbers I presented. Although improving, I would want someone with more of an ability to hit shots better than a 30% clip on non-layups 2 pt shots, esp at 6′9. To be honest, I am curious as to Smith’s points in transition than in the half-court. I think there you will understand my point better. I would want more proven effective and efficiency in the half-court. Make no mistake about what I said–if Josh Smith ends up on the Sixers–are they better? Yes. But, I just don’t like him as a $11MM bookend to Igoudala…
JRIII,
I’m with you on the shooting thing. As exciting and athletic as an Iggy/Thad/J Smith trio would be…and I’m sure Andre Miller would wrack up about 9+ assists per game dishing them dunks in the open court for fast break points…none of them can spread the floor in a half court set. We would need to sign a 3 point gunner…perhaps a tweak trade for a Reddick, Ridnour, Richie Frahm even lol…someone cheap that could fill the role.
About Jamison, I live in DC and follow the rumors here closely, and it looks like there’s a 99% chance he’s staying. Arenas has stated multiple times that Jamison has helped make his career, and he is not only willing to take a huge paycut so that Antawn is taken care of, but has threatened to bolt if Jamison is not resigned. Those two go hand in hand and both will definitely be back.
I think the best case scenario for Josh Smith would be to someday play a bit similar to Sheed Wallace minus the shooting ability, but with better slashing. I love the way Sheed can play a perimeter game, and then when he wants, post up on the block or the high post to show off an array of post moves. Josh Smith could be an athletic slasher on the perimeter and when we need him to, have him come down to the block a couple times each game to show off his post play.
The other thing I don’t think anyone’s talked about is Thad Young’s post play. We’re all agreed that Thad Young’s NBA position is SF…but he did play PF the majority of the time in college and high school, and has shown real nice flashes of a great high post game and a few moves on the block. Josh Smith already bosts an ability to score with his back to the basket every now and then…between him and Thad, two SF’s that can finish in the post would be enough for our needs.
If we resigned Andre Miller, Iggy and Smith, the three next things would need to be:
1. Sign a legit backup PG or groom a young PG
2. Find a shooter
3. Develop Herbert Hill, or sign a legit vet backup big with a back to the basket post game.
mort: you or I would be an improvement over evans and green–that’s not the question.
Dave: I agree! There is no question the Sixers need an improved post game–ideally points from that position, but someone who can knock down outside shots may be as equally important. Right now, they have no one to do that, with the exit of Korver to Utah.
In my mind, Smith to the Sixers is as far-fetched as it gets in it actually happening.
WOW for someone complaining about shooting % you actually would mention Antawn Jamison who for his career is a 45% shooter and last season shot a whopping 43.6%. And he is 31 years old and won’t be even a little bit as effective and productive as Smith over the next 3-4years which I assume would be the max length of any contract to a guy over 30 years old.
Come on now if you are going to criticize an element of one player you can’t suggest a player with the same deficiency. Especially when the other player (Jamison) doesn’t give you what Smith does defensively even a little bit and is for a PF is 2 inches shorter.
DE- Yes, in the context of non-layup 2 pointer shots or outside foul line extended…can you tell me that Josh Smith is as effective as Jamison is that regard, regardless of overall field goal percentage because you know that doesn’t tell the whole story. Quite clearly, Josh Smith’s numbers exemplify an ineffectiveness to score any other way then in transition or in the basket area–i.e. a dunk or lay-up. That is where my cause for concern is. The numbers don’t lie–Smith has a proven inability to score. not long range shots, but anywhere outside of the basket area on a consistent level. And that is precisely where Jamison is more effective than Smith and thus, my point. I noted that Jamison is old, and not a great defender and never implied that he upside was better then Josh Smith–let’s get what I said straight. What I was referring to was the fact Jamision inside/outside combination, in my opinion, fits better into what the Sixers needs are. Again, I never suggested Jamison was bigger, younger, better defensively or had more upside as you suggested I did.
Did you know that amongst those with 10 minimum shots, Josh Smith ranks amongst the worst in the NBA in points per shot (PPS).
