Uh Oh

Sorry its been a while - with Michigan losing and absolutely nothing going on in the Association while the players and execs are on vacation, there's not much to say. So I'm not saying it.

Training camp starts in 3 weeks (Oct. 2)...and this was not a good report this morning by Phil J. in the people paper about Sam Dalembert's left foot having a stress fracture.


Here are some other headlines we might see in the coming weeks and months:

• "Dalembert struggling with conditioning"
• "Dalembert continues to have left foot trouble"
• "Dalembert suffers hamstring injury"
• "'I'm shutting it down': Dalmebert"
• "Dalembert has microfracture surgury on ailing left foot, status for 2008 uncertain"

I hope Sammy stays well and doesn't push himself until he's ready (and the staff doesn't let him play...a note to Billy and Mo - guys...please don't hurt Sammy to the point where his contract strangles the cap and the team - if he has to sit out all year to be healthy, so be it!!!!).

I'm not going to lie to you either - I'm excited to see what Young and Williams are going to look like in training camp...to quote Ken Hitchcock, it'd be great if they took a "bigger bite" out of the team than we expect.

Phil Jasner

I was re-reading some news and ran across this article that Phil Jasner wrote. Billy King's quotes are very telling.



(I love that "look")

More Musings..

First, a big thanks to all the new readers...I really hope everyone comes here for their 76ers information and opinion. My goal is to make this your "Sixers Homepage"...to that, please take advantage of the links on the right --->...if there is a link that you use that isn't there, let me know!

76bigshot@gmail.com

Onto the real stuff...

I was looking at the Sixers Salary Cap ... we all know what it looks like, but to look at it this summer with the salaries lined up it takes on a different form than it might have recently.

There's been a lot of conjecture about what Andre Iguodala is going to cost the team against the cap when his first contract is up - after this season - after what has happened w/ Rashard Lewis and his insane contract.

If you figure the cap remains at 54 million-ish for the next few years, being conservative, the sixers will be at $35 million with AI's existing 3.8 million. That should give them plenty of room to overpay slightly but not blow their cap room up. They would still have over 10 million dollars under the cap, a midlevel exception, and Andre Millers expiring 10 million dollar contract to move.

The other good aspect, to me at least, is that most of the young talent, with the exception being Louis Williams, is locked into low salaries for the next three years. The only albatross is Dalembert, but he's 7 feet tall, blocks shots and is very very very slowly improving.

After the cap situation is flexible, the team will have a good read on all the talent (as it will have played quality minutes in 2007-8) and can make a decision about which direction to go. They will also not win more than 35 games this season, which should yield another high pick in a relatively strong draft.

What if Thad Young is better than we think? What is Louis Williams has to play big minutes because Andre Miller pulls a hamstring and is just good? They could both stink too....point being that Billy King & Co. can make those decisions with more data and their backs not up against the wall with the cap.

Sixers Not Contending for any Free Agents

I was contemplating how I would feel if the Sixers landed Darko this morning...I decided it would probably be the last straw for many fans. I'd be scratching my head too...he doesn't do anything to help and will he develop into a starter?

Luckily, I read this little piece on SI.com basically stating the Sixers weren't contention for any of the crap left on the table, to which I say "GOOD!"

Darko Update

According to Phil Jasner, the 76ers continue to pursue Darko.

I would think that if Larry Brown is in any way associated with the Sixers, which I guess he still is currently, there is no chance that you'll see Darko in Philly. He won't come. I'm not even sure he'd help....what does he give you that Sammy D. and Jason Smith don't? I'd rather have Joe Smith.

I also think that someone will offer much more money than the Sixers will.

We're talkin...summer league

Ugh.

So I'm going to free-flow some thought of the past week and hopefully it will make sense.

The draft overall...Man was I and the rest of you upset with the draft. Fuming. I was sure that Julian Wright was going to play for the sixers...check the record. This is not Thad Young's fault. I'll say it again - while he wasn't the top player on the board according to Jay Bilas, it was obvious this is the guy they were going to take if they couldn't move up to get Yi.

