RealGM

The lack of low post scoring from our frontcourt is a huge hole- with KK and Miller being our post scorers the last couple of seasons. It's been a given that a PF with a post game is our #1 priority in the offeseason. I wonder if we have as much of a problem as we think?

I have been REALLY impressed by Young's post moves. When he stays on balance he seems very polished, with the type of moves to both hands that are easy to get off and hard to block. He is not a go to low post player right now becasue he lacks the base to get good position and stay on balance- but in a year or two... I hope more than 1/2 of his scoring comes inside- no reason to be over-reliant on the jumper like Iguodala.

If we play Thad at the Sf, then we can run Iguodala at the SG and have him post up SG's. We would need a good shooting PG and PF to spread the floor. Both Young and Iguodala are good and willing passers, so could we evemntually run the offense through one or both of them in the post? Sam is already a great weakside offensive rebounder/dunker who can readily take advantage of easy buckets if our post scorer draws his man.

This would free us up to get a long, athletic, smooth shooting PF- which is probably easier to find than a great low post PF. In fact, Smith could develop into exactly that type of PF with his range and quickness. Other options would be Josh Smith (if he shoots better or less), CV, Fry, or ideally a better player like Beasely or Marion.

Is it impossible to win with your post points coming from your SF and SG- even if they are hard to stop?

Certainly the great bulls teams had that type of post game- but of course the had MJ which completely changed the equation. Are their other great teams that got their post scoring primarily from their SF (Barkey's teams?)

Just as Stefanski has said a number of times, the Sixers NEED a big man with a post game in order to open up the rest of the floor for Iguodala and Thad and Lou. Can we win with the way you described? I believe we could become a playoff team but not title contender.

This summer... I would LOVE to see Ed package together our cap space, pick, and a couple of our young players (Lou, Carney, and/or Jason Smith) to try and get Amare out of Phoenix or Pau out of Memphis. I think they would be a perfect fit with this team and next to Sam.

If that doesn't happen (and it's likely it doesn't), I really do think that overpaying for Emeka is the next best option. I'd be fine with Stefanski testing MJ's leash and Bob Johnson's wallet in order to bring Emeka here. While he doesn't have a great post-game... he has some moves and obviously rebounds and plays stellar D.

Josh Smith is a nice player but I don't love him as the future PF of this team. If we strike out with the three players above, I would probably turn to him but it would be interesting to see him play with our group of guys.

Outside of those four, you really start getting into risky territory.

Does Zach Randolph become the player he was in Portland if he's taken out of NY and placed next to a center that rebounds and plays D?

Is Channing Frye anything more than a role player?

Does Brandan Wright have what it takes to become a star bigman? GSW didn't want him to begin with and may look to move some salary again this summer.

Would you make a push for one of Minnesota's RFA in Gomes or Craig Smith??

I agree that Amare or Gasol would be much better options- mostly becasue of interior defense would be better.

I do see more low cost options if we went with a Dala/Young low post game. We probably could land Fry (also not a favorite of mine) or someone like him, and rotate Fry/Smith/Evans at PF next to Sam.

I could see SG/SF Young/Iguodla in the post, with the other guy on the weakside for a jumper of cut to the baseline. Put PF Smith/Fry at the weakside wing at 16 ft for a jumper, with PG Lou/Calderon spotted up at the top of the key for a three. Sammy would play high post for an open foul line jumper, cut for a dunk or follow o-board.

That would be a balance the floor, and move the ball to positions where everyone could score. Not exactly contender talent- but you should be able to upgrade the peices with our cap space. It also gives us an athleteic, up tempo type defensive squad- although it relies on Dala and Young to get boards to cover up for comparatively weak rebounders at PF (zone D?)

The Guilty Party wrote:Does Zach Randolph become the player he was in Portland if he's taken out of NY and placed next to a center that rebounds and plays D?

Is Channing Frye anything more than a role player?

Does Brandan Wright have what it takes to become a star bigman? GSW didn't want him to begin with and may look to move some salary again this summer.

Would you make a push for one of Minnesota's RFA in Gomes or Craig Smith??

I don't want Zach- a lazy player/person just kills you on defense and chesmistry.

Wright could develop into the type of athletic (non)power forward who could work in my proposed system if he can extend his range out to 18 feet. Gomes and Smith are just solid bench players.

The problem with someone like Brandan Wright is that it's going to take some time to figure out of he can play or not whereas the other guys have proven themselves in the NBA to one extent or another.

I think Zach is too much of a gamble given his off-court history and salary. Frye, Gomes, and Craig Smith are all bench players that aren't a real upgrade over Jason Smith.

