If We Do Not Acquire A Starting PF, Who Will Start At PF?

[tk76]

To continue to play Thad at PF(or even start him there) would be such a stupid thing to do. I don't believe that he isn't ready to play SF. And if they don't think he is a good enough SF yet, you know how you fix that? BY PLAYING HIM AT SF.

Ha- very well put.

[freshie2]

If nothing else happens this off season, Jason Smith is the starting PF, next to Sam, leaving Thad, Iguodala and Miller as the rest of the starting 5.

Odds are, something else does happen, but this lineup is the most competitive starting core they can put on the floor from the existing pieces.

Backups...

PG/SG - Lou
SG - Willie
SG/SF - Carney
PF - Evans
PF/C- Speights
C- Booth

[corwin]

If we strike out with Brand and Smith.... Shawn Marion will start at the 4 for us. Done and done. Next!

I think it depends on the cost. Miami will want Miller & will probably have to take WG/RE in the deal. Philly won't want to send much else & will probably expect Chalmers in return. I can live with a deal of Miller & Green for Chalmers/Cook & Marion with no other picks involved. Will Riley do that?

Corwin, great trade, but don't you think that you are being a tad bit homerish? Miller is not even good enough to get Marion, those two young prospects only make it super lopsided.

I have missed something. When did Miller and Marion become players on the same level?

No doubt that Marion is younger & the better player. The problem is that Miami has 3 guys to play the 4 in Marion, Beasley, & Haslem and no one to play the 1. So if they're going to deal with Philly it pretty much has to be Dalembert or Miller. I can't see Ed trading Dalembert for a potential one year rental. That leaves Miller. I can't see how else the trade can be made so it probably won't happen. I do remember Miami fans dissing Miller last year as not shooting the 3 ball, etc. & look what ended up happening. My guess is that he'll be down the list of PGs that Riley would like but other than Marbury, Mo Williams or Baron Davis, I can't think of another making so much money. I know they were interested in Mo Williams last year but Miami would have to take back Gadzuric to make that trade work. I think Riley may very well have to sell Marion at a discount. BTW I wasn't suggesting both Cook & Chalmers but one or the other.

[Welfare Fraud]

If we don't acquire a starting PF (or any big name FA), then the Korver trade was really dumb right?

[SendEm]

If we don't acquire a starting PF (or any big name FA), then the Korver trade was really dumb right?

No because it allowed Thad to play more and show what he has. The Korver trade has given us an opportunity to be a big player in the market for any quality PF that shakes loose in free agency or via a trade. Also we do not know what player we will ultimately select with Utah's pick, we could draft a gem...

[psykosacul]

Also I didn't stress in the initial post that Stefanski without saying it assumed that Willie Green or Carney are the favorites for the starter at SG, meaning that of course when he resigns Lou Williams he will be pushing for that job as he did disclose. It seems that Thad in his mind was to be the starter at PF and Iggy at SF. We all know that Lou Williams wouldn't be pushing Iggy for the starting SG spot...

i disagree with these jumps of logic for a few reasons...

1. its natural to assume lou williams wont beat out iggy for the starting sg spot, but often coaches and gms talk about no position being set in stone and emphasizing competition. its also possible that the team would see him as a better fit for their scheme than iggy at sg. (which isnt to say he is the better player) for him to say lou could challenge for the starting sg spot could just be a vote of confidence in the kid - which he clearly likes to do. he always talks in glowing terms about all our guys

2. if he did mean that iggy is the starting sf, i disagree that it automatically means that he is calling thad the starting pf. thad backed up the sf and pf last year and would be valuble doing the same thing this year.

3. ed has said on more than one occasion that the sixers NEED to get a pf. if he projects thad as our 4, im not sure why he would talk like that.

[psykosacul]

Do you honestly believe that Riley is going to trade Marion for Miller?

Correction, Miller and WILLIE GREEN for Marion...Or whatever rumor has been making its way around where Miller is the centerpiece.

i think the trade holds water on miami's end because i think the heat were more interested in dumping shaq than they were in acquiring marion. sure, he was a quality piece in return but they surely knew his contract was short term. in essence the trade may have been a salary dump with the chance of wanting to keep marion.

considering they just drafted a hybrid forward much in the mold of marion (not in playing style but in their "tweener" status, its not ridiculous that they would think their more pressing need is a vet point guard to guide the team.

