Eddy won't use his powers of persuasion to keep miller

[sixersinsider]

Anythimg less than a playoff appearence next year will be a step in the wrong direction for the sixers.the bar has been set. With this type of playoff expectaions on the horizon for the length of eddys contract I'm impressed that he won't attempt to lock miller up for the long haul.

[noone]

Why? What advantage does it give the Sixers to extend him now or what disadvantage does it give by not extending him? Miller's extension has no playoff implications at all.

[The Sixer Fixer]

Why? What advantage does it give the Sixers to extend him now or what disadvantage does it give by not extending him? Miller's extension has no playoff implications at all.

Exactly. It's not like we run the risk of Miller value going up and having to pay more. His value right now is probably at the highest it will ever be the rest of his career. May as well hold onto him as an expiring player and do the following:

1. Explore draft day trades with him. Never know what someone might offer.

2. See how he performs next year before commiting long-term. Personally I really don't think Miller wants to stay here.

3. Explore trades near the deadline next year in hopes of pulling a 'Pau Gasol" style trade. Especially if Miller gives no signs he wants to re-sign here.

4. Just let him expire next year and use the potential cap space to make a run at FA's.

[SendEm]

I believe that Ed is smarter than to maintain playoff expectations for this team. He realizes that we do not have championship pieces. We are just benefiting from having a veteran PG, a roster that plays fast/hard, and being a member of the weak eastern conference.

"Moving in the right direction" could be what the Celtics accomplished last season and that was acquiring the 5th pick in the draft so that they could trade for Ray Allen and influence Kevin Garnett to approve a trade to the Celtics.

I don't see moving in the right direction resigning a veteran PG that is single handedly making everyone believe that your team is much better than what it truly is while at the same time only producing a sub 500 record.

If Miller where 24, could defend his position better, and shoot from range then he would be worth it. But he is just a beneficiary of having some true PG skills in a league right now where the PG is dominating. Miller just isn't good enough and his age is all wrong to be locked into a lucrative long term deal with these young players.Miller is the best that he is ever going to be RIGHT NOW.

Miller is like a 36 year old NFL quarterback on a young team that just slid into the playoffs after finishing the season hot with a 8-8 record. You don't move forward with this type of player, you just use him while developing your team and win with players you developed or acquired to replace him.

[sixersinsider]

sounds good..:::If the sixers don't qualify for the playoffs next year their will be a foul taste in many mouths.The fairweather fan will not come out to support the team.The honeymoon will be officially over for the gm. considering this it will be a daring audacious brave move to trade miller(Chicago..new jersey.: Miami...Pacers)will all be threats to be playing at a high level.Trading miller is not the course where youwant to drift.It will put the sixers in the land of the dejected woefull depressed franchises(knicks bucks wolves) deal Dalla and commit to miller

[SendEm]

It's really not even an option to keep Miller in some respects. He doesn't have 5+ years of high level basketball left in him. Ed is here to build this team in a way that will allow us to compete for 10+ years. As you have revealed there is a GREAT chance that the Sixers will not make the playoffs next season because some other teams will potentially be MUCH better. Miami and Chicago... I believe this could be the case even WITH Miller on the roster. It's great that we have Miller and we are seeing him at the top of his game but we have a looooooooooooong ways to go before we are championship caliber and Miller's age, bad outside shooting, and diminishing perimeter defensive ability is all wrong.

Billy King has done a wonderful job acquiring him, but now it's up to Eddie to find out how to turn him into a piece that fits the Sixers future as a contender, because right now the Sixers aren't even a pretender and Miller is too old and slow to commit to as the PG of our future...Miller has the Sixers playing above their young heads at his advanced age...

[freshie2]

Yep...tough decisions for Ed this off season. Miller's value is high, I can't see him being in the next parade down broad street.

[chrice]

Anythimg less than a playoff appearence next year will be a step in the wrong direction for the sixers.

