Andre Miller To Be Traded On Draft Night??

[The Guilty Party]

By the way, I forgot to write about this yesterday but for what it's worth Anthony Gargano was on 610WIP talking about the Sixers and their future yesterday afternoon and said that he "heard" that the Sixers plan to move Andre Miller and Utah's 2009 first on draft night to obtain a pick in the lottery. I couldn't think of too many teams that made sense to trade with until I came upon the LA Clippers. I believe Miller to the Clippers for their pick makes sense for the following reasons:

1) The Clippers currently have Brevin Knight as their starting PG.

2) Andre Miller is a veteran player who may make Dunleavy and Brand happy. Brand may not opt-out this summer but his deal does expire next summer so the Clips need to do something to improve their squad and I doubt a 30 year old Brand will re-sign with a rebuilding franchise.

3) Miller has only 1 year left on his deal which should make Sterling happy. Even though his cap number is $10MIL, his actual salary will only be about $5.5MIL since his deal had a signing bonus. That too would make Sterling happy.

4) 1 year of Miller would allow the Clippers to actually see if Shaun Livingston is going to be able to play ball again.

5) Andre Miller is a LA guy and would be happy there as covered in another thread.

Currently the Clippers have the 6th pick in the draft which means the Sixers could have a shot at Bayless, Gordon, Mayo and others. I think I would do a deal as long as it was done after the draft so that we could get some cap space back from the Clips and not a bad contract. If that's the case, we could then obtain a young PG in the draft with this pick plus have the cap space to make a push for someone like Okafor or Smith.

[SendEm]

No one in the NBA is willing to trade a high lottery pick for a veteran non all star PG and a restricted low first round draft pick. Perhaps a team might SWAP picks for Miller+Utah's first, but then what would have been the purpose of us not completely taking the season and EARNING a high lottery pick while trading Miller in a completely seperate deal?

[UptownPhilly]

The #6 pick would be a great return for Andre Miller.

If he's still around I say take Eric Gordon, and trade Carney for Crittenton(maybe Memphis takes him)

If a miracle happens and we get Smith/Okafor, our lineup is rounded out.

Crittenton/Williams
Gordon/Green
Iguodala/Young
Josh Smith/Evans
Dalembert/Jason Smith

This is a versatile lineup that can get out and run.

[The Guilty Party]

I somewhat agree and in all reality would be alright with swapping picks as well.

Trading Miller, the #16 this year, and the #22 next year is fine if it means the #6 pick.

[Fire BK]

Wow. That's interesting stuff. I could see this scenario going down.

SendEm raises a valid question: Why wouldn't they've dumped Miller earlier and earned their own lotto pick? Two reasons. Miller has helped develop the young guys, which has given Stefanski a chance to "evaluate" in earnest. Second, there's no guarantee they would've ended up with a high lottery pick if they traded Miller.

Also, I disagree with SendEm that the Clips wouldn't deal their lotto pick for Andre Miller and a future 1st + change. The Clips have been making lottery picks forever... It's probably getting old already. These players are not guaranteed to blossom into anything, anytime soon. With Miller, you get a proven commodity, who won multiple player-of-the-week awards this season, and is playing at a very high level. As TGP explained, the coach loves him and Brand would be enticed to stay.

I would add that with Kaman at the 5 and Thornton at the 3, this team has all the pieces except for a true starting PG. They're probably sick and tired of drafting year after year in the lottery and watching the Lakers sell out the Staples Center. They tasted one good year of success, and the fans came in droves. Sterling is a business man. He wants to fill the seats, too.

IMO this deal makes a lot of sense for both teams. However, it's a bit perplexing in the context of Stefanski's recent comment regarding Miller's future on Sixers.com:

I

[Fire BK]

Ok... the more I'm thinking about this, the more it makes complete sense for both teams.... The Clips have Cat Mobley signed for another 2 years after this.... What would adding another rookie do for this franchise? This trade gives them:

Miller/Mobley/Thornton/Brand/Kaman

Bench: Tim Thomas/ Q. Ross/ J. Powell/ Paul Davis

Shelf: Shaun Livingston

This gives them an instant +.500 team. Granted, it's the west, but IMO this is a playoff team if they stay healthy. Kaman is a beast, and he plays like a grizzled veteran. Adding a PG like Miller would bring out the best in everyone. It's a good fit. Further, Miller loves Cali, and keeps his home near Sacramento. He never bought a house in Philly. It seems this trade would please him very much, especially in the context of his recent comments on 950AM.

