Deep Sixer

The Sixers outscored the Clips by 15 pts. when Carney was in the game! Sweet Lou was +17, Iggy +17, and for once Reggie was well in the plus at +16 (Reggie was usually in the negative as a starter).
Keep it up Rodney! There were people killing you on this blog. Now you're getting regular minutes. You're vindicating yourself!

While I'm not overly excited about tonights win, Marc is right. This team won a game it was supposed to win . And that is progress for this team! I thought they looked good but it was against a team that just pulled out a victory last night. You could tell they were drained. All that said, they did what they were supposed to and thats a credit to the team and Mo.

About the wanting them to lose thing. I don't want them to lose, BUT I don't really want them to make the playoffs either. While winning helps build that winning attitude, getting swept in the playoffs first round can really demoralize a team. I just want them to win enough to be in the hunt right up to the end. We weren't going to have one of the worst 3 records anyway. So maybe the lottery gods will shine down on us or Ed has his job cut out for him!

Tonight's post-game press conference shows how Cheeks has evolved nicely as a coach since the AI trade. To paraphrase him, he knows that the Sixers aren't the strongest outside shooting team, so to negate that disadvantage, he stresses to his club to drive the ball into the paint as much as possible to get the opponent into the penalty as early as possible in each quarter. The inference here is that the Sixers can gain back those points at the free throw line that they lose from their inability to consistently hit 3 ptrs. That strategy would have never happened two years ago or even last year.

I think it's pretty clear that, much like last season, Mo has done about as good a job as you can do with a team that currently has too many deficiencies to compete at a high level every game. I think those that continually rip Cheeks for his "small ball" lineup and other issues (such as why Thad wasn't inserted into the starting lineup until 15 games ago) fail to see the short deck that Cheeks is working with. He doesn't have any all-stars, doesn't have any veterans that have won, has no outside shooters, and no low-post presence. Given that hand, I think it's fair to say that Mo has done a very nice job here. Keep up the good work Mo!!

I don't understand that, Joe Doc. You want them to get close but not get in? Why would you want a young team to go through that? Anytime you can get into the playoffs, you go for it. The experience cannot be measured. The players have to know they can make it and that winning is the right thing to do. They, of course, need help, but I would never hope that my team loses to get a better draft pick. You never know what the player you are hoping for will turn out to be. The pick is just one tool to get us better. We still have free agency and the offseason growth and improvement of the players that we intend to count on.

Most of us agree that we need a low post presence and a shooter, in that order. These players will be all over the draft board. If "Big Ed' does his job, he will find a player - wherever we are drafting - to help this team. If the coaches are doing their job, they will develop those players to help this team. I'm not a patient man, but Mo is developing these guys. My impatience has me often criticizing the team, forgetting how young they are. But they are coming along.

Winning is an attitude. You can't replicate that with with losing and the HOPE of a draft pick (savior).

Craig you must have must understood me. I DON'T want them to lose! I just don't see how making the playoffs just to get swept by a clearly superior team will help a young team develop. It could crush their confidence though! I said I wanted them to stay in the hunt to the end but not make it because I think that would build a hunger in this team for next year. A hunger to make the playoffs next year when, hopefully, they are better tooled to make a run. This team already plays hard almost every night. Add the feeling of the playoffs being just out of reach. With the upgrade in talent this off season. That team might not just make the playoffs but cause some havoc when they get there!

If the 76ers hold on to Miller and can't get the 4 that they desire this offseason, then I think signing a player like C. Maggette wouldn't be bad thing. He first has to opt out of $8.4M for next year, but considering he's been wanting to leave Clipper land for the past 3 years and the coach doesn't want him there either, he's as good as gone.

The biggest weaknesses on this team are no low post scoring, no 3 point shooting and bad free throw shooting. As a 2 or 3, Maggette can post his man, will give you 20 points a night, shoots 42 percent from 3 and is an 83 percent foul shooter. His current averages are 22 points, 6 rebs, 3 assists and he goes to the line almost 9 times a night. I don't see anyone on the 76ers putting up these type of numbers.

