Deep Sixer

Happy New Year, I have a feeling we are going to beat the Jazz, let's dig in though:

Stefanski said on 610 WIP tonight that he wasn't looking to make anymore trades, it was actually along the lines that he wasn't making anymore calls to teams. He went on to say that he would be happy going into the offseason in this current situation.

How do you feel about that? I love the kids (Thad, Lou, AI, J smith and Slammy D) but does anyone really think we can turn it around with this roster and $10M in cap room?

We would need around $20M in cap space to get a blue chip player to opt out of the last year of his current contract, moving Andre Miller would do that. That said, I don't even know if I'd want to give that much money to a bunch of old road beaten big men (Jermaine O'neil & Elton Brand). The thought gives me flashbacks of Chris Webber...

I personally liked Kyle Korver but the trade makes sense. Ed just needs to keep going thoough. He can't stop now. I don't want Chris Wlcox, I don't want Kyle Lowry, and I don't want any other marginal talent we are probably looking at for bargain prices. I want an impact player, somebody that is going to change the whole perception of the team. We can barely get coverage on Sportscenter right now. Even when we win they show highlights of the team we beat and just say they had a bad night, It's pathetic...I want a game on national television again.

Although i'm not entirely in love with it I would ocnsider Josh Smith. He may not come in and make us the Celtics right away but he's 22 and puts up some primetime numbers at 17.1ppg, 8.1rpg, 3.5apg, 3.2 bpg and 2 spg. That's pretty silly all around numbers for a guy that young. He sent D Wade's lay up into the sixth row to win a game.

It'a a gamble, this I know but it would be pretty damn exciting and you would have to watch. I think he would even help us defensively (We're already have the third best PA avg. at 93.9pg and should build on this) but more importantly he would give us about 10 more points per game of offensive punch. Not a terrible option and its a longshot to happen anyway but he seems to be the best of whats even remotely available. I don't like Omeka...

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If Stef doesn't want to make any more trades, then Mo & him have a duty to make sure Herb Hill, Shav, Thad, etc. get PT. And if it takes going to the NDBL to fix Jason Smith's jumper, so be it.

It starts now: The "PLAY HERB NOW" campaign!

Now if Stef can find anyone to take Willie Green's contract...I'd throw in some second rounders to make that happen. I can live with three more years of Sammy & Reggie Evans. At least Reggie will always rebound, throw an elbow and give hard fouls. But can't live with the three years remaining on Willie's:
www.hoopshype.com/salaries/philadelphia.htm

I like DJ Eazy Nuggets' (can't believe I typed that) premise. It's going to take a bold move to get into contention (see Boston Celtics). I like Elton Brand's game, but if you're going to gamble, I'd rather gamble on 22 yr. old Josh Smith.

He still needs to mature and cut out the stupid decisions in crunch time and the sily turnovers, but he truly has a desire to win, and he's the best shot blocker who's not a center the league has seen in a long time. And he'll sell tickets. The Hawks would average 5,000 per game without him. Their marketing campaign, something about coming to the "Highlight Factory" is centered on him. But he might need a coach who can "coach him up", and that might not be Mo. Imagine Josh Smith playing for Pop or D'Antonio or Jackson.

And I'll keep harping on this: If Stef does trade Dre Miller, we need a point that can defend two guards, someone like Charlie Bell or Jarret Jack.

korver was a fan favorite...gordan sucks and 4 mill in cap space doesnt hold the sixers record in 3 for a season..kyle korver does and now we have a team with out even 1 legit shooter from even mid range let alone outside

korver was a fan favorite...gordan sucks and 4 mill in cap space doesnt hold the sixers record in 3s for a season..kyle korver does and now we have a team with out even 1 legit shooter from even mid range let alone outside

Stefanski's coming out and saying that he likes Andre Miller and see no problem with him leading this team in the future is the equivalent of telling other team's to come to me with your best offer before the deadline if you want him.

Let's see, what would I rather have, a 32-year-old point guard leading my lottery bound team that has no inside game whatsoever or big man that can score with their back to the basket or ...

$20M in cap room, an extra no. 1 pick and the opportunity to sign an impact free agent or to trade for that PF that I need, or still, be in a position to be that third team that can pick up assets to help with that next big deal (Seattle got 2 no. 1 picks from Phoenix just to take on Kurt Thomas' contract this year so they can avoid the luxury tax).

Stefanski is doing what any good GM should do. Put Miller at ease, and let him continue to put up the numbers he's putting up and drive up the price of an attractive asset. Someone will bite before the deadline passes. Nothing usually happens in the NBA until the last minute anyhow.

Yep, I've been on the "play Herb bandwagon" for awhile. I'm a true fan, but it is excruciating seeing Sam and Evans trying to score down low. Free Shav and Hill, and let's see what they can do. They can't be worse than what is ahead of them.

I'm curious why there's so much hate toward Jason Smith by some who post on this blog. Sending him to the D-League to work on his jumper? The kid has 30 games under his belt in the NBA and is 6th amongst all rookies in FG%. Sure he has plenty of room for improvement but I also suspect either a hidden agenda or delusional thinking by people who post that another certain player who has never scored a field goal in the NBA is an offensive machine.

