Has the Sixers’ need for a shooter been addressed?
According to (keep in mind this makes me sick to my stomach saying his name on my blog) Howard Eskin on NBC 10’s Sports Final last night, the 76ers will soon sign or have signed Kareem Rush.
Let me start by saying I don’t think Kareem Rush has formally been signed by the 76ers. Eskin is pretty close to the action in terms of Philly sports, but if a deal was already done the main stream media (ESPN) would have reported it. More importantly I am sure Ed Stefanski and the Sixers would have made it known as well since a shooter is what the fans have been calling for since the Brand signing. No way they miss an opportunity to play to the masses – and sell more season tickets.
If true, what do you think about Kareem Rush on the Sixers?
Rush was one of the guys we all mentioned when talking about potential shooters for the Sixers. Here was my take from that previous post, which I still stand by…
I really like this option. He is only 27, shoots 36% from three for his career. Last season he finally got an opportunity to play 70 games at 20mpg and shot 3.7 three-point attempts per game at 38.9% both career bests. He is a 6′6 shooting guard with good athleticism and the potential to be a good defender.
Kareem Rush is the definition of a jump shooter. Meaning for his career he has never attempted more than 1.6 free throw attempts per game in a season and on a per-36-minute basis would only be at 1.5 per game. He is all perimeter, all the time. That’s fine considering we already have penetrating players in Iguodala and Williams, one of the best mid-range players in Andre Miller and one of the best post players in Elton Brand. Rush’s style fits right in with this team.
Rush is a 36% three-point shooter for his career. That is better than we currently have, but certainly nothing special. What’s promising is that he is coming off the best season of his career shooting the three. On the Sixers he will be in a great situation to build on that.
The big question is how does he get on the court?
On paper he is behind both Willie Green and Louis Williams already. If the Sixers do what they are supposed to do and start Iguodala at shooting guard that puts him 4th on the depth chart.
In a perfect world he should get at least half of Willie Green’s minutes (26.6 per game last season) and more when the situation calls for a shooter to be on the floor for extended minutes. But here is how he can force his way into more playing time – get better on defense. This guy has a near 6′10 wingspan, pretty good athleticism and lateral quickness. Hopefully being around the Sixers’ culture and winning, Rush will get motivated to play better defense. If he does that and continues to shoot 38%-40% from three, we have a much better question to consider…
Where do you find time for Willie Green!?!
P.S.
Just for fun…Elton Brand’s five reasons he’d rather be in Philadelphia
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Thanks for the post Dannie.
I love this signing. Obviously the downside to Kareem Rush is he’s a total trigger happy fool that is the classic “40-42% FG%, 37-39% 3 pt” type guy, that isn’t the most versatile of players. He’s not going to give us much rebounding or defense at the guard spot, and isn’t a great passer.
Fortunately, we’re not looking for that from him. We get a LIGHTS OUT shooter, which is exactly what we need. I think at 6′6 we can get away with making him our backup SF so that he’s not taking away many minutes from Willie or Lou.
The thing I love most about this is that, much like Eddie House, the guy has no fear. I’m a big fan of having former college stars that are undersized as bench players in the NBA…this is a clutch shooter that is NOT afraid to take, and make, a big shot. The other dimension to his game that is nice is he has good handle for SG, and is a good slasher as well, and can finish around the rim.
Definitely a nice little signing, leaving us with (hopefully):
PG: A Miller / L Williams / R Ivey
SG: A Iguodala / W Green
SF: T Young / K Rush
PF: E Brand / R Evans / M Speights
C: S Dalembert / J Smith / M Speights
Not bad at all, especially given that Iggy and Kareem can all toggle between the 2-3 spots, and Thad between the 3-4.
Rush is signing for the minimum? If so, gotta love this move for the Sixers.
This would be sweet. Yet another great move for Stefanski if the rumor is true. If Rush is signed I agree that it will be tough to find playing time, but best case scenario in my opinion would be him taking Willie’s minutes. I’d be thrilled if Willie played less than 10 minutes a game this year.
I still get the feeling that Willie’s day are numbered in Philly. This potential signing along with the Ivey signing spells disaster for a guy that doesn’t do anything especially well.
Think about it, if Ed Stefanski could trade Korver with the HOPE that it brings a big time player later (which it did), imagine what his thoughts of Willie Green would be.
I hope the rumors are true with regards to Rush. Mo Cheeks should be beamming from ear-to-ear.
Is there a team that plays 10 deep, or can play 10 deep?
Love the signings of both Ivey and Rush. Do NOT love the players as being in my rotation, but for what the Sixers had to offer, they got 2 good players.
I don’t think Rush can play the 3 at all personally. Throughout his career he has played about 90% of his minutes at the 2. I don’t think that changes in Philadelphia. He is a chucker. He almost shoots as much as Willie, which is crazy.
The Miller, Green, Iguodala, Brand, Dalembert lineup seems much more likely to me following these 2 signings. Sorry Thaddeus, but you may be Ginoblied.(not that it is a bad thing)
Mo loves Willie.
Let me just add that me thinking Willie may start is assuming he is on the roster.
this is a great signing. stefanski continues to make moves that address real needs. Rush is going to be fantastic in the role the Sixers need him in. i cant wait for this season.
I think almost everyone likes this pick-up. He’s the obvious choice among the low-budget free agents.
This signing frees up up another body for a potential trade down the road. Right now, Reggie Evans and Willie Green are expendable and, in my opinion, both have value. People knock Willie, but he can put points on the board, and he’s a decent defender too. I think there is a market for him. There’s a market for Reggie also, he’s a banger and great rebounder, he’ll bring toughness to any team.
