So I’m sure you guys were wondering why I put you through the exercise of “What would you ask Ed Stefanski?” out of the blue. Well it was in preparation for what came this afternoon.
Pete and I, along with a select group of bloggers/sports writers including…
…had the opportunity to talk with Sixers President and GM Ed Stefanski on a conference call. Stefanski came on about 4:00p.m. with some quick remarks about the teams off-season and for the next 20 minutes was an open Q & A session.
Ed Stefanski Conference Call
I apologize in advance for the background hissing noise. This was my first attempt at creating a podcast. Enjoy!
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Your most pertinent question. The one burning a hole in your mind every time you think about it. The one that just leaves you baffled every time you consider it. You know the “what the hell were the Sixers thinking” question. Or the “why didn’t they do this” question. It could be anything. About a player, the team, Stefanski himself etc. There are no boundaries. The questions that just never seem to be asked or answered during press conferences and interviews.
Now I know people will have more than one question which is fine. People will comment on each other’s questions as well, which is even better. But in order to highlight the top questions do this…
Write “#1:” in BOLD before your big question so we all know that’s it.
Elton Brand took his surgically repaired Achilles tendon to court Wednesday playing in his first game of the season for the Clippers. And he looked good. Scoring 19-points, grabbing 5 boards in 26 minutes of action. He followed that performance up with a 15 point, 9 rebound and 2 block game on Thursday. I hope Ed Stefanski is keeping a close watch. Brand is, without a doubt, the player most, if not all, 76er fans have been targeting as the one they want Stefanski to make a strong push for this summer.
I think it’s safe to state as fact that the Sixers’ biggest weakness is at power forward. The three main options on the market after this season are Elton Brand, Antwawn Jamison and Josh Smith. Brand, for obvious reasons, would be the ideal choice. As with any player that has a major injury to a lower extremity, the question remains of whether will he return to all-star form.
With that in mind these last 7 games will serve as “pre-free agent” workouts to show the Clippers, as well as rest of the league, that he is healthy. Essentially saying “I’m good to go, so get your check books ready.” The Clippers are 29 games below .500, and there is no reason for him to play other than that.
This is a clear risk vs. reward proposition. If Brand gets hurt it would be a tragedy and at 29-years old, most certainly end any thought of getting a huge long-term deal. And for what? Not the ultimate prize - a chance to compete for an NBA championship. I know all the Clipper fans are thinking exactly that. They want him healthy for next season and multiple years in the future. These last 8 games mean nothing.
On the other hand, from Brand’s standpoint he obviously doesn’t want to get hurt and miss his chance at the contract he deserves. But Brand also wants to prove he can perform at the same level he did before the injury, and the best way to do that is in a live game. Sure, individual workouts with teams would suffice, but by coming back and playing great, he will have the leverage to demand as much money as he wants. At his age, skill set for a big man and proven track record, Elton Brand is a HOT commodity and the most coveted FA this summer.
So Ed, we hope you’re paying attention. We want this guy - get it done.
Maurice Cheeks received a 1-year contract extension, with an option for a 2nd year, that will finally put to bed the speculation he wouldn’t be back coaching the Sixers next season. In the final year of his contract, the team playing sub .500 ball, and a new president & GM on board, many believed Cheeks would be on his way out or actively asking for him to be out like this guy.
It was thought Ed Stefanski would want to bring in his own coach to lead the Sixers rebuilding effort, as it turns out that man is Mo. Stefanski clearly recognized the positives Cheeks has brought to this young team and the value he has for the organization. After the announcing the contract extension Stefanski had this to say about Cheeks,
“Since my arrival, I have been evaluating every aspect of the organization and I believe that Coach Cheeks deserves a great deal of credit for developing our players, putting them in a position to succeed and showing improvement every day. Coach Cheeks has done a very good job of installing an up-tempo brand of basketball that puts this team in a position to succeed on a nightly basis and we are excited about the future under his direction.”
