PCP Sports

by John Ryan

With the annual NBA draft just days away, here are some of my thoughts on what the 76ers should be doing to fix their current roster. As it’s currently constructed, the 76ers have a glut of power forwards (Elton Brand, Maurresse Speights, Jason Smith), their two best players playing the same position (Thad Young and Iggy both are 3’s), and have no legit point guard on the roster. Side Note: Louis Williams is NOT a point guard, but he will start there if not better option is found in the draft or free agency.

1.)    Trade Samuel Dalembert at all costs: Yes, even if it means taking the talked about rumor of Radmonovich and Nazr Mohammed’s corpse. It adds money in the short term, but it fixes a few problems:  1.) It gives you another shooting option besides Jason Kapono. Vlad Rad has always been a good shooter, it’s just that recently he is an over paid shooter. 2.) It gives you a back-up big that can still block shots (think about Theo Ratliff’s role on the team last year) and a back-up plan in case Brand just can’t perform as a starting center. 3.) It moves you up 5 slots in a weak draft that is said to have 12 sure fire players, albeit players with no real high upside. The pick they’d get? 12. 4.) While it adds short term money like Kapono did, it doesn’t matter. All the contracts end in two years when Dalembert’s would have ended, and they have no cap space until then anyway. 5.) Dalembert can’t be popular in the locker room: he talks about every coach he has, he’s lazy, and is pretty much ineffective for a team that favors to his playing style.

2.)    Trade Andre Iguodala: Yes, he is one of their best players. Yes, he plays great defense and rebounds and does things that help you win. But NO, he is not a star player in this league and never will be. The NBA is a league where stars win and those are the facts.  Look at the past 20 years and find me a team that won without a proven number one except for 2004 Detroit. Still looking?  Thought so. You probably can’t trade Brand, and you don’t want to trade Thad Young, so who’s left that will get you cap space and some expiring contracts in the short term until more cap space comes in 2011 when there will be some attractive free agents?  A trade that is rumored to involve Elton Brand would be way better. Trade Iguodala to Houston with Dalembert for a combination of Tracy McGrady, (expiring deal in 2010) and a few filler pieces.  The numbers work eventually on ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine with a McGrady/Iguodala swap you just have to get creative and not panic when it looks like your giving up too much.  Remember, it’s as much about the future as it is next season for the 76ers.  They need to start over and sign a legit superstar.  Or draft one in the next two years. With the trade I conjured up they would lose about 15 wins according to John Hollinger and his PER rankings, but that would put them in the top 5 of a much better draft next year and would clear gobs of cap space in the next two years.

3.)    Draft a PG or trade the pick for an up and coming one: Mike Conley Jr. comes to mind, especially if the Grizz select Ricky Rubio (note: they look to be drafting Haseem Thabeet at the moment).  Some other young point guards to consider are: Jared Bayless, Kirk Hinrich (still relatively young), Kyle Lowery, Jordan Farmar (if the Lakers upgrade), Acie Law IV, Rodney Stucky.  Of the potential draftees, I like the following in order:  Ricky Rubio, Jrue Holiday, Johnny Flynn, Brandon Jennings, and Teague.  The Sixers could try and get creative and package any combination of Speights, Iggy, Willie Green, or Dalembert with their pick to move up.  Washington is looking for a veteran to propel them deep into the playoffs next year, and several teams are hunting for size and athleticism in a veteran as opposed to taking a chance on a rookie in a weak lottery class.  This would also create cap flexibility and get the 76ers some young talent to build on.

4.) Trade for a Guard who can shoot and score the ball: This is something of a low priority (not in my opinion, but I get the sense Stefanski thinks so) because they have Iggy there now.  But I would love a trade to the Pistons that worked something like Iggy and some pieces for Rodney Stucky and Richard Hamilton and contract filler. I think the Pistons are looking to unload so how about Iggy and Speights and the #17 for Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and either pieces or a pick.  The Celtics seems suddenly interested in trading Rondo and Allen and would like younger talent and a pick.  Expand to a three team to try and get a higher pick if possible, maybe the Bobs with Dalembert to bring it to 12.  Seems to me these three teams could have a match.