So this is our team for the next 4-5 years

[Wilfried]

Expecting Miller gets an extension too, the core of our team is set for the next 4-5 years:

Miller - Iguodala - Young - Brand - Dalembert - Williams - Green - Speights

We're also above the salary cap, so we don't have many options (and certainly no big ones) to improve this team. Our lotery picks we be between 19-24 the next years.

Are you happy with this? Do you think Stefanski did a good job by building a team for 5 years in 1 summer? I'm pretty sceptical, especially about Iggy's contract. But I think, by signing Brand, he had to put a long-term team on paper, because you can't wait long with Brand as cornerstone.

I'm not really convinced by Ed's way of constructing a team. I'm afraid the next 3 years, we will be a good team, but never a contender. And thanks to the contracts of Elton and Iggy, we well never become a contender.

[underpressure]

I highly doubt that Miller will stick to this team for the next 4-5 years. He will be likely extended for two more years and then at the age of 35/36 he may already become expendable. Three other guys, Sam, Willie and Evans, are under contract for three more years. Who knows whether they will be re-signed. That leaves us with Iguodala, Brand, LW, Young, Speights and x (complementary players, rookies) in 4-5 years. That does not look to me that shappy.

[corwin]

This is a nice team. I expect Reggie to be traded at some point since he could help a team without a decent PF; probably around the trade deadline. Ed also will have the MLE next year & should be able to acquire a final piece kind of player if they feel they need one.

[Wilfried]

Nobody is going to take Reggie until the final year of his contract. Same goes for Willie I'm afraid. They're contracts are just too big for what they give on the court.

[freshie2]

This is the most optimistic I've been about the Sixers since Doc, Moses, Barkley & Co. played together. They have legitimate players at every starting position. 4 potential all stars in the starting lineup over the next 5 years. Youth at key positions, with good attitiudes/b-ball IQ, and legitimate length across the board. Miller is the one spot I see as being transitional...either he's traded during the season, or leaves as a FA and LW becomes the starting PG.

The one player you failed to mention is Smith. When he comes back, they have a very, very nice big man rotation. The continued development of Iguodala, Williams and Thad is obviously key, but Ed has done a very nice job in putting a legit NBA lineup together. Trading KK was a difficult choice, but Ed made it and it played out very nicely. When you have a chance to get a very high end big man (who fills the biggest void on the roster) you have to do it. We can squabble over the $$ for Iguodala, but Ed made great decisions across the board this off season. If people aren't excited about this roster, then I don't know what game they've been watching...this is a very nice now and future roster.

[CoachK]

Hopefully Ed can get Miller to sign for another two years and the 6er's can draft their next PG if it is determined that Williams will never be a starter. If Ed can get Miller to sign for about $10 mil a season for two years it would be best for the 6er's. After two years if the 6er's aren't getting it done they can re-tool with Dalembert, Evans and Miller all coming off the books after the 2010-2011 season. It gives the 6er's time to re-tool while Iggy is still in his prime and Brand will only be in his 4th year of the contract. It gives the Sixer's another two year period to re-tool and win a championship.

[docwasoverated]

This is the most optimistic I've been about the Sixers since Doc, Moses, Barkley & Co. played together. They have legitimate players at every starting position. 4 potential all stars in the starting lineup over the next 5 years. Youth at key positions, with good attitiudes/b-ball IQ, and legitimate length across the board. Miller is the one spot I see as being transitional...either he's traded during the season, or leaves as a FA and LW becomes the starting PG.

The one player you failed to mention is Smith. When he comes back, they have a very, very nice big man rotation. The continued development of Iguodala, Williams and Thad is obviously key, but Ed has done a very nice job in putting a legit NBA lineup together. Trading KK was a difficult choice, but Ed made it and it played out very nicely. When you have a chance to get a very high end big man (who fills the biggest void on the roster) you have to do it. We can squabble over the $$ for Iguodala, but Ed made great decisions across the board this off season. If people aren't excited about this roster, then I don't know what game they've been watching...this is a very nice now and future roster.

ditto

[tk76]

I would be pessimistic if this team was in the West. Making the finals past the lakers, N.O., Utah and Portland in the next 5 years would be really tough. Fortunately those teams will beat themselves up, while the Sixers get to challenge for supremacy in the (L)East.

