Dannie is off doing God knows what in Atlantic City – so he asked me to post a game thread so you guys would have somewhere to talk about the beat down we are going to receive from Kobe and Co. tonight.
Or at least I hope it’s a beat down as I am now firmly entrenched in the “get the highest draft pick possible” camp.
Two possible discussion points:
- As Philly.com asked earlier today: What would the Sixers look like right now if they had drafted Kobe, not Iverson, #1 in 1996? Personally, I think being the #1 pick for his home town as a HS-er might have been too much for Kobe. I think he would have flamed out here and then blossomed after we traded him somewhere for Jerome Moiso or something.
- Also – the primary debate in the NBA today: Who is the better player? LeBron or Kobe? I think it is LeBron, and I also think the NBA needs a Cavs/Lakers Finals for the next 3 years.
That’s all I got, discuss away.
A Rich Bucher tweet:
League source says take Cle out of Iguodala Sweepstakes. Dallas, Portland, Phoenix can all make infinitely better offers.
The more teams that step out of the Iguodala sweepstakes, the better it is for us.
I would think that the MORE teams in the Iguodala Sweepstakes the better for us. I want a bidding war on Andre.
Which one of the three teams mentioned could put together the best package for the Sixers? I guess it depends on the direction the team wants to go (trade him for cap relief and draft picks only, trade him for combo of cap relief and youg talent, etc). Personally, I would see if Portland would do Pryzbilla, Blake, Fernandez, Batum, and Dante Cunningham for Iggy, Jason Smith.
If they work something out with Houston, I would hope they can package Iggy and Dalembert for McGrady and either Budinger or Lowry.
Portland, to me, is the best fit. E.S. can!t just trade for cap space, and a package of Blake, Outlaw [app. 9 mill. exp.] and Bayless and Batum works for me.
Portland would probably take Sam on since they desperately need a center. So the deal would include a whole lot more coming back (at least in terms of salaries.) Maybe even Andre Miller. Wouldn’t that be awkward.
Im done with the Sixers until EJ’s outta here. With 2 min left down 10, EJ subbed everyone out. I am pretty sure they wouldn’t have come back regardless, but to pack it in as coach is inexcusable. I haven’t seen a coach this bad in the city regardless of sport, since Richie Kotite. I’d take Ford over EJ.
BTW Does anyone get the feeling Iggy is kind of mailing it in, because of trade rumors the last few games? I kno he is unselfish but I counted at least 3 potential easy layups/dunks that he passed up for bad passes, one being a hideous wrap around that never went around the defender.
ES was interviewed by Howard Esking and Ike Reese prior to the Sixers game. He stated he won’t trade Iggy if its just about cap relief. So, is he saying he won’t trade him for T Mac? Ultimately its cap relief this team needs to build for the future. So why not make a deal like that. I’m beginning to think he doesn’t know what to do. I think EJ did his subtle tank routine last night. The game was a sellout people came to the game wanting to see the best Sixers team possible. To sub out your better players says what? I’m stumped at this point. Are they trying to win every game as ES stated in his interview or are they giving the appearance they want to win, until its time to win the game. All that electricity in the building and they couldn’t come up with a big win. They should start giving out brown paper bags at the game.
He wouldn’t do a trade for just cap relief because he knows the last time he did that, he ended up signing the complete wrong player. And that’s one of the reasons we’re in this situation to begin with. Also, he knows that trading your only productive player for money would be foolish.
I don’t know why everybody gets so excited about cap relief. So what if we trade Iguodala and end up signing someone else at around the same money? Are we really going to get a player that is THAT much better than Andre? Are we going to sign a player that can:
1. Lead the team in points.
2. Be the second most productive rebounding wise.
3. Lead the team in assists.
4. Lead the team in steals.
I honestly haven’t seen a trade scenario involving Iguodala that I am comfortable with. Everyone talks about how unsure they are of E.S.’s decision making. I agree. But what makes everyone so sure that making the decision to trade our best player, in order to sign another player, is a good one? What makes everyone so sure that E.S. will sign a player that will either help this team more, or be more productive than what Iguodala has been?
I really don’t mind the trade rumors surrounding Andre. I get it. Right now our complete team looks lost and although they are not horrible, they haven’t shown signs of any improvement. It is probably a good decision to exercise all of our options. I just haven’t seen a trade scenario that says, “Alright now we have a chance to compete in the future”. And I think that’s what you need if you are willing to give up your best player.
