With the Elton Brand albatross of a contact hanging over a franchise that is still trying to get over the one-year Eddie Jordan Era, the Sixers needed something…anything. And, they got a big something on Tuesday night, as they won one of the only two prizes that mattered in the 2010 Draft Lottery. There is a national consensus that has dubbed this draft a two-man draft, so the two winners were the Wizards and the Sixers. John Wall will almost assuredly be a Wizard, leaving the Sixers with Evan Turner, who is apparently friends with current Sixer, Andre Iguodala. That will be great for him to catch up with Andre…when they play against each other next year.
That is to say that as we welcome in the newest “face of the franchise” here in Philly, it’s time to say what is, in my opinion, a long-overdue farewell to the current face of the Sixers. Iggy, who has undeniable athletic ability, is just not a winning player. He made a nice jump from college athlete to pro basketball player. There was even a time when I thought he could be a superstar in this league, but he just unable (or refuses to) improve on the aspects of his game upon which he must improve to become a star, namely jump-shooting and consistent effort defensively. For this Sixers team, as currently constructed, to play its best ball, Iguodala has to be able to play the 2-guard. But, he can’t (or won’t). But, you know who can? Evan Turner.
So, here is what Ed Stefanski has to do (ya know, after hiring Doug Collins, which is pretty much a foregone conclusion, at this point): draft Turner, trade Iggy (and possibly Louis Williams), and plan for three years down the line, building around a solid nucleus of a young, big, athletic foursome of Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, and Marreese Speights. Plus (unfortunately), there is no reason to think that they won’t be in the lottery again next year, so nab your future big man in the 2011 draft. This sounds like a playoff team again in 2013, but more importantly, the team will be immediately interesting again, for the first time since the original A.I.
Yeah, that was so huge. They really just needed something, anything, positive to happen. They were slotted at the #6 pick, which would have been almost disastrous. Most experts were saying it would be Cole Aldrich at that pick, which would just be not good enough. As soon as we got into the top 3, I was thrilled. I would’ve been really happy with grabbing Favors at 3, even. But I love getting Turner. Absolutely proven at the college level, unselfish, athletic, great size for a 2-guard, good guy.
Agreed, you guys did well. Congrats.
As for the Lebron speculation, every jackass in America has been throwing in their two sense. I’m a jackass. I live in America. So here’s mine:
No Shot (NJ Nets, LA Clippers) — The clips have been awful forever, their owner is a RI-tard, and Lebron doesn’t go out there to compete for the spotlight with Kobe who would unquestionably have the better team, and play much more difficult West opponents on his way to the NBA Finals. The Sports Guy described this as the “Fredo Corrleone move,” and I wholeheartedly agree. 100-1
There is an argument that can be made for the Nets — brand new arena, exciting new owner, Jay Z owns part of the team, fairly good young nucleaus despite their record plus a high draft pick…but there are two reasons this never happens. First, if you’re going to make this move, you sign a 3 year deal with the cavs and play the “I love playing here but I’m not commiting long-term because I want to be sure ownership continues to be motivated to build around me” card. The Nets don’t move to Brooklyn for two years, so that gives you time to try and win a ring for Cleveland (and if you don’t you have the perfect excuse to leave “the window is closing!”), you never have to play in NJ otherwise known as the arm pit of the world, and you can see how their talent develops and how their new owner does before committing. Second, if you come to NY, you play in Madison Square Garden, not Brooklyn (where the hell is Brooklyn anyway, out near lodai NJ?) don’t you? 75-1
A Puncher’s Chance (NY Knicks)
Let’s imagine the knicks wet dream scenario: getting Lebron and Bosh. You have to let David Lee go and basically use up all your cap space to get that done (although, you do get more next year when Eddy the Fat Man Curry comes off the books). Next season, your starting five looks like: Duhon; Galinari, Lebron, Bosh, and Earl Barron; with Eddie house, Wilson Chandler, and the rest of a pu-pu platter coming off the bench. Is that team so much better than the Cavs as currently constructed or the Magic, Celtics, Suns, Mavs, Suns, Spurs, or Lakers? It’s definitely a playoff team, no doubt about that, but I’m not sure it’s a team that will dominate in the playoffs. Obviously, they’d try to use the Curry cap space to fill out the parts the next year but that’s no guarantee and if you’re Lebron and you can write your own ticket, isn’t that what you’re looking for…as much of a guarantee as possible? Also, if you come to NY, you have to play for James Jimmy Dean Sausage Dolan, one of the most embarrasing owners in all of sports. It IS madison Square Garden and a chance to gain immortality be rescuing the Knicks, but it’s really hard for me to see this happening, especially because it depends on getting Bosh too which is far from likely. 50-1
