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

[SendEm]

If somehow we do not acquire a legit starting PF, which player that's already on the roster do you think will start in that position?

I was thinking Evans or possibly Smith, but a few days ago in a radio interview Stefanski said that Lou Williams is the backup PG and he believes will be challenging for the starting SG position. What?
I thought that it was set in stone that Iggy would be the SG and Thad the SF? I believe that Stefanski might have tipped his hand a tad bit as to what he believes will ultimately happen after free agency, and that is we will not acquire a starting PF. He'll wisely sit on the salary cap money until he is satisfied with the caliber player that is offered to him via trade.

Guys be prepared for this to be our projected starting lineup after Brand doesn't opt out and Atlanta resigns Josh Smith...
Dalembert
Thad
Iggy
?????
Miller

[tk76]

I don't think Ed's concern is as much about Iguodala at Sg as it is his worry that Thad is not yet ready to start at the wing. Thad will be the answer at SF, but it might not be for another year.

Assuming Thad is ready at SF, I see Iguodala at SG. That brings us back to your original question about PF.

Evans: NO. Please keep him where he is of value- off the bench
Smith: Probably not ready enough to band
Hill: I would love to see him at least get some time
Speights: I actually think he could do great starting this year. Sam would still take the tougher cover, and Speights should benefit from lots of easy shot opportunities from Miller, Iguodala and Lou.

I would start Speights, but substitute freely (PF by committee)- giving Speights maybe 20-25 mpg (18 min at PF and 7 min at C?) That leaves plenty of time for Smith and Evans.

[SendEm]

You think that Speights right now is a better Starter than Smith?

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...

[The Guilty Party]

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

[tk76]

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

Lou-Iguodala-Thad-Marion-Sam

Come Run with us...

[51X3RF4N]

I tend to agree TK....I like Speights as a starter with a lot of substitution. I just watched him play a full game against Auburn, and he was DOGGING it about 5 minutes in. That is not so good. And I don't question his movitation or desire to give it his all. In fact, I think he DOES give it his all every minute, he just gets tired quickly. Maybe conditioning, maybe just the fact that he doesn't control his energy well.

But what I saw was a lot of energy, some decent moves, some pretty good D, and a tired 6'10 man.

At one point, Florida had a fast break, but it was 4 on 5 and Speights was the ONLY player past halfcourt still. And he wasn't even walking down court. He simply stopped. I just don't know how that will play out in the NBA. Hopefully he can get the right amount of minutes and contribute.

Now, he did put up 14 and 8 on 6-10 shooting, and blocked a shot, in 25 minutes. Which is not bad.

I tihnk we are definitely NOT going to miss out on a PF, because even if FA doesn't work out, there are always trade opportunities. And I think Thad is definitely the starting SF with Iggy at SG. If there is absolutely no opportunity to get a PF, we will go with Evans IMO. Again, just MY opinion, but I think that is where it goes.

LW is competing with Thad. If Thad isn't ready to start on a full time basis, Iggy will slide over and LW will start. I honestly don't think it'll matter who starts, cuz LW will be platooning with Miller, Iggy, and Thad in a rotation that gives them all enough minutes. And I can see LW winning 6th man of the year.

[The Sixer Fixer]

I don't think Ed's concern is as much about Iguodala at Sg as it is his worry that Thad is not yet ready to start at the wing. Thad will be the answer at SF, but it might not be for another year.

I agree - I think that is exactly what Ed was referring to with that comment. My other opinion was he just said that to motivate Lou the same way it can be used to motivate Thad. At this stage off the offseason you don't want to lock yourself into anything. I imagine if Ed had brought up Carney's name he would have said he's a candidate to start at either SG or SF too.

[51X3RF4N]

Why is that TGP? Did SF say that is our plan and that Miami would go for it? DId I miss it?

[SendEm]

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

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.

[is1531]

I don't think Ed's concern is as much about Iguodala at Sg as it is his worry that Thad is not yet ready to start at the wing. Thad will be the answer at SF, but it might not be for another year.

Assuming Thad is ready at SF, I see Iguodala at SG. That brings us back to your original question about PF.

Evans: NO. Please keep him where he is of value- off the bench
Smith: Probably not ready enough to band
Hill: I would love to see him at least get some time
Speights: I actually think he could do great starting this year. Sam would still take the tougher cover, and Speights should benefit from lots of easy shot opportunities from Miller, Iguodala and Lou.

I would start Speights, but substitute freely (PF by committee)- giving Speights maybe 20-25 mpg (18 min at PF and 7 min at C?) That leaves plenty of time for Smith and Evans.

That is exactly how I would do it. Your only going to play Speights 24 minutes. Let him start and limit him to 24 minutes, sharing the pie among 3 players. However he grows with the first unit. That is the key.

[bedjaw]

There is almost Zero chance we don't get an upgrade at PF. There is at least 1/2 dozen starters who are definately avialable right now. There will also be no competition. I don't want MS starting from jump street. I don't want him becoming complacent. To me he would have to be heads and shoulders above everybody else. Also I think we saw last year it is irrelevant who starts. Lwill, Thad and Iggy will get big minutes at different positions with AM and Sam as the book ends. I want JS to earn big minutes as well.

[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?

[SendEm]

Who are the "1/2 dozen starters" available?

