Denver Must Be Salivating For A PG?

[STChaser]

You would think that of all potential suitors for Andre Miller, Denver would be the one willing to part with the most. Their assist numbers were atrocious in the playoffs, they have several individual talents who have no clue how to play together, and they desperately need someone to glue this team together.

If I were prone to selling off Miller before the postseason, I'm much more reluctant to do so now, having seen his performance in the playoffs. That being said, he's also going against Billups, who plays a similar game and is not known as being one of the quicker guards in this league. Just how good would Miller look against one of the faster PG's like Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson, or Chris Paul? My guess is, not that good. And consider that Miller's great showing against Detroit could translate into the perfect time to trade him, as his value is probably peaking right now.

We need a scoring SG with a natural scorer's mentality. Enter 6'6 JR Smith, who is averaging 18 ppg in the playoffs (this kid showed that he can raise his level of play in the playoffs). Denver also holds the 20th pick. Would JR Smith and their 20th be enough to part ways with Miller? If so, the trade would not only give us a true SG; it would also afford us the opportunity to get both our PF (with our pick) and a backup / future 5 (Denver's 20th pick).

According to two major draft sites, we could potentially nab TWO of the following players with the 16th and 20th picks; Donte Green, Jason Thompson, Marreese Speights, Roy Hibbert, DeVon Hardin, Darrell Author, JaVale McGee, Richard Hendrix, Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka, and DeAndre Jordan - or trade both picks for a higher pick. In my opinion, Smith and their 20th for Miller would get the deal done - and I think it's fair to both teams, as they still have Iverson to play SG in Smith's absence.

At the same time, getting JR Smith would potentially allow us to trade Iguodala - possibly for a taller PG like Childress to replace Miller. Atlanta would probably be enticed by the idea of featuring a lineup of Johnson (SG), Iguodala (SF), and Josh Smith (PF) enough to possibly part ways with Childress. And don't forget that we'd still have our cash available to try to nab a Josh Smith, Okafor, or Brand as well. Next year's lineup could resemble this;

PG: Childress, Lou
SG: JR Smith, WG
SF: Thaddeus, Carney
PF: Josh Smith, Okafor, or Brand & (pick a PF from my above list)
C: Sam, (pick a Center from my above list), Jason Smith

[Skates]

I love Childress, but he's not a starting PG by any means. JR Smith scored a lot in the playoffs, that doesn't mean he played well. AI and Melo scored a lot too and the team got swept with ease. The guy is an unrepentant gunner who has no idea about team basketball. He is a FA this summer or he has an ETO, I believe, and his play is nothing more than a salary drive. Childress is actually the anti-JR Smith IMO, he may not score a bunch, but does everything else (shoots a high%, defends multiple poistions well, good passer and rebounder, grreat team first attitude) very well. I would take Childress any day, Smith only on a reasonable, short term contract as a designated gunner off the bench.

[dbodner]

Their assist numbers were atrocious in the playoffs, they have several individual talents who have no clue how to play together, and they desperately need someone to glue this team together.

Overreacting to 4 games. A team full of "guys who have no clue how to play together" doesn't average 110.7 ppg on 47% shooting during the regular season. Not only did they score a ton (2nd in the league), but they did so efficiently (6th in the league). The cohabited just fine together offensively.

If you wanted to say they needed to trade for a defensive minded 2, or a post defender (please, don't try to sell me on camby), I could buy that. And a guy like JR Smith might be able to be had for one of them. But 4 games in which they struggled does not indicate Andre Miller solves their problems.

Also, since when did Childress become a point guard? He might be able to play spot minutes every now and then, but I'm not going to promote a guy who has never averaged more than 2.3 assists per game to my starting point guard.

[STChaser]

My bad about Childress at the point. For some reason, I recall him being mentioned as a PG. That being said, I was looking to see if Atlanta would consider trading Childress and a pick for Iguodala, but it doesn't seem like they have any picks in the entire 1st round.

STChaser

[sec-106]

J.R. Smith is too big a knuckehead for me.

ATL can't let Josh Smith get away.

I don't dislike Childress, but to me he's a role player.

[ITK9]

since when josh childres is a pg?

[CPops57]

IMO, JR Smith would be a stopgap solution who'd wear out his welcome within a year or two. I'd most likely pass on him.

I'm not completely against trading Andre Miller, but I'd want to get a real building block in return for such an effective player: preferably a top-10 pick.

