Comments on: Sixers Make Easy Work Of Waning Suns

By: Dave T

Dave T — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:32:57 +0000

Just for the record: I don’t at all agree with my own trade proposal haha…I was just throwing it out there to see what others might think of that type of swap, because another poster was talking about a Butler-Sammy swap straight up, which on it’s own wouldn’t make sense, and would need to involve compensation for each position the one team was giving up.

Personally, I think we should stand pat and not make a trade, unless an unbelievable deal came up, which I dont see happening.

By: The Greek

The Greek — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:55:58 +0000

lol, were not getting Butler. Madnupus, don’t forget about Jason Smith. As far a trading thad, just like sfw said… fuuugggghetabooutit

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:29:16 +0000

Unless Dave T. is calling it quits on this season, I don’t see trading two starter not having a negative impact on team chemistry. My issue with Butler is whether or not he brings a winning attitude with him to the Sixers. Guys stuck in long-term losing situations generally are comfortable with that. With the Sixers having so many young players they’ve managed to stay away from that losing type attitude. Also. just because Thad won’t be a first tier star I don’t know if that’s enough of a reason to give up on him so soon. Trading away young players with potential is a page out of the Larry Brown era. I think the team is still paying a price for some of his ill advsied moves.

By: tk76

tk76 — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:07:05 +0000

Sorry, typo city…

By: tk76

tk76 — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:06:05 +0000

The Brand for Redd deal is an interesting hypothetical. Bot are 2nd level stars. Both fit their classic potions very well. Both teams have young players filling in well in their absence (Speights and Sessions) who can bring some special things to the table.

The Sixers are in a tough spot. The whole idea of getting Brand was to match up better in the playoffs, and I think even with Speights emergence, that would still be an issue.

A line-up of Sam/Thad/Iguodala/Redd/Miller with Speights and Lou of the bench would win a ton of games (55+), but would not get you far in the playoffs. Unfortunatle, unless Brand regains his 2006 form, the team as constructed plus a good shooter (MLE) still won’t be enough to be a contender.

By: Madupus Namus

Madupus Namus — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:41:04 +0000

Dave T: I like your ideas, but I’m not sure we’re so far away from being a competitor that we want to trade two starters at one time. Of course, there’s an argument that Thad isn’t really a starter (i.e. that he’s only holding Elton’s place until he heals). However, he’s definitely starter quality and worthy of starter minutes, even if he isn’t in the actual starting lineup.

That brings me to this… will a PF/C combination of Thad, Sammy, Marreese, Reggie, and Theo be enough to truly compete with the big three in the East next year? The answer… it’s entirely possible they will. The complementary question is then… will a PG/SG combination of Miller, Green, Ivey, and Williams be enough to compete with these teams? The answer… it’s highly unlikely. I’d love to resign Miller and Ivey has proven to be a pretty damn good backup to him… but our shooting guard tandem is obviously the weak link on this team. Hell, we’re in last place right now in 3 point percentage and you can basically hang that on the shooting guards.

Looking at this logically, there’s a simple solution to the problem. It sounds ugly and a lot of people won’t support it, but it’s trading Elton Brand. Sure, he never really got the chance to prove himself, but it’s looking more and more like Ed addressed the wrong problem last summer. It looked like our most dire need was a low post presence and that’s what Ed took care of. As it turns out, we would have been much better off had he spent the money on a top notch shooting guard. As a result, after resigning Miller, the next move Ed should make is to undo the error of last summer… that is, trade Brand for a killer shooting guard. Who? Good question. Will Milwaukee let go of Michael Redd? They both have large salaries. They’ll both be coming off injuries. They’re practically the same age. Hell, I’d even throw in a draft pick or another low salary player (e.g. Kareem Rush) if that’s what it took to make the deal happen.

Just food for thought.

By: The Greek

The Greek — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:49:15 +0000

Tom, you said it best!

“Perhaps most telling is that the Sixers are 13-2 when Speights plays 20-plus minutes.”

Let the kid get his burn.

By: Tom Moore

Tom Moore — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:53:56 +0000

DiLeo seems to like going to Speights at the start of the second quarter and playing him all period if he has a good night. DiLeo typically goes back to Speights in the fourth quarter. I’d like to see Speights continue to play 18-24 minutes to see how he does on a consistent basis before upping his minutes. Don’t forget, he was scoreless in seven minutes just three games ago (in the first one without Brand).

By: deepsixersuede

deepsixersuede — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:32:29 +0000

DaveT., gotta disagree about Jefferson!s shooting, seems he is a pretty good catch and shoot guy, we need less dribbling in this offense, and his 3 pt. shooting seems to have gotten better. As far as his defense, he went through what Iggy went through when A.I. left, going from the third to first option, Iggy!s defense also suffered, that is why I give Koby so much credit, playing both ends at a high level. If I could get either him or Butler without giving up Sam, I would do it. Question, who is more valuable to this team, Sam or Thad ?

By: Dave T

Dave T — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:51:45 +0000

Jkay: Like I said, I would definitely not pull the trigger on that trade if I’m the Sixers brass (or Wizards, for that matter)…but I disagree with your statement on Caron.

With the SG/SF thing they tend to be the most similar positions in basketball. Often the technical position matters less, and what matters most, IMO, is if you have one guy that is a legit shooter out of the two, and the other guy that is a legit slasher with handle that can break down a defender. Boston is the perfect example with more “traditional” roles of each position… Ray is there to shoot, Pierce is there to slash more often than not…but even there they both are at a high enough level that they each can handle the ball, operate from the wing as well as the top of the key, are expected to help out with opposing SG/SF’s on defense, and both need to slash as well as shoot, and be above average passers.

Caron Butler on the Wizards has definitely toggled a dual role of SG/SF, and effectively. When Arenas is healthy, many times they’ll put Gil at the 1, Butler at the 2, slide Jamison to the three and put Blatche/Songaila at 4, and Haywood/Etan at the 5 to go big. Anytime DeShaun Stevenson was hurt, they’d usually switch Caron Butler to the SG spot. The guy is 6′6, certainly right in that dual height ballpark for both positions, and handles the ball a lot and often sets up the offense from various spots on the 3 point line.

Not trying to split hairs…but I bring this up because Butler is FAR more of a SG then, say, Iguodala. Caron can actually shoot the rock…thus him as the SG and Iguodala as the SF would be a definite upgrade from Iggy as our “SG” and Thad at SF. Thad may very well turn into the better player in the long term, more capable of both hitting threes and playing the 4 spot than Butler…but for right now, you’ve got to say a two time all star is more capable.

And Blatche is kinda comparable to Dalembert in the sense that he is a tall (6′11), lanky/wirey big guy that has never reached his potential, is not the most mentally tough guy on the planet haha, but in spurts can make himself appear to be a regular double double guy. Also, Blatche has that Kwame Brown side in the good way…dude has actual basketball talent and IQ. He has a finesse side of him on offense that is sometimes shockingly effective, and when he tries (repeat: when), can be one hell of a rebounder.

Then again, it’s pretty much a scientific NBA law that any time you are making some sort of argument for a player, and a comparison comes up with the name “Kwame” and “Brown”, said argument is null and void. But I just want to make the distinction that whereas D-Bere is a clueless basketball idiot with no IQ that in seven years is still COMPLETELY raw…Kwame Brown and Blatche actually have legitimate talent that could blossom, and most likely never will.

I can’t believe I just took the time to write all the above when I don’t even like the deal from our end, feel free to kick me JKay.