I know that 3 PF's will NOT be Sixers next season. There is no way Atlanta will not match any contract the Sixers give Smith. Brand is not opting out of $16 for $11. There is no way Riley trades Marion for Miller when Marion is a better fit for Miami and Marion is worth more as a talent/expiring contract than anything the Sixers could realistically offer. Riley would never put a PG in the same backcourt as Wade that can not shoot the 3. He's won too many championships for a dumb move like that. Chalmers and Quinn are on the roster as PG's because they can shoot, so just imagine what type of long range shooting he would expect from a PG he traded straight up for Marion who shoots the 3 as a SF/PF.

[SendEm]

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?

[Phillyboy]

Good morning gentlemen. A fine Sunday morning to all.

The question is IF we don't acquire a starting PF who will start at PF? I believe we have a very high probability that we will get that upgrade (EB) but IF we don't then Evans needs to start (at least in the beginning) After that the audition begins.

It won't be Thad although he can log some minutes at the 4 depending on the matchup. He clearly prefers SF and in the interest of his maturity I want him to become one of the leagues better SFs sooner than later.

It won't be Speights no matter how many of the college guy lovers on this board wish it to be so. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Speights never plays a minute in a Sixer uniform. Until he's signed he's only "draft rights" and can be traded. I would think any team who traded a starting PF to us (like the Clips) would want a young big to develop and eat up some minutes at the 4. (Especially the Clips come to think of it. After Brand it's PF by committee as it stands now)

Maybe Smith can earn a starter spot with Evans backing him up but Jason needs to primarily back up Dalembert IMO.

(Still avatar-less)

[tk76]

I tend to agree TK....I like Speights as a starter with a lot of substitution. I just watched him play a full game against Auburn, and he was DOGGING it about 5 minutes in. That is not so good. And I don't question his movitation or desire to give it his all. In fact, I think he DOES give it his all every minute, he just gets tired quickly. Maybe conditioning, maybe just the fact that he doesn't control his energy well.

But what I saw was a lot of energy, some decent moves, some pretty good D, and a tired 6'10 man.

Watch the ist Fla-SC game- especially the second half. It may have been his best game. They won by 2, but were probably +17 while Speights was on the floor. He looked raw, but showed a bit of everything in that game. He ran and showed good lateral quickness, scored in the post with both hands and off of athletic o-boards, played great off the pick and roll, took charges, blocked/altered shots and even made some sweet passes. He looked raw, but his level of court awareness seemed good. On defense he was expected to rotate out to cover guards o at the three point line. He was faked out by some 6' guards, but he rotated quickly and confidently on defense, and demonstrated remarkably quick feet and balance for such a big man.

[Phillyboy]

Who are the "1/2 dozen starters" available?

I know that 3 PF's will NOT be Sixers next season. There is no way Atlanta will not match any contract the Sixers give Smith. Brand is not opting out of $16 for $11. There is no way Riley trades Marion for Miller when Marion is a better fit for Miami and Marion is worth more as a talent/expiring contract than anything the Sixers could realistically offer. Riley would never put a PG in the same backcourt as Wade that can not shoot the 3. He's won too many championships for a dumb move like that. Chalmers and Quinn are on the roster as PG's because they can shoot, so just imagine what type of long range shooting he would expect from a PG he traded straight up for Marion who shoots the 3 as a SF/PF.

Hello Sendem

Elton Brand does not neccessarily need to opt out for us to get him in fact I would be pleasantly surprised if he did. Why walk away from a guaranteed 16M? The only "opt out" strategy that makes sense is if the Clips want to move Brand and keep his interests in mind as well.

EB opts out, Philly steps up, Clips with his Bird rights S+T him to us with a long term deal (an extra year, I believe) that's we couldn't offer immediately even if we had another 5M in cap room.

The other scenario has EB keeping his 16M contract and being S+T as is and then we offer an extension after he's here a la Kevin Garnett. Either way the Clips have a decision to make. Keeping EB means ponying up another big buck long term deal to a guy closing in on 30. That makes sense for a team one large piece away from contending but not for the Clips who will be mired once again in mediocrity.

Besides, it's Donald Sterling.

(Still avatar-less)

[jmon]

Ed isn't the coach. The lineup is Mo's call, so I would take Ed's comments in perspective. Too many Sixers fans seem to think Ed is making the lineups. Last season when Cheeks had the fewest different starting lineups in the NBA(5), it should show you Cheeks was in charge even though he was being pressured openly by Ed to start Iggy at the 2.

I find it difficult to see the Sixers starting Thad at PF when they have Smith, Hill, Speights, Evans to play the position, which are all pretty recent additions. But, honestly. I have no argument for any of them starting at the 4 right now.

Mo Cheeks loves Willie Green.

Miller, Willie, Iggy, Thad, Sammy very well may be the "favorite" for the lineup this year.

[The Guilty Party]

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

I'll agree that corwin's trade is homerish since the Heat aren't going to put Chalmers in a deal. That said, I'm basing this on discussions that have been reported by Sixerfan. Miami is in need of a PG and supposedly Riley wanted Miller last season. Whether YOU believe he's on the same level as Marion or not makes no difference to anyone. What matters is what our GM and the Heat's GM believes.

That said, I agree with you to an extent. Then again, Miller had a helluva season last year and is credited with being the major cog that made the Sixers make the playoff. Well, it's either give him credit or your boy, Andre Iguodala.

[sixerswillrule]

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. I want him at PF for 1/3 of his playing time, max. We should be able to find a PF, but if not, then we see who is the best fit from who we have. It could be Speights or Smith, hopefully not Evans. But we should get someone else...