He could be insurance in case Iggy balks at the deal that Stefanski gives him. If you sign Iggy, then have him and Iggy as your 2 and 3, go out and get your 4 via Andre Miller's $10M expiring contract or let Thaddeus continue to play until you can draft or attain that player.

I think Maggette would do a number of things for this team: improve its scoring, let Iggy be a more comfortable no. 2 or no. 3 option, be a legitimate 2 or 3 on this team, take pressure off of Dalembert and Reggie Evans who can't score and add a go to guy at the end of games who can get to the free throw line. Maggette usually plays his best against the best two-guards and 3's in the league. I think he and Iggy's games would complement one another since Iggy would be happy just feeding Maggette and other players dimes as long as he gets his money.

I think this is something that Stefanski has to seriously consider. There is no guarantee that Iggy will settle for the 5-year, $57M deal that he turned down last year. You can probably get Maggette for a 5-year, $40M deal. No one else out there will offer him the big contract that he wants.

Also, I'd still love to see Big Ed move A. Miller at the trade deadline, but I can also see the wisdom of holding on to him for one more year and letting his $10M expiring contract be part of a much bigger deal, especially if Stefanski can't reach a deal with Iguodala.

Your thoughts?

Don't you think they are hungry from last year, and the year before that, and the year before that??? How do you kow they will get swept? I remember Mutombo and the Nuggets as clear cut underdogs. Not given a sniff of hope. They pulled that series out. I don't know that they would win, but it's got to sooo much better than losing out, AGAIN, on the playoffs. I think losing AGAIN would be more crushing than actually making it to the second season and losing there. You and the rest of the league would KNOW that you are one of the top teams in the conference instead of speculating about it, because you are NOT there.

Another thing is that this team could get exposure to those players wanting a different place to play. They could be on one of those teams that comes close, but not win. I think it would make a difference to them if we made the playoffs as opposed to missing out AGAIN. Making the playoffs is a step that other players look at. Coming close just keeps us lumped in with the rest of the losers with not much difference between us. I'm tired of that.

Craig, I guess you can look at it either way and we each have our opinion on making the playoffs. But at least we agree we want them to win!

I think they should trade Miller before the deadline too. If he's not going to be part of the future, then trade him for a player that will and let him get accustom to playing for Mo and with the other guys.

I know this sounds absolutely insane! But I'll throw it out there anyway.

Trade Miller, Iggy, Sammy, Evans, and Green for any combination of expiring contracts, players Ed would want for the future, and draft picks. I know this sounds crazy, but think about it. If he could some how pull off all those trades, the only players signed for next year would be Carney, Ja. Smith, and Thad. All 3 I wouldn't mind having on the team and their salaries next year are only like $7 million total. Depending on what players Ed got back in the trades, he could have up to $50 million in cap space and a handful of draft picks. He could literally rebuild almost the entire team within a years time. If he thinks he can sign Iggy then keep him, he doesn't cost that much against the cap. Can you imagine having Iggy(maybe), Thad, Carney, and Smith to start a team with? And 11 roster spots, approx. $50 million in cap space, and hopefully a few first rounds picks? I would love to have that kind of flexibility if I was Ed.

I know that would never happen! I was just throwing that out there. Most teams complain about how hard it is to rebuild a team because of the crazy NBA trade/cap rules and could change almost everyspot within a year. Thought that was interesting.

You're throwing it out there...I'm throwing it back. At least you're right about one thing... You ARE crazy. But it's all love here, so we take the crazy people too.

Thank You!

I forgot to mention that I really liked Carney's defense tonight. He seemed confident. Did not seem jumpy when he was guarding. Not going for jab fakes. Holding his ground until his man made a move and then moving his feet to cut him off. Good stuff.

Dean,

Just caught the replay - great game. The Sixers bench the players of the game? Are you kidding me? It was Andre Miller! He was like a hot hand in Vegas, every decision he was making was working out! DON'T TRADE ANDRE MILLER!