Yi! Jeez...he still might be a Sixer, but at what cost? He was the guy they were chasing? He can rebound? Can Yi adjust to the NBA like Yao did from a mental standpoint? Yao struggles his first few seasons...which Thad Young is going to do.

On to Mr. Young...I'm not sure that you can equate a year in college at Georgia Tech comparable to Ohio State, Florida, or Texas...they actually make you study at Georgia Tech. A few more things I like about Young - the fact that he's still growing, maybe not so much from a height perspective (although he thinks he can grow another 2 inches) but from a weight perspective. He has a body like Scottie Pippen. Pippen was a QTip when he came into the league and developed about 25 lbs of muscle and was a huge physical mismatch on the wing. Young was the #3 player coming out of high school behind Oden and Durant....remember that 3 Florida players stayed in school, Jeff Green kinda came out of no where, and there was a backlog of good top end players. I'm trying to tell myself that they saw a higher end Andre Igoudala who could be a leader in 5 years.

I like Jason Smith pick, but why did they have to move up? For those of you who would have rather had Dequan Cook...he won't be productive for a few years. Maybe 5.

I understand why they traded down per se; you don't want three guaranteed contracts when you can get a player one pick down who isn't committed We at 76bigshot feel that the salary cap comes before almost anything unless it concerns a high end young superstar. I like Byers but I really don't know about Herbert Hill...I hope McRoberts doesn't turn into something. Honestly though I've never gotten a 2nd round pick right so why should I have this year.

I'm not expecting much before or during the season...maybe a swap here or there to fiddle with the roster. but unless a fight breaks out with a team and player

So what do we have? Not what I expected.

A first round pick next year and the opening of the cap...It's tough to put all your eggs in those baskets.

I'm not hiding!

I just don't know what to write yet.

I think we were ALL a little disappointed we didn't get a top 8 pick.

I think there's a chance Yi will still be coming to Philly.

I'm glad we're not the Celtics or the Knicks.

I think, reviewing all that I wrote over the past 3 months about this draft, that Thad Young is going to be better than we all think. Maybe just not in December 2007.

I'll have more.....later.

Oh, and a BIG TIME welcome to all the readers from Sixers for Guidos and Pride and Passion!

Looking forward to sharing the upcoming season with everyone!

Billy King's Contract

I'm just getting back from a long weekend out of the muck and filth of the city and listening to one of the worst crossovers in the history of radio - Sandy Penner > Paul Jolovitz. I was stuck between two old girlfriends last night at a party and that sounded more appealing than these two tools.




But I digress...

Much like the college football season, there is a lot of hand=wringing about the status of the current GM of the Sixers, Billy King. Folks, he's not going anywhere...why? I can't tell you why (thanks Glen Frye) other than I think Mr. Snider is going to keep King for another few years (at least 3). I can't tell you why they don't end the college football season with a playoff like every other sport in the world. I just accept it and not let it stop me from enjoying the sport.

Tomorrow we'll dig into the whats whys and hows of what this season might look like.

One final note - should be an interesting summer league...Usually the results mean absolutely nothing, but the list of players who are going all have something to prove quickly for roster spots.

• 4 Derrick Byars G/F 6-7 220 4/25/84 R Vanderbilt
• 11 Bobby Jones F 6-7 215 1/9/84 1 Washington
• 14 Jason Smith C/F 7-0 240 3/2/86 R Colorado State
• 20 Louis Amundson F 6-9 225 12/7/82 1 UNLV
• 21 Edin Bavcic F 6-10 230 6/5/84 R Bosnia
• 23 Louis Williams G 6-1 175 10/27/86 2 South Gwinnett HS (Ga.)
• 25 Rodney Carney F 6-7 205 4/15/84 1 Memphis
• 30 Thaddeus Young F 6-8 220 6/21/88 R Georgia Tech
• 35 Herbert Hill F/C 6-10 240 10/1/84 R Providence
• 42 Shavlik Randolph F 6-10 240 11/24/83 3 Duke

McRoberts

If Billy King wants to take him at 38, I have no problem with that. He's a big guy with good hands and can run.