With Ed at the helm, I wouldn’t be surprised to see those two players bringing us a quality 3 in the near future.
If these signings and the expected signings of iggy and williams all pan out this is making for an exciting season. If anyone is interested there is an entire game from 2001 playoffs vs raptors on youtube. Search allen iverson 54 points. Some vintage Marc and Steve. Hopefully more great games like that to come.
So, is the signing ofcially official? Anyone have a link?
Jordan – No link and not official. It’s just a rumor and I think people are jumping the gun being a bit overzealous assuming it is a done deal. Remember we are talking about Howard Eskin as the source here.
I haven’t found anything anywhere. Hoopshype and ESPN have nothing on it. In fact Chad Ford updated his Free Agent watch yesterday and mentioned nothing of it in his short write-up on Kareem Rush.
I could find a lot of time for Willie Green…passing out gatorade, picking up warm up gear, driving the team bus, credit card marketing, concessions, habitat for humanity, “HIP-HOP’s” sidekick, painting fan’s faces at half-time, keeping seats warm, work the parking lot, NBDL, cleaning the dry-erase board, breaking in sneakers, team weather man, replace Bob Salmi (what happened to Steve “the mayor” Mix anyway?), selling tix, just a utility man in general….thats just a few I came up with, got anything else?
Man, you guys really hate Willie Green. Am I the only one that kinda likes as a bench guy? I mean, I’d trade the guy in a heartbeat for better talent, but my complaints with him are mostly centered around the fact that he was our STARTER last year. Off the bench, I think he provides a nice defensive spark, energy, and is great at attacking the rim when he puts his mind to it (aka: when not deciding to settle for jacking up crappy jumpers).
I don’t see Willie Green as this terrible player that can’t do anything…just not a guy you ever want to be giving more then 15 mpg.
Dave T, I agree but seems like Rush and green should be playing the identical 15-18 minutes a game off the bench. Neither should start. Seems if Rush comes Willie has to go. I don’t think there are many suiters. Willie should be a just over the minimum type of player. He is a nice guy but not a nice player.
Willie was a “terrible player that can’t do anything” until this year, imo, and not he is just a bad rotational player. Rush and Ivey both are bad rotational players as well.
I like Ivey the most because of his shot selection. Willie and Rush both suffer from terrible shot selection.
No matter what, bad players like Ivey, Rush, Willie, and to a lesser degree Smith will hurt this team somewhat next year.
Willie Green is a competent player whose in-check ego doesn’t suck the air out of a team. Not nearly as bad as his detractors make him out to be. Can play a little D, can score in stretches. Streaky offensive player. Maintains perspective. Good guy to have around.
Hopefully Rush can play the 3,[Thad , Iggy ,Rush] and some 2, [Iggy, L.Will., (Willie,Rush) ]. The key will be Mo having a short leash on the 9th and 10th man each night; stay with the hot hand and pull the 1 for 5 shooter immediately. The competition could either push these guys or create a problem, but winning should solve the latter.
With Kareem Rush in the fold what to do with Willie Green, or is there any truth to the rumor that Lou Williams is the way to either Cleveland or Atlanta?
Just to interject on the Willie Green converstation…
I think the amount of salary cap space Willie Green eats up is the main concern. He’s really a 10-12 mpg guy, who you ride through a game if he gets a hot hand (2006). He’s definately not a starter and you can’t fault him for playing a role he shouldn’t be. You can, however, fault him for raping Billy King for way more than he’s worth.
I kinda disagree with the whole “financial burden” Willie Green causes us. I mean, really? We have been paying him $3 million a year to be a 20-25 mpg player for us. I would say his market value should be in the $1.5 – 2 million per year range, and the he’s a 15-18 mpg off the bench guy. That means we’re losing an extra million or million and a half a year. This isn’t exactly sending us over the luxary tax or not allowing us maneuverability.
Contracts for guys on the bench that really CAN kill’s financial structure or when teams blindly hand out the MLE, or $5-6 million a year contracts, for vastly overrated bench players that are getting 20 mpg. To slightly overpay for Willie Green, who I feel does bring some talent to the table off the bench, isn’t so much “terrible/awful”…but more “not ideal.”
I’d far rather have a Willie Green signed at $3 million per, then something like the Raptors signing Kapono, or the Bobcats signing Carroll, to SIX MILLION DOLLAR a year contracts. Compared to other bad moves and bad signings teams have made in the NBA, the Willie Green…and I’d argue Korver…signings I don’t think are quite as bad as the way a lot of Sixers fans slam them.
I also never got the whole slamming Billy King for giving Dalembert a 6 year 66 million (or was it 5 and 55 million?) contract…only slightly overpaying for a 6′11 starting center that can rebound and block shots. His market value was probably $10 million per…we gave him $11 or 11.5 per year. Not idea? Sure, but necessary to keep him, and it wasn’t not outlandish.
I’ve always thought the truly terrible B King signings were Kenny Thomas (6 years 48 million…maybe a bit less, just going from memory), and resigning a 35 year old Mutumbo for 4 years, 60 million. To me his mark of a terrible GM wasn’t in the actual numbers he signed guys for, but his total lack of creativity in acquiring new talent. With BK, it was “Well, we’ve got this kinda talented guy…but instead of growing balls and making a slightly risky trade scenario, we’ll play it safe and resign them long term, even though I know these aren’t great talents.” It’s especially odd given how creative he used to be under Larry Brown (I loved the trades landing us Mckie/Ratliff, Joe Smith, Kukoc, and KVH…real creative stuff in a tight spot…although most didn’t pan out, good ideas).