Ok, Dean, back to you... Where I disagree with you most is in your talent evaluation of the Sixers. I don't think Mo had a short deck to start the season. You keep stressing the things the Sixers don't have, but what about what they DO have? What the hell goes on in practice? Can't Mo make evaluations of what he has on the team based on what he sees in practice? Instead of saying, "Wow, Carney's not an all-star, he can't shoot from the outside, he can't play in the low post, etc," couldn't he see that Carney could cause lots of havoc out there with his athleticism? Turnovers and lowering the opponents' FG% count as much towards the final score as good offense.

Like I said before, great job by Cheeks and his coaching staff in developing Carney. In that article about Matt Barnes calling Cheeks an a-hole, Barnes talked about how there was a coach there that helped him work on his 3P shot, maybe he can help Carney. Anyway - why did it take so freakin' long to get Carney to play this way? Carney was fantastic last night - he played PF better than Thad did (notice Mo pulled subbed in Carney for Thad in the 3rd Q). It's almost like other coaches and the media had to point out how athletic the Sixers were before Mo picked up on it. Where was all this talk about the Sixers' athleticism at the beginning of the season? And why wasn't this figured out in practice? It seems like Mo primarily uses games to evaluate the guys, and if that's the case, then he's practically stealing money.

Having said all that, last night he coached really well. I'm ready to eat my words if can keep that up. Everyone was playing their roles to perfection. LouWill clearly knew he was the shooting guard when he was in there. Like I said before, Andre Miller totally dominated that game. That Carney-for-Thad sub was brilliant. But the last time I said Mo coached well, they played a crap game against Atlanta, so maybe I should take that back with Dallas coming up...

One last thing - if we were lucky enough, I agree with drafting Gordon from Indiana. Special, special kid. But not over Beasley.

Craig,

I agree with you in that we have a good thing going on right now, why trade that for an uncertain future?

Also, I think Karma is on the Sixers' side. We didn't tank last year (although I still think we should've), losing a higher draft position, but Thad fell into our laps. This is another reason I think we can take Boston, they're gonna get karmic payback somehow for tanking last year, and I'd love for it to be the Sixers who open up that can of karmic whoop-a.. on them.

As a matter of fact, I was just starting to think that maybe we should gear up for a playoff run, maybe get Artest...

datruth4life,

That Maggette thing is starting to sound really good. I could go with not getting a PF for 2008-2009, then addressing the PF need for the 2010 - the only problem with that is that Miller wouldn't be around anymore. Maggette is in the prime of his career, and is only 28. I'd take a reasonable 5-year deal with him. Assuming we don't sign Ollie, that gives us a PG rotation of Miller/Williams, and a SG/SF rotation of Iggy/Corey/Willie for next year. But I don't know what it would do to the Sixers' finances.

I meant SG/SF rotation of Iggy/Corey/Carney. Willie, good luck in (other city)!

Let's try and make the playoffs! Why not?

I think Cheeks is the perfect coach for this team, otherwise I think he'll be out the door. We don't need to sign any free agents over 25. (Maggette, Brand LOL) The Sixers play hard every night and that says a lot. Evans is a team leader. You have to be careful who you bring in here. Anyone over 25 are kind of set in their NBA lifestyle. The Sixers are building a team the town can embrace.

I say get a 4 and a solid 2 in free agency and draft the kid out of Rider. I'd trade Andre Miller after the season.

Hey, I really do think this fast-break offense is really giving other teams problems. The Sixers are very athletic and look like chemistry is starting to set in. Sammy D is playing really good defense and with Evans off the bench, the Pressure on D is being kept out.. NIce move MO.. Lou WIlliams was nice and Carny and Green (esp his dunk) looked good to. Thad really does look like a great pick for the Sixers... I don't know but the last couple of drafts for King might end up being GREAT!!! Good luck Sixers vs. the Mavs, if we win that game look for Super Confidence to start setting in with a real threat in the 2nd Half of the Season... GO SIXERS!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that it is clear to everyone that Mo Cheeks is a class act.

With his future in limbo, he continues to be consistent with his team and the media. He doesn't whine or complain, he just works to help the SixerKids develop as players and men.

I hope Eddie sees this a well and realizes that Mo is a Philly treasure, one that could provide consistency at the coaching position for the Sixers for many years to come.

