Sixers' Board Poll: Smith or Brand??

[The Guilty Party]

We have a thread to discuss who we like and why but I'm looking to take a quick poll on this since there seems to be some people in favor of us using our newfound space on Smith and some who want Brand.

Who Ya Got?

We can keep the discussion part in the monster thread.

[philbe311]

I must qualify my vote - Brand*...

If the sixers have double and triple checked Brand's achilles and are a convinced it's fully healed:

Brand...

If the sixers have even the slimest concern about Brand's health:

Neither (assuming Smith would be getting $12+)

[The Guilty Party]

That makes sense. $12MIL+ is a steep price to pay for Smith. Of course, they could be clearing space to further enhance the front end of the contract.

[philbe311]

At that point I take my chances that Okafor signs the 1-year qualifier and replay the FA game next year...

[eyeatoma]

I must qualify my vote - Brand*...

If the sixers have double and triple checked Brand's achilles and are a convinced it's fully healed:

Brand...

If the sixers have even the slimest concern about Brand's health:

Neither (assuming Smith would be getting $12+)

Ditto...

[Slacktard]

People talk about drooling at Smith's athleticism and him running the floor with the Sixers and I admit that would be pretty awesome, but look at the playoffs.

When our up-tempo offense is suddenly thrown into a half-court set we were basically screwed. I think Brand's specialty is something this team sorely needs and something that would help a lot in those situations. I think him next to Dalembert is a good thing, you'd have a SMART defensive player who knows abotu positioning and would be an awesome help next to Daly.

I'm sure Smith will block more shots in there, but he will also be out of position a lot more then Brand.

Now I'm starting to get a little hope we have a shot at Brand damnit.

[Nofx8881]

Depends on Brand's health and if we'd have to pay Smith $15 million.

If Brand is healthy, I'd go for him. But then again, if it would only take $12 million to get Smith, thus leaving a couple million for another acquisition, I might go with Smith.

No way I give Smith the max, though. If they both get the max, go with Brand.

[phiphan]

Even with the addition of Brand I don't think we're a championship team. The fact that Brand is 29 and coming off of a major injury is worrisome.
With Smith you get several more years to put things together.

That said, I'd take either.

[Cru Thik]

I have no real hope for Brand I think I would even rather have the younger more athletic player Smith. You are going to have to pay to get either so I won't cry about how much we give either player. It will make this team better an that's all we really want. Plus couldn't Smith help at the 3 and the 4 with the movement of Carney I think he would fit better than just a 4 with injury questions.

[Sid the Squid]

As a warriors fan, I'd take Smith > Brand for my team if we didnt already have Brandan Wright...It's close, but I'd pick Brand for the W's and Smith for the sixers.

[STChaser]

When our up-tempo offense is suddenly thrown into a half-court set we were basically screwed.

Wasn't that the whole reason we selected Speights? Why are we duplicating PF's with similar skills (according to several sources) when we could take a younger more dynamic PF in Smith? And the whole achilles issue scares me big time. Too many flashbacks of Chris Webber. I want to build for the future. I don't want to scrap our plans for a "win it all now" attitude and that is what I foresee this Brand deal being. I want youth, athleticism, defense, and hard workers. I'm not all that interested in 29 year old PF's coming off major injuries.

STChaser

[JD76ers]

Brand if everything is 100% healed

[The Sixer Fixer]

I'm sure Brand would be classified as 100% healed. There's no way the doctors would have let him play at the end of last year if he wasn't (especially considering the Clips had nothing to play for). Now you may be able to question if he's regained the same amount of explosion, but that's something completely different than questioning if he's 100% "healed". Honestly, I would not be worried about him physically. I saw 3 of their games after he returned last year and he was getting up and down the floor with no probelm. His timing/shot was off a bit, but that's to be expected when you miss so much time. I'm sure he would have found the stroke once his conditioning was up to speed.

[JD76ers]

I knew he played a few games last year but didn't see any of them. You're right, Dr's must have deemed him 100% healed to play especially since the clips were out of it.

[doctor him]

I'll take either and be thrilled, but I go for Brand for 2 reasons:

1. I'm not too sure what Smith will do once he gets the big paycheck.
2. I'm not sure how pleased Iguodala would be if Smith gets maxxed and he doesn't.

At 22, Smith has mouth watering talent. And I think he'll only get better. I'd put him as a favorite to be on the 2012 Olympic team and probably the 2016 as well.

But Brand is a proven all star. A go to scorer with the game on the line. A smart defender and a big time rebouder. And he's going to continue to be all those things for at least the next 3 years and likely longer.

Brand fits everything the Sixers need right now, and with him...I don't think the Finals are out of reach provided that Thad and Lou continue their level of improvement.

[ITK9]

Brand but with some conditions:

1.if we sign Brand then we should add some veterans like cassel/brown/kurt thomas and try to at least make the eastern conference finals
2.extend andre miller-if we add a 29 years old pf in his prime then we can't afford to loose a calibra pg.miller can play at least 3 more years of good basketball

[Gerald3Wallace]

Smith

Williams/Iggy/Thad/Smith/Sam

is a great young core/very athletic also..smtih and sammy down low will give u guys a ton of shot blocking

[TheAnswer03076]

I went with Smith based on him being younger and a better fit to the identity the Sixers establised last year. He's less of an injury risk, but injuries can happen to anyone. The fast break starts on defense and Smith is a very good defender who has finished in the top 5 for blocked shots the past three seasons. A lot of people look at blocked shots as an overrated stat but they can be valuable in starting the break. Smith rebounds and passes well with an avg. of 8 rebounds and 3 assists over the past 2 seasons. Bring in Smith and add a shooter and this team is vastly improved from what it was last year. Brand does give you the halfcourt player we've been looking for, but he slows us down at the same time.

[sixerswillrule]

I understand the arguments in favor of Smith, but I feel that Brand helps eliminate our current weaknesses much more than Smith can. Our team is in desperate need of a legitimate weapon in the half-court offense, in the form of a low post threat, and that is what Brand gives us. He is 6'8" but with his long wingspan he plays like he is 6'11". He is a very efficient scorer and an excellent defender, rebounder, and shot-blocker. There is the injury concern but if he was able to come back at the end of last season and perform well, then I am not too worried. Smith is much younger but I really feel that with Brand on board this team will be near the top in the east. And it's not as if Brand is ancient, he is only 29. Webber was 32 when we got him, so I wouldn't make that comparison. He would be a good player for Speights to learn under as well. And with his low post offense, the addition of a 3 point shooter would be that much more effective.

[sec-106]

Brand.

Health is a concern.

But I love this guy.