Stefanski Makes a GREAT Move

Philadelphia 76ers's new GM, Ed Stefanski, has started off his reign in impressive fashion making a GREAT move today. He traded Kyle Korver away for Gordan Giricek and a first round draft pick. Now Giricek sucks, so that part of the move is not what makes it a good move. The first round draft pick is not even what makes it a great as it'll most likely be a late first round pick considering Utah will most likely find a way to make the playoffs. (If I had to guess, Portland will probably slow down and Utah will overtake them.) What makes this a great trade is the amount of cap space and money Stefanski is saving the team over the next three years. While the two players have similar salaries this year, Korver is signed for three years after this season at 4.7 mil, 5.1 mil and 5.5 mil a piece where as Giricek is a free agent after the season. With Chris Webber's 19 mil and Aaron McKie's 7 mil coming off the books next year Philly has aprox 35 million on the books, a full 20 mil under the salary cap. Now if he can find a taker for Andre Miller who is willing to give them an expiring (Kwame Brown?) They'd be down to approximately 26 mil.

Now they'll most likely have to resign Andre Iguodala for somewhere around 10 mil, leaving them potentially 19 million dollars of cap space for trades or free agents. Without trading Miller they'll have somewhere around 10 mil to go after guys like Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, or Gilbert Arenas who have ETO's or Emeka Okafor and Luol Deng who are restricted free agents.

Now it's quite possible none of those guys opt out and it's quite possible the teams with restricted free agents match offer sheets, but at least Philly is giving themselves a chance. As currently constituted Philly isn't going anywhere. Allen Iverson and Louis Williams are nice players, Samuel Dalembert gives them a great defensive presence up front, but stars win championships in the NBA not nice players.

This is not to say it's a bad move for Utah, they could use a good shooter, which Korver has been in the past (not as much this year), and as a team that needed to trade Giricek they didn't do an awful job. But for Philly this is a great move.

LASportsblogAAA-er

700 days ago

Score 0

If you want Kwame's contract your gonna need a 3 team deal, because LA has no use for Andre Miller, but they do have use for Brown.

Permalink | Reply

IbeargRed-Shirting

700 days ago

Score 0

i was basically just throwing out Brown's name as an example. I'm a Nets fan so i don't care if they get him, but i love basketball and smart moves by GM's. But i think LA would definitely do that deal in fact they'd probably be willing to give up more... granted i don't watch the Lakers often, but Bynum's been one of the better centers in the league, Kwame Brown is not good at all and Andre Miller would definitely start over Derek Fisher.

Permalink

LASportsblogAAA-er

699 days ago

Score 0

Okay, clearly you don't watch the Lakers often.

Fisher fits the role of the classic triangle point gaurd, and gives Farmar and Crittenton an excellent example of the type of player and person the Lakers want in their starting PG. Miller is a shoot... maybe turnover first PG whose been marked as having work ethic problems when playing for the Clippers in LA.

So your telling me the Lakers would give up MORE then a 9 million dollar expiring contract for a Point Gaurd who doesn't fit their system who makes 21 mil over the next 2 years? Moreover Fisher is more of a 2 year stop gap until J-Crit and Farmar are fully prepared to take all the minutes.

Plus, pertaining to Kwame's abilities, he may be impotent on the offensive end but he's of big value defensively.

So explain to me again why Kwame for Miller would be a decent, much less smart move for LA?

Permalink

LASportsblogAAA-er

699 days ago

Score 0

oh and NBA GM 101 lesson 1: You never trade a Big or a Small

Permalink

IbeargRed-Shirting

699 days ago

Score 0

i'm really not gonna get into a big argument over a minor point/example i gave in the article. I will say this though, last time kwame was traded was for caron butler (not a big) i'd say that worked out pretty well for the team giving up the big for the small. My point, never say never. If the small is talented enough you make the deal. If you don't think Miller is talented enough/ a good enough fit you're more then entitled to that opinion and it may very well be true.

Permalink | Reply

LASportsblogAAA-er

699 days ago

Score 0

Butler wouldn't fit the small, specifically a big (4 or 5) for a small (1) and Butler is a 3. It's neither here nor there, don't make examples out of things that make little sense and you won't be approached with conversation.