Not going after Rose/Beasley this year was a step in the wrong direction. A playoff appearance this year was too premature. We weren't ready to contend, in turn has forfeited us two potential superstars that could have been inserted into our lineup, along with a major free agent with the cap space later on.

[SendEm]

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Not going after Rose/Beasley this year was a step in the wrong direction. A playoff appearance this year was too premature. We weren't ready to contend, in turn has forfeited us two potential superstars that could have been inserted into our lineup, along with a major free agent with the cap space later on.

This season and the winning streak of last season were good if you love the feeling of winning games but bad if you hunger having a team that can contend for a championship.

[PhillyRocks1]

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This season and the winning streak of last season were good if you love the feeling of winning games but bad if you hunger having a team that can contend for a championship.

Yeah because these teams in the final 4 were built through the draft. Tanking brings you nothing but heartache.

[corwin]

It's really not even an option to keep Miller in some respects. He doesn't have 5+ years of high level basketball left in him. Ed is here to build this team in a way that will allow us to compete for 10+ years. As you have revealed there is a GREAT chance that the Sixers will not make the playoffs next season because some other teams will potentially be MUCH better. Miami and Chicago... I believe this could be the case even WITH Miller on the roster. It's great that we have Miller and we are seeing him at the top of his game but we have a looooooooooooong ways to go before we are championship caliber and Miller's age, bad outside shooting, and diminishing perimeter defensive ability is all wrong.

Billy King has done a wonderful job acquiring him, but now it's up to Eddie to find out how to turn him into a piece that fits the Sixers future as a contender, because right now the Sixers aren't even a pretender and Miller is too old and slow to commit to as the PG of our future...Miller has the Sixers playing above their young heads at his advanced age...

+1. This team shouldn't misjudge the playoff runs that they made the last two years. There is just not enough talent on this team for the long term. Miller won't be a factor when/if this group competes for a championship.

[ChuckS]

[quote] "It's really not even an option to keep Miller in some respects. He doesn't have 5+ years of high level basketball left in him. Ed is here to build this team in a way that will allow us to compete for 10+ years." [/quote]


Since everyone in this thread agrees, this sentiment expressed by all could be absolutely correct...and it is probably going to be dangerous to offer an alternative perspective. But I think the argument being offered might be specious.

The greatest dynasty in my lifetime did not get rid of Cousy and Sharman while they were still among the best at their positions, and instrumental in winning. Instead they cultivated young replacements so that, when it was time, KC and Sam Jones just stepped in and replaced them with no discernible loss of team excellence. It's hard to believe that an all-time great like John Havlicek came off of the bench for so long, but when he ultimately started, the beat went on.

More recently, it seemed apparent that Robert Horry would not be around very much longer. But if the Spurs cut him because of worries about ten years into the future, I believe they would not have beaten the Pistons for the championship.

I think that it sounds utopian, but is unrealistic to believe that you build a lasting team by throwing fifteen guys on the floor, before their time, and believing they will grow together into a champion. You'll probably realize that sooner or later more than half of them will prove unable to contribute to consistent winning. If I were a teenager, I might even be excited. But I now know better, and it is important to me to win in my lifetime. Screw posterity.

I offer a radical proposal which I have favored for years. Keep our good players (young or old), and get better by replacing our worst. If Stefanski wants to use Miller to get better right now, I am all for it. If he cannot, then begin worrying about replacing Amundson, Randolph, Booth, etc, and NOT Andre, AI, Sam, or even Reggie and Willie.

I'm sensing a feeling that some think it is stupid to rebuild and progress in steps. The way we use the term "fool's gold" around here is just foolish. Of course we are not yet championship material, but did anyone really believe, one year after losing two all-time greats, that we would already be at this stage of rebuilding, and with good cap space? I do not know if it's part left over Ivy idolatry, and a subconscious desire to lose to punish whomever, or if our experiences after Barkley and Malone have us believing that all this cannot be real. I do not really care. I just hope we do not throw away the rest of our "babies" with the bath water.