Believe it or not, the Sixer coaching staff has the ability to evaluate players in practice and base playing time on those evaluations.

I, for one, agree that we should not trade Ander Miller. You are going to need a leader at the point when we get that blue chip player in free agency. And Miller can play at a high level for at least three more years, I think. Please don't get caught up in the age thing. He's been a stud his whole career, Hardly missing any games his entier career, and shows no signs of doing so. He's a baller from the old school. He has not even a hint of an injury history. Check the injury history of Jason Kidd and Steve Nash and anyone else you would like to replace Miller. AND he plays at a high level. Have I mentioned Sam Cassell???

I think a lot of us are in agreement that we need , basically, one chip. The scoring power forward. If we get that without giving up Miller, tell me we can't make noise in the playoffs. Look at where we are right now with out the PF. Tied for 9th in the east, beat a couple of good teams already this year, and played many others tough. Just add that chip...

The $10m is after we resign 'Dre and Lou (We might need to dip into that a little to sign both), you can use that in a sign and trade. If that power forward (Brand, O'Neal, Josh Smith), or whomever, has a $15m contract we only need to find a $5m contract to make the trade work, theoretically. Of course the other team would want more in value than that depending on who the contract belongs to, but you get my point.

Since we don't have that PF, wouldn't it make sense to use Iguodala or Young in the low post? I think 'Dre can take, pretty much any 2 or 3 guard. Same with Young. I believe Young did this in high school, so he's had a lot of practice at it. Iguodala has done it this year with success when Cheek has given him the opportunity (he had two opportunities against Seattle's Jeff Green and scored both times). He's strong enough (Jeff Green is 6'9" 235lbs) and quick enough to do this with great success. The goal is to get easy baskets. If you start him out that much closer to the basket, the percentages of success increase dramatically.

Marc wrote a good article about Stefanski's stance on Andre Miller:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20080102_Stefanski_seems_in_no_rush_to_trade_Miller.html

I really think he is going to keep Andre which i'm actually ok with but it means the PF they bring in has to be that much better to make up for the lack of explosiviness and bad on ball defense at PG. Andre Miller can distribute with the best of them, but the pieces he's giving the ball to have to be better than Willie Green and Reggie Evans (I do like both off the bench).

Steve, I agree with you on Jason Smith. He is a good player and has a chance to be on the All-Rookie 2nd team, not bad for the 20th overall pick.

Jason Smith is an OK player. As a rookie, we might even says he's pretty good. However, I think there's legitimate reason to believe that his skills won't improve to the degree necessary for him to be truly competitive in this league. Will he get better with increased experience and practice? Probably a little... but I doubt it'll be enough for him to advance beyond journeyman status.

Jason Smith is the next Michael Doleac. He needs to improve in many areas before people even begin to get excited about him. I like his hustle, though. The form on his jumper looks pretty good, so it might be just a matter of time before he starts hitting it consistently.

I don't understand how a 7'0" player has such little experience on the post. When you're that much taller than everybody else growing up, were you seriously working on your outside shooting more than anything else? It could be sign that he's a soft player, but time will tell.

I don't think Jason Smith is a soft player. He goes hard to the rim and doesn't come accross as timid. Perhaps the fact that he came out as a junior from a mid-major conference may have something to do with his lack of polish? Give the kid some time, he has alot of positive attributes to build on.

One last thought on the Korver trade. Is it correct to assume that the $10 million under the cap includes the (presumed) new contracts for Lou William and Iguodala? Assuming that's the case...that's a pretty impressive feat. Also alot of people are talking free agency, but I think the biggest area where the available room makes a difference is on the trading block. This essentially means we can trade make a trade where we can take on additional $10 million in salary, which gives the Sixers a tremendous amount of flexibility on the trading block. Please correct me if any of my assumptions are incorrect.

roma258@yahoo.com

Roman, that number is $10m after the 'Dre and Lou contracts. Your assumption is correct.

Jason Smith is the type of player that would be better suited if he had a legitimate center playing alongside him.In the near future,I want to see Willie Green traded,and our second unit consisting of C-Herbert Hill,PF-Jason Smith,SF-Thaddeus Young,SG-Gordon Giricek,and PG-Louis Williams.I want Carney starting for the rest of the season,period,point,blank.If Carney ever develops anything remotely similar to dribble penetration,then he would be lights out.with the speed he has,he should be ashamed of himself for not developing quicker.I still believe Mo Cheeks has a lot to do with Carney's struggles,that's why I would rather see Willie Green traded,than Carney.

T, I agree with most of that accept blaming Mo for Carney not developing. And I do like Green off the bench. Lou is developing, Kyle had made some improvments to his game, Sammy, certainly has improved. Carney has to do that himself. Mo had a big discussion with the team at the end of last year telling them that the offseason was the most important. What you do in the offseason will show up during the season. Iguodala shot about 700 jumpers a day during the offseason. His jumper is starting to show up now. I have not seen much improvement in Carney's game. I'm not opposed to giving him another year, though.

