What Team Would You Rather Have?

STChaser · Post #1 » by **STChaser** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:28 pm

I've been thinking about this lately as we play some of the better teams in the league. And the more I think about it, the more I REALLY like our team. If you had to choose one team, coach included, over our team, what team would you choose?

At first I thought about some of the better teams in the league; San Antonio with Duncan, Denver with their allstar cast, last year I really liked the Bulls with their young core, Boston sure looks good right now, Detroit has tons of talent on their roster. But when I factored young talent into the equation, I really think I prefer our team to any of those. Not to say some of those teams aren't better than us at the moment. But our upside is looking great when you consider the way guys like Lou, Thad, Iguodala, Sam, Carney, WG, etc. have been playing lately - and when you factor in our cap space, we look even more poised to have a really bright future. Also consider that many of the stars on those aforementioned teams are getting up there. I see teams like San Antonio and Detroit on the decline, Denver as dysfunctional, and I now feel that our youth is actually more promising than Chicago's. You'd be foolish to chose us over Boston but where will the Celts be three years from now, having mortgaged their future to win it all now?

However, looking the entire league and comparing those teams to ours, I would definitely swap teams with the Lakers and give Orlando a lot of consideration as well. Not many other teams come to mind though. How about you guys?

STChaser

Cru Thik · Post #2 » by **Cru Thik** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:36 pm

If I had to pick one to swap I would take Portland. Others I like are the Lakers, Hornets and Golden State. I know the Spurs are a really good team but I can't stand watching then play for some reason. I don't really agree with our future looking that great. I think we are what we are. I don't see much more upside in guys like Carney, Green, Sam and I don't know how much more Iguodala and Williams can do. Thad being the wild card to the equation. But to say I wouldn't take many other teams over ours would be foolish maybe rose colored glasses kool-aid or w/e you want to call it.

underpressure · Post #3 » by **underpressure** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:37 pm

Portland and LA come into my mind. I would swap our team with theirs immediately. I would take Boston and similar calibers as well since they contend for the championship. I don't feel like that we have a real impressive squad except for the prospect of having a helluva swing man duo for years to come. And that's not even set in stone.

UptownPhilly · Post #4 » by **UptownPhilly** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:46 pm

Portland, with no hesitation.

Iguodala/Young/Star Power Forward

This core can do serious damage in the East in the next decade, if surrounded with the right supporting cast.

SendEm · Post #5 » by **SendEm** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:55 pm

Without Andre Miller the Sixers would be at the TOP of the lottery. I would hardly say that having a 32 year old non All Star PG as the best player on a team filled with other non All Stars is "promising." The Sixers are playing well right now but it is all triggered by a player that is 32 years of age with a non All Star supporting cast. Not a good look moving forward. The Sixers need to acquire a franchise caliber backcourt playmaker for the future and/or a front court player that can be the focal point of an offense. Teams like Minn. and New Orleans are actually further along than the Sixers when it comes to being able to compete for a CHIP in the near future. Minn. has that post player and the Hornets have the PG, all either one of those two teams need is to find the other part. The Sixers have an older PG, so even though we might be competitive over the next few years, it will only be fools gold if we don't acquire a post player while Miller is still effective.

I would much rather have a great deal of the rosters around the NBA. The salary cap room that the Sixers have is a bit overrated because no players are entering the market that both the Sixers need and are without question marks.

There are teams in the NBA right now that are constructed in such a way that if they acquire a slightly above average player at a key position of need they can make a HUGE improvement and become better than the Sixers. Those teams would be Charlotte/PG , Miami/C or PF , Atlanta/C

Post #6 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:21 pm

I agree with the others above that Portland has the brightest future of any franchise in the league today and would take that team over the Sixers in a heartbeat.

freshie2 · Post #7 » by **freshie2** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:24 pm

Portland and LAL are in great shape as is...others need to tweak, similarly to the Sixers. Add a top level PF (like a healthy Brand) to this team, and they are immediately a top 4 team in the East at a minimum.

