Deep Sixer

They just need to beat up on the bad teams like Miami tomorrow and steal a few from the good teams, like Orlando at home on Wednesday to stay ahead of Atlanta in the playoff race. Atlanta is going to lose their next 3 we need to win the next two to put some room between us and ATL.
http://reclinergm.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/its-time-to-put-sixers-and-playoffs-in-the-same-sentence/

And Orlando is the team most people think is the match up that is good for us come playoff time.Orlando will set the Sixers arse on fire come playoff time.We will get exposed down low with Howard.We are terrible at defending the three point shot and dribble penetration. Be careful what you wish for people.

Tonight's game is a big time reality check.

It is obvious that this team has nothing to gain from making the playoffs yet every day there are people who seem infatuated with the idea of us getting in. We will at best win two games in the playoffs and that is only if a team really sleeps on us. If you watched the game tonight, it is obvious that we can't play with the good teams in the league and as Marc said, we definitely can't play with them on the road. Lottery is ideal this year - I want the chance to get in to the top 5. Also, I would like to see if anyone has seen this kid out of Indiana, DJ White - he looks like a real player at the PF spot. I am not sure where he is slotted to go in the draft, but I have seen him play a few times this year, and I am impressed with his game. I think his game translates to the next level and he would be a good fit for the Sixers.

Sammy still needs to go.....

With all due respect to Hugh, what is the deal with so many of you wanting to lose? You all would rather get another lottery pick than make it to the playoffs in a weak conference. NEWSFLASH. The days of the superstar coming out of college is over. So many of today's best players in the NBA were NOT lottery picks! 76rs win and go to playoffs, they get the experience, and some self confidence because they at least got to the dance. With fans like Hugh....you'd rather lose and hope to get a young player? You already have a team full of young players that are developing.For those of you that complain about LouWill, make me wonder if yall know what you're watching. If Philly was smart, they'd keep LouWill and groom him. That kid is only 21 in his 3rd year! He gives yall 10 and 3 assists in 19mins a game. (not to mention he has to be a scorer for this team also) Add another 10mins and 2 years experience and he'll give you 14-15pts and 7 assts. Give Lou time. One Mo thing...he's a not a good coach....

You've gotta root for the sixers to win since they are in the playoff hunt. It's one thing if they were way out of it. But there are too many worse teams to contemplate us getting a top draft pick.

I'd rather make the playoffs in order to:

1) Give the "kids" a sniff of success, and
2) help show the next two batches of Free Agents that the sixers are not that far away...

....and yes Hugh, Sammy was awful last night. He totally got exposed.

The Sixers have too much young talent to get a top 5 pick- unless the hit their 1/50 type chance in the lottery.

If we were bad enough to get a top 5 pick this year we would be a lot farther away than we are right now. You can't be both full of good young players and lose 60 games. You can't have it both ways.

tktk,

I'd prefer the former to the latter anyday. Losing 60 games is too much pain to endure. Our young guys (our team) gets better EVERY SINGLE DAY even if we make no moves. The argument that keeping A.Miller enhances this daily improvement does have merit (with the exception of Lou Will.)

So I keep telling myself that Ed will package "stuff" and work a deal that nets us a potent Power Forward without giving up any of our core. That's what Ed said we need so I'll take him at his word.

.....the combo of our improving kids, a new stud PF, and a crappy Eastern Conference who knows...???

I have been a fan for 25 years and this playoff talk is flat our crazy. In fact it is driving me nuts.

Guys, we are at least 2 players away from really being able to compete with the good teams in the league. Of course we need another lottery pick and of course we need 20m in cap room this summer to land an impact player. Otherwise following the sixers is just too frustrating. Last night nearly drove me insane. I agree with the previous poster that said last night was a reality check. With 10m in cap space we are going to land a mid-level free agent this summer. And add to that the 15th pick (can you believe we traded sefolosha for carney on draft night--there is that young 2 guard we need, coming alive for the Bulls while carney goes 0 for 60 last night), so add to that another jason smith-mid first round type and you are no where. I repeat, no where.

Guys, you need an impact player to open things up for the other guys. Iggy isn't it and will never be it. Lou isn't it and will never be it. Thad isn't it and will never be it. Now you add a stud to that core and you have a shot, but Big Ed better have something up his sleeve for draft night or i am coming to my seats with a fire big ed sign next year.