[PopeIsDope41]

From the Bucks board...
Do any of you have interest in Charlie Villanueva? What would you be willing to part with?

[SendEm]

Do you honestly believe that Riley is going to trade Marion for Miller?

Correction, Miller and WILLIE GREEN for Marion...Or whatever rumor has been making its way around where Miller is the centerpiece.

i think the trade holds water on miami's end because i think the heat were more interested in dumping shaq than they were in acquiring marion. sure, he was a quality piece in return but they surely knew his contract was short term. in essence the trade may have been a salary dump with the chance of wanting to keep marion.

considering they just drafted a hybrid forward much in the mold of marion (not in playing style but in their "tweener" status, its not ridiculous that they would think their more pressing need is a vet point guard to guide the team.

Sure they are looking for a vet PG, but one that can hit the 3 off of Wade's kick out pass, and hit the 3 off of the pick and roll. That is the basis of the PG that Miami is looking to get, just look at every PG they have acquired in the last 3 seasons. If the guy can't run the high pick and roll or hit the 3 off of the kick out pass then Riley isn't going to bring him in as the centerpiece of a big trade. Riley wants Tim Hardaway all over again. He would settle for a young Derek Fisher. Just last year he made a push for Mo Williams. Have we forgotten that he traded for J Will? Riley has won too many championships to trade for a stop gap PG like Miller in the hopes that he improves the team. Riley isn't looking for a PG to "guide his team" as they learn how to win. Miami already has a franchise player with a championship that knows what it takes to win. Haslem even has a CHIP. Miller is great for young teams that have no franchise players. Miller is NOTHING to a Miami that already has a playmaking championship slasher in Wade. Miami now wants a playmaking shooter at PG, Miller is not that...We all know that Miller would make Miami better, but Riley is thinking CHAMPIONSHIP. Miller does nothing for that team as far as making them a championship contender today or any day.

[corwin]

From the Bucks board...
Do any of you have interest in Charlie Villanueva? What would you be willing to part with?

Ideally, Philly would like to move Willie Green for a little additional cap space. He & Charlie V make about the same but Green has 2 more years. Thus, it doesn't work for this year. Long term, Green doesn't need to be re-signed while CV's contract is up so he could simply be a one year rental. Milwaukee won't do this deal because of the additional years of salary but Green plays defense, is a good team player & will do what the coach asks.

[SendEm]

Green and CV make the same amount? If this is the case I would do that deal and throw in Evans if it would make it sweeter for them as long as we clear cap space with all of these free agents hitting the market this year and next offseason.

[shadowTerp]

I can live with a deal of Miller & Green for Chalmers/Cook & Marion with no other picks involved. Will Riley do that?

In a word, no.

Corwin, great trade, but don't you think that you are being a tad bit homerish? Miller is not even good enough to get Marion, those two young prospects only make it super lopsided.

I have missed something. When did Miller and Marion become players on the same level?

I don't think you missed anything.

I posted on the trade board that I think it'll probably be Miller/Green/2009 UTH First for Marion. If we can get Cook or Chalmers, that's an added bonus. Considering they just gave up two second rounders for Chalmers, we can let go of that dream.

Unless they can trade Haslem, they won't take Evans (and personally, I'd love to keep him as the backup big for another couple of years while Speights develops his conditioning and defense). I don't mind giving up the UTH First (which will be LATE in the first round in a draft that won't be near as deep as this years) to get rid of Green's contract. Then, use our cap room this year to go after a point. Miami gets a one year rental of Miller to nurture Chalmers / Quinn while opening up Beasley's minutes.

Personally, I still don't think Miami does it even without Cook or Chalmers being in the deal (I think they may be able to get a better deal, or to prefer the extra cap space with Marion being let go), but that's just me.

[LieCheatSteal]

If the Sixers don't trade for one, it will be the Smith/Evans combo in the 1st half, followed by the Speights/Evans combo in the second half of the season. Cheeks will probably handle Speights the same way they handled Young, ie ease him in to big minutes.