Hypothesis

With all the Sean Williams talk, might the 76ers try to move both up and down? For example, trade to get #6 or #8 and take picks lower in the draft? Next years draft will not be as top heavy as this one, so trading a future pick could be a possibility in an attempt to move up as Chad Ford says below.

Yes Stephen A., we are optimistic.



Billy King's job is on the line tonight...I have confidence in him. I think he has a firm idea of what he wants and what he can do and will leave no stone unturned. Will he make the best decision? That I don't know. I thought Bobby Hurley Jr. was a surefire 12 year point guard. We all thought Kyle Korver and Willie Green were just chances on good college players. Could Dequan Cook be the next Gilbert Arenas or Rashard Lewis? Who's going to be left in the green room until 11pm?

Good Luck BK.

Chad Ford Last Gasp

Interesting note from his mock draft today (we hear at The Promised Land had this nailed a few days ago):

One trade scenario has the Sixers trading No. 12, No. 21 and a future first-round pick to Milwaukee for No. 6, with the Sixers then selecting Green -- the guy (along with Yi) they covet the most in the draft. The other had the Mavs offering Devin Harris for No. 6.

C's not moving

Danny Ainge said "we're sticking at 5".

Billy King is hoping he doesn't like Jeff Green.

Chad Ford Update (T Minus 27 hours)

Thanks Chad!

• The Bobcats are telling teams they'll make a decision sometime today on what to do with the No. 8 pick. As we discussed on Monday, they have been shopping this pick hard for the past several weeks and collected five to six legitimate offers for the pick.

Andy Katz reported last night that the Suns were one of the teams in the mix to get No. 8. That explains why they had Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Jeff Green in on Tuesday. And why they'll get Brandan Wright and Al Thornton in today.

However, a source says the Suns are not the front-runners to get the pick. Several other teams are offering better deals for No. 8, including the Sixers (offering No. 12 and No. 21), Warriors (offering Monta Ellis and No. 18), Grizzlies (???) and one mystery team that the source refused to disclose.

• The Sixers are also talking with the Bucks about a deal that could get them the No. 6 pick in the draft. They'd likely use the pick on Yi Jianlian, if he's still there.

Billy King Quote

King said there were three to four scenarios in which the Sixers could move up. He then offered yet another rumor that he read on ESPN.com: If Milwaukee at No. 6 doesn't get the players it wants, the Bucks might be willing to deal that choice for the Sixers' 12th and 21st picks.

After delivering this rumor, King smiled.

His thoughts?

"No comment."

Marc Narducci Article

The thought here is that if they get that #6 pick, they'll take Jeff Green.

Vanilla Gorilla Update

Thanks to Promised Land reader Cecil for passing this story about Matt Geiger along....Thanks Larry and Billy for the big contract!

Moving Up

With so much speculation around the Sixers moving up, I thought it might be prudent to see what it would take - from other teams to tango. Listening to WIP LATE NIGHT last night and hearing the calls Big Daddy took, a lot of fans had some great trades. Unfortunately, Al Horford and Mike Conley aren't coming together to play with Andre Igoudala in exchange for two low picks and Andre Miller.



Having said that:

5. Boston

Seems the Celtics need...to sell tickets. They're becoming a non-entity in Boston and New England with the Red Sox and Patriots having premeire players and winning championships. That's why you're hearing Jermaine O'Neal and Kevin Garnett's names being floated. I really can't see either of those guys showing up to training camp on the first day in Waltham, MA. I also don't expect Danny Ainge and Billy King to make a trade to improve each other directly as they are in the same division. The C's big tradeable assets are the #5 pick and Al Jefferson. Jefferson is unknown to me, I don't know that he's a winning player on a winning team yet....the #5 pick is good for a 10 year starter.