The Dark Horse (Mia)
As for the heat, on paper they have a lot going for them, Miami is an awesome city and they already have Wade. But with Wade and Lebron they’ll have no cap room either, making it hard to fill out the rest of the roster, so you’re basically sinking everything into a Jordan/Pippen type-play. Plus, I think you’d have alpha dog issues eventually (playing together for a few days in the olympics was fun…for a whole season?) and Miami, while a great city, is not a great basketball city. The fans show up late (as would you if you had their weather) and are tepid at best when they do get there. I’m not discounting it because I think Miami is the dark horse in this race, but for now, I ain’t buying it. 15-1
The favs (Cle, Chi)
Chicago might be the “best” move. Good YOUNG nucleaus in Rose, Noah, Deng et al making a dynasty a possibility, cap space, ability to pick the next coach, good combination of a big city but not an overly scrutinizing media, stable competent ownership/management, close to his hometown, all positive things except…there are three words that make this a hard move to make: “Michael Jefferson Jordan.” If he goes to Chicago, do the Jordan comparisons EVER stop? Setting yourself up to being compared to the best player ever who won all of those championships — making that the “benchmark” of success, it’s almost like setting yourself up for failure. Even if he gets his ring, won’t the questions be why not 6 like Michael? Still a great possibility, but the Jordan factor is an issue for me. Will it be for him? 2-1
The Cavs — They don’t have the horses to get it done right now, they don’t have a lot of room to add pieces, and Lebron was visibly frustrated with the coach in the playoffs. Not good signs. But it is his hometown, he can pick the next coach, and make whatever personnel changes he wants. He knows all the players, he’s comfortable in the city , and bringing a championship to Cleveland would probably rank second in reaction after the Knicks. Plus, he gets to stay the good guy who was loyal to his hometown as opposed to being the hired gun who left for greener pastures and devastated an entire city in the process. I think the smart basketball move is to leave for chicago, but is Chicago SO much better basketball wise to make it (the MJ comparisons, the hired gun criticisms) worth it? To me, that’s the real question in all of this. 2-1
I like the analysis, Stri. I heard or read somewhere of the possibility that Lebron might stay in Cleveland, but only sign a 3-year deal. That seems to make a lot of sense to me. He’s still only 25. By signing a 3-year deal in Cleveland, he’s saying to the team, “You have a couple more years to find the one more piece we need to get it done.” And he’s saying the fans and the city, “I have unfinished business here, I’m not bailing on you.” Then in 3 years, he’s still only 28, with probably 5 superhuman years still left in the tank. If he still doesn’t have a ring, he can say, “I gave it all I could here, it’s time to move on”, and it would be kind of hard to fault him at that point. And, even if he DOES get a ring, he can say, “It’s been great, I achieved my goal of bringing a ring to Cleveland, now I’m going for a new experience (or whatever)”. He would catch some flak for that, but how pissed could you really be if your a Cavs fan at that point? The guy gave 10 years of some the best play the world’s ever seen, and ended your LONG championship drought. Then he can go to NY or LA, and if he wins another title there, he’s cemented his legacy and definitely achieved the “global icon” status he’s looking for.
Yeah, those are good points Doogan. In fact, it’s probably what I would do if I were him.
Werd on the street, ummm, I mean espn is reporting, that the Sixers are “leaning” toward Favors not Turner with the #2 pick. Either it’s just the sixers spreading misinformation or obviously they’re thinking…well I don’t know what the hell they’re thinking.
Good day! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before but after going through a few of the articles I realized it’s new to
me. Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I stumbled upon
it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!