We, as fans, are quick to call for a coach’s head when our team struggles for an extended period of time. More often than not the real source of the problem is a lack of overall talent and/or crapshoot collection of players that clearly don’t work well together. These have been the true reasons our Sixers haven’t won more, even during the Allen Iverson era.
Cheeks has this relatively young team playing hard every night. They have improved over the course of the season. And you can clearly see the development in players such as Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams. Is it just me, or has Samuel Dalembert been playing smarter basketball and having one of his best seasons? I attribute much of that largely to Mo.
I think Stefanski expects to make significant moves this summer in free agency and the draft that will equip Maurice Cheeks with enough talent to compete at a much higher level. This 1-year extension is essentially saying, “Mo you have done a great job with what you had to work with. Now it’s time for you take the next step and lead a more talented Sixers team against the big boys in the Eastern Conference next year.” A try-out if you will.
If the team vastly improves their record next season, I see a long-term deal in Maurice Cheek’s future. And I am rooting for just that. Who else would you want to be the face of the current Sixers franchise then a well-respected and loved Sixers great from the past?
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At 19-years-old Thaddeus Young is proving to be a true diamond in the rough for the Sixers. Going into the season most people thought Thaddeus was two or three years away from really contributing. No one really anticipated he would make much of an impact right away for Coach Mo. Except Young of course.
As the 12th pick in the 2007 NBA draft with tremendous upside, there were still a few questions marks about Young:
Raw - Having played only one college season his game was undeveloped.
Tweener - Is he a SF or PF?
Strength - At 6′8, 215ish coming out of college he needed to get bigger and stronger to handle the tough play inside and become a better rebounder.
Outside shooting - Considering how much he plays on the perimeter his shot needed to improve.
Those doubts just fueled Thaddeus Young’s desire to get better. Young has quietly crept up among the top rookies this season. This emergence was best noted by John Hollinger in his All-Sleeper Team: These guys deserve your attention article on ESPN insider:
Any time a teenager has a PER above the league average, we really ought to pay attention to it. Young has been way, way, WAY under the radar because he comes off the bench on a bad team, but the 19-year-old forward is having a noteworthy rookie season. The lefty can put the ball in the hoop (15.3 points per 40 minutes) and rebounds extremely well for a small forward [8.8 rebounds per 40 minutes] — so well, in fact, that he’s often used at the 4.
He still needs to figure out a lot of things, like how to draw fouls for instance — his rate of free throws is scandalously low for a player with his athleticism. Nonetheless, Young is one of the league’s most promising young players, [ranking first among rookies in PER], and he’s received virtually no attention so far.
It’s easy to overlook, but the Korver trade did more than just free up additional cap space this summer. More importantly, moving Kyle made way for Thaddeus Young to get more minutes. From Stefanski’s point of view this was probably to evaluate him in the context of the Sixers current and long-term personnel situation.
In 23 games since Korver’s been gone, Thaddeus Young has doubled nearly all of his numbers with the added playing time (while his TOs remain under 1/g):
Thaddeus Young
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
RPG
APG
SPG
BLK
TO
PPG
Before Korver Trade
10.6
48.8%
0.0%
60.0%
2.6
0.3
0.6
0.1
0.9
4.2
After Korver Trade
23.0
53.4%
33.3%
75.9%
4.8
0.9
0.8
0.2
0.9
8.5
When you combine Young’s rapid development, relentless hustle, smart play and athleticism, it’s clear the Sixers have an impact player in the making. Although he is currently starting at the power forward, I think he is the small forward of the future for this team. Here’s why…
At 6′8, 220 lbs Young is the prototypical size for an NBA small forward. Add another 10-15 pounds of muscle to his athletic frame and guess what you have? A body type very similar to Lebron James. At that size he will be able to guard the 2 through 4 positions, become a much stronger rebounder and finisher after contact, as well as be more effective playing the PF on offense when the Sixers go small.