So with that being said... it means Stefanski really needs to try and hit a homerun this off-season and aim high for Amare or Pau. The addition of either of those 2 would not only mean more on-court success but also the addition of either of them would bring some buzz back to this team so that the franchise doesn't have to practically give tickets away.

Speaking of which, I assume I'm not the only one who got the e-mail offer to buy lower bowl tickets to last night's game for $20 per ticket. Desperation is a stinky cologne.

Andray Blatche needs to be taken into consideration. I think I am the only person on real GM that has been talking about him at all. I like him better than Josh Smith and Charlie V..

i would love to see amare on this team he is exactly what this team needs. Stefanski said that he wants to build a team that can get out and run and with Amare in our linup we can do that. We would however have to give up a lot of picks and young players to get him. Where as Pau would come cheaper.

Ahhh... Blatche is a really good name and a guy that I think will develop into an all-star caliber PF. He was drafted the same year as Lou so my guess is that he's also a RFA, right??

If he is, man... Washington has a gigantic off-season ahead of them since Arenas, Jamison, and Blatche will all hit the market.

No they lucked up and signed Blatche to a "Kyle Korver" deal. Blatche's arrest didn't help his matter any. I think he got arrested and they offered him a contract like the next day, LOL, knowing he would sign it.

Is that's the case then we have no chance of getting him without giving up something of real value. Also, I wonder if the Wizards will bring Jamison back. Then again, like all free agents to be... besides the Sixers who else will be able to give him more than the MLE?

Options IMO:

1) Charlie V: I still maintain he could be had and he's a good player when his head is in the game.
2) Frye: What the hell happened to him? He was great in his rookie year and then the bottom fell out.
3) Beasley: I'm not sure what type of player he is. I think I need to watch a Kansas State game some day.

Another RFA that I'm starting to seriously consider a great option this summer is Andris Biedrins...

If Sam stays our center...

Our power forward must be either:

a. A good low post player
b. An athlete with a great 16-18 ft jumper

I would prefer <a> over <b>, but Biedrins and arguably Okafor are both neither. They fall more into the good defence/rebounding athlete who shoots at a good percentage but without any go to post moves and limitted range.

We already have that in Sam, so we need a complementary piece with different skills.

I've been saying to go after Gasol for a while now. If we didnt have to give up any of our core players like Miller, Sam, Thad, Dala he would fit in great on this team. Also, this guy has been available forever and must be getting impatient, maybe Ed should try to steal him now.

I wonder if we should make the bold move of throwing our top 3 protected '08 pick into a Gasol deal- certainly better than the late 1st round picks we got for AI last year.

Unfortunately we couldn't make the salaries match without giving back Sam or Miller- but if we could add him to our core we would be in the playoffs this year, and on the way up for the next 5 years.

We will be in a better position to make that kind of move after the season, once we are under the cap.

Do we go under the cap before or after the draft?

Blatche is a solid young prospect...I questioned why the Sixers took LW over him right after the draft. He's locked up and I don't see him going anywhere.

Gasol and Amare would be upgrades through trades. Biedrens and Okafor nice RFA 'steals'.

I don't think the PF needs to be a perimeter (16-18' jumper) player for this to work. Sam really isn't great with his back to the basket, and has a nice touch from 15' himself. If you get another player who is more established down low, it still helps to address the main weakness of the team. Brand and Gasol's style are perfect, but obviously Brand is injured and Gasol requires a trade...Amare fits b/c he's just a freak.

If they can't steal Gasol or Amare, do you overpay a bit for Okafor or Biedrens?? Not max, but given they are RFAs, you need to be creative and generous with the contract.

Can I just say that I'm happy most of us have gotten off of the whole "Iggy" thing and moved on to calling him "Dala"??

Does anyone prefer Gasol over Amare???

No- Amare would be a much better fit for our up-tempo style (and he's more of an impact player.)

And Freshie- I agree, a low post scorer would be better than a shooter.

My concern is that Biedrins and Okafor are neither, and getting a shooter (lets say Jamison as a stopgap) is an easier acquisition than a low post scorer (like Brand or Gasol.)

If we go for Biendrins he will be a good player, but not a complementary piece next to Sam. I just don't see what kind of offense you can run that has two bigs we both can't post up or consistantly hit the jumper.

Does anyone prefer Gasol over Amare???

It's very close. I actually think Gasol might be a better fit for this team. Better passer from the post, better defender, better outlet passer. And he's more attainable.

I like Gasol better, and as DBods said, he would fit in better with this team with Miller. Also once upon a time he was the leader of a very good Memphis team that ran their offense through him; Amare, for all he's accomplished has never been "the" go to player, and never to the extent Gasol has. How do we attain either of them tho without giving up any core guys?