Permalink

WardenVarsity

699 days ago

Score 0

Can't believe they're still paying Weber and Aaron McKie such big bucks. Korver was having a bad year and wasn't contributing much to 76ers recent hot streak. I would keep Miller though. He's not so old to where you can't build around him, a la Jason Kidd.

Permalink | Reply

IbeargRed-Shirting

699 days ago

Score 0

If LA doesn't even want to trade Kwame Brown for Miller (see above) i think that should tell you Miller is not a player you're going to be able to build around. I personally think miller is a pretty good player, but even still he's not a good enough player to build your team around. From what i hear Louis Williams is starting to play very well anyway.

Permalink

LASportsblogAAA-er

699 days ago

Score 0

I agree with Ibearg I just wasn't going to jump down your throat and look like I'm just hating on Andre Miller. I've seen this guy play 'a lot' over the years and he's just a poor mans Marbury with slightly more want to pass and not as good handling the ball. He's overpriced and doesn't have the leadership or the defense to be the PG on a championship team. He's a stopgap option, but not your franchise PG. Miller makes 9.9 mil aprox. this season and just about 10 mil again next season. I can think of PGs making less that I'd rather build my team around: Rajon Rondo, Chauncy Billups has a similar contract to Miller, Jameer Nelson, Jarrett Jack, Luke Ridnour, and TJ Ford (if he wasn't injured) to name some more affordable options with more potential and overall ability.

Permalink

E-ROCWaterboy

699 days ago

Score 0

Good trade by the Sixers. I can't believe they got a 1st round pick though. What were the Jazz thinking? The Sixers should actually keep Andre Miller. He is what makes that offense go. Miller gets everyone involved in the offense and score a little himself. Ed will probably focus on or should focus on trade Samuel Dalembert & Reggie Evans. Rodney Carney can stroke it when wide open, but he's pretty much Kyle Korver but cheaper and with more athleticism. Maybe, pair Iggy with Pau Gasol? Just a thought. LOL, you would rather have Luke Ridnour than Andre Miller? That's comical. You did all of this preaching about how Andre Miller's work ethic poor and that he doesn't play defense, yet you pick Luke Ridnour. I'm not a Sixer fan or anything and I know about Andre Miller's past transgressions, but for the most part, he's a pretty good player. He plays at least average defense and plays the passing lanes pretty well. So I don't think he's a poor defender. You can't lump him with Stephon Marbury. Starbury is on a whole other level.

Permalink | Reply

LASportsblogAAA-er

699 days ago

Score 0

"Miller makes 9.9 mil aprox. this season and just about 10 mil again next season. I can think of PGs making less that I'd rather build my team around:"

And you pick the 2nd to the last name on the list to pick on? I was running off cheaper options who were either better players or options with more upside and you pick on Ridnour? That's like picking on the chubby girl in class because all the others haven't rejected you yet. That took real insight, why don't you pick on my choice of Ford, Nelson or Jack? Because your just reacting to a name on a list. They ain't no more room left on my jock, so jump the hell off.

Miller fits with Maurbury just like Jason Williams does, their all PGs who are better shooters then passers and will never win a championship as a starter and ball distributor.

It was a cute attempt to try and pick on me though; next time talk to Pip or Hoch before trying that.

Permalink

Ccampbell34All-American

699 days ago

Score 0

The farther he gets this team away from the era of Glenn Robinson, Keith Van Horn, Derrick Coleman, Todd MacCulloch and Chris Webber as our big off season pickups by Billy King, the happier I'll be.

Permalink | Reply

Simms1156Div-I Stud

699 days ago

Score 0

While Stefanski refused to say anything he said that Andre Miller is an important part of the 76ers and hinted that he may want to keep him but nothing is certain.

Permalink | Reply

CRS-ONEVarsity Captain

698 days ago

Score 0

Great article. If you can't trade Andre Miller for expiring contracts, than don't bother. He's a servicable point guard.

Permalink | Reply