What does that mean for Andre Iguodala? Options. First and foremost sit Willie Green down, if not get rid of him entirely. Move Iggy to the shooting guard spot and now you have a bigger guard to overcompensate for a smaller PG. This makes the Sixers much better defensively overall but especially on the perimeter. Better rebounding team as well. Worst case scenario you have an up-and-coming replacement if Stefanski decides not to overpay for Andre Iguodala (more on this in a future post).
This would solidify the perimeter (as long as we “keep Andre Miller”) so Ed can work on what we really need which is a consistent scoring force inside. Can you say Elton Brand? Josh Smith? How bout Michael Beasley? Even if it isn’t one of those guys, it allows Stefanski to focus solely on that major hole at PF.
More love for Thaddeus Young
David Thorpe recently took note of Thaddeus Young’s improved play in his latest Rookie Watch:
No player has surprised me more thus far than Thaddeus Young. ACC coaches told me he was a long way from being a pro. But Young’s instincts to play inside and out are sound (and somewhat rare), and he shoots with a beautiful pace. Golfers talk about the swing speed of Ernie Els — smooth and easy — and that’s what I think of when I watch Young shoot his jump shots. Not rushed, not slow, just right. He’s not yet a good shooter, but he’s coming along. He’s now up to [first] in player efficiency rating among rookies.
It’s about time people are finally starting notice.
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Aside from the fact that I always find it hilarious when Utah trades for, signs, or drafts someone who is really, really white to appease their fan base, the Kyle Korver for Gordon Giricek and a 1st rounder is a very surprising and intriguing trade.
With this trade, Ed Stefanski has made a statement that this team is going to have his stamp on it sooner rather than later. Korver was a player drafted and signed by Billy King and King often reffered to him as one of their “untouchable” players. This trade gives Stefanski an expiring contract in Giricek and a 1st round pick, both of which will turn into 2 new players, of his choosing, in 2008.
My guess is that Stefanski didn’t think a one-dimensional player like Korver was worth the money he was getting. I tend to agree, but Korver will be missed. After Iverson left, the two things that really got the Wachovia crowd going was an Iguodala dunk or a Korver 3-pointer. He was a joy to watch shoot, but frustrating to watch on the defensive end.
As for Giricek, he had a falling out with Jerry Sloan, and once you are in his dog house, you don’t get out. Here’s hoping he embraces the change and steps in as our starting SG. The couple times I’ve seen him play he strikes me a solid player and good shooter.
Stefanski’s reputation is that he is a great evaluator of talent - and after this trade, he will have a blank check and multiple first round picks in the offseason to prove it to us. Let’s hope he gets it right.
The blow by Wade and banging on Udonis Haslem was nice. What’s more impressive is the rapid development of Louis Williams as a real baller for the Sixers. At 21-years-old, plenty of potential and his contract expiring this summer, Lou has made a strong case for signing him to a long-term deal.
Facts:
3pt%, FT%, RPG, APG and PPG has each increased over his first 3 seasons.
Williams is scoring 19.5 per 40 minutes
His player efficiency rating (PER) at 17.73 is above league average and has also increased every season.
With that said the big question is can he run this team and play the point effectively? As a natural scorer and pass-second guard, he will need to improve his ability to penetrate with the goal of finding teammates, limit his turnovers and adapt the score-first game he is accustomed to playing. I believe he can. Hopefully he is learning the in’s-and-out’s from a perfect example in Andre Miller. At 6′1 his long-term career and significant minutes will be found playing the point, not as a wing scorer.
For the Sixers, Lou represents a tremendous asset and opportunity. With the expectation of Miller being traded, Lou can immediately fill that spot and allow Stefanski to focus on bringing in a dynamic shooting guard and the dominant post scorer this team is in desperate need of.