I think it impressive for the team to have such a solid rotation only 2 seasons after being a laughingstock (with 40M committed to AI and CWebb.) Whether the team can make a run depends on how Young, Lou and Speights mature, and how quickly Boston declines. The goal should be to win the East and then hope to steal the Finals- and right now Boston is the only team in the East who is clearly superior- and Boston is much older and an injury away from being on par with the Sixers.

Looking down the road, the Sixers are as well positioned as anyone in the East. I would rather have 20-21 year olds like Lou, Speights, Young and Smith on the roster than have high picks and a bad team. This team can still improve dramatically without getting high picks. Also, the MLE and the team's rising status could allow for some major upgrades in the rotation if shooting, a savvy vet or another role player is needed. I think the team will go above the tax if it is seen as a move to put them over the top.

On the flip side, it might be hard to keep or upgrade players like Miller or Sam over the next 3 years because of where the team is in relation to the tax. I certainly don't see them extending Sam to a 10M+ contract when they will be paying Iguodala, Brand and Thad big $'s- so that could effect the team's window for success.
---
Going back 2 years, the only other way to go would have been to tank and hopefully get a top 4 pick 2 years in a row. That could have netted some amazing combination like Oden and Beasely- who would look great next to Iguodala and Lou- but there is no guarantees when it comes to the lottery when you bottom out. Best case the team would be promising but 2-3 years away from being good. Worst case, the team is stuck in the basement for 5+ years and starts a new carousel of coaching and player changes while hoping to draft the right cornerstone. Even if you draft a star, you need to add many more pieces to go from the deep lottery to contention.

[is1531]

No matter what the 76ers record will be in 2008-2009, I fully expect Stefanski to use the MLE. I would not put it past Dileo to click on our first round pick from 22-30. However, their is one other way. I believe if the 76ers target one or two players at 22-30 and those palyers are not there, Ed will trade the pick for a selection in the 2009-2020 draft, with the hope that it leads to a higher selection in the 2009-2010 draft. The 76ers will win the title this season.

[blazehound]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if Miller leaves after this season, then we'll be under the cap, so no MLE?

[jmon]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if Miller leaves after this season, then we'll be under the cap, so no MLE?

Long story short... if your exceptions are more than your cap space you can choose to use the exceptions instead. As of right now I am projecting the Sixers to have a salary next year of 60 million taking into account the first round pick we have and one minimum salary filler. That would leave us at around 3 million in cap space pending the new cap. We would choose the 8 million in exceptions over the 3 million in cap space, so we would have the 6 million dollar MLE and the 2 million dollar bi-annual exception.

EDIT: If they resign Miller for a deal starting at say 10 million and then sign a full MLE guy and a first round pick and filler, they will essentially be right at the luxury tax.

[IggyTheBEaST]

Blazehound I hope your wrong. I have been pretty optimistic about our MLE next year(and the year after). Stefanski has showed us that his style is to evaluate the team, and go out and try to remedy the weaknesses. 3 point shooting, depth at the 3, or one we may not have ebem thought of yet, Im confident Ed will try address that in the offseason. With no MLE, not so confident.


By the way, I think it would be a very poor move to let Miller walk. Yes being over the cap and letting miller expring would help us finacially but his expiring contract could help us more valuewise as a basketball team. Like you said, 5 years is obviously our main window here, so lets use it.

[9th Wonder]

As currently constructed, I think the 76ers will grab a 3-6 seed in the East, with lots of room for improvement over the next 3-4 years.

Let's hope that Brand is able to fully recover from the Achilles injury this season, and that he can produce at a high level for the duration of his contract. If he can still be a go to guy in years 4 and 5 of his deal, this team will be in the elite.

Right now, I think this team can win 50+ games. In a few years when Iguodala is (hopefully) hitting his prime and Lou, Thad and the other young guys are (hopefully) established in the league, we'll be at our best. Of course, it all depends on a few things; namely:

1. Brand's health/longevity
2. Miller's contract status/longevity
3. Development of the young players
4. Ability to manage the cap/fill holes with the MLE

I'm expecting a second round appearance this season, and an appearance in the Finals sometime during the next 4-5 seasons.

[corwin]

Nobody is going to take Reggie until the final year of his contract. Same goes for Willie I'm afraid. They're contracts are just too big for what they give on the court.