Odds of 76ers getting this pick: 10/1

6. Milwaukee

The Bucks have some good assets to build around and can score a Jeff Green, Corey Brewer or Yi to really help their team in the short and long run. They would also hop on Mike Conley in a heartbeat. The bottom line is if they're going to trade, they'd have to get a player back who will immediately contribute and a good pick. I guess the Sixers would trade Andre Miller, but they might be able to get the player at 6 that they would at 8.

Odds of Trade: 7/1

7. Minnesota

Owner Glen Taylor seems to have gotten the hint; its ok to make $20 million a season in Minnesota as long as the team is good. Now that the team stinks, and its Minnesota and not Phoenix or LA or Miami, the $20 million comes "with strings". Thats why he's directly involved in getting KG out of Minnesota by Labor Day. With a Mega Star and a high draft pick, count on Minnesota doing SOMETHING, maybe not with the Sixers, but maybe through another team.

Odds of Trade: 3/1

8. Charlotte

In Charlotte, they care about one thing - Making $$$$! They have no veterans. They have no leadership. They have an owner, Robert Johnson, who is notoriously cheap. They're GM, Michael Jordan, stinks. They played at the league minimum last year - and would have gone lower if they could. If there's a way to get younger (read: cheaper), they'll do it.

Odds of Trade: 2/1

9. Chicago from New York

Ah Zeke...always helping others. Chicago will trade to get the right front court player. The Sixers don't have that player. Garnett might be that player. They'll trade young players to get some low post scoring, and they have the players to trade. I'd trade the #12 pick for Luol Deng or Kirk Heinrich (not happening).

Odds of Trade: 5/1



Bottom line - I think they can move up to 8, maybe 7. That gives them a lot more options than 12 does. It would take both picks and maybe a player.

Andre Miller - He Ain't Goin' Nowhere

Speculation is rampant that Andre Miller is on the move - we here at The Promised Land are against that ... good news is so is Billy King.

From today's Newsday:

Philadelphia 76ers GM Billy King, who has three first-round picks Thursday, has publicly shot down speculation that he's considering trading point guard Andre Miller and the 12th pick to Atlanta for the third selection. The Hawks, perennially inept on draft day, also are said to be considering a deal for Portland's Zach Randolph.

Al Thorton

Looks like Billy King and the brass won't let Al Thorton slip past 12. I guess I wouldn't have a problem with that...but...what problems does he solve?

Was he the best player on the court last year when the 'noles played the Gators? Yes.

Is he old, meaning that the 76ers will pay lower dollars for a more mature possible starter? Yes.

Is he better than Rodney Carney? Probably.

Will he solve the low post dilemma? I don't know...and thats what worries me about him.

Will he rebound? I think so.

Can he play defense? When they say the knock on him is "consistency", I read that as "defense".

D.A.

Is it just me or is it a treat to have David Aldridge writing about the hometown 15? He did a great job this morning of summing up where Billy King is.

Mr. Snider showed faith in Paul Holmgren...it seems to be paying off. Because of the nature of the beast, King's rebuilding should take about 2 years, but the results MUST be evident or he'll start to feel the heat in the one way Mr. Snider will pay attention to - season tickets and luxury boxes revenue.

Also, Bill Simmons is doing a podcast; great chat with Rick Bucher about what the NBA is all about in 2007.

Top 11 + 2

Interesting note in an article by Marc Narducci about where Billy King sees the draft moving:

King has mentioned that, through the conversations with teams and agents, he thinks there are two players who could be selected in the first 11 who aren't on the Sixers' top 11 list.

Marc Narducci Article

Looking at the top 11 from Chad Ford's List (Link), and from information gleaned from....no where, you'd have to think that Yi and Thorton are the two guys who would be "out". Just a hunch.

1. Greg Oden
2. Kevin Durant
3. Al Horford
4. Yi Jianlian
5. Brandan Wright
6. Corey Brewer
7. Jeff Green
8. Mike Conley
9. Julian Wright
10. Al Thornton
11. Joakim Noah