I don't need to explain to you why this is gold for Philly. Adding the lottery pick provides this team some dangerously insane flexibility. They can make noise in the draft AND free agency. Crazy. I love that the keys to this franchise are finally entrusted in a savvy basketball man. I have supreme confidence that Eddie will do the right thing.

[The Guilty Party]

Also... while I'm sure something would be reported on draft night about a trade, I'm sure Stefanski would rather wait until after July 1 when the Clips should have some cap space (Maggette will be opting-out) to send to the Sixers in a deal.

By waiting, the Sixers can make a playoff run then make the trade for a pick and some more cap space. By the time the trade deadline had come around, it became obvious the Sixers were going to be in the playoff picture so dumping Miller now didn't make a lot of sense since the damage was done and we weren't going to have a top 9 pick.

Again, if the deal has to be Miller+the #16+Utah's 2009 pick for the #6 and some more cap space... I am in.

[SendEm]

By waiting, the Sixers can make a playoff run then make the trade for a pick and some more cap space. By the time the trade deadline had come around, it became obvious the Sixers were going to be in the playoff picture so dumping Miller now didn't make a lot of sense since the damage was done and we weren't going to have a top 9 pick.

??????? If they would have traded Miller before the deadline they would have most certainly received a top 9 lottery pick. A Lou Will, Willie Green backcourt is in the high lottery territory. Miller is a winner as far as regular seasons go.

[Slacktard]

If Anthony Gargano is reporting something I give it absolutely zero credence.

[Sixercise]

I also wonder where the Cuz got his info....but like TGP said, it's a very interesting scenario were it to go down. That'd be nothing short of highway robbery.

[phiphan]

Also... while I'm sure something would be reported on draft night about a trade, I'm sure Stefanski would rather wait until after July 1 when the Clips should have some cap space (Maggette will be opting-out) to send to the Sixers in a deal.

Again, if the deal has to be Miller+the #16+Utah's 2009 pick for the #6 and some more cap space... I am in.

It seems like a great trade for us. I'm just not convinced that the Clippers would do it, despite your good points as to why they might/should.

[Wildfire]

It's just one of those things I can't see happening. Miller's a good player but at his age and being an expiring contract (although I'm sure he would probably resign with the Clips, especially since he's been there before) I sincerely doubt they would give us the 6th overall under any circumstances.

[Johnny Broad-Street]

The only thing giving this any substance is the fact that Gargano doesn't really "report" stuff too often. It's not like he throws a bunch of rumors out every day. My guess is he actually heard something

[76ciology]

Yup.. Andre to the Clipps sounds good to me. I think both Andre and the Clipps, are a good fit for one another. But do the Clipps got enough cap space to absorb Andre Miller's contract? If not, who are the "fillers" in this deal.

I have to disagree with SendEm here. I think that Andre Miller is worth a high lotto pick. First, it's not really a talented draft this year, IMO. Second, Andre Miller is one of the few remaining great PGs in this league. Didn't he already won two player of the weeks awards? I think that he would be a very valuable commodity for a team like the Clippers.

[Wildfire]

Yup.. Andre to the Clipps sounds good to me. I think both Andre and the Clipps, are a good fit for one another. But do the Clipps got enough cap space to absorb Andre Miller's contract? If not, who are the "fillers" in this deal.

I have to disagree with SendEm here. I think that Andre Miller is worth a high lotto pick. First, it's not really a talented draft this year, IMO. Second, Andre Miller is one of the few remaining great PGs in this league. Didn't he already won two player of the weeks awards? I think that he would be a very valuable commodity for a team like the Clippers.

