Welcome to a new section I've wanted to start here. It's the place to just spew random facts about the Sixers that people may or may not know but that are interesting. At least I think so. Here goes...
The Sixers, in the past 4 years, have had six former #1 overall draft picks on their roster. SIX. The best (rather worst) part is that it's so far led to absolutely nothing for them. Now Elton Brand certainly has the chance to change all that but for now the individuals are as follows (preceded by draft year):
1991 - Derrick Coleman
1993 - Chris Webber
1994 - Glenn Robinson*
1995 - Joe Smith*
1996 - Allen Iverson
1999 - Elton Brand*
* denotes they were Naismith Award winners (NCAA National Player of the Year). This truly is amazing. Look at it! I fully understand it's tough to loop Brand in with this given that he has not played a game yet but he fits the bill as well so he needs to be on the list. Also, digging into it a bit more, Iverson and Smith grew up in the same area and were on the same AAU team. What a team that must have been.
Also, there have been a couple #1 overall-pick-combos to play together....and win a title together. Duncan and Robinson is one. Jabbar, Magic, and Worthy is another. The Sixers have had combos of Iverson-Coleman, Iverson-Robinson, Iverson-Webber, and a short-lived Webber-Smith to speak of but no titles within that. Maybe Elton Brand will stand alone on the list and win it without the help of another #1 overall pick? Why not, it hasn't worked for the Sixers to combine them so far.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Sixers Actually DO Sign Iguodala
All those reports.......true indeed. Nice to have him locked up and we can move forward and prepare for what hopes to be a big year. I like how Iguodala wants to justify the contract so let's see him prove it. With Brand here, it might be hard for him to be a 20pts, 5rebs, 5ast guy since the scoring will be shared but it's still possible. Either way, just contribute to WINS and everyone will be happy.
On another note, the Sixers have also added Theo Ratliff to the frontcourt. 7 years later he returns! Undoubtedly not the same man we traded away for Mutombo in 2001 but nonetheless a serviceable player who is a worthy (and cheap) addition.
On another note, the Sixers have also added Theo Ratliff to the frontcourt. 7 years later he returns! Undoubtedly not the same man we traded away for Mutombo in 2001 but nonetheless a serviceable player who is a worthy (and cheap) addition.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sixers Reportedly Sign Iguodala
Several sources have indicated that the Sixers have agreed to terms with Andre Iguodala. Of course this is what pretty much every Sixers fan wants to see. It has not, however, been confirmed by Sixers' President Ed Stefanski, nor by Iguodala's agent. They say there is no word but judging by the old adage "where there's smoke, there's fire", this deal seems done.
Let's assume for the sake of argument that the deal is in fact complete. Iguodala signs for about $13 million per year. This team just got a lot more expensive but it's nothing to cry over. You can't expect to build a quality team for cheap (see: Boston), but you also can't expect that spending money brings you a championship (see: New York). I believe the Sixers are spending the money wisely by investing in guys they drafted and developed (Iguodala, Williams, Young, Dalembert) and supplementing them with quality veterans who can fill important roles and lead (Miller, Brand, and to some extent Evans). The loss of Smith hurts but if Speights can continue to develop, he might be a nice surprise. Plus, you can shuffle the lineup to go small and tough by bumping up Iguodala and Young and sliding Williams or Green in. The best thing about this signing of Iguodala is that the team can move on and just focus on the upcoming year without distractions.
I heard an interesting proposal brought up by a friend the other day who asked if I would trade Iguodala straight up for Michael Redd. First, take a second to reflect on what your initial reaction is to that. Done? You probably are like me and don't have a strong initial reaction. You know Redd is a good player who has outside range but you wonder what he'd do for the Sixers. He has never worked in a fluid offense with a great point guard so it's hard to compare him to the luxuries that Iguodala has, but still there are some takeaways from comparing. First off, Iguodala actually shoots better overall from the field even though he averages a touch less points. Iguodala is better at rebounding mostly because of his size but they are probably the same type of passer. Redd obviously shoots better from beyond the arc (even though he really frustrates me when he insists on firing up shots while in a funk) but not by a significant margin. The reason there is Iguodala chooses his 3-pointers better since he doesn't have a dead-on quick release shot. The other main factor is that Iguodala's defense is better in every way. He is stronger, gets more steals, has more length to break up passing lanes, wreaks more "havoc", and generally is assigned the toughest player on the other team. So just like you probably thought, the jury is still out for me. Redd would probably add some better perimeter shooting and do well in a system with Miller at the point (giving us a true SG), but could it outweigh the obvious downgrade on defense for a team that plays the perimeter tough? Could the Sixers survive games against Boston, LA, or Cleveland with Iguodala not there to hassle Pierce, Kobe, or LeBron? Tough to say. I'm willing to give Iguodala this year, as the clear second option we've said he is, to show us his true value and benefit for the team before I rush to decide on dealing him.