Look at what Howard does for the magic. Bogans, cook, evans, even hedo for that matter are all 10 times more effective because of Howard. We have iggy going one on one 40 times a night.

And we are talking about the playoffs.

Come on!

I keep hearing the figure of $10-12M in cap room for next year(even from Ed.) Does that take into account expiring contracts of Giricek and Ollie? Would Ed already be referring to them in the past tense? And I thought Chris Webber's contract finally comes off the books. Surely all this + the annual league increase adds up to more than 10-12, no?
Please advise?!?!?

I want to respond to something that someone suggested on the last blog. The Sixers would sign Lou W. at $5M per season and then trade him to the Bucks for Michael Redd (Stefanski loves him), who makes $14.5M per season. Reason being, we can take back about $10M in salary more than we give out.

I don't think it will, but if that deal ever came to fruition, E.S. should be fired on the spot. No one in their right mind dedicates $15M per season (24% of the cap) to a 29 yr old SG that primarily shoots from the outside and doesn't play a lick of defense. Just wanted to throw that out there.

$10M is the figure once Ollie is taken off the books. Amundson and Shav come off the books as well, but you're going to have to replace their roster spots. I believe that Booth has a player option next year, which would bring the Sixers to $12M if he didn't exercise it. However, I think it's expected that Booth will exercise his option. The real # should be around $10-11M, assuming you replace Shav's salary with someone making the league minimum.

...And Soup we do have 'some' bargaining chips: 2 1st round Draft picks and BK's collection of young swingmen to go along with the $10M. Surely he can package 2 picks, kids, and expiring contracts, etc. to land a stud PF via trade. I don't care if it costs us both 1st round picks either.

You come up with the trade Darnell that makes sense for BOTH teams and post it up here. It isn't every year that a Kevin Garnett clamors for a trade...

Dean, I used the Redd deal as an example; fill in whatever player that fills a need.[Okafor,McGrady, or it could be 2 players], it was just an example. Marc brings up dribble penetrattion as a problem, like a lot of us; I thought when we got A.Miller in the trsde he looked at least adequate defensively;E.S., a G.M. trying to instill a defensive mentality to this team, continually praises A.Miller like he doesn!t have issues with his defense. Remember when A.I. was traded and Iggy!s defense took a step back because he was asked to do more offensively, well Miller is being asked to do more now than he ever has . Perhaps when we add 2 more scoring options and his minutes decrease from 37 min.per. game now to a more realistic 28 to 32, with the developm,ent of L.Will. than his defense will improve. It looks like Iggy has adjusted.

We are going to have to add scoring to this team to compete with the big boys. In a perfect world every scorer we add will also be a good defensive player, it is not a perfect world!! If they learn a good team defense philosophy than a Redd, J.Crawford, Maggete type player could be added. Bird was not the quickest player in the world, but his teammates always had his back. Look at Finley with the Spurs, Terry with the Mavs, are they holding their teams back?

If Thad is the future at the 3, which I think he is. Iggy needs to walk or be traded.

Iggy plays good D but he is not a consistent shooter from 3 and has wayyyyy too many turnovers. He has an ugly handle and gets called for palming the ball more than anybody in the league I think its at least once a game.

The 10-11 mil cap figure is factoring us resigning Lou and Iggy. If you don't resign Iggy that figure prob goes up to at least 20 mil. Or you can sign an trade him for someone like Calderon/Josh Smith. If we can get calderon than that makes A Miller expendable.

I think with Iggy here we still need a 2 guard and a PF. Trade him and we fill a need. If you trade A Miller than we also need a point guard.

It kills me how little patience people have when we actually rebuild. This is a process and the next step is to make the playoffs. Sure we will most likely loose but any year whne it is our first year in the playoffs we most likely will get overwhelmed by a better team. Most likely this team will not have the opportunity to do what Boston did (Ed doesn't have a BFF, with a disgruntled HOF player, looking to unload). It will absolutley be a GREAT thing for this team to make the playoffs. We just started year 2 of what is most likely a 5 year plan. Do you want to spend that time in the lottery or watching playoff bball. They have enough young kids and the key to THIS team is those kids developing not adding more.

Should the Sixer pick up Jamaal Magloire who was placed on waivers yesterday and sgn him to a 10 day contract? I think you got take a chance on this guy he was not to may years ago a alstar. We do need low post play big time.