Bigger question is, do you play for the 2-3 year window that Miller has, or try to get the PG of the next 10 years while Miller's value is very high?? Similarly, do you move Sam in the off season while his value is extremely high (relative to his career value)?? Portland would seem to be a nice fit for Miller, and have multiple picks, and young Euro's on their roster to move. You would have to think Toronto wants a true big man to pair next to Bosh...can you pry away Calderone in a S/T and maybe take back another player/picks??

They look great right now, but there are tough decisions to be made this off season. If they can get that stud PF or other young big man, then I think you have to stick with the core. Otherwise, making some significant deals may make sense.

UptownPhilly · Post #8 » by **UptownPhilly** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:34 pm

freshie2 wrote:Portland and LAL are in great shape as is...others need to tweak, similarly to the Sixers. Add a top level PF (like a healthy Brand) to this team, and they are immediately a top 4 team in the East at a minimum.

Bigger question is, do you play for the 2-3 year window that Miller has, or try to get the PG of the next 10 years while Miller's value is very high?? Similarly, do you move Sam in the off season while his value is extremely high (relative to his career value)?? Portland would seem to be a nice fit for Miller, and have multiple picks, and young Euro's on their roster to move. You would have to think Toronto wants a true big man to pair next to Bosh...can you pry away Calderone in a S/T and maybe take back another player/picks??

They look great right now, but there are tough decisions to be made this off season. If they can get that stud PF or other young big man, then I think you have to stick with the core. Otherwise, making some significant deals may make sense.

We certainly need to acquire a young stud PG. Lou Williams may be the "PG of the future" but he'll probably never be a pure point, and he'll need a backup(assuming he starts).

In 2-3 years I can't see us winning a Championship with teams like Boston, Utah, GS, etc. still competing. If we can move Miller for the right deal, he's as good as gone.

Dalembert should only be moved if we can acquire someone as good as Calderon.

Post #9 » by **dbodner** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:51 pm

Portland, Lakers, Orlando, without more than a seconds thought.

STChaser · Post #10 » by **STChaser** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:54 pm

I don't think you move anyone. Why mess up a good thing? And no way in hell do you move Sam considering the crop of other C's currently in this league. The only 5's I consider trading Sam for are Bynum and Howard and Sam would fetch us neither of them. What I would do is this:

STEP 1:
- Target Okafor, upon missing out on him
- Target Josh Smith, upon missing out on him
- Target Villanueva, upon missing out on him
- Target Tyrus Thomas (and give up as little as possible to get him)

STEP 2:
- Draft Serge Ibaka, upon missing out on him
- Draft Darrell Arthur, upon missing out on him
- Draft Anthony Randolph

That would leave us with our current crop as well as a PF from the free agency pool (Okafor, Smith, Villanueva, or Tyrus) as well as a project PF who we can groom for the future in Ibaka, Arthur, or Randolph. In the meantime, we still have Evans and Jason Smith with the occassional Thad Young playing at the 4.

STChaser

Post #11 » by **The Guilty Party** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:13 pm

I've been on (still am) the Darrell Arthur bandwagon all season... that said, I EASILY take Anthony Randolph over Arthur if both are the board. Arthur is going to be a solid PF in the NBA but probably more of a role player type (see: Drew Gooden without the crazy beard or patch of hair).

Anthony Randolph is a higher risk but has a chance to develop into an All-Star caliber PF. At this point, I'd take the risk.

sec-106 · Post #12 » by **sec-106** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:08 pm

PORT and LAL.

Skates · Post #13 » by **Skates** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:12 pm

Portland, Lakers, Jazz and Hornets.

freshie2 · Post #14 » by **freshie2** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:36 am

STChaser wrote:I don't think you move anyone. Why mess up a good thing? And no way in hell do you move Sam considering the crop of other C's currently in this league. The only 5's I consider trading Sam for are Bynum and Howard and Sam would fetch us neither of them. What I would do is this:

STEP 1:
- Target Okafor, upon missing out on him
- Target Josh Smith, upon missing out on him
- Target Villanueva, upon missing out on him
- Target Tyrus Thomas (and give up as little as possible to get him)

STEP 2:
- Draft Serge Ibaka, upon missing out on him
- Draft Darrell Arthur, upon missing out on him
- Draft Anthony Randolph

That would leave us with our current crop as well as a PF from the free agency pool (Okafor, Smith, Villanueva, or Tyrus) as well as a project PF who we can groom for the future in Ibaka, Arthur, or Randolph. In the meantime, we still have Evans and Jason Smith with the occassional Thad Young playing at the 4.

