Andre Miller to the Trail Blazers – Don’t Care

Andre Miller Signed with the Trail Blazers

Andre Miller signs a 3 year deal with the Trail Blazers.  Who Cares?  Well, there are some pundits who believe that Miller was a crucial member of the Philadelphia 76ers.  Guess what?  He was a crucial member, moving forward, we really don’t need him.  So, the Sixers enter the season without a true, experienced point guard to lead a young team.  To be honest, I don’t think the Sixers are doing anything this year, so having Miller wouldn’t make a difference.

Let’s discuss his contract – the Sixers offered around 6 million for 1 year, while the Blazers have him for 3 years at 7 million a season.  The main difference is the length of the contract.  The Sixers wanted him for one year in an effort to get Jrue Holiday ready for the big time.  Andre Miller went for security, I don’t blame him.  Here’s what gets me, the Sixers were exploring a sign and trade deal with Miller.  Why didn’t they do it?  They could have signed him to a similar deal the Blazers gave him and then traded him.  They could have gotten something in return.  It probably wouldn’t have been much, but least it would have been something – maybe an expiring contract, some big man depth or even a defensive minded guard.  Oh well. 

What’s important to note is that Miller had very few options, so maybe he really isn’t as good or important as some people think.  I already told you, I don’t think he is all that.

Philly Sports Round-up

Chris Pronger and Paul Holmgren (Getty Images)

Yesterday, the Flyers signed Chris Pronger to the much anticipated and relieving contract extension.  Pronger is now signed for an additional 7 years to play with the Flyers crest on his sweater.  It is interesting to note that Pronger will be in his early 40’s when his contract expires, ensuring him he will finish his career as a Flyer.  The contract terms seem to point to a 5 million cap number for each of the seasons.  There have been some significant differences in the way different media outlets are reporting the numbers.  I have read that if Pronger retires, the Flyers do not have a cap hit for his salary because the deal was signed before he turns 35.  However, some disagree and think that if he retires, the salary will be a cap hit because the deal goes into affect after he turns 35, regardless of when he signed it.  Having Pronger locked into a 5 million cap number for the next few seasons is a huge bonus for the Flyers.  Pronger will be happy in Philadelphia and the Flyers fans will be happy he is here.  When I figure out the actual contract details, I will comment.

The Phillies took an early lead over the Reds yesterday, but failed to finish off the win.  As discussed in yesterday’s blog post, these are the games that the Phillies need to win.  They need to finish games strong and not allow their inconsistency to ruin significant opportunities for wins.  If they come out play well tonight, yesterday’s game might and hopefully be just an anomaly on their road to getting back on track.

All is quiet of the Sixers free agent front.  Andre Miller is holding out for 10 million a season.  The Sixers will pursue negotiating with Miller, but probably will also look at sign and trade deals with him.  I think the Sixers need him back for 2, maybe 3 years.

Aside from the Flyers and Sixers offseason roster updates and Phillies mid season action, things are quiet on the Philadelphia sports scene.  That will change once the Eagles get to training camp.

Flyers Mildly Active in Free Agency – 76ers Quiet

Ian Laperriere - newest Flyers forward

After a busy day on free agency in the NHL and NBA, the Philadelphia teams were only slightly active.  The Flyers signed a back-up goalie, Brian Boucher, to a very salary cap friendly contract.  They also signed Ian Laperriere to a 3 year contract at a cap friendly price.  Laperriere is a forward who plays with grit (a PhilaTude favorite word) and hates to lose.  He will be a solid third or fourth line veteran presence, who can kill penalties and take a strong leadership role.  The rest of the NHL was active, with the Rangers paying an immense amount of cash for an oft-injured Marion Gaborik.  The Canadiens rebuilt their top line by signing Mike Cammelleri, Brian Gionta and trading for Scott Gomez.  The 76ers did nothing, while the rest of the NBA was quiet except for the Pistons signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

The Flyers did lose Mike Knuble to the Washington Capitals.  The Caps paid close to 6 million over two years to Knuble, who is 37 years old.  I wanted the Flyers to resign Knuble, but only because I thought they could do it without giving up too much cash.  The Capitals overpaid for Knuble, I think he is only really worth 4 million over 2 years, which is probably what the Flyers offered him.  While I don’t wish Knuble any bad luck or harm, he is going to significantly miss out on a good Flyers season, similarly like Brian Dawkins who will miss out on an excellent Eagles season.  

The 76ers have announced that it might take some time to sign to Andre Miller.  I guess if he doesn’t sign anywhere else, it makes sense to wait.  Maybe he is waiting to see if he gets other offers, who knows?  An interesting development around the Houston Rockets is that Yao Ming won’t be playing next season.  If I were Ed Stefanski, I would try my hardest to trade the Rockets Samuel Dalembert and take whatever they will offer.

As discussed in yesterday’s post, there is no loyalty; it’s all about the money.  Players talk about staying and playing for their current team, but in the end it’s all about who gives them the largest contract.  Hopefully, the Flyers and Sixers aren’t done this off-season and we’ll have some more interesting news and new players to discuss.

Free Agency

Andre Miller, Free Agent

Every year, there is excitement around which NHL or NBA free agents might sign in Philadelphia.  This year is no exception as the Flyers struggle to resign their own free agent, Mike Knuble, while the Sixers are dealing with Andre Miller, similarly.  Here’s my take on free agency:  I hate it. 

