How to Partially Fix the 76ers
It was oddly enough that only ten years ago, the Philadelphia 76ers were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and the entire NBA. God, what has happened to this team? Well, even God would say it is pretty clear to see. A poor trade to obtain Chris Webber, long contracts handed out to players like Willie Green, Samuel Dalembert, Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala, the pickup of a horrible GM in Ed Stefanski, so many coaching changes, and an even poorer decision to choose Elton Brand over Josh Smith. Well, there is no simple fix to turn the ship around. Honestly, I think Stefanski is the first person that needs to go, but we shall continue on as if he is here to stay.
In layman's terms, we basically need to start from scratch and that means ridding the team of all the large contracts. If I am going to be true to the title of my blog, "Back to Reality", then it is obvious that no one is going to take Brand's contract. It has come to the point where he is coming off our bench and he is only have a good game maybe once a week. So he is here to stay! Getting rid of Eddie Jordan is not going to do anything either. I would just keep him here through the transition and then go after a great coach when his contract is up or one year away.
The first two players that need to go are Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert. Lets face it, Andre has not lived up to the hype as being our number one guy. However, he would be a great second man or third man to an already good team with a proven leader. Sammy has picked it up as of late with Iverson helping out, but he is still owed another twelve million next year and then we will lose him in free agency. Why not try to free up the money now while he is looking faily good to say the least.
And so we have come to the part where we discuss a trade. So who out there could take on these contracts, have a use for these players, and give the Sixers players with one year contracts and large contracts to lose this summer. Well, I propose a three team trade that will help out 2 potential playoff teams and the lowly Sixers. Let me also say I know the Sixers are surprisingly only about seven games out from the eighth playoff spot, but lets face reality again. Why make it in to only lose in the first round and lose a decent draft position. So now, let me propose the three team trade, which I might add works financially!
The 3 teams involved include...Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, and Chicago Bulls
76ers Get:
Tracy McGrady (from Houston)
Jerome James (from Bulls)
Bulls Get:
Shane Battier (from Rockets)
Rockets Get:
Andre Iguodala (from 76ers)
Samuel Dalembert (from 76ers)
Jannero Pargo (from Bulls)
Let me start for the 76ers perspective. We would attain two players who we have no use in keeping after this season. The point is to start building cap space and use it for players that will better fit the system and the younger players in place. When adding up the money, after this season, we would be saving 29.4 million. In order to do this, we would be taking on only 3 million for the rest of this season, but the amount we would be saving is amazing!
For the Rockets, it is somewhat a gamble, but not too much. They are lacking a true center and Dalembert helps them out for the rest of the season. After this season, he will have only one more year left on his contract which may be good if Yao is not quite ready. Even if he is, remember, you only got Sammy for one year and that's a nice backup for anybody. Andre would replace Battier. At this point in Battier's career, he is mainly there for defense and he is only scoring ten points. Andre would give Houston the same if not better defense that Battier was giving them. In addition, Andre gives them some more scoring which always helps. Pargo is thrown in for two reason. One, for financial reasons on behalf of Chicago. Secondly, Houston could use another guard off the bench. The only guards they use will be Lowry, Iguodala, and Brooks. Ariza is used more as a small forward or now Andre could be used as a small forward and use Ariza as a guard. Either way there are only three guards and Pargo would give them the extra guard they need off the bench.
For Chicago, they currently hold the eighth playoff spot and they could easily more up a spot or two. They lose not much in Pargo with all the guards they have (Hinrich, Hunter, Salmons, Rose) and certainly nothing in Jerome James, other than losing the chance to have 6 million to use in free agency. In that case, think of Battier as their free agent pick...not too bad. Battier will give them a little more defense which is needed against the high scoring teams. They get him for a reasonable 6 million and the rest for this season and next.
And now back to the 76ers. You enter the free agency with some money to spend. You also probably do not have a great record, so you have a decent draft pick in the top ten. You must now center the team around young players like Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, and Mareese Speights. Brand will still be there, but there is not much we can do there now is there? Kapono leaves and saves us another 6 million and Ivey saves yet another million. So looking at the roster for next year, you have Williams, Young, Speights, Brand, Jason Smith (last year), Willie Green (last year), Jrue Holiday. You then are left with the question of do you bring back Iverson? Well, lets save that for another time. So all in all, you have some nice young talent and you have about 37 million dollars off your team from the team you have now. Soon to come will be my thoughts on free agency and what player to look for in the draft.