The only downside that I see to making the playoffs is that if you don't win it all you know you have some retooling to do; which is what every playoff team (except the champion) has to face. Soooo, I say go to the dance, get experience and take whatever pick(s) you can get in the draft.

I think this scenario is a lot like golf. If you can hit off the tee and get on the green you're looking good. From there it's a short game. But if you hit off the tee and you are still 75 yards off the green you are looking at a few more stokes to try and make par. It seems like the Sixers can be on the green and make par which I would consider to be the playoffs. The next hole (next season) will require a totally different approach. Let's finish this hole and set up our approach for the next one when we get there.

Fore!

Suede - I'm talking purely about what you get from Michael Redd vs. the % of cap space that he takes up. Lots on this board were all for unloading Kyle Korver at $4.3M per season (1/15th of the cap). Now, clearly Michael Redd is a much better offensive player than Kyle Korver as he can shoot, drive, and post up a bit. However, you can't justify spending almost 1/4 of your salary cap on a player that does nothing on the defensive end no matter how good of a shooter he is.

In the Sixers particular situation, Michael Redd, Andre Miller, and Sam Dalembert (not to mention re-signing Iggy) would take up $35M of a possible $60-65M in salary cap room. That's like 60%, which after re-signing Dala, gives us no option for a big-time PF (either through free agency or a sign and trade). In my opinion, you can get a big-time shooter for much less than you can get a big-time PF...the salary numbers in the league back that claim up.

A word about Reggie Evans he has quietly been huge for us. He just draws foul after foul and keeps the opposing post players on the bench. the list of post players he's sent to the pine in foul trouble this year includes Boozer, Howard(not last night,obviously), perkins, garnett, etc. Clearly we missed him last night, the way our guys just got pushed around...just throwing that out there.

speaking of perkins and Garnett - anyone catch that game last night? now that was a game...

Dean, i have to say i agree with you re the 10:01 post. Shooters are easier to come by than post players. Personally, if we come into next season having added a solid defender and a solid shooter (or maybe two guys who can do a bit of both), thats a decent improvement that wont hamstring our cap. And it will allow us to have 12mil next year just between booth and Miller's expiring contracts...just throwing that out there too...

Deano- I'm certainly not expecting a Garnett-type marquis 'franchise' player in return for my package of 2 1st rd draft picks (ours and Utahs) + youth (J. Smith or Carney)and salaries (Green?) But rather a younger proven PF. I haven't seen enough of Josh Smith. But maybe that kind of guy?!?

I'm not as conversent with the all the other NBA rosters. Who would you think would look good in the post in a sixers uniform? (in a perfect world of course.)

....someone who would look good with our existing young core.

.....compliment them with an actual INSIDE GAME....!!!

Darnell-

If the doctors clear him...there's no question in my mind.

ELTON BRAND.

The Orlando game shows that we aren't ready for the playoffs. There is no advantage to striving to make them and sacrifice a good pick in the draft.

Anyone who thinks that loosing when you're a good team is a bad idea, should look at the current NBA Champions. Tim Duncan came to San Antonio via a lottery pick, the year that David Robinson was injured. Having a TD made it easy for San Antonio to acquire all-star free agents eager to win titles, a good recipe for success in the free agency NBA.

To be successful in the NBA you need enough talent to compete. The Sixers lack sufficient talent to compete, and need a high draft pick along with those expiring salaries to get the impact players they need.

By all means the team should work and develop it's young players. I'd like to see Louis Amundsen just to see what he can do.

Making the playoffs will only serve to keep the team from getting the help it desperately needs to become competitive.

We have a number of adequate role players, but none of them are dominant talents. We can't rebound or defend against good teams inside. We rely on quickness to score in the half-court game because we don't have a go to player. The Sixers have no business being in the playoffs simply because they have overachieving role players and play in a weak conference.

Unless you want to see the Sixers continue to be a weak team for the next couple of seasons, hope they miss the playoffs and get lucky in the lottery.

All this talk of cap space, hypothetical trades and FA signings... . First, tell me what kind of team the Sixers' braintrust is aiming to construct? I fail to see sense, a clear map to the top (at this point, they're farmer's stew - "got it? throw it in"). What winning style of play, ultimately, is in the planning? What specific types of players are being prioritized? Based on what I'm watching this season, I haven't the foggiest. The roster is a mismatched array of talents with obvious holes. As a result, they have a wildy vacillating game (for which Iguodala is the poster child).