Webber won player of the month before he got traded here

Miller is a good player, but I just can't see a team taking him for a 6th overall pick, even if we include our 16th and Utah's pick.

I think the only way they bite is if we include Iguodala, Young, or our first in 2009, with that package. That's something I'm obviously not willing to do.

Alhough, I would consider giving up Iggy if they sweeten the pot, like include Thornton and Maggette. Maggette would (hopefully) opt out and we would have a TON of space for 09 and probably be able to sign two max players.

[darius08]

Would Seattle want Miller?

I could also imagine Portland decidign to go for an experienced pg over one of their three (!) point guards now but that's a longer shot I would guess

[dond]

To tell you the truth, I feel that Dalembert is expendable also. If the Sixers could get someone to take him they could then try moving up on draft night to get Hibbert. I like Hibbert better than Dalembert because he can provide some offense, which apparently Dalembert cannot do on a regular basis. So some combination of moves involving Miller and Dalembert could result in an interesting draft night.

[51X3RF4N]

Be careful people. Read it again. You must realize that he said this, OK. I am fine with that, but he DID not say any teams/picks that would be involved, or that it had any legs. Just that they would be looking to do a deal. There are about 13 teams(lol) in the lottery and any of them would work in a deal for the right price and return. Think about us keeping the 16-17 pick and just using Miller/Utah's 1st/2nd rounder for 13th or 12th pick overall. That may work as well, DEPENDING on who is picking there. Then we would have two mid 1st round picks and could really get creative. See? Anywho, I just don't see it. I think Stefanksi truly likes Miller/Daly/Young/Iggy/L-Will/Smith/Evans. And thinks that if we add those few pieces, like a starting PF who can score down low, and retaining Green and Carney as BACKUPS, we would have a shot at the Eastern Conference Title. I kind of agree. Why waste that shot because you want Eric fricken Gordon who can't even rise to the challenge and beat PSU!!!??

Or anyone else in the range of 10-6 in this draft. They will not take you there. They will just build young players, like the Clips. We NEED THE STAR PF. Keep the Vet PG and C. Keep the freakishly athletic wing players, keep Green the scoring machine...lol...on the bench to give a spark. Keep Smith and Evans coming off the bench for solid big man minutes. Keep Carney and L-Will coming off the bench for some youth and hustle. We are ONE PIECE away people!

Phew, I'm sooo full of Kool-Aid it ain't funny.

[Skates]

This supposed rumor sounds like nothing more than pure speculation on the part of Gargano or whomever told him the rumor. I don't doubt that the team has several scenarios in mind for the summer regarding the draft free agencies and trades, but to say with any specificity that a certain player and picks will actually be traded on draft night is just plain goofy.

First, we have no idea where any lottery teams will actually be drafting. The season isn't even over to determine the lottery odds and needless to say the lottery needs to be held too. As many posters have pointed out, not many lottery teams will be looking for a PG in his thirties. A three team trade might make more sense if this was ever to come to fruition.

Second, we have no idea who all of the players in the lottery will be. Teams move up in drafts to target specific players. No one is giving up Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose for Miller and a couple mid to late first rounders. You have to know who is in the draft and have a good guess at where the player or players you want are slotted before such a trade can even start being put together.

It is very doubtful that the team has developed a single strategy/plan for the summer, there are too many variables. The draft variables noted above, plus figuring out the needs and desires of any potential trading partners, plus not even knowing which FA's will be on the market and what their contract demands will be.

The team probably is considering all sorts of possible moves for this offseason. At best, someone heard a discussion of one of many ideas the team is floating out there and is running with it.

For message board purposes it is fun to discuss and theorize based on any little piece of information like this, no matter how unreliable the source. In my own opinion I think that Miller is a goner before the summer is out, but that does not mean this "report' has any credence whatsoever. If a rumor like this popped up a week before the draft it would be far more believable.

[Hewy29]

I'm not sure if would be so willing to part with miller because he is so valuable to our offense. If we do trade him for like the 6th pick we better get Bayless if he is there or I will be very upset.