Very proud of you Mo, as a selfless player on a Championship Team, as a coach, and as a man!

WHY not try to make the playoffs- because unless you really believe that you have enough talent on your team to compete for the title, you hurt your future chances if you make the playoffs.

This is probably the last year the Sixers can choose to blow games at the end of the season to ensure a good pick. By next year the rookies will be too good for the team to be coming into the all-star break 10 games BELOW .500

We still need a all-star PF or Center to add to this team for them to even think about making a run for the title- and that includes keeping everyone we have right now, including Andre Miller.

That player is probably in the draft, and won't come available through free agency. You don't get a franchise player unless something is wrong or they are old.

So, the Sixers need a lottery pick to get them up to Boston's level. The smart move is to tank the season and get that pick.

And Maggette is a 9 year player in the league and you want to pay all that money for a back-up? Try thinking before posting.

Marc,

Why do you always refer to yourself in the plural?

Examples from above: "We earlier wrote...", "We again interrupt this", "so we consider these games important".

You are the only guy writing this blog, correct?

If not, shouldn't whomever else is writing it be credited in the byline or the author box?

If so, shouldn't you be using the pronoun I instead of we?

I hope it's only a case of pronoun trouble and not schizophrenia.

Let's go for the playoffs!!!!

I'm so confused by people that want to get rid of good players and the coach...Doc Rivers is going to be the coach of the year this year.

I predicted the 76ers would struggle in Dec/Jan b/c most teams w/ that schedule would - now the schedule comes back to the 76ers side and the best news is we're taking advantage of it and winning games.

Isn't it refreshing to watch a team have two things on its agenda? Fast break points and driving to the hoop? 3 pointers come and go, the other stuff wins championships.

We're a solid 4 away from being big problems...and I say no free agents this summer unless its a slam dunk!

I think it's time for Cheeks to fully evolve the youth movement and it is time for Rodney Carney to start at the 2. He's taller, ridiculously more athletic on the break, and plays better defense than Willie Green. I'll call their shooting percentage a draw, and you really don't get much of an advantage either way. If we can keep up the very solid transition, run-and-gun offense, a lineup of Miller, Carney, Iguodala, Young, and Dalembert will be looking very very nice. Thaddeus Young got his chance and now I think its time for Rodney Carney to get another shot.

How do you tell this team to try to lose because you are not good enough, so some kid in the upcoming draft will save you? The teams that are winning the championships are not made up of a bunch of kids. You have to start adding some veterans (a post man that's been in the league for a minute) that know how to play. Dwayne Wade, Timmy, and Kobe are probably the last key kids to win championships (LeBron may be next), but understand they had an established, veteran big to put them over the top. We don't have that here. I think the timing is right to add that veteran big to put this team over the top.

The key is not losing. But continuing to win and find a way to add that piece. There's more than just the draft.

Marc, Members,

What about a deal like this:

Dalembert, Green for Kirilenko?

Utah gets a defensive 5 and we get an athletic, defensive 4. Kirilenko would benefit from more looks in our "O".

We could then get a Thabeet or Hibbert in the draft.

The team is one all-star away from really competing with the elite. You can talk about defense at the point, three point shooting, back to the basket offense, and truthfully doing all of that could make the current contingent a Detroit type contender. But with all the athletic components this team now has, could you imagine how well it could complement a dependable 20+ point, technically sound star?

So the question is, how do you get one. Is there a trade or a free agent signing that does this quickly, or do you have to draft or hope Thad grows into that player, which will take a while, and force a quicker move with Miller? Beats me, but the team is a lot closer than you might think, though it probably would take a really smooth move from management.

For The Sellouts!