There are 2 main perspectives among the fans. Both perspectives are valid in my opinion. Both groups want the success of the team. One group looking at the long term talent growth as the priority, and the other group wanting the current team to make an impact. I believe there's a level of "hoping" for both groups. However I believe there's a greater amount of "hoping" for the guys believing the current team without any changes are going far into the playoffs.

I understand they are rebuilding, but I am amazed how many people are clamoring to keep the talent that they have instead of mixing and matching to make sure the abilities of the players are what we need! I agree with some fo the sentiment that we need "patience." We need patience to watch the team grow and develop when we have the type of talent we must be patient with. Right now we have too many SF's playing 3 positions. We need to have the right type of talent to develop. Until then, we must make changes. You shouldn't sit pat in any business if you're looking to move forward. This is just another example.

I will be surprised if this team makes the playoffs once the season's over. It's not just a matter of rooting and hoping for the best. It's a matter of being realistic about the type of schedule we're going to be playing for the remainder of the year. I don't think most people will be very satisfied if we even make the playoffs to get blown out in the first round.

I believe that the right moves were not quite there for the Sixers to make an impact move before the trade deadline. So at this time I agree that we should mix and match to evaluate the talent but with the goal of winning each and every game. Whether we get to the playoffs or not, we still try and package what deals are available to bring in the best impact players to move this team forward.

I won't say that they should push to make the playoffs but they do need to surpass last seasons record by hopefully 5 wins or more to know that they have made progress while creating more cap space to plan future moves.

To this point I would say that Cheeks has had moderate success this season but the G.M's success will have to wait until this time next season to be guaged.

Darnell,

We only have 1 first round pick this year. Utah's first rounder isn't until 2009.

Others,

It's pretty obvious Thad is playing out position at PF. He's a SF, which means long-term Iggy has to be the SG. Unless you trade him, which I think is unlikely.

That means I could see taking a high-potential 2 in the draft - say, Mayo - but not spending money to acquire an expensive name player.

The broader issue for the Sixers is that most of the quality names in play the past few years - Gasol, KG, etc. - have already been traded. All that's left is overpaid crap like T-Mac, Vince, Jermaine O'Neal, etc.

If we want a quality player we're going to have give up a quality player in return. I don't see any more auctions where cap space alone gets you a Gasol. Again, maybe a Kirilenko.

Which means our main hope at this point should be that everyone plays well the rest of the year, particularly Lou, Dalembert, and Carney. The better they play, the more they would command back in a trade.

Having not made a deal to increase our space above $10M - no way we just flat out renounce Lou or Iggy - the real question is whether Ed is savvy enough to leverage our space in creative ways. Presti in Seattle turned $8M of cap space into 3 first round picks. With Seattle trying to position themselves for summer 2009, I could see us taking one of their longer-term contracts in exchange for some of those picks, the way Phoenix did with Thomas originally. It's all how savvy / creative you are as a team-builder.

Ed hasn't had very long to prove himself, but I liked the Korver trade and am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Zarathustra- Thanks for the correction.

Dean- What would Brand Cost us? I like that idea alot if he's sound.

Anybody know what it would cost for Jermaine O'neal? I know, I know, he's brittle as hell too but...

Anyone else think ES might be looking to Europe for our PF? A European free agent would likely be within our budget without requiring a sign and trade deal.

Indiana would probably give you O'Neal for a box of cereal.

He's the 7th highest paid player in the NBA and has 2 more seasons after this one at $22M each.

He's a complete jump shooter on offense, and not a particularly good one. Not too many big men shoot 43% from the floor.

He's still pretty good defensively but nowhere near good enough to make up for his contract, injury history, and offensive deficiencies.

He'd be like trading for Webber all over again.

No offense, but we should have a moratorium on even discussing him as part of the Sixers. Complete disaster.

Should the Sixers pick up Jamaal Magloire who was placed on waivers yesterday and sign him to a 10 day contract? I think you got take a chance on this guy he was not to may years ago a all-star. We do need low post play big time.