“If I was still in Philadelphia, I don’t think they would be in the predicament that they’re in right now,” Iverson said. “The way the East is, I would think that we would be right there in the hunt. . . . I look at (Philadelphia’s) games right now, and it looks like a rec league game or an AAU game when you see the attendance there. It just looks dull.” - Rocky Mountain News
Exactly one year from the worst day in the history of me being a Philadelphia 76ers fan I got to thinking: was that trade the answer? Was trading the most beloved basketball player in Philadelphia since Dr. J the right move to turn around the Sixers’ plummeting attendance and unbearable performance? Let’s take a look…
Sixers got:
Andre Miller,
Expiring contract of Joe smith and
2 first round draft picks - Jason Smith and the since-waived Derrick Byars(this kid was sick at Vanderbilt; I would take him over Rodney Carney any day of the week)
Nuggets got:
Allen Iverson
Ivan McFarland (not even worth mentioning)
Fast forward to December 19th, 2007 what is the state of the Sixers one year later? Here are the top 5 positive outcomes of the trade:
Billy King fired
Billy King fired - and someone that actually knows how to spell basketball was hired
Billy King fired - we won’t have a GM with the brain of a chimpanzee spending the money
We have enough money to aggressively go after Elton Brand this summer
Andre Miller is a solid veteran pass-first PG to distribute the ball (if only he had anyone really worth passing to!)
And the negatives:
Allen Iverson 2007 #s (I thought he was declining and couldn’t keep up this pace?):
Best FG% of his career - 46.6%
2nd best APG of his career - 7.5 (wait that’s better than Andre Miller)
Taking less 3pt shots and shooting the 4th best % of his career - 32.8%
On Dec. 5th while the Sixers were getting handled by the Celtics in front of a half filled arena A.I. was preparing to drop 51 on the Lakers (I am crying as I type this!)
No superstar worth paying to watch play
Sixers record: 10-14 including the 5th worst scoring offense (at least if they were high scoring they could be exciting to watch)
Sixers average attendance: 12,126 (second worst in the NBA)
Bill Simmons says it best, “The lesson, as always: Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER trade a superstar for less than 75 cents on the dollar.”
With that said I believe the jury is still out given the change in GM. The feeling in Philly now that Ed’s the man is a sense of confidence and hope. I believe this summer will be the defining time for this franchise given the circumstances explained in the previous posts (1, 2). It will either be the changing of the tide for the Sixers or the continued agony of their fans.
Now that I have come to terms with Josias Manzanillo’s and Bart Miadich’s rampant steroid use as revealed in the Mitchell Report, I can get back to what I love most -writing in blogs that nobody reads.
Like Dannie, and many Philadelphia basketball fans, the ousting of Billy King and subsequent hiring of Ed Stefanski, gives hope to a fan base starving for a championship anyway they can get it. Remember, this is city that was ready to parade Barbaro down Broad Street because he was raised and trained in the general area of the city. Of course, Barbaro subsequently died.The Sixers represent the Philadelphia team likely the furthest away from a championship, but they play in a league where a couple lucky ping-pong balls, smart cap maneuvering, and inventive trades can turn things around quickly (see: Boston Celtics, 20-2).
Since Dannie has already outlined the offseason options for the Sixers - I’ll give my semi-educated opinion on the state of the current team, and my fool-proof blueprint for the future. With the exception of Ryan Bowen, everyone in the NBA is good, that’s why they are in the NBA, and there are 40-50 players not in the NBA that could thrive if put in the right situation. As a result, it’s hard to evaluate non-superstar players on an individual basis. The best way to do this, in my opinion, is to see if you could picture them being a productive member of a championship caliber team - in this year’s case, the San Antonio Spurs. Let’s look at where the current Sixers players would fit on a team like this…
Starters
Andre Iguodala - Good defender, decent scorer, great energy guy and someone you want on your team and can fill up a box score. However, could never, ever, be the #1 guy on a championship team. Think Michael Finley with an uglier shot.