I thought Mo did a great job last season when it was Long Time for a change! 6ers fought every game after the change, and showed lots of progress. I thought Andre Miller was the best thing to happen to the 6ers in a long time. He was a stabilizing factor for our young team. He is a great extension of Mo, and gives the 6ers exactly what we need. We always fought, never sold ourselves!!
Boston Sold Themselves! Milwaukee Sold Themselves!! And didn't get what they wanted! We never tanked! Sorry to see B.K. go, but we got 2 good young draft picks, that will be very good players in the future, with good character. Boston mortgaged their future, and still will not get a championship. Just like the Patriots!! I loved it !! When asked my opinion who I thought would win the Super Bowl, I said that was the First, and Last time I will Ever root for the Giants! Boston is cheaters!! And then the basketball team tanked games to get the highest draft pick, and didn't. I will Never forget seeing Danny Ainge sitting a seat away from Kevin Durant's mother during the NCAA tournament. SLIMEY!! Cheaters Never Prosper! Then they sell their young players so they can win now. I can't wait to see how they look 3 years from when the 3 Amigos can't do it anymore.
The people that wanted us to tank, and still want us to tank, should move to Boston!! Never sell yourselves, Always Fight! Thats the only way you get better, and gain confidence is to fight. And Mo and his staff got them doing it every night. Sure we have No Headshooter, and No Low Post presence. But that ain't no secret. Teams know that if they don't bring it on the 6ers, they will lose. Our young team plays hard. Anything can if they reach the playoffs, and long as they play a team that is not suited to there style of play. As long as we don't have to play Detroit in the 1st round, we have a chance. Then I will get to see them play.
I think our young team has a bright future, and I am sure Big Ed sees the great job Mo has done with what he has had to work with, and will give him that 3 year extension that he deserves. Pick up a good free agent, and luck out and get Hasheem Thabeet from UConn in the draft, and we can compete for a title with a young team like Portland. Many times fans can't see farther than the present, and the 6ers are about the future. And I think its bright! I'd also like to throw in a plug for Rodney Carney, Continue to go to the hole. Build up confidence in the homestand, and pick up from those close games we lost in the 1st half of the season.
For all the fans that stuck with the 6ers Rain or Shine, Be Happy! For all the ones that wanted to sell, Move to Boston.

Marc,

I'm all for the Sixers trying to win every game, but I had a thought: You said teams only learn to win by winning - how do you explain the Blazers suddenly becoming a team that knows how to win this seasonn?

Not sure why, but I get the feeling that if the 76ers make a move at the deadline, Willie Green and Jason Smith will be involved. It could be subconscious wishing, but I like those guys for what they do. I know that Orlando is looking for a 4 so they can move Rashard Lewis back to the 3 spot. Jason Smith would work there, but I can't see Orlando doing that because they have a lot of money tied up between Turkoglu and Lewis. Reddick could be a very nice addition, though. With Carney coming on and the fact that Willie has more dollars and years on his contract, he could be moved as well. These are not necessarily my wishes, but I can't say that I would be upset if we got Reddick, and used Willie as part of a pakage to get someone like Collison, Wilcox or some other post presence. And then went to the draft to get someone like Kevin Love, Jason Thompson, DJ White, Serge Ibaka....

If Lou is playing the 2 spot, I wouldn't mind seeing him pulling up for 3 the way he did a couple of times last night. As long as he's open, I don't see the harm. He's really improved that stroke.

datruth has a smart, valid point about Maggette. If Stefanski is the GM we think he is, he has contingency plans for every situation. If for some reason negotiations with Iggy sour, Maggette is at least a decent alternative. Iggy was offered $11.5 per for five years, which was more than fair, since Kevin Martin of the Kings got $11 per for five. If Iggy wants a dollar more than $13 per for five yrs., we have a problem.

Back to Carney, the league has changed, and youngsters need to be developed. Look at Andrew Bynum. Look at other teams using the D League. Two of the premier franchises in the league, the Lakers and the Jazz, own their own D league teams (I think the Spurs might too). The Sixers need to better develop their young talent. Carney should have spent some time in the D league early this season instead of riding the pine. Whenever Herb is fully healed and ready to go, give him some low pressure minutes in the D League. Thabeet from UConn is a 7'3" manchild (did anyone see him yesterday against GA Tech? Wow!). But he is raw, raw, rawm and would need to be developed slowly and with some D League time.