Guest – I answer your question about Ish Smith… Someone else asked about him and I wrote this…
Guest so what do you do? Nothing? Status quo I get it. That sort of makes sense to you or so it seems. You may even prefer playing for pingpong balls. What happens if luck isn’t on their side that night.. Who is to say that if they Sixers end up top 5 they’ll pick the right or best player at that spot. The NBA isn’t designed to help teams get better quickly. So, you have to be creative in your approach. Until a trade is actually made they are all scenarios. Nobody really knows what’s being offered until some kind of deal is consumated. Somebody is accountable for this mess. Somebody needs to go for going sake.
I don’t care if ES fixes this team. I don’t care if Snyder decides its time to fire the whole staff. What I do care about is someone actually caring about this team and doing something about it. Iggy is a nice player but he’s hit his ceiling. Good player, not a star. Talented all around guy but doesn’t do anything great. A willing passer and defender however good to average at both. If they don’t try to find a star player then why bother? Isn’t it all about winning at the end of the day? Or just maybe not this season.
I read somewhere that wing players approach their peak at about 25, while bigs sometimes take about 1year more. Obviously there are a ton of exceptions. Not sure about PG’s. This plays a part in trying to evaluate the upside of players on the roster.
Age:
Jrue 19 – big upside
Thad 21- still possible big upside
Speights: 22- still possible big upside
Smith: 23 – upside (maybe role player?)
Lou: 23 – more possible upside than you might think
Carney: 25 - limited upside
Iguodala: 26 – in prime 4+ more years
Sam: 28 – in prime 2-4 more years
Green 28 -in prime 3 more years FWIW
Kapono- is what he is
Watching Monroe have a great game against Duke. If the Sixers target him you know they are committed to EJ and his system.
I was really happy with Elton against the long front line of L.A., that has been a big concern since he got here and he got his shot off against Gasol, a tough matchup for anybody. I hope Iggy isn!t moved but if he is the right pieces better come back.
RRose,
Sitting still and doing nothing is exactly what I don’t want to happen. But in this case I’m not sure that trading away our best player is the answer. If Andre’s peak is a “good player, not a star”, what does that say about our team? In my opinion, a couple of years ago this team was on the edge of becoming a contender (in a very weak conference). But we quickly slipped off of that edge when we signed Brand and let Miller walk.
Just throw out any name you want and place him on the Sixers instead of Iguodala. Pick out any player you think we can realistically get with the cap space gained by trading Andre.
Are we really that much better? There are still so many holes in this team that are left to fill, and I don’t know if we fill any of those holes by trading Iguodala. We still have inconsistant rebounding, poor outside shooting (depending who we sign with Iguodala’s money), questionable PG play, even more questionable coaching, and our highest paid player still isn’t living up to be anything we thought he would (Brand).
I’m not some sort of Brand hater, but he is getting paid more than Iguodala and isn’t producing nearly as much. He is clearly the one we would want to trade, the problem is that nobody wants him. Teams are looking for a deal to get Andre because he is talented and he can potentially help them win a championship. That doesn’t seem like a player I want my favorite team trading away.
Dannie,
Thanks for your feedback. His shooting is tremendously bad. I guess I better enjoy watching him while I can.
guest: you make a good point. i had never thought about it like that. the NBA is such an individual talent showcase that these days almost every good player is overpaid. i am sure this summer, someone will shell out serious paper for Carlos Boozer (after missing out on the Lebrons, who are probably all going to re-sign) and end up in a Brand-like situation in the sense that, the player they signed is not enough or better said, not dominant enough, to get them to where they want to be.
To create some real excitement ticket sales when do the Sixers begin their new marketing campaign “Hey, at least we aren’t the Nets!”
I just watched A.Miller put up 52 pts. on 31 shots, not bad. I guess he is over the hill!!!
I’d keep Brand, but trade Iguodala. Our Philly Max guy is playing with more heart and effort than Chief Blocka right there.
Darren Collison had 18 assists and 5 turnovers in 47 minutes today getting the start for Paul.
Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher(210 lbs), Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum. on paper, it may not seem apparent but the Lakers are really intimidating size wise. not only height but strength as well. became very clear the difference between them and us. with Pau and Bynum, they resemble the 05 Pistons with twin towers Sheed and Big Ben that stifled Shaq, wiry but tough Prince, and a backcourt of Billups (at 6-3 202) and 6-7 Rip.
wow i guess Jordan Farmer must be their own version of Lou Williams.