OK so you are recommending adding a one-dimensional, old player who is weak defensively and on the decline of his career to a young and developing squad whose identity has been to run and play defense? Can you see how that doesn’t make much sense.
And I am telling you right now Josh Smith will be a much better all-around pro than Antwan Jamison when both careers are said and done. That to me makes Smith the much better investment for the Sixers. Meaning we wouldn’t have to rebuild again in 3 years when Jamison and Andre Miller’s careers is pretty much over. With Smith, Dala, Young and Dalembert you have a strong core that can stay together for at least 5-6 more years and the organization really just needs to focus on finding their long-term answer at the point.
Adding Jamison would be a good move for a team that is already prepared and equipped to compete for an NBA title right now (like a Cleveland) who already has a proven star. He ISN’T good enough to carry a team like the Sixers to a Conference Finals IMO.
By the way Jamison shot a fantastic 34.7% from 2pt shots vs. Smith’s 29.1%. The difference is that number represents 45% of Jamison’s total shots as for Smith only 39%. So you say all Smith does is dunks and gets lay-ups and you are right 51% of his shots are “inside shots” isn’t that exactly what we want our power forward doing - taking more inside shots than lower percentage jumpers?
And PPS says a lot about “efficiency” (ask any GM)…and to my point about Josh Smith. And as a PF, as you pointed out? I’m just not in the Josh Smith to Sixers camp….
Rosko and this is were we officially stop talking. When you make up stats to support your argument, only that they are well MADE UP. haha 1. You gave no actual stats, you just spit out something that sounded good. 2. You didn’t define what is considered “amongst the worst in the NBA.” And finally…
Antwan Jamison your recommended player for the Sixers has a PPS of 1.19 and Josh Smith has a PPS of 1.23. I am pretty sure you just refuted your own argument. Just stop right now, please.
What are the stats that are made up? Is that what you do when someone makes a point–say its made up? Please tell me what is made up rather making a completely baseless accusation to try and prove your own point.
i do see that…i was wrong..
My personal list goes like this:
Elton Brand
Antwan Jamison
Josh Smith
Any of the three would be a serious upgrade on what we have.
Just wanted to pipe in on the Antawn Jamison argument. Before I say anything, I just want to say that there is absolutely no way he is not resigning with the Wizards, unless someone offered him a ridiculously absurd contract, so I really don’t think he is a real FA option for any team. That said:
Dannie: 100% agree with you in that for our team now, Jamison would be a nice short term upgrade, but not someone that would put us over the top, and not a long term solution. We are a team on the rise…plus we already are possibly investing a three year contract for Andre Miller, an over 30 guy, as a rotation player. Not the time to hand out contracts for another over 30 guy, albeit very talented.
That said…I totally agree with JRIII about Jamison’s talent. Dannie it really sounds like you’re making out Jamison to be a one dimensional, non efficient scorer…I can’t agree with that at all. I’d say next to AI and Manu Ginobili, you could argue that Jamison is in the top 5 “most unique” games in the NBA. I’m not saying “talented”…just unique.
Things you have to love about Jamison:
-One of maybe three guys in the NBA that actually manage to be able to play both SF and PF successfully…at 6′8 - 6′9, he can slide into both positions and perform great.
-Knows what he is, and what he isn’t…he knows he’s not a 1 option on offense…but this is a guy that gives teams what they need. If a team needs him to be a bruising rebounder type for toughness, he’ll give you 16 and 10. If they need scoring, he can go for 24 and 5.
-Crafty scoring…he’s the definition of it. I’ve seen Jamison make more crazy, off one foot, using the backboard shots then most in the NBA. He flat out finds ways to score, and is a great one vs one player, knowing how to pick apart an opposing defense weaknesses.
-Back to the basket post game has always been phenomenal.
-An incredible savvy player in the half court. He really knows the game, is a nice passer, and makes others around him better.
-Over the years, has improved his shot to the point that his midrange game, and 3 point shooting, is legit. Remember he came out of college a classic PF with no SF skills…over a decade he’s turned that to around a 35-37% clip from 3 point range, and has a reliable jumper. Not bad.