[Mik317]

You are one of the best posters here mayne.

everyone.........just breathe, Miller's game doesn;t use much athleticism anyway, so whos to say he cant keep this up? as long as he has his VIOLENT SHOTFAKEZ, we're good to go.

[SendEm]

ChuckS, there is a thing called the salary cap which didn't exist back when the ancient Celtics players played that you mentioned. Also Robert Horry is a veteran BENCH player that is making peanuts. There is an understood fact here that Andre Miller is both a starter and WILL NOT be making peanuts when it is time for him to sign his new contract after next season. Andre Miller will be a strain on the salary cap when he becomes a veteran bench player like the ancient Celtics you mentioned.

Besides Robert Horry has always been a more valuable and more clutch player than Andre Miller and Horry is an elite athlete at his position which allows him to STILL be able to defend. Andre Miller is just another good NBA player that's going to age and become overpaid like Eric Snow, however he plays a position that is not easy to find. But Robert Horry's position is not easy to find either, a PF that is an excellent defender, knows his role is to spread the floor and hit big jump shots on a Hall of Fame level.

Hold up ChuckS why did you compare Andre Miller who is just another basketball player to so many championship level hall of fame players? Andre Miller is closer to Eric Snow and Aaron Mckie than he is to Horry and the ancient hall of fame Celtics players...

[ChuckS]

While I do not agree that Miller is the mediocrity he is said to be on this board, my intent was not to compare him to any great...except for the fact that it is possible that he is currently probably more valuable to this team than was the Couz to the Celts, surrounded by excellance at every other position.

What I tried to express, obviously inadequately, is that thinking someone should go right now, because he will not be around in ten years, is, I believe, faulty. I also think it could be naive to expect fifteen guys to grow together into a championship team, and it is more realistic that a good organization will instead play their best players, regardless of age, but have a capable replacement in the wings for anyone whose time is past. A team would more likely age out of contention under an extreme "grow together" plan.

And please do not believe, although the salary cap is relatively new, that owners did not have to concern themselves with fiscal prudence in the "olden days". I lost "my" team to Philadelphia totally because of money problems.

So of course I think cap considerations are important. I just choose to be less precipitous than some, because I think we are in a relative no lose situation with Andre. We can enjoy a year of excellence, and then have ten million to spend if he bolts, or can trade his expiring. I also will not assume that Ed S. is dumber than you or I and will overpay for his future services if it comes to that. In summary, I believe that Miller's status in ten years is the least of our problems.

[Mik317]

SendEm is there any player on this team that you don't think is trash??

[SendEm]

ChuckS I think that most Sixer fans are in agreement with you in that Miller is the least of our problems but this is an NBA with a salary cap and guaranteed contracts. Miller could potentially become a problem if his salary and length of contract become larger than his current production. This will prohibit the Sixers from acquiring a player that can contribute at a high level when Miller becomes a bench player making an exorbitant amount of money We have been through this before with Aaron Mckie and Eric Snow. Those two players were both like Andre Miller in that they weren't all stars, weren't elite athletes but were rewarded for great play late in their careers in order to maintain the Sixers competitiveness and continuity. Mutombo was another player in the same boat. They all got OLD on us FAST. Players get old in the NBA you just don't want to be stuck with them under the salary cap. I don't want to experience another Snow, Mckie, or Mutombo. Let Miller walk...

[ChuckS]

SendEm;

I do not strongly disagree with much in your last post, except maybe the assumption that Stefanski is sure to misjudge Andre's future contributions and overpay. That is not a preposterous fear based on our history, but supposedly such things are why he replaced BK.

I really do not see it coming to that. I believe that Miller will be allowed to follow his heart. We will try to stay near the cap to benefit from his freed up salary, consider a sign and trade, or, before, merely trade his expiring which is more valuable than usual because he can still play very well. I haven't totally ruled out his wanting to stay here, however, or the possibility of Ed seeing that his contract is not a future "killer".

Take care,
Chuck