Doing my best B.King imitation on the trade machine this morning, yes I am bored, so here it goes ; We do a 3-way trade with Sacram. and Minn. ; we give up Sam and Iggy; Minn. ends up with K.Martin and Sam ; Sac. ends up with Iggy, W. Ellington and B.Cardinal [6.7 exp.] ; we end up with M.Blount,K.Thomas, Pavlovic [ 18.2 exp.], N.Jawia [young big], and Minn.!s 2nd #1 pick [13 currently] and Sac.!s #1 [7 currently]; this trade guarentees a chance at J.Wall , because our record goes downhill and worst case we come out of this draft with Henry, Aldrich and G.Monroe.
Suede, you are dreaming……………………..
S.F.W., you hurt my feelings !!! Minn. has cap space next year, but who goes there? Martin and Evans should work together [Martin doesn!t need the ball, but for whatever reason it isn!t clicking] and in another couple weeks they may make a move, and it is Evans team now.
I must of jinxed the W.I.P. listeners with my B.King comment, he is on their station, cohosting with R.Charry; we should call and ask how he likes ouir coaching hire and what HE would do to fix our team.
<<As Philly.com asked earlier today: What would the Sixers look like right now if they had drafted Kobe, not Iverson, #1 in 1996? Personally, I think being the #1 pick for his home town as a HS-er might have been too much for Kobe. I think he would have flamed out here and then blossomed after we traded him somewhere for Jerome Moiso or something.>>
A long, long time ago, before a single point on the real time march to 47 points short of Jerry “Silhouette” West’s 25k point plateau, people said Kobe Bryant going to Tinseltown was a risk because it would be too much. He’d flame out and then blossom after he was traded for Jerome Moiso or someone.
It is a huge, huge mistake to ever tell Kobe Bryant he can’t do something. That, in and of itself is what makes him one of the greatest players in Association history. Winners win. Kobe would have succeeded anywhere. Not without help, mind you because its not a 1 man game, but he’d have been a major asset anywhere at any stage of his career with a supporting cast.
Kobe coasted, played possum until money time Fri. Then he extinguished The Answer’s flashbacking flame. Two great players, but one greater than the other, partly due to regular hard work/laser focus, partly to natural physique.
Sixers playing a plugged-in defensive squad tonight: 87 & 81 pts. allowed in last 2 … Clips, win & Wiz, near-win. 2 earlier Frank-coached games were competitive, with Lopez posing problems. Even with addition of AI & resurgent (I use the term loosely) Brand, Nets, apparently without Harris again [Newark Star Ledger], could put up a fight. Outcome would seem to depend entirely on how many Sixers show up in spirit … factor X, especially of late.
Jumpin, your at the playground and you hit the first foul shot, and sitting on the park bench are Koby and “the logo”, who you pickin?
suede, Somewhat like choosing between Washington & Lincoln, but not quite.
I call out ”Logo”… just as intense and competive, played “long”, greatest clutch player I’ve seen (Jordan had Stern and refs on his side), lightning release, tighter game imo - and he didn’t smirk; was liked by teammates and foes. But, then again, he was a favorite of mine since I first saw him at Convention Hall in ’61-62 season. ”Zeke from Cabin Creek”… humble beginnings, goaded himself to greatness (as has the more privileged Bryant) and the pinnacle historical point among NBA guards. Many have come along since, none have surpassed. Can you watch the WVU Mountaineers play without thinking of him & Hot Rod Hundley?
Jumpin, I agree, on defense he would flick out those long arms like cobras for steals. Funny Hot Rod story: Two weeks ago, against Syracuse, they retired Hot Rods # and he proceeded to throw in a hook shot at halftime ceremony; they also said, because of school rules his number couldn!t be retired without graduating with enough credites so , late in life he went back to school to make it happen.
I just got off the phone with B.King, on W.I.P., and asked him a 3 part question; 1] what his opinion of this coaching hire with this roster: 2] Who would be on the short list of ass. he would look at for this group of players: 3] his opinion of Thebedoux and why hasn!t he gotten a head coaching job; not much new stuff said but D.Casey was mentioned as a good defense first ass. who did well at Minn. compared to after he left and that Thebedoux!s a little rough around the edges as far as being the face of a team and dealing with the media but if he can coach that shouldn!t matter.
Hmmm
Dannie, is it possible that another city gets wind of this before ours.
“but the bigger rumor involving the team is that ownership wants to clear out president Ed Stefanski and coach Eddie Jordan at the All-Star break”
That is music to my ears.
Suede – Why not? When has our city journalist scooped anything regarding the Sixers?
From my seat what usually happens is a rumor like this comes out from another outlet and then our local reporters either confirm or refute it. They very rarely are the source of the first rumor.