Agreed Sixersguy…I think Iggy’s versatility, especially on defense, helps us big time. The problem for me is offensively, because if he’s the SG/SF, then whoever is the other SG/SF needs to hit the 3 ball. Utah is a good example…their Brewer/Kirilenko is a horrendous combination because both their 3 point shooting sucks. However with Deron and the point and Okur as a big man shooter, they can get away with it, and have Korver bombing off the bench. We, however, can’t, because A-Miller can’t shoot and let’s not even talk about our big men’s “long distance game” lol.

Sorry Sixersguy, but completely disagree with the Harpring and Iggy comparison. They are very different players. Harpring is a tough nosed defender that has a good J, can occassionally hit the three, is a team player that gets hustle points and needs great players around him to fit in best. He would be AWFUL as an NBA go-to-guy. College was a different story as defenses weren’t so great in the ACC, and he had a steller career lighting it up at Wake.

Iggy, despite his recent performance, really is a much more versatile offensive player. He has very good handle, great court awareness, is far more athletic and a better slasher, can score off double teams better, when confident can intimidate another team a bit on the drive, is a better defender, and although his timing is off and decision making sometimes weak, he is a very good passer that could someday be a great one. Harpring could never ever ever EVER handle the kind of grind it takes to be a go to guy, even on a bad team…defenses and double teams would slaughter him, he’s simply not big enough or talented enough.

I would hesitate putting Lebron and Iggy in the same sentence lol. Size doesn’t mean anything with great players…it’s all their bball IQ and work ethic, and LeBron has it in spades. He understands every nuance of the game naturally, and has a bit of that Magic Johnson gene in him offensively. Iggy could never play even close to the level of Lebron James, he just doesn’t get the game as well.

Also, did you guys watch the LA-Utah series? How about those big lineups Jerry Sloan used? I don’t think the fact that Iggy is between SG and SF is gonna hurt you, those big lineups work pretty well defensively, even with Korver as SG.

Also, something that came to mind as a possiblity in an alternate universe (for now): if a team told Matt Harping that he was their #1, and told him to take 20 shots a game, would that be equal to Iguodala without all the flashy dunks? I haven’t lost my mind here – for me, contrasting players gives you a better picture of each player’s skills and abilities. Another example – if Iggy were much stronger then he could play like LeBron. Or can he already play like him, but he doesn’t want to because he’s soft?

Just wanted to clarify though…I meant #2 as in “2nd offensive option”…not as in the 2 / SG spot. I’m totally with you on people getting too worried long term about the him vs. Prince matchup. Prince is a premier NBA defender, and Iggy is not a go to offensive wrecking ball for a team.

I’m kinda glad this series happened because I hope it highlighted loud and clear to Stefanski that Iggy needs an alpha dog on the team to be successful…and that if that happens, he could blossom into one of the best “Pippen to MJ” types in the NBA. (some people might argue that, point go the AI years…but I think Iggy was way too young to know how to compliment a big time scorer then as the 2nd option, and was used primarily as a defensive stopper).

As for whether Iggy plays the 2 or 3 (SG/SF) spot…I think with him the position doesn’t matter. Or rather, it matters only in the sense of what else we have on the team. I’d be more then happy to have Iggy as the SG…but if that happens, then we need a SF that can shoot the long ball. If we put him at SF…we need a SG that can hit the long ball. Simple as that. I can see Iggy improving his shooting, but not to the point where an Iggy/Thad combo gives us the reliable outside shooting we need.

This either means:

1. They can’t play together as the 2/3 spot combo…and we trade one of them now while their value is high, leaving Thad as the future SF, or Iggy as the future SG/SF.

2. We slide Thad to the undersized 4 spot, that can provide us with SF skills, and acquire a more natural SG/SF that can score 15 ppg and shoot the rock from outside to pair nicely with Iggy.

3. Try to develop Carney more as our future starter, that would be able to chip in 11-13 ppg, 3 pt shooting, and great D, and keep Thad swinging between the SF and PF spots.

4. Take another year not really knowing…and if we whiff on a high caliber PF…to make sure we get a project PF, and / or project SG that can hit the three via draft…trade for a backup PG or draft one…and just make sure to give Thad 25 mpg next year out of the gate so we can see what this kid can do and develop, let him split time with Reggie Evans at PF, and spend half the other time at SF.

Honestly…the safe answer we can all agree on is NONE OF US KNOW his potential. Right now…Thad is still a total question mark. No one has a clue whether this is a future all star, future go to guy, a third option on offense, a tweener that might never fit, or a successful all star SF/PF tweener like a Jamison.

We need another year to see the type of true potential Thad has in the NBA…and the ceiling level of Iggy’s talent. Sixer’s offseason is ridiculously complex, I’m very nervous, and very excited to see what Stefanski has up his sleeve.

I agree with Dannie…if we miraculously land Brand, it will be automatic that A-Miller resigns. It would give the Sixers our #1 alpha dog, slide Iggy to what we all agree should be his #2 option on the team, Andre Miller as #3, with a great core of defense, offensive burst and athleticism in the remaining players (Dalembert, Sweet Lou, Carney) to fill out the rotation. No way Andre would want to leave a lineup that would have the potential to be top 3-4 in the Leastern Conference.

It would also ridiculously improve the Sixers defense…while Brand has always excelled at blocking shots, his one on one defense is absolutely incredible. Almost every notable PF in the NBA (Duncan, KG, Dirk, Amare, before-he-was-injured J O’neal) have all repeatedly been on record saying he is one of the biggest headaches in the league to go up against.