But truthfully, regardless of what happens with Detroit, I still think this team can compete next year. This team is going toe-to-toe with a 59 win team without a starting caliber PF on the roster. Think about what a tremendously positive domino effect even an average PF would have on the rest of the roster: not to mention continued improvements from Louis, Thad, etc.

[sixerswillrule]

From what I've seen of Smith, he has excellent scoring ability with a great outside shot, something this team sorely lacks. But it sounds like he has attitude problems, and that is something we don't want...
And Childress is not a PG in any shape or form. Probably even more of a SF than a SG.

[tk76]

But truthfully, regardless of what happens with Detroit, I still think this team can compete next year. This team is going toe-to-toe with a 59 win team without a starting caliber PF on the roster. Think about what a tremendously positive domino effect even an average PF would have on the rest of the roster: not to mention continued improvements from Louis, Thad, etc.

It should be interesting to see what Ed can do to get that starting PF. I share you optimism, but wonder how much of their success is due to Miller, who eventually won't be part of their long term future.

This playoff series has confirmed that the Sixers do have good talent, and that Thad and Lou both have a bright future. Even Carney and Smith have looked promising on the bigger stage. No need to bring up AIG...

[is1531]

You would think that of all potential suitors for Andre Miller, Denver would be the one willing to part with the most. Their assist numbers were atrocious in the playoffs, they have several individual talents who have no clue how to play together, and they desperately need someone to glue this team together.

If I were prone to selling off Miller before the postseason, I'm much more reluctant to do so now, having seen his performance in the playoffs. That being said, he's also going against Billups, who plays a similar game and is not known as being one of the quicker guards in this league. Just how good would Miller look against one of the faster PG's like Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson, or Chris Paul? My guess is, not that good. And consider that Miller's great showing against Detroit could translate into the perfect time to trade him, as his value is probably peaking right now.

We need a scoring SG with a natural scorer's mentality. Enter 6'6 JR Smith, who is averaging 18 ppg in the playoffs (this kid showed that he can raise his level of play in the playoffs). Denver also holds the 20th pick. Would JR Smith and their 20th be enough to part ways with Miller? If so, the trade would not only give us a true SG; it would also afford us the opportunity to get both our PF (with our pick) and a backup / future 5 (Denver's 20th pick).

According to two major draft sites, we could potentially nab TWO of the following players with the 16th and 20th picks; Donte Green, Jason Thompson, Marreese Speights, Roy Hibbert, DeVon Hardin, Darrell Author, JaVale McGee, Richard Hendrix, Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka, and DeAndre Jordan - or trade both picks for a higher pick. In my opinion, Smith and their 20th for Miller would get the deal done - and I think it's fair to both teams, as they still have Iverson to play SG in Smith's absence.

At the same time, getting JR Smith would potentially allow us to trade Iguodala - possibly for a taller PG like Childress to replace Miller. Atlanta would probably be enticed by the idea of featuring a lineup of Johnson (SG), Iguodala (SF), and Josh Smith (PF) enough to possibly part ways with Childress. And don't forget that we'd still have our cash available to try to nab a Josh Smith, Okafor, or Brand as well. Next year's lineup could resemble this;

PG: Childress, Lou
SG: JR Smith, WG
SF: Thaddeus, Carney
PF: Josh Smith, Okafor, or Brand & (pick a PF from my above list)
C: Sam, (pick a Center from my above list), Jason Smith

Childress does a lot of things well. I would love to have him on the 76ers. He handles the ball well, passes well,plays good defense, can pass well, can tap in a shot, can jump. This guy does not play small at sf. He is 6ft 8"

You have him at PG. I am not sure about that one. I pass on JR Smith.

[noone]

Overreacting to 4 games. A team full of "guys who have no clue how to play together" doesn't average 110.7 ppg on 47% shooting during the regular season. Not only did they score a ton (2nd in the league), but they did so efficiently (6th in the league). The cohabited just fine together offensively.

Not to mention Miller himself is only averaging 3.75 assists and 3.2 TO in his 4 games so far in the playoffs.

Also, where do you get your efficiency stats from. Both places I've seen (basketball-reference and hollinger) have Denver around 9-11 in offensive efficiency.

Edit: And assuming Denver doesn't try to blow the whole thing up (which I believe they should really consider doing), I think they'll move Iverson to the point and add a more traditional SG.

[BadWolf]

Atlanta fans won't agree that Childress play passable defense. He's taking a lot of heat for his contributions on that end.