The sad thing is that right now the Sixers don't just need a solid power forward to make them a decent team what they need is an exciting young and dominant player who will make them relevant to the league again and will finally start to put people in the seats. I don't know if Josh Smith that "dominant" now but I think he gives us the best chance of becoming an exciting and solid team in the future. If that means trading Andre Miller than so be it because I think in the future the Sixers have a chance to become a very young fast and exciting run and gun team that will put them in the playoffs, clips on sportscenter, and people in the seats again.

If (and this is big if) we can upgrade the PF position next year without having to trade Andre Miller, I say go for it. This team is not really that far from being pretty good. Iguodala and Dalembert are just hitting their prime. Lou Williams as a Barbosa style 6th man is going to by dynamite, add a solid 4 and you're cooking!

So a starting line-up of:
1-Miller 2-Iggy 3-Thad/Carney (I think Thad is up to the task) 4- Josh Smith/Wilcox/Brand 5-Dalembert, plus a bench of Lou Williams, Carney/Green, Jason Smith, this year's #1, Hebert Hill?; that looks like a young playoff team to me. If not, Andre Miller in his final contract year is going to look irresistible next year. Call me crazy, but there's some hope here!

I think thats the biggest question. Will Lou Williams become the next dynamite Point Guard or will he just be a great 6th man. If we think its the former than Miller has to be traded, if you think its the latter than Miller should be kept.

Good analysis... I think the latter... Miller's the starter... Williams provides energy/scoring/change-of-pace off the bench.

I too like J Smith... it's obvious that he has some skills and B-ball IQ. With experience and hard work he SHOULD be a good contributing player, a nice bench asset. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I'll take him over Shav or LOU A or Herb Hill etc, AT LEAST I KNOW HE CAN PLAY.

I still would not give max money to IGGY..I think the $57-60 mill that he was offered is about right. I would not go CRAZY with $$$ for Lou Will either 3 yrs $15 mill base with some easy to reach incentives that might kick it up to 17 mill.

If I'm big Ed I start a NEW trend I don't give anybody more than 3-5 year contract. Then I can always improve my team and not be stuck in the CAP HELL that this team is just starting to climb out of. You can always lock up your own player if someone DAZZLES you. BUT If you have the cap space you keep your team in the mix.

CARNEY is never going to be a player here under MO..I think MO must see some of his old Portland knucleheads in him??
Trade CARNEY for K-LOW let Miller toutor him for as long as Miller is still here cuz LOU Will is not the PG of the NOW or the FUTURE

I'm on the PLAY SHAV & H-HILL bus

Roman, you don't get an Elton Brand or Josh Smith type of free agent UNLESS you trade Andre Miller and get that type of cap room to bring someone here. $10M isn't going to do it.

Do you think Brand is going to leave $16.4M on the table to and not opt out of his deal to sign for $10M with the 76ers? Do you think the Hawks won't think twice about matching a deal for Josh Smith at $10M a year?

I like Miller as a player, but we are not talking about Jason Kidd in his prime here. We're talking about a soon to be 32-year-old point guard who is leading a team heading for the lottery, again. That's not an indictment of Miller as much as it is the cast around him.

The 76ers still have to get better players, particularly in the frontcourt. The easiest way to do that is by having maxium salary cap room ($20M with the trade of Miller) and draft picks. Miller has got to be moved for this team to get significantly better for the long-term.

That's the bottom line.

Datruth, no one is saying that we'll get Elton Brand without giving up Andre Miller. I was just throwing some scenarios out there. With $10 million in cap flexibility, big Ed can get creative with his trade offers, so there is potential to keep Miller and pick up a solid 4.

It has been established the Ed doesn't mind taking a risk on a player, so who's to say that a disgruntled player emerges that we couldn't steal for Willie Green, Carney and a #1 pick pupu platter. If you can get a dominant PF, I can see giving up Andre Miller, but you better have a back-up plan at PG, because Lou William is not ready to start as your point guard...especially if the Sixers want to make some noise next year.

If you need to get rid of Miller in order to sign a good free agent, then you're not helping yourself. All you're doing is staying in neutral, strengthening one position only by weakening another.

Elton Brand isn't worth $16 million anyway. One of the most overrated players in the league, even before he was hurt.

A better idea - see if you can trade Willie Green and/or Reggie Evans for cap room. If we can dump both, it'll take us up to about $18 million in cap space without forcing us to dump one of our best players.

Jason Smith is a lot more skilled than Michael Doleac, but he's never going to be a legitimate NBA starter. Hopefully someday he'll develop into a player who's about as good as Reggie Evans, which wouldn't be too bad.

Roman, I'm sure that Ed has targeted his point guard of the future whether Miller is there or not because I don't think a smart GM would look at a 32-year-old PG as the future of the position.

With cap room and picks, Big Ed has the opportunity to take some big steps to turn this thing around. I trust him to do the right thing, whether it is keeping Miller or sending him packing.