Andre Miller - Borderline. Would never start over Tony Parker, but can run the show and throw the best one-handed back-door pass in the business. Can’t score enough (see: Snow, Eric). Also, looks like Richard Pryor and provides team with comic relief when he tries to go with cornrows.
Rotation
Samuel Dalembert - I have been impressed with Sammy the last couple weeks. 9 blocks (and some emotion, for god’s sake!) against Minnesota and 19 boards against the Cavs. However, no one with his lack of basketball intelligence would start in an NBA Finals. His shot-blocking and defense would make him a key reserve - and he’s probably be good for one big game a playoff series.
Reggie Evans - Exactly the kind of guy you see coming off the bench for championship-caliber teams. Hustles, rebounds, plays D and has a fire for the game. As is the case with most players with those attributes, he is a comically bad free throw shooter. I could do without him trying a guard the PG in the back court.
Kyle Korver - Brent Barry, Derek Fisher, John Paxton, Mario Elie, etc, etc. All championship teams have great 3-point shooters. Korver might have been the best pure shooter in the NBA last year. He doesn’t do much else, but that’s just fine coming off the bench.
Louis Williams - I love Louis Williams. I have yet to see anyone able to stay in front of him, and he is the only guy on the team who can create his own shot at will. He’s only 21, leads the team in points per 48 minutes (24.1) and is fearless in the lane. Next year, I imagine he would switch places with Andre Miller on this list.
Jason Smith - Very pleasant surprise this year. Not sure what his ceiling is though. Good at just about everything (shooting, blocking shots, rebounding, post moves), but not great at anything. Already the greatest Colorado State basketball player in NBA history.
Buried On The Bench
Thaddeus Young - He certainly has the potential, but right now, he looks lost at times. He’s 19, and appears to be a hard working kid, so I’ll reserve judgment.
Louis Amundson - Looks too much like a vampire to be a successful pro, but hustles too hard to be cut by a team like the Spurs.
Kevin Ollie - You laugh, but Jacque frickin’ Vaughn logs time for the Spurs. Old, crafty PG’s who don’t turn the ball over are always good to have on the deep bench.
Never Signed, Drafted or Traded for, ever
Willie Green - Has the skill to be a Devin Brown-type flash off the bench, but will occasionally (frequently) take horrible, momentum killing shots. He drives me absolutely crazy.
Shavlik Randolph - A whiter version of Josh McRoberts
Rodney Carney - No.
Calvin Booth - Billy King’s last move - and what a move it was.
For The Future:
Obviously, I feel we should trade/release anyone at the bottom of this list. You also will have to assume that Andre Miller will be traded, lets say to a decent team for a late first round pick.
It’s easy to see that we are more than a couple players away from being a true contender. Luckily, we have some money and a potentially high draft pick. If we use the money to sign Elton Brand (if healthy) and use our two first round picks (ours and Andre Miller’s new team) to trade up in the draft, like we didn’t last year, to pick a SG (Eric Gordon, if there is a god) the Sixers would trot out, if nothing else, a very exciting starting 5 next year.
PG- Lou Williams
SG- Eric Gordon
SF- Andre Iguodala
PF- Elton Brand
C- Samuel Dalembert
Bench: Evans, Korver, J. Smith, T. Young, lesser FA Signing (Chris Duhon?)
That looks like a playoff team to me, and with a few more good draft picks and creative trades during the season, could be a contender in the East. This will not be a one-year fix, but the right moves could get us on the right track. I hope that our readers (Dannie’s girlfriend and mom) enjoyed my first post.
I thought it only fitting that the first real post on the ReclinerGM Sports blog be related to big upcoming decisions for new Sixers’ GM - Ed Stefanski. So let me start by setting the stage…
Fact: The Sixers will likely be the only team with enough cap space to be a major player for a big time free agent next summer. Why? 22 NBA teams are either over or within $4 million of the luxury tax threshold. So what, right? You gotta pay to win in pro sports, right? Yes, but the trend of late has owners being more frugal and pulling back the reigns on NBA GMs’ spending sprees.