If we are currently not even in the universe of competing for a division title then I don't want to make the playoffs to watch us get hammered by Boston, Orlando or Detroit. I would rather take my chances in the lottery. If we don't get a top 5 or even top 10 pick, at least we will be around 12 - much better than 15, 16, 17. Like Sixers Soup posted, we are at least 2 big time players away from competing. C'mon, look at the West right now. Look at the caliber of players on each team.

1) LA - Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom
2) SA - Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Finley
3) Phx - Nash, Shaq, Amare, Barbosa
4) Dal - Dirk, Howard, Kidd
5) Utah - Boozer, Williams, AK
6) Den - Anthony, Iverson, Camby
7) Hou - Yao, McGrady
8) NO - Paul, Peja, Chandler, West

I don't think we can compete with any of these teams in the near future. Look at the top 4 - it is a joke to think we can compete with the talent in this league with the guys we have. All but 2 or 3 of the non-international players listed are lottery picks. So that tells you 2 things.

1) We have the worst international scouting department in the league (thanks BK).
2) There is a chance to get impact players later in the draft, but the stars/centerpieces of the great teams are very high picks.

No playoffs - there is no point.

Road to the Playoffs: Miami

That Dwyane Wade guy is a pro. He's putting up with this season without any complaining or surrender, I wish there were more guys like him in the NBA. That's all I really wanna say about Miami, the Sixers should be able to put them away easily tonight.

I couldn't watch the game last night, but from just looking at the stats, what happened was obvious: our defense sucked. Our offense looked like it was pretty good save for Thad's 2-10 FG shooting, but even if he made half his shots the Magic still take care of the Sixers pretty handily. Definitely missed Evans' rebounding, anyone hoping for the lottery should hope he misses more games. But what was with Calvin Booth playing more minutes than Jason? Was Jason that bad? Come on Cheeks, we gotta play the young guys, even Carney. Can't believe Pussycat Carney threw up two 3-pointers last night:

Mr. Carney,

You are NOT the second coming of Mitch Richmond! You wanna stay in this league, exploit your athleticism and cause turnovers and attack the basket! It's that simple! I don't know if you've got your agent or your mama in your ear, telling you you're the next Ray Allen, but you're NOT! NOT!!! Right now, you're basically Kyle Korver without the shooting ability = see you in Finland! In our two losses after the break, you got no steals, shot 1 for 8, and only got 3 rebounds. I don't care what you do, just do something with your athleticism! Look at your horrible stats for once, okay? Change your game, you are NOT entitled to a spot on an NBA roster just because you were the cat's meow at Memphis! Stop being such a pussycat!

Ed is in Europe right now.

As the Free Agents look mediocre, and our draft positiion won't net us any immediate stars I'm thrilled Ed is searching overseas.

I'm guessing he's looking for the outside "Mr. Automatic" that we are sorely lacking.

Based on Sixers' international talent history, we'll end up with lanky Borat from Kazakhstan.

For all you guys that think Dalembert needs to go who do you think we can get that is better or just as good? Some of yall need to think things threw instead of just coming up with bone head that dont solve any of our problems...Yes Sam has problems guarding a guy like Dwight Howard but can guard Howard? Better question is who will we replace with? Greg Oden? Howard? Or maybe David Robinson or Pat Ewing..I'd hate to hurt some of your feelings but Willis Reed nor Moses Malone are walking threw our doors ready to suit up...And this might come as an horridous SHOCK but Sam is one of the top ten centers in the ENTIRE n.b.a. If you ask any team in the east or west would they to have him you'd be surprised by the 'hell yeah' response so chill out with the get rid of Sammy chants...We already gave Kyle Korver away for beans and rice and a box of animal crackers...And we still have to find a way to replace him..Dont give up on your Honda that gets you back and forth to work just because it doesnt have a cd player..

There is this ingenius thing that some teams have but most teams dont.. Its called PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ...This is for only coaches that have patience and still can grow the confidence of the younger players...THE ANTI-BROWN...Guys like Lou wIlliams are given the opportunity to grow...Sam just got that nice little 15 footer working with Moses...Guys like jermaine Oneal turn into starters on their own...You recognize they have talent and you work them into their own potential...That is how guys like Thad Young are improving. Instead of trading your young guys for old guys that do only one thing well...Thats why Moe is doing an outstanding job. Because only a handful of guys in the nba can develop young players...Larry Brown doesnt...Our team is just young...needs time and needs a power forward..Ed needs to make that happen this summer...Its all on him

Wondered why Chicago did the trade, then looked at this mornings boxscore. They have a bunch of hungry young players who are gonna get minutes finally. If L.B. gets that job I think they are in the finals next year, if they get something good for Gordon, look out.Dean, I think we get our p.f. in the draft. Doubt that Brand opts out, but he would be my first choice.Zeru, If Sam could get us Okafor I would do it in a heartbeat!!Zarath., agree that the 4 position possibilities in the league are limited.Love to put Biedrens next to Sam but that ain!t happening.

