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From Chris Broussard at ESPN...
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/in ... sard_chris

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Elsewhere, some say Atlanta doesn't want to go above $11 million per year to sign restricted free agent Josh Smith. If that's the case, look for Smith to end up in Philadelphia.

The Sixers would love to get Elton Brand, but word is that he doesn't want to take a pay cut from the $16 million-plus he's due next season -- except to go to Miami.

So with Brand pretty much out of the question, Philly will look at Smith and Antawn Jamison. The Sixers can start either one at $11 million with 8 percent annual increases.

Smith, by the way, would fit perfectly in Philly's up-tempo, run-and-jump system. But I think Atlanta must match whatever offer he gets. If they don't re-sign him, they'll lose all the momentum they gained by taking Boston to seven games, not to mention a great budding young talent.

Miami is trying desperately to find a way to get Brand, whose first choice is the Heat, but a sign-and-trade for Shawn Marion is probably the only way to get it done. Hard to see that happening.

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Doesn't sound like the Sixers will be getting Brand.

i dont think we ever had a realistic chance at getting Brand...
i just never saw why someone would opt out,take a 5 million+ pay cut,move all the way across the us and play for a team that is still "putting things together".

on another note:Josh Smith would look mighty good in a 76ers uniform.

See SF1976's suggestion in the other thread that the Sixers could move Evans or Green in a draft night move to free up more cap space. If that happens I'd be surprised if EB doesn't add us to a short list.

Consider this: Brand has yet to announce his intentions. Others like Marion just yesterday announced intentions. Brand is obviously waiting to see if anyone (like us) will have the ability to bid on his services.

What the Sixers do will tip thier hand somewhat. No move means likely JSmith or Jamison and a move like SF1976 suggests indicates that the Sixers are going after the big prize.

Get Brand and contend. Anything less will be, well, less.

BTW Dabods, where's my avatar?

My only problem with Smith is that he just doesn't seem like a championship PF. The defense would be there, but who would step up and score once we get into the playoffs? We already have seen that Iguodala is gonna have trouble.

Regardless, if Smith is willing to come to Philly, you of course accept him with arms wide open, but what exactly does it do for us?

Cause I'm really not sure.

I will be so disappointed if our big offseason move is acquiring Antawn Jamison.

Smith is a reflection of what we have- young, athleteic, better passer and driver than shooter, versitile...

Getting Smith would make the Sixers even better at their strengths, but would not improve on there weaknesses. This is not a bad thing, as he will be an excellent fit in our current schemes- but I agree, we would still continue to have issues with shooting and post scorinfg.

didn't Brand himself say that he likes Philly, the city, organization and the team?

GreenWithEnvy wrote:didn't Brand himself say that he likes Philly, the city, organization and the team?

Players wanting to go to Miami is nothing new. The weather, lack of a state income tax and likelihood that Riley will start coaching again once the team improves is enticing to a lot of players. Needless to say, the opportunity to play with D-Wade is very attractive as well. I am sure we are a back-up plan, just not on top of his list.

Either Smith or Brand would be a HUGE boon for the Sixers. Both would make us really close to contending. Remember that Dre Miller is a nice post up option at the PG position and Josh Smith is still learing to play with his back to the basket. Possibly Sign Smith and Draft Hibbert for some low post scoring.

phiphan wrote:I will be so disappointed if our big offseason move is acquiring Antawn Jamison.

If he wasn't so old I wouldn't have such a problem with the idea of bringing him in. Even at 32, he's coming off the best rebounding season of his career and his 3rd highest scoring season. For a Wizards team that dealt with some pretty bad injuries, Jamision flat out held it down last year. Still, the age factor is at odds with the whole long term solution we are hoping for.

How close are the Sixers to the maximum legal offer they can give Brand?

Does trading this year's pick for a future pick or selecting somebody you stash overseas for a few years allow the Sixers to increase their offer this year?

