The Sixerfan1976 Off-Season Thread (Update: Page 61)

[ZzAzZ]

I don't know OKC stuff like the back of my hand but I'm not sure they ever had to sit a washed up older player taking up most of their cap so I'm not sure we're really going away from that model. I think in the end you do what's best for the team you have, which in my opinion would be to play him until the deadline and see if we can unload him. If we can't and we think he is so bad that he is costing us a lot of games then I think you sit him at the deadline. I honestly don't think limited minutes had much to do with it, our whole team was chaos last year.

[dbodner]

It is interesting that we tend to focus on Hawes in the Dalembert trade, but it may well be that Ed's focus is the Nocioni end.

Getting Hawes (and getting rid of Dalembert) were the focus.

[bebopdeluxe]

If Brand was bad enough to sit on the bench, which I personally don't think he will be, I don't think we are in the position to bench him right now. Not purely because of the amount of money he makes but if other teams see that we are sitting him then what little trade value he has is absolutely gone. If it's me, I think it's better in the long run to let him play no matter what and at least try to get some numbers out of him and make us look like we aren't absolutely desperate to get him out of here.

That is my point precisely. Are we going to let his mere presence dictate a non-basketball decision. Collins seems adamant that your merit and worth to the team dictates how much you play. I don't know if that same logic applies to Elton. And that's a problem, because if we are truly on the OKC model, you have to let your growing young talent play with each other.

I mean if we get 80% of old-school Brand, this point is moot. But as much as we get on Eddie Jordan, he may have been onto something when he said the team was better when Brand played limited minutes (that six block game vs Houston came in twenty-something minutes.

This is probably less fun than our usual hypothetical Iguodala trade of the day, but if SF76 is correct that we are not pressed to make any more moves then we have this issue staring us right in the face.

What issue?

Just as an example, Brand had a 7-game stretch in late January/early February where he averaged nearly 16 and 8 in almost 38 minutes a game (including 23/8 against IND, 19/9 against LAL, 26/10 against MIL and 26/9 against CHI). He played BIG minutes and was PRODUCTIVE for material stretches LAST SEASON...with EDDIE FREAKING JORDAN AS THE HEAD COACH.

And the reason why he cannot be at least as productive (or even MORE productive) under a coach WHO HAS A FLIPPING CLUE about the game of basketball is...what?

[SJSF]

Brand is our best PF and interior defender. And should be our starter.

[SJSF]

It is interesting that we tend to focus on Hawes in the Dalembert trade, but it may well be that Ed's focus is the Nocioni end.

Getting Hawes (and getting rid of Dalembert) were the focus.

Getting Noc and getting a center of any kind was the focus.

[dbodner]

It is interesting that we tend to focus on Hawes in the Dalembert trade, but it may well be that Ed's focus is the Nocioni end.

Getting Hawes (and getting rid of Dalembert) were the focus.

Getting Noc and getting a center of any kind was the the focus.

Nope.

[SJSF]

Then please explain why the Sixers didn't mind taking on Nocs contract and only taking a contract of one year for Hawes. Yup.

[ZzAzZ]

To dump the black hole of team work.

[Kobblehead]

The focus of the deal was to finally find a team willing to take on the kicker. Getting Noc and Hawes were merely bonuses. The deal was about getting a guy who didn't want to be here off the roster so the new coach can change the sulky demeanor of the team.

[dbodner]

Then please explain why the Sixers didn't mind taking on Nocs contract and only taking a contract of one year for Hawes. Yup.

Nocioni's remaining one year was the price it took to dump Dalembert for Hawes.

Dalembert wasn't going to be here past next year. He wanted gone. The Sixers liked Hawes. Nocioni's one remaining year was the incentive Sac wanted.

The Sixers pursued Hawes for Dalembert last year at the deadline. This isn't speculation, I know it as a fact.

[sixerfan1976]

They like Hawes for sure....but they really like Nocioni too.

Can Hawes be a 30+ minute starter? That they dont know..but he can play 20-25 at least.

[51X3RF4N]

I like Hawes, but I think we need a defensive PF who can block shots and D up the post next to him in the lineup.

[Kobblehead]

Brand's a pretty decent post defender at the four. Especially when he's delivering hard fouls and getting in people's heads. Not sure if he has any of his shotblocking ability left these days.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Brands arms haven't gotten any shorter. I remember him having extremely long arms so I think he'll be fine as far as shot blocking goes.

[Kobblehead]

It's not the arms, it's the lift he gets that I'm worried about.

[51X3RF4N]

I agree with the F.O. that Jrue/Turner is going to be one of the best PG/SG combos in the NBA within 2 years and as long as they remain together, they could become dominant.

Jrue averaging 15ppg, 8apg, 4rpg while Turner is avging 22ppg, 5rpg, 4apg. Both seem to be able to get to the hole whenever they want. Both have good-to-great ball handling skills. Jrue seems to have more range on his shot right now, but Turner can develop that. Both guys can use left or right hand pretty effectively. Both seem to know how to make contact and get to the FT line. And both seem to be able to defend, especially Jrue.

They need a guy like Hawes to hit shots from the outside and pull defenders away from the lane. Also, a high post guy like Brand would help with that. The only issue is they could really use a solid 3pt threat to kick to ball out to when the lane is stuffed by sagging defenders. This is where I see Iggy as a bad fit. They need a sharpshooter at the SF spot. Kapono would work, but his defense is lacking.

[ZzAzZ]

Yeah he looked pretty good in the blocking department last year. He either got up there and got a piece or went up and hurt you, plus I'm hoping he will be a little healthier this season and have a little more in his legs.

[51X3RF4N]

The key numbers to me with Brand in mind is from 3 years ago to last season. He played 80 games for LAC in 06-07. He played 76 for Philly in 09-10.

One would think he was 100% healthy both those years, although with Philly he struggled with minutes/rotation.

He dropped 8 minutes per game in 09-10 from 06-07. Yet his points went from 20 to 13, his RPG went from 9 to 6, his Blocks went from 2 to 1 and his assists went from 3 to 1.5.

That is nearly cutting his points, blocks, and assists in half and slicing his rebounds by 1/3. If he gets 30mpg this year, can he produce similar numbers to last season? Sure. Why not? But will he ever return to 20 and 9 with 2 BPG? Doubt it.

[ZzAzZ]

Well he also played next to the black hole. Also do you really think he was 100% last year? I thought he looked fine but all I kept hearing was he didn't look healthy still, I just assumed (and still do) I didn't know what unhealthy looked like. Again you can also go back to the coach and the inconsistency in minutes I'm sure affected his play as well.

[ZzAzZ]

And just to add to that, I don't think anyone is expecting or even hoping for a 20/10 or 20/9 season this year but I do think and hope he can bring a 16/9 at best and I'm really hoping for a 15/8ish sort of year at this point.