Are you sure about that? Seems to me that BK traded for him since we didn't have a PF at the time & he had more years on his contract then he does now. Reggie's contract was one year longer than Steven Hunter's deal & it turned out to be a good deal for Philly. Also, take a look at the rosters of Milwaukee & Charlotte as two examples. Charlotte is going into the season with Sean May, a joke if ever there was one at PF. Milwaukee is planning to start Charlie V. I wonder how long Larry Brown & Scott Skiles will be satisfied with those two guys? I'm not saying we'll get anything less than a shorter contract but I think that it is likely that there will be some interest in Reggie. I wouldn't move him until the trade deadline though since I don't think Speights will be ready right away.

[blazehound]

I don't think you can trade Evans until Speights shows he can handle 20-25 minutes a game, and I don't think this will be the year he'll be able to do that.

[JazKeyz]

But you also gotta look at it like this, All the really special teams in the east are'nt gonna be as good as they are a year from now. Philly has the best chance over the next 2 or 3 years, considering they extend miller, to be the best team in the east as long as health isnt an issue

[JMillott]

I can't believe you guys aren't all on board with what this team has done in the last 20 months, you guys are set to contend this season and for years to come. If the 76ers hadn't gone out and created the space to sign Elton Brand you'd have had no capspace after re-signing Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams and Dre Miller next summer.

I don't think you guys are only a threat to my Celtics when we slow down or if somebody gets hurt, I think the 76ers are a legit title contender right now and set up for the longterm.

I also think you guys drafted one of the best players in the entire 2008 draft in Maressee Speights that teams in the top five to ten picks will be absolutely kicking themselves for passing on.

Since you guys did the exact same thing in the 2007 draft with Thaddeus Young i'm quite honestly shocked you guys think you have anything to complain about.

Even the Andre Iguodala contract brings complaints on this board and i'd gladly pay him that contract to have him in a Celtics uniform right now and quite honestly i'd have given him the max to get him.

[tk76]

I look forward to renewing the Sixers/Celtics rivalry this year. I also think both teams could be contending for a Finals appearance for the next 3 years. Barring injury, I think the Celtics could be a dangerous team for several more years assuming they are willing to stay over the tax- especially when Ray Allen's 18M expires in 2 years (although that summer they could even replace him with a better/younger player since his expiring will be hugely valuable heading into that big Summer '10 FA year.)

[Wilfried]

The one player you failed to mention is Smith. When he comes back, they have a very, very nice big man rotation. The continued development of Iguodala, Williams and Thad is obviously key, but Ed has done a very nice job in putting a legit NBA lineup together. Trading KK was a difficult choice, but Ed made it and it played out very nicely. When you have a chance to get a very high end big man (who fills the biggest void on the roster) you have to do it. We can squabble over the $$ for Iguodala, but Ed made great decisions across the board this off season. If people aren't excited about this roster, then I don't know what game they've been watching...this is a very nice now and future roster.

No, actually, I didn't forget him. I'm just not sure how much of a '76er he will be in the next years.
I think his situation will be like Shav Randolph experienced. At the verge of becoming a good role player, but than an injury that takes away a whole year and much devellopement.

I'm afraid this injury will stop his devellopement and he will be replaced by another roll player within a couple of years.

[LieCheatSteal]

I don't think Miller will be back next year for a number of reasons. 1) I think Williams will be given the keys after this season. They're priming him to be the starting PG, starting this year. 2) With next year's free agent crop supposedly better than this year's, it might be good for the Sixers to have a little cap space to spend on FA's that may not cash in next year that might want a shorter contract to prove their worth the following year. 3) Miller's getting up there so even a 2 year contract might be pushing it a little. 4) Plus, with the inside scoring this team currently has (Brand, Dalembert, Young), it might be beneficial for this team to get some outside shooting from their guards. Miller is not a great shooter.

Jason Smith's play is not predicated on his athletism (unlike Randolph) and his career destiny with the Sixers was as a backup C anyways. So, I don't think his injury will affect him or his future with the team that much.

Drafting 17-23 every year isn't bad. A lot of more polished, juniors and seniors that aren't standouts fall into this range (MoPete, Boone, Warrick). Some of these players could supply very good support for a championship caliber starting five.

So, I'm pretty happy with this team.