CPops57 wrote:How close are the Sixers to the maximum legal offer they can give Brand

I don't understand your question. Is "they" the Clippers? If so, the Clippers can offer a good amount more. Something like 101 million over 5 years, if they wanted. The Sixers could offer about 65 over 5 assuming their cap space is a little more than 11.

CPops57 wrote:Does trading this year's pick for a future pick or selecting somebody you stash overseas for a few years allow the Sixers to increase their offer this year?

Not sure how overseas would work. If they trade this years pick for a future though, they would gain some space I would think. It would be the difference of the first year of the rookie scale for the #16 pick and the nba minimum, since you have to have 12 total "players" against the books. I think it would be in the range of 700,000 dollars. This would put the Sixers around 12 million. That is my understanding at least. I think the cba forum would be a better place to ask though.

The max for Brand would start at 30% of the cap (so I guess about 16.5M.)
The Sixers can offer 11M.

The only way to free up cap space would be to trade a player to the Clippers, or to a team under the cap (only Memphis for now.)

I really never bought into the idea of that we would land Brand so this doesn't rock my world. I'll be happy as hell if we land Smith but I'm a little shocked that there's been little to nothing written about Okafor's demands or options.

Just a question. I think I know what the concensus would be on this, but I will ask anyhow.

Let's assume Brand opts-out and expresses a serious desire to come here (but only if we have at least 13 mil to throw at him in yr 1). Would anyone be open to this path of acquiring him.

Renounce Iguodala and let him become an UFA. That would immediately take us up to like 19+ million in cap room. Obvioulsy enough to land Brand and have some leftover to maybe make a run at Childress to fill Andre's spot. Another cheaper option could be Azubuike. Or maybe Pietrus.

I know this is crazy talk for most fans because you would see it as giving Iguodala away for nothing, but I see it as directly trading Andre for Brand and there's no question in my mind that I would do that and never think twice about it. So much harder to fill the PF spot (a true PF that is) than it is to find a SG. I'd be even more inclined to do this if Andre thinks he's worth more than what we offered him last year.

Of course based on Ed's comments re: Andre this won't happen, but if you really want to land that dominant PF, this is an option. It would be a bit similar to what Orlando did with Darko last year so they could land Rashard Lewis.

lets not forget among all this talk that brand can make 16.4 if he stays with the clippers and only 11 if he stays with us - that this only considers next year. if brand is looking for financial stability and isnt in love with the clippers organization, than giving up 5 mill. next year could lead to many more millions down the road. this is a guy with a serious injury last year who only came back for what, a half dozen games? he has to know that if he gets hurt this year again his contract offers are going to go down considerably for the 09/10 season. where as... if he signs a 4-5 year deal right now that STARTS at 11 million, he stands to make a guarenteed 60-70 million dollars.

The Sixer Fixer wrote:Just a question. I think I know what the concensus would be on this, but I will ask anyhow.

Let's assume Brand opts-out and expresses a serious desire to come here (but only if we have at least 13 mil to throw at him in yr 1). Would anyone be open to this path of acquiring him.

Renounce Iguodala and let him become an UFA. That would immediately take us up to like 19+ million in cap room. Obvioulsy enough to land Brand and have some leftover to maybe make a run at Childress to fill Andre's spot. Another cheaper option could be Azubuike. Or maybe Pietrus.

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Actually, we would not have to let Iguodala walk. We could sign him to his 1 year tender and keep him another year 9after which he is a UFA and won't likely come back.) It would clear up about 5-6M of cap space, but I wouldn't do it.

In my mind a 24 year old Iguodala is more valuable than a 29 year old Brand.

Andre may not want to sign the 1 yr tender though. It's not our decision there, it's his. He coudl try and seek an offer sheet with a team like Grizz before he accepts the tender.

If the two available options for Iggy were:

1) take a multi-year deal from the Grizz, or;

2) Play out the tender with the Elton Brand Sixers, and be a UFA next summer?

I think he chooses door number 2.

Well, if he did, it would be even better for us. In that scenario (signing the tender), we would retain his bird rights next year and could exceed the cap to keep him (or use him in a S/T if he doesn't fit the direction/makeup of the team).