With that said the Sixers might not have enough money to offer a max deal if:
They have a large cap hold for a top first-round draft pick. At 10-14 they are only a half game out of the 8th playoff spot. Figure in a weak Eastern Conference, their propensity to compete every night, especially now since everyone is playing for a job next season under Stefanski and this point is still to be determined.
Stefanski decides to give big deals to both Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams who are both restricted free-agents. Speaking of Iggy, what the hell was he thinking turning down a $57 million contract extension? With Philadelphia the only team out there to pay him big time money it makes his decision that much more DUMB!
First thing to consider - do you re-sign Iggy? More importantly do you pay him more than what was already offered if there happens to be another team competing for him? PSST here’s a hint: HELL NO! You don’t over pay for a non all-star. A guy who is widely considered a 2nd tier player. If that’s not enough, look at his numbers. As his shot attempts go up, his turnovers per game (3.6 - most of his career) are also going up and his shooting % (43.9% - worst of his career) are going down. Don’t get me wrong I want him on the Sixers but not for top superstar money.
Ok, I think you get the picture. Here are what I consider to be the top free agents this upcoming summer worth considering.
Tier 1 Players: These players have an “early termination option” in their contracts and can become unrestricted free-agents.
1.Elton Brand, Clippers -As long as he completely recovers from his Achilles injury he will be the most talented and most coveted player available, not to mention the low-post scorer that has been absent from the Sixers since Charles Barkley.
2. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards - Personally, I love his blog, his personality and his ability to score, but how much different is he than the last real super star (see #6) we had in Philly that everyone gave up on?
3. Shawn Marion, Suns - Great defender, rebounder and runs the floor like a race horse. But at 30 years old and reliant on a good point guard to get him the ball in order to score, do we really want to pay him top dollar?
4. Baron Davis, Warriors - In my opinion the best guard on the board and having the best season of his career. At 29 he is obviously vying for a long-term contract.
5. Jermaine O’Neal, Pacers -Has been injury-prone the last few seasons. He is only 29, and the big question is whether he can stay healthy.
6.Allen Iverson, Nuggets - AI back in Philly.In my dreams!
7. Ron Artest, Kings - 4 years ago he would have been a great signing.
Tier 2 Players: The 2004 draft class. These guys are restricted free agents.
1. Luol Deng, Bulls -Do you like him better than Iggy?
2. Patrick O’Bryant, Warriors - He was the No. 9 pick in the ‘06 draft and a 7-footer with upside. With GS bringing in Brandon Wright we may be able to steal a quality big away.
There you have it. Stefanski really has his work cut out for him. But I ask all the “ReclinerGMs” out there - what would you do?
what would it be?
Elton Brand took his surgically repaired Achilles tendon to court Wednesday playing in his first game of the season for the Clippers. And he looked good. Scoring 19-points, grabbing 5 boards in 26 minutes of action. He followed that performance up with a 15 point, 9 rebound and 2 block game on Thursday. I hope Ed Stefanski is keeping a close watch. Brand is, without a doubt, the player most, if not all, 76er fans have been targeting as the one they want Stefanski to make a strong push for this summer.
That’s right well-deserved!
smarter basketball and having one of his best seasons? I attribute much of that largely to Mo.
At 19-year
Aside from the fact that I always find it hilarious when Utah trades for, signs, or drafts someone who is really, really white to appease their fan base, the Kyle Korver for Gordon Giricek and a 1st rounder is a very surprising and intriguing trade.
Allen Iverson doesn’t seem to think so:
Now that I have come to terms with Josias Manzanillo’s and Bart Miadich’s rampant steroid use as revealed in the Mitchell Report, I can get back to what I love most -writing in blogs that nobody reads.