Zeru, The "[given] away" Kyle Korver may not have been if your guy Sam had a clue about low post offensive basketball, leaning on a defense, passing and enabling an inside-out game. I agree that, overall, Dalembert's fairly ranked around 10th among centers but, considering the state of the center position in the NBA today, that's faint praise. He's the highest paid Sixer, and a disappointment; I expect more bang for my buck.

Should the Sixers pick up Jamaal Magloire who was placed on waivers yesterday and sign him to a 10 day contract? I think you got take a chance on this guy he was not to may years ago a all-star. We do need low post play big time.

Jumpin Johnny, Think K.Love at U.C.L.A. would give us plenty ofr that, have you seen him play?

First, Ray - NO to JAMAL...got waived for a reason...slow, slower, slowest.

Second, Eddie knows no one on this team is untouchable because there is no CURRENT all star caliber player...not one TODAY. One can argue that a few of our players may develop into all-star caliber players, but today we have NONE.

Therefore Eddie will trade ANYONE if it allows him to upgrade ANY POSITON...period!

Calvin Booth played 15 minutes. Jason Smith played 8. what?

I'm all for the sixers winning, but more than that I'm for seeing what we have from the young players. Winning vs losing isn't the question; this team's main focus should be on evaluation. What do we have in smith, l-will and carney? I get it that dalembert had a tough time with howard, hence booth; his game begins with a 't' and ends in 'errible'.

That's my new stance. play the kids, win or lose we at least need to know what we have so we can REALLY put a competitive team together come next season.

Jumpin Johnny,

Your arguement about Kyle Korver being traded for a bowl of oatmeal and some lemonheads being Samuel Dalembert's fault is just plain ole retarded...If you are going to trade something in that you already have and is one of the best at what it does..arent you supposed to get something back that is just as good or better? Think son..think...You just agreed that out of 32 teams and hundreds of players D league included that Dalembert is in the top ten in his position...Kyle Korver as a spot up or pure shooter might be top 3...behind ray allen and kopono and kopono is debatable...If you want bang for your buck then you cant possibly be happy about the Korver trade ...And if average out the starting salaries of nba starting centers you will find that Dalembert's salary is average...Yet his numbers are better than most of them that are not superstars..Shaq makes 20 mill a year and he doesnt put up Sam's numbers...jermaine oneal makes more than Shaq and doesnt even play basketball..Calm down

Suede, Have seen him play only once on TV. I like him too from what I could gather - bulk, strong outlet passes, poise, shooting touch and general knack for the game. His obvious downside is foot speed. But then Jeff Ruland wasn't exactly a gazelle, and he was a mighty fine NBA player when healthy. Hope to get a better look in March. His father, Stan, played for Bullets in 70's; was a mediocre forward.

If you want more bang for your buck go ask Ed why he traded the only guy on our team that teams had to respect...and spread out defenses...The reason why Carney and Iggy amongst others has to take jumpers is because defense collapses the middle making it hard to penetrate...Yall know the refs dont really respect the sixers...We dont get calls...You watch Hedo Turkey take like fifteen steps with the ball in his armpit and not get called for a travel..While Iggy can just walk the ball upcourt and get called...The defensive paint is congested...You want bang for your buck thank Ed for giving away a second pick that was reasonably paid and one of the best at what he does for almost nothing

An expiring contract and a #1 pick is nothing? Financial flexibility and a trading chip is nothing?

Jumpin Johnny,

I agree with the state of NBA centers sucking wholeheartly but good grief Charlie Brown...Do we really want Josh Boone? Kwame Brown...or eric damp diaper over Sammy? I think not...