And if Stef can get any value for Willie Green and Giricek, please do (expiring contracts and second rounders would be fine; use the second rounders to take chances on Euro's who can be stashed overseas until ready, like 6'11" Edin Bavcic). We can more than get by for the rest of the season with Miller, Sweet Lou, Ollie, Iggy, and Carney on the perimeter. Willie and Giricek are just taking minutes at the 2 away from Sweet Lou and Carney.

Hey Marc, what's the status of Shav? When will he be healthy enough to go?

vdog, I'll start packing to join Beantown later today. Don't want a complete sale. Just another tweek. This can occur now or at draft time.

Looking for a top 3 pick. If Lou Will's position is not point guard(coaching staff should know that by year end), I would use him and my pick to move up in the draft. Unfortunately, we'd have to move into the top 6to7 in the draft to make that work .

I agree with those who feel we should (1) trade Miller for younger players and/or picks and/or cap space and (2) the more games we lose, the more ping pong balls get, the better our future looks.

Mark and some posters argue that "A young team only learns how to win by winning" or something similar along the lines of "losing fosters losing." The problem with these assertions is that they are not supported by evidence and fly in the face of reality. Look at Portland.

In the NBA it is easier to go from doormat to contender by getting a stud with one of the top picks in the draft (examples: Portland with Aldridge, Roy and Oden, Magic with Howard, Hornets with Paul, etc) than it is to go from middle of the pack to contender through mid-round draft picks and free agents.

Because (1) losing does not foster losing and (2) it is easier to go from the bottom to the top, Miller should be traded even if we don't get equal value in return.

Wolf's Coming -- stop picking on Marc. It makes you look petty. Let's focus on basketball and not get hung up over other things. It must really bother you.

To the guy named Tom,
I haven't been posting comments in the 6ers blog for for very long. But your comment about the 6ers TANKING to get more ping pong balls and trading A. Miller even if we get less in value then what he is worth has got to be the Silliest thing I've read so far.
I can't believe you wrote that!!

VDogg, I am not advocating tanking.

Tanking is when you do not compete as well as you could with your given roster. This is done by (1) holding better players out of games down the stretch with dubious injuries or (2) taking crunch time minutes away from better players in an effort to be less competitive. We saw this last year down the strecth when the Celitcs held out Pierce and Jefferson with questionable inuries, the Sonics held out Ray Allen with bone spurs in his heels which he was able to play with all year until the Sonics decided to give up, the Bucks who kept Redd, Mo Williams, Bogut and Villanueva out with questionable injuries, etc.

Making a trade which reduces the potential of the current roster while increasing the potential of the future roster is a strategic decision; not tanking. So long as a team competes to the best of its abilities with its given roster, it is not tanking.

I would be more open to 'tanking' this season if the Eastern Conference didn't STINK so bad. The East just blows. The conferences disparity is stunning.

I believe we are closer to the 'top' of the East than to the 'bottom.' But only because the East is so thin. So, LET'S GO FOR IT! Trade Sammy and whatever for Jermaine O'Neal. Sign Free Agent talent and package all our picks for one high lottery pick. I'd be stoked for next year!!!!!

To elaborate on my point about the importance of the draft and the fact that it is easier to go from the bottom to the top:

From 1991 to present, 17 seasons, 16 of the championship teams have been led by Jordam Olajuwon, O'Neal or Duncan. Jordan was the 3rd overall pick, Olajuwon the 2nd, O'Neal the 1st and Duncan the 1st. (If you want to add David Robinson to that list for early Spurs championships you can - he was a 1st overall pick too.)

The only one of those players to win a championship with a team other than the team that originally drafted him was O'Neal who left Orlando as a free agent for LA and was subsequently traded to Miami.

Would Philly have an opportunity to land a championship caliber free agent as the Lakers did? NO. New York and LA have a big advantage in that they are major media markets and the needed championship caliber free agent could make much more through endorsements in those markets than he could in Philly. Florida teams also have an advantage in that they does not have personal income tax (not to mention city wage tax) making them much more lucrative destinaiton for players.

Could we trade for a championship caliber player like Miami did with O'Neal? Possibly. The opportunity to trade for a championship caliber player is rare and the team trading said player is going to want a lot in return. This will deplete the teams assets and likely lead to a one year run; not multiple championships like the Bulls, Rockets, Lakers or Spurs.