Let's assume for the sake of argument that the deal is in fact complete. Iguodala signs for about $13 million per year. This team just got a lot more expensive but it's nothing to cry over. You can't expect to build a quality team for cheap (see: Boston), but you also can't expect that spending money brings you a championship (see: New York). I believe the Sixers are spending the money wisely by investing in guys they drafted and developed (Iguodala, Williams, Young, Dalembert) and supplementing them with quality veterans who can fill important roles and lead (Miller, Brand, and to some extent Evans). The loss of Smith hurts but if Speights can continue to develop, he might be a nice surprise. Plus, you can shuffle the lineup to go small and tough by bumping up Iguodala and Young and sliding Williams or Green in. The best thing about this signing of Iguodala is that the team can move on and just focus on the upcoming year without distractions.
I heard an interesting proposal brought up by a friend the other day who asked if I would trade Iguodala straight up for Michael Redd. First, take a second to reflect on what your initial reaction is to that. Done? You probably are like me and don't have a strong initial reaction. You know Redd is a good player who has outside range but you wonder what he'd do for the Sixers. He has never worked in a fluid offense with a great point guard so it's hard to compare him to the luxuries that Iguodala has, but still there are some takeaways from comparing. First off, Iguodala actually shoots better overall from the field even though he averages a touch less points. Iguodala is better at rebounding mostly because of his size but they are probably the same type of passer. Redd obviously shoots better from beyond the arc (even though he really frustrates me when he insists on firing up shots while in a funk) but not by a significant margin. The reason there is Iguodala chooses his 3-pointers better since he doesn't have a dead-on quick release shot. The other main factor is that Iguodala's defense is better in every way. He is stronger, gets more steals, has more length to break up passing lanes, wreaks more "havoc", and generally is assigned the toughest player on the other team. So just like you probably thought, the jury is still out for me. Redd would probably add some better perimeter shooting and do well in a system with Miller at the point (giving us a true SG), but could it outweigh the obvious downgrade on defense for a team that plays the perimeter tough? Could the Sixers survive games against Boston, LA, or Cleveland with Iguodala not there to hassle Pierce, Kobe, or LeBron? Tough to say. I'm willing to give Iguodala this year, as the clear second option we've said he is, to show us his true value and benefit for the team before I rush to decide on dealing him.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Williams Locked Up For 5 Years
The Sixers resigned Louis Williams to a 5-year deal yesterday that shook out to about $25 million in total. I love this deal. Williams wanted to return so I don't think negotiations were tough and from the looks of it, we might have gotten a bargain. Lou was drafted in the late second round and billed as a project, that it would be a couple years until we got a return on him. Last year, he emerged as a nice player for the Sixers and showed he still has a lot of potential. To lock him up now for 5 years at about $5 million per year is great. Hopefully he continues to develop and this contract will look like a steal. We did a great thing by locking him up while there were no real outside threats and before he really broke out. Some people might say it's expensive now but just think about the deal we gave Dalembert at a similar point in his career. This also ensures he will be around for a while and probably be a major player for years to come.
Next order of business is resigning Iguodala which will likely cost us much more. Seeing as how Luol Deng and Emeka Okafor resigned in the neighborhood of $12 million a year, we will probably have to offer Andre a contract in that range. I was hoping to get away with giving him $10 million per year but he's worth keeping at that small uptick.
Next order of business is resigning Iguodala which will likely cost us much more. Seeing as how Luol Deng and Emeka Okafor resigned in the neighborhood of $12 million a year, we will probably have to offer Andre a contract in that range. I was hoping to get away with giving him $10 million per year but he's worth keeping at that small uptick.
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