I hate for all it could be, but isn’t.  Here’s the deal – every team has to abide by a salary cap.  In the NHL it is hard cap with a minimum to be spent.  In the NBA there is a soft cap allowing teams to go over the cap for their own players and/or pay a luxury tax if they go over the cap.  Both salary cap systems have their strengths and weaknesses, but both don’t allow any wiggle room for free agency.  Free agency is all in the players’ hands, especially, the players in demand.  Free agency has come down to which team can pay the player the most amount of money. 

A few quick examples, Brian Dawkins signed for the most amount of money in Denver, when the Eagles had offered a similar, but less money contract.  Jim Thome signed with the Phillies a few years ago for the most amount of money even though his current team for many years offered him a pretty solid contract.  He was encouraged to take the money.  The NBA and NHL are no different.  Carlos Boozer opted out of his contract, rejected a solid offer from the Cavaliers and subsequently signed for an immense amount of money with the Utah Jazz.  Danny Briere of the Flyers signed for the most amount of money, instead of settling for a little less to play for his hometown team, the Montreal Canadiens.  Get the point?  It’s all about making the players wealthy. 

I want free agency to be about keeping teams together, providing chemistry building opportunities and finding an exciting player that isn’t on anyone’s radar.  Instead it’s about money and worrying about teams spending too close to the salary cap.  Wouldn’t it be great if there was an incentive for players to resign with their old clubs, if their clubs want them back, just like in the Miller and Knuble situations?  Since owners and teams have restrictions on their spending, shouldn’t the players be prevented from being overpaid?  To develop some significant loyalty to all sports leagues and it starts by finding a way to keep teams together, with significantly less talk about money and more talk about winning.

76ers Armchair Basketball Coach

Old School Logo

Coaching in the NBA probably isn’t the easiest job around.  Depending on your talent, front office and determination, you could have an excellent career or be a one season wonder.  Tony DiLeo, the 76ers interim coach after Maurice Cheeks was fired, held the team together, but didn’t get the team forward.  DiLeo coached a team without Elton Brand, the star off-season acquisition, and a team lacking a true crunch time player.  He got the Sixers to .500 for the season and gave them a decent shot at winning their first round series against the Orlando Magic.  Aside from Dwight Howard, I don’t see the Magic as being a real threat to anyone.  They can shoot from the outside and if a few streaky shooters get hot, they could do some damage.  The Magic aren’t a playoff team that can go far.  Too many holes.  The Sixers, with plenty of holes themselves, had an excellent chance at beating the Magic in the first round.  I think DiLeo blew it. 

In game two, Dwight Howard was battling significant foul problems and was on the bench for long stretches.  Yet, DiLeo kept with Theo Ratliff in the middle, when the Sixers could have easily driven the lane against a Howard-less middle.  Sixers should have gone with Miller, Iguodala, Young, Williams and Marshall.  Similarly, in game six with the Magic playing without Howard, the Sixers barely got in the paint.  I don’t even think this was in the game plan.  The Sixers took too many outside shots and didn’t rebound well.  It was a joke.  Potentially, DiLeo didn’t really motivate the team or prevent them from playing down to the Howard-less Magic.  Regardless, the 76ers could have easily won this series if not for a few poor coaching decisions.  I don’t think DiLeo will be the coach next year, at least, let’s hope not.

Sixers = Disappointing, but Predictable

Andre Miller, nba.com

I haven’t spent much time digesting and discussing the 76ers, but now that their season is over, here are some of my random thoughts:

1. I am surprised that Theo Ratliff can still run the court, play mediocre defense and throw down a slam.
2. The Sixers look like a team with no direction, too many individual players and no big energy/emotion player.
3. When the season started, I didn’t understand Cheeks’ rotation with Brand, didn’t understand his rotation without Brand and still can’t figure out what DiLeo was doing.
4. Andre Iguodala is a player, but never gets any league wide recognition.
5. Lou Williams is a great player off the bench, but you would think he would play with more emotion and energy.
6. I hate the Willie Green era.
7. Ed Stefanski should consider bringing back Andre Miller, but also acquire a young point guard to back him up and develop.
8. Thaddeus Young is too inconsistent and enigmatic.
9. Samuel Dalembert looks lazy, clueless and lost.  Frustrating from a player who makes over 10 million a season and who is under contract for another two years.  Classic Billy King contract.
10. The Sixers just don’t have the “buzz.”

Here are some quick thoughts on how to fix the Sixers:

1. A new coach that can develop young players, provide an up tempo style of game and can utilize his bench accurately.
2. Get rid of Dalembert anyway you can.
3. Find a young PG, middle clogging big man (can be a cheap veteran) or give more minutes to Marreese Speights and a legitimate outside scoring threat.
4. A healthy Elton Brand (obviously).
5. Play real defense.

More to come on the Sixers as the off-season unfolds.  It’s a shame Andrew Toney isn’t available.

Additional thought: As a big time Sixers fan, it constantly bothers me that former Sixers bench warmers go to other teams and play tremendously. Raja Bell, Tim Thomas, John Salmons, Bruce Bowen and Matt Barnes are a few. Who else? Players always come to the Sixers and play worse. Anybody think of a Sixers player in recent years that came from another team and stepped up their game in Philadelphia? I can’t.