The goal for the Sixers is to win a championship right? As explained above, we will not be able to land a free agent who will be able to lead us to a championship. So, in order to win a championship we need to draft a championship caliber player. In order to have a shot at drafting a championship caliber player the Sixers need to be a lottery team. To have a realistic shot at drafting a championship caliber player, we need to have one of the worst records in the NBA.

I do not advocate tanking, but trading current assets (such as Miller) for future assets (picks, young role player and cap flexibility) is a championship strategy.

2009 SIXERS

Jermaine O'Neal
High Draft Pick-Front Court
Thad
Iggy
Free Agent-Back Court

Bench: Lou, Carney, J.Smith, etc.

Jermaine O'Neal is breaking/broken down and he's making almost $20 million this year and is owed over $40 million for the next two years. Can't see why we would be interested in that kind of risk. He's a talent but missed way too many games for that kind of money.

I would like to see E.S. tweek the roster if he is not going to make a major move at the deadline. Bring in a young player or two who could be part of the future; ex. S. Randolph to Portland for Mcroberts and T.Green.Portland has 4 pointguards on the roster and next year a numbers issue with roster spots.

Miller, Dalembert and Green to Miami for Cook, their #1 this year and all of their expirings.

We would have 2 high 1sts, which we could use for a C and the best available player.

We would also have cap space where we could take just about any player in return for the trading team receiving simply a trade exception.

I know this is crazy, but it would make Miami a contender again next year. They would be starting:
Miller
Wade
Marion
Haslem
Dalembert

We would have:
sign or draft a PG... Calderon
Iguodala
Young
trade for a 4...Kirilenko?
Hibbert or Thabeet

Marc-

What are your thoughts of this idea proposed by your comtemporary, Tom Moore, which, IMO, is very intriguing...

A reader figured out how the Sixers could benefit from the Lakers taking on the additional salary of Gasol, which will force L.A. to pay the luxury tax, a dollar-for-dollar penalty that will probably mean an additional $15 million in 2008-09.

The idea is that re-signing 25-year-old power forward Ronny Turiaf to, say, a $5 million contract would actually cost the Lakers $10 million ($5 million salary plus $5 million luxury tax).

Plus, L.A. is well-stocked at power forward, with Gasol, Lamar Odom and Vladimir Radmanovic, who can play both the three and four.

Given that fact, perhaps the Sixers could land Turiaf, who is averaging 6.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 18.2 minutes this season, for a contract starting at $5 million. The Sixers would upgrade from what they have for a reasonable amount of money. And it would allow Thaddeus Young to move back to the three spot and Reggie Evans to continue coming off the bench at the four.

The 6-10 Turiaf had 15 points, four rebounds and five blocks in 30 minutes during the Lakers' Jan. 4 win over the Sixers. He's only making $770,000 this season, but has the skill set to merit a significant raise — and solve a trouble spot for the Sixers.

I like the idea of adding Turiaf in the off season. He seems to have toughness and mind set similiar to Evans but has a lot more skills and up side.

I DON"T want them to add Jermaine O'Neal. I just think he is hurt too much and is paid way too much. I'd rather have a younger healthier PF.

I know Jermaine O'Neal has an injury history but some of the stiffs being discussed as "upgrades" for the sixers frontcourt are mediocre (at best)....So O'Neal is $20M for two years, that's better than for four or more years. If he dosen't pan out you re-load in a couple years.

I know it's risky but all of these scenerios involve a certain amount of risk. I say let's do it with guys we at least KNOW CAN PLAY...!!! Anybody can get hurt anytime.

Enough - Wolf's Coming's questions are logical ones. I've wondered too about the deployment of "we" in Marc's entries; it doesn't make sense. Why use a plural pronoun to represent one voice? Is it based on a journalistic principle or a legal rationale? Is the content forged by a combine of basketball minds? Do ghost writers contribute? When the communication ambiguity is addressed, questions will stop. Admittedly, the answers may not rise to a level of high significance, however, the asking is human and natural, not petty or impolite. For the simple sake of learning, I'd like to read Marc's response on the subject. I suppose anyone interested in language and its print applications would.