-People are right in saying his “outside the paint FG%” has dipped last year…but remember, Jamison has been in an odd role where for two years straight now, he was supposed to be the 3rd option on offense, then Arenas or Butler went down forcing him to become the 2nd, and sometimes 1st option. He’s waffled back and forth from these differing roles on the team, expected to sometimes put the team on his back and score 23+ ppg, only to slide back down to the 17-18 range.
It makes sense that when they need him to score more, his FG% dips a bit, and that when he is the 3rd option, he remains one of the more efficient 18 ppg players in the NBA.
Jamison should not be on the list of targets. If he was unsigned by a team at the end of camp then maybe, but NOT a target.
By the way, I love this site, the emotion jumps outta the screen. Lets hope big Ed has the same level of emotion while he’s wheeling and dealing.
Dave T - I never questioned whether Jamison was a good player or not. The argument was based on Rosko recommending Jamison over Smith.
By one-dimensional I am referring to offense and defense. He is a good (not great) offensive player that here and there could carry a team offensively but no one would want or ask him to do that every game. And well the PPS stats speak for themselves. And he leaves a bit to be desired on the defensive end 1. because he is undersized and can get bullied by taller and bigger PFs and 2. isn’t a shot blocker even a little bit.
I disagree that he is “one of the most efficient 18 ppg players in the NBA” he has never been a high percentage shooter he is a 45% shooter that’s what he is (only 5 out of 10 season has he shot 45% or better). And his best shooting year was when he was a 14ppg scorer off the Dallas Mavs bench who already had Dirk, Finally and Nash.
Further why would we need Jamison when we have a player who could develop into that style of player already in Thad Young. Same size, Thad is probably more athletic, has the potential to be a better shooter and better penetrator. I don’t think he will be as good as Jamison with his back to the basket because I still believe he is a natural 3-man whereas Jamison played the PF the majority of his college and NBA career.
Jamison just doesn’t make sense for the Sixers IMO.
Gotcha Dannie…I misread your original post, I thought you were more going after Jamison the player, and not how he fits in with us. I agree that in no way should we be targeting the guy, and that Josh Smith would be a colossal upgrade longterm in comparison to Antawn.
When I hear “efficient vs. non-efficient” I think more than FG% though…for me what comes to mind is also number of shots, and “how this player is capable of effecting the half court offense when he gets the ball”. So I think he’s efficient in the sense that he knows how to get points within the offense…he’s not disrupting the flow of the team game by jacking up ill advised shots.
Also efficient is that he doesn’t hold the ball a while…Jamison is a great decision maker, he knows when to be patient vs. when to score, and once he decides, he’s off and does his thing. As opposed to, say, Steve Francis, DJ Augustine, T-Mac, and even our beloved Iverson who are all classic over dribblers and dominate the ball too much.
But you’re right in that he’s always hovered in that 44 - 45% FG range, which of course leaves something to be desired. And yeah, if we just gave a very good but not great 32 year old (or whatever Jamison is) 4 years at 44 million…I’d puke!
The only over 30 vet that deserves monster money is Brand. If we can’t land him, Josh Smith at a very pricey 14-15 a year for us is fine as far as I’m concerned. I remember reading somewhere that Detroit also might look to pursue Josh heavily in a sign and trade, which would make a lot of sense for them.
Dave T - I’m with you, I agree that for a scorer he doesn’t need to dominant the ball and can get shots many different ways which is always desirable.
I also heard Detroit was interested in Smith as well but that would have to be a sign and trade deal which makes it a lot less likely to happen than us just signing him for more than Atlanta can afford. I don’t think they will be willing to offer Atlanta Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince like they did Denver for Carmelo Anthony. I just love the irony in that Melo proposal.
give me C.D.R or give me death!!!
chris, it’s possible, he’s projected to go to the Hornets at ~27, but it’s rumored that the Hornets don’t want the pick, and we can just buy it off them like how Portland bought the 24th pick last year (Rudy Fernandez) from Phoenix, but if it messes up our cap space and keeps us from getting Josh Smith then NO THANKS.
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