STChaser

Agree with the plan in general, but would add Biedrens into Step 1 after Okafor. Step 2, drop Arthur and just go for the best big man available...I'm not on the Arthur bandwagon as the fix for this team.

***Ironically, Okafor is having a tough stretch and is seeing fewer minutes the past week or so. Fans are bashing his play. Interesting to see how that unfolds.

SendEm · Post #15 » by **SendEm** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:00 am

Trade Dalembert for Calderon? WTF are you people thinking? This isn't fantasy basketball...

freshie2 · Post #16 » by **freshie2** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:08 pm

Actually, everything typed here is pretty much fantasy as nobody is in a position to act upon it. Dalembert for Calderone is a hypothetical based on the general concept of rebuilding vs tweaking. As you mentioned, Miller is 32, so do you try to go for the next 3 years with him, or look to deal him and try to get some younger talent for the long term? The easy move is to keep him in the off season, add another big man via FA, and you move into the top 4 teams in the East...tougher decision is deciding to maximize his value now and trying to get a team that is the top team in the East in a year or two.

SendEm · Post #17 » by **SendEm** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:10 pm

freshie2 wrote:Actually, everything typed here is pretty much fantasy as nobody is in a position to act upon it. Dalembert for Calderone is a hypothetical based on the general concept of rebuilding vs tweaking. As you mentioned, Miller is 32, so do you try to go for the next 3 years with him, or look to deal him and try to get some younger talent for the long term? The easy move is to keep him in the off season, add another big man via FA, and you move into the top 4 teams in the East...tougher decision is deciding to maximize his value now and trying to get a team that is the top team in the East in a year or two.

Fantasy basketball is fantasy basketball just like a cheesesteak is a cheesesteak is a cheesesteak. What we do here is converse as Sixers supporters. There isn't an actual name to what we do here besides probably "armchair GM."

*clears throat and repeats*

Trade Dalembert for Jose Calderon? WTF this isn't fantasy basketball!

STChaser · Post #18 » by **STChaser** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:46 pm

***Ironically, Okafor is having a tough stretch and is seeing fewer minutes the past week or so. Fans are bashing his play. Interesting to see how that unfolds.

I honestly think that Okafor would be the best fit - even better than Brand for that matter as I'm hesitant to take the gamble on an older, recently injured PF (visions of a crippled Chris Webber shooting midrange J's and playing piss poor defense come to mind). I think Okafor could work both in the running game and the half court game. I just hope we can somehow pry him away.

I chose Josh Smith next because of his explosiveness, his ability to block shots, and his scoring mindset though I know Okafor fits the half court offense better. I would be happy with either to be fully honest. I think both have really bright futures.

STChaser

freshie2 · Post #19 » by **freshie2** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:26 pm

Agree with Okafor...probably my first choice of the RFAs as well. I would put Biedrens next and probably would be really cautious in bringing Smith on board. If they somehow get one of Brand/Okafor/Biedrens, I would be very happy heading into next season...the front line would be much improved moving forward.

51X3RF4N · Post #20 » by **51X3RF4N** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:55 am

I don't know what all you people are thinking, but I would certainly swap our team for whichever team is the most likely to win a championship this or next season. Honestly, you want to talk about future and young talent? For what? Is the future now? Is young talent winning vets? No. That is what gets you mediocrity. I say make the swap with Spurs, Lakers, Jazz, Hornets....but the competitive west would take the chances of winning it all away further....so then I consider East. Ok, more than likely who will win the East AND the championship? BOSTON. I would ABSOLUTELY swap our team with their team right now, because then Philly would have a championship. Who cares about next year or the year after??? Really, if we could win now, why not???