I am assuming that the post in defense of Sam was directed at me. Please stop with the argument - "who do you want in his place?" I would like just about anything. He is a decent energy guy off the bench somewhere who can run and is athletic - he can dunk if you lob it towards the basket. That doesn't make him the 10th best center in the league. Please argue about what he does well. Please answer the following questions about his ability:

1) Is he a good low post player?
2) Does he shoot well?
3) Does he shoot FTs well?
4) Does he draw a lot of fouls?
5) Does he have good court awareness?
6) Does he take offensive fouls
7) Does he play good on the ball defense?
8) Does he get over-powered often?
9) Does he often fight his own players for rebounds and knock the ball out of bounds or cause a TO?
10) Is he overpaid by NBA standards and does that meke this so-called 10th best center very difficult to move?

The answers in case you don't watch a lot of NBA basketball are "NO" for 1 - 7 and yes for 8 - 10. He occasionally blocks a few shots, but for someone of his size and athleticism, he should be leading the league in blocks. If we had Theo from 1999-2001 instead of Dalembert this year, we would be a 6 seed and Theo was never thought of as a great center. So please, don't ordain Sam D. as the next Moses just yet. For the record, I would like to have the following centers over Sammy D. in no particular order:

1) Chandler
2) Shaq
3) Bynum
4) Kaman
5) J. O'Neal (when healthy)
6) Bogut
7) Camby
8) Biedrins
9) D.Howard
10) Brad Miller
11) Oden (even on IR)
12) Amare - a center until a week ago
13) Ben Wallace
14) Ilgauskas
15) Al Jefferson
16) Nazr Mohammed
17) Haywood

I think all of these centers are better than Sammy and I would rather have any of them with Sammy's contract than Sammy. I personally would have made this list a lot longer, but I left off any players that were listed as F/C.

Zeru, Don't worry, I'm not excited. Especially about center Samuel Dalembert.

And I don't mind Korver being gone at all. As many have said, he was a one-dimensional luxury on this team and the trade created some flexibilty for future maneuvering.

Finally, of course Dalembert isn't to be solely blamed for Korver being moved. My point was that the center who you admire did very little on the offensive end to help the shooter who you miss.

Johnny,

You are dead on - if Sam had any sebmlance of a low post game - Korver is still here. The unfortunate truth is that Ed was forced to make that move to free up room to help sign some type of impact player and Korver is the only guy who any other team wanted. We needed the expiring contract.

Zeru,

Are you part of the "lets make the playoffs" bandwagon?

Monty,

A first round pick in the late 20's is nothing but a crap shoot...there is no secure sucess in it...It's less than a late lottery pick and thats a crap shoot...Cap Space? Thats even more of a crap shoot...The guys you want to target are RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS ...What that means is...The ten million that you think the sixers to offer these guys can be matched by that players original team...NEWS FLASH...Most of those guys have already been offered 10 mill by their orginal teams so as of right now
Ed gave Korver to Utah as a gift

It is flexibility in a league where the cap will kill you. Also, depending on the owner's willingness to pay the luxury tax - it can be very restrictive. The money doesn't have to be spent this off-season either. There are many shooters in the NCAA that can spot up and knock down a 3. They can also be had with a late 1st/2nd round pick very often. Maybe we can pull one of those European sharp-shooters from overseas to fill that role. I liked Korver a lot, but he couldn't defend and couldn't rebound, which is fine, but he was being asked to do a lot more here because of the lack of talent on the team. He is asked to do less in Utah and it is allowing him to contribute more.

My attitude towards Dalembet isnt emotional...I'm not into making trades unless it improves the team...Korver wasnt a luxury
Every team NEEDS a shooter to space defense...Its not even debatable we have replace him regardless if you value it or not and he was cheap...I've said enough about Sam good luck thinking you will find a better rebounder shot blocker that is AVAILABLE...Defensive centers grow on trees in the minds of the naive

Watching a stiff [Blount] at least make an effort to post up. Why can!t Sam at least learn a jump hook or drop step, its just repetition in practice. This should be one of E.S.!s priorities, run plays for Sam and make him post up.

Hugh,

In my opinion your list is flawed... I dont know about a couple of guys you put up there and jermaine oneal is a suit model crashdummy for armani..so....yeah i'm not feeling your list to say the least...Shouldnt a center have to play before he makes a top ten list? Just throwing guys in to validate a point? I feel you player...

Any 7-footer that gets the amount of minutes that he does will get 10 - 12 rebounds a game. He will get 8 just by accident.

But you say that he is the 10th best center. I would like to see your list.

I forgot to put Yao on that list