Sixers Rumors: Follow Up On Brand and Some Andre Miller Nonsense

Two days ago I wrote a post about Elton Brand being available according to a Chad Ford chat.  A few things have happened since then.

The first of which is Phil Jasner doing his best to shoot down a Brand rumor.

My comment: Calm down. While Sixers’ president/general manager Ed Stefanski said he does not comment on rumors, a source familiar with the Sixers’ situation said that Ford’s premise is incorrect, that Stefanski had not contacted anyone about Brand, that the chat session comment had no legs. – Phil Jasner

What premise?  Chad Ford did exactly what Jasner is doing now – pointing to the infamous “source.”  Jasner followed that up with this today:

Sixers’ president/general manager Ed Stefanski said he does not comment on rumors, but a source familiar with the Sixers’ situation insisted that Stefanski had made no trade-related calls involving Brand and that he had no interest in dealing the player he signed to a 5-year, $79.8 million contract during the summer. – Phil Jasner

This quote was a little more direct than the first but again no direct quote from the man himself, Ed Stefanski.  Merely another case of  the infamous “source.”

Chad Ford held to his initial Brand rumor today in his big men trade watch article.

I’ve heard rumblings over the past few weeks that the Sixers would let Brand go for expiring contracts and a future pick — a pretty small price for the most coveted free agent of last summer. – Chad Ford

To me this just says Ford didn’t arbitrarily throw that comment about Brand being available in the chat session.  He obviously had been planning to write a more formal piece on it as evidenced by his article today.  What’s more interesting is the 20% chance he is attaching to the idea of Brand being traded.  That seems high, right?

The way I read all of this is the same as always.  It’s on us to come to our own conclusions.  Who do you trust more?  Jasner or Ford?  Until we hear something directly from the horse’s mouth or see a deal done all of this just speculation by two reporters and their anonymous buddies.  That speculation just adds to the ongoing conversation about the team we already have been carrying on.

My take: I don’t believe Stefanski has been actively shopping Elton.  I don’t think he has proactively made trade-related calls to other teams about Brand.  But what I do know is Stefanski has said he won’t preach patience.  If there is a move he feels will improve the team now he would do it.  The specificity that Ford is reporting about what the Sixers would want in return in a Elton Brand trade is generic in my opinion.  From the beginning I read the initial Elton Brand rumor like this: someone tossed the idea out to Stefanski at some point in the last couple months that involved Brand, and Stefanski’s response was soft enough that the person came away from the conversation feeling Brand wasn’t totally off-limits.  If there is a deal that makes sense for the Sixers that involves Brand, Stefanski would entertain it.  Nothing more, nothing less.

$60-$70 Million Asking Price for Andre Miller?

Umm yeah that is the Andre Miller nonsense I was referring to in the post title.  It comes from a HoopsWorld article I read today by Steve Kyler that is mostly regurgitated quotes from a CSNPhilly article by Jordan Raanan I had planned to write about this weekend.  Here is the money quote:

Miller is said to be seeking a $60 to $70 million package, which 12 months ago would have been a “no-brainer”, but with the team finally getting back to respectability a long-term commitment now might not happen, simply because of the early season struggles. The risk of losing Andre for nothing is very real, the question becomes does Philly blink and enter the trade market at the deadline? – Steve Kyler, HoopsWorld

Said by who?  Who said Miller is seeking that nonsensical salary package?  How many years is that contract?  6 plus?  Is he taking a page out of Jason Kidd’s book indicated he wants to play until he is 40?

The funny thing about that quote is Kyler doesn’t even have the infamous “source” that other well established reporters regularly point to.

My take: I won’t even go after Andre Miller or his agent on this one because I don’t believe it’s coming from their camp.  I think it’s a made-up number by a writer looking to create some news on an intriguing topic that has been relatively quiet.  Good marketing ploy, that obviously worked since I am linking to them and Brian over at the Depressed Fan had done so already as well.  Miller and his agent have remained extremely quiet, and that fits Miller’s demeanor.  For them to really toss that number out would be completely out of character in my opinion.

If  you are going to toss out a made-up number at least make it half-believable.  Those figures are not by any stretch of the imagination.  Not for a 33-year-old-to-be point guard with no range and minimal defensive ability.

Your turn.  What’s your take on all the recent Sixers hoopla?

January 29, 2009