Marc, can you clear up the minor matter?

I keep hearing people say they want to hold onto Miller until the off season because his expiring contract will be more valuable. His expiring contract plus the cap space is supposed to get us the top PF or C we need. OK, so I have a question.

WHO?

Who is the PF or C we are going to trade for? If a team is going to trade a top player for an expiring contract then it most likely means that team is starting the rebuilding process. So take a look at the teams that might be rebuilding this off season and find me a PF or C, THAT THEY WOULD TRADE, and would make that big of a difference to the Sixers. I'm having a hard time finding one. You can pretty much rule out all the contenders unless they need a PG. But if they need a PG they would have to be willing to part with that PF. As we see this season, teams don't like to give up big for small (i.e.- Kidd not traded) And even if the Sixers could find a player and team willing to trade, who says they wouldn't want Wally Szczerbiak or Raef LaFrentz both with $12 million dollar expiring contracts. They might be a better fit a a temp. replacement.

I just think waiting until the off season to trade Miller could back fire for the reasons above just to name a few. This is why I think he could be more valueable now to a team that is contending and needs a PG.

.....And I thought we were trying to keep accumulating expiring contracts so that we would have lot's of cap room to fit in lots of new talent...???

Isn't that why we traded Korver? Isn't that why we are holding out for max return on Andre Miller's expiring contract?-So that we can lavish ridiculous dollars on established players?

I'm on board but let's don't overpay for guys who are back-ups that cannot crack other teams rotations...This is clearly not the case with Jermaine O'Neal.

the royal "we" is used by writers who are taught not to use "I" in their writing.

enough already.

/morty

Thanks, Morty. Did a little research after reading your post. U.S. Navy Admiral Hyman G. Rickover told a subordinate who used the 'royal we': "Three groups are permitted that usage - pregnant woman, royalty and schizophrenics." Understand your impatience with non-Sixer talk. Just the same, the 'royal we' in modern day is confusing usage.

You know, i love this board and I think Marc does a great job of moderating. But, the "royal we" is a bit dated. The current style being taught is to avoid any sort of pronoun and state your opinion as a simple declarative statement (e.g., "We/I think the sixers would be better off with..." vs. "The sixers would be better off with...").

But I can certainly see how someone who was trained as a journalist would use that formulaic. Its just the way they were taught. It does stand out a bit since the grammatic rules on blogs tend to be more relaxed, but ultimately its really not something to get excited about.

By the way Marc, i know i don't proofread my posts and don't capitalize or use proper punctuation, so please dont take these musings the wrong way...

If Shawn Marion picks up his player option for $17 mil for next season, Udonis Haslem may be available. 12 pts/9 boards per. Not huge numbers, but he's tough, plays hard every minute, and would have Sammy's back. I like Collison more (two inches taller and 20 lbs heavier). But at least the 6ers should have some affordable options for a 4.

Guys, with the Orlando GM saying that the team is still interested in acquiring a big man 4 so that Rashard Lewis can play his natural 3 position, why not ship them Reggie Evans for expiring contracts?

Trading his $4.3M salary for expiring contracts, which Orlando has plenty of, would give the 76ers between $14.3M and $16.3M in room under the cap (the $2M is a projected amount that the NBA salary cap has went up the past few years).

The amount of $16.3M is enough to: (A)Sign C. Maggette and Ronny Turiaf to free agent deals (B) Make a legitimate run at Josh Smith (C) allow Stefanski to trade for a legitimate starting 4.

I still believe Orlando is the team that would probably have the most need for an Andre Miller/Reggie Evans package. They have the expiring contracts, number 1 picks and young prospects (3-point shooter J.J. Redick and PF Fran Vansquez) that Stefanski has talked about that he'd need in any deal for Miller.

However, I would understand the logic of holding on to Miller's $10M expiring contract for next year only if he would be a part of something bigger, like the Pau Gasol highway robbery that took place or the KG deal. Still, I think the ultimate for Stefanski would be if you could have $20M in cap room going into the summer and 4 no. 1 picks over the next two years.

Your thoughts?