Iguodala being courted by Clippers

[Gsraider]

However, this is not good news for Igoudala. I'm sure he thinks he's worth max money and he probably thought he'd have offers in that range either to accept or use as a wedge. Doesn't look like that's going to happen

I shared your hope and excitement as it related to Brand Phillyboy, but count me in the group that would like to see Iguodala stay. I watched a team in Boston this past year stun me with stifling defense even moreso that the offensive output that everyone expected and I think Iguodala can go a long way towards helping Philly become a stellar defensive team. Offensively, I have watched Iguodala slowly improve on an annual basis, while becoming more of a leader, and even when he didn't succeed, not cowering under the spotlight of being the man.

With all that in mind, professional athletes have enormous egos and will probably justify any situation in their head to make them feel better. In Iguodala's case, if he doesn't get a big offer, I'm sure he'll rationalize it as being because he was an RFA and that Philly has repeatedly said they will match. Thus, in his mind, it's not that he isn't highly coveted, but teams just know that Philly won't let him go. If you think about it, right or wrong, that would be the case with highly coveted RFA's such as Josh Smith as well. Clearly, teams are interested in him, along with guys like L. Deng, Okafor, and probably even Childress. Yet, no one has made an offer. That's probably because they do in fact think the home team will match, plus they will be idle for 7 days while they wait.

[psykosacul]

I'm in agreement with your assessment of the Clips intentions. (See, someone else who agrees with you Psyko!)

woo hoo!

So if you're Igoudala what do you do? I think he'll need to adjust his expectations.

if im iguodala, i stop trying to get more money. its a natural business move to do what he has done, but if he wants the fans to love him, he needs to take the teams reasonable offer and stop making things tenuous.

[Phillyboy]

Psyko and GSRaider your points are well taken gentlemen.

With the Clips getting Camby with their money this changes things and it's now very likely Igoudala will be here.

Perhaps I need to adjust MY expectations about Igoudala.

[doctor him]

It's over now anyway. Camby took Brand's salary slot with the Clips so they don't have the money to steal Iguodala.

Memphis likes him a lot, but they aren't putting money out there like that. He'd be nice in Golden State, but I don't think they have the cap room to overwhelm the Sixers after signing Maggette.

So none of the RFA's look like they are moving and that's just fine by me.

[ZigZag]

Slowly Igoudala is falling back to earth. Nobody thinks he's worth what he thinks he's worth. Even the clippers who had the cap didn't feel he was worth all that money.

[freshie2]

How many other RFA's have re-signed with their own teams?

[BballerShotCaller]

Sixers should only offer 10mil/yr OR EVEN LESS.

[Mozy-76er Fan]

Sixers should only offer 10mil/yr OR EVEN LESS.

You know Iggy still has leverage. He can always just sign for 1 year and become an UFA next year. It is in 76ers best interest to offer something fair/market value. We want a happy Iggy here for the long haul. This is NO TIME for low balling. Iggy is critical piece and managing the relationship is an important part of the process. Just look where low balling got the Clippers with Brand.

[dond]

Just look where low balling got the Clippers with Brand.

However, I think the difference here is that the Sixers may realize, as many of us do ... that Iggy does not fit real well on this team. He will have to play the shooting guard position and he is not a good shooter. He will do other things well ... like play defense, rebound, and run the break that might make up for it .... however, the fact remains he is not a good choice for shooting guard. So, if he left ... and took his salary with him ... the Sixers would then have salary cap room to sign a really good shooting guard ... if one becomes available.

[CPops57]

the break that might make up for it .... however, the fact remains he is not a good choice for shooting guard. So, if he left ... and took his salary with him ... the Sixers would then have salary cap room to sign a really good shooting guard ... if one becomes available.

Do you have any specific suggestions as to who is realistically available that is a better player and shooter than Iguodala?

Ben Gordon would be available for the amount of money we'd have left, but IMO he's a significant overall downgrade despite being a better shooter.

Childress is almost as good as Iguodala in many respects and even does some things that Iggy can't, but he's not a natural long-distance shooter either.

[psykosacul]

if they are still not sure that andre miller will resign (id say chances are better now since he apparently lobbied with brand to come here)... then signing someone to a smaller deal like gordon might behoove the team because of the extra room they would have when miller left.

that 2-3 million a year could turn out to be a big difference in FA signing, and if they think that would offset loosing iggy, they might be willing to roll the dice.

[ChuckS]

I will never agree that the best player on the team, pre-Brand, suddenly does not fit.

I have read that he cannot play the two. But strangely, when he played it for eight games this year, he averaged four points per game more at almost identical FG%, assists , and steals. He has good size, is a good ball handler and dribbler, an exceptional defender, a good assist man, and can score. Some, like RIP, are better mid-range shooters, but that is not our weakness. What difference is it if he scores more in the paint but still gets his points? Ivy did it, and for many years just by taking more shots at an even lower percentage.

LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Monta Ellis, and Tracy McGrady, among others, shoot, a lower three point percentage. Baron Davis and Brandon Roy, for example, shoot about the same. Where is it written that he is not acceptable unless he can be our greatest deep perimeter threat. It amazes me that some think he is a square peg in our round two guard hole. I think they are being very myopic and there are much smarter ways to improve our perimeter shooting.

I think it is silly to believe we will get better by exchanging him for a better pure shooter at two guard who is less of an overall player and talent than is Iguodala. It may even be optimistic to believe that Thad will soon, if ever, give us as much offensively or defensively.

By all means, if he wants too much, let him go. Even trade him for someone obviously better and I will not object. Red Auerbach would roll over in his grave, however, if anyone suggested getting rid of a superior player merely because he didn't perfectly fit into someone's positional pigeon hole.

[dond]

What difference is it if he scores more in the paint but still gets his points?

You make some good points in your posting, however, this is not one of them. The DIFFERENCE is that he may be getting HIS POINTS but by being a poor threat from deep, he does not force the defense to stretch out to him and therefore they can clog the middle. This, of course, makes it more difficult for the post players to operate effectively.

With Igoudala as the 2 guard, the Sixers will certainly be a very good team because he is a very good player. But, unless he has improved his 3-pt shooting considerably, we will never know how good they could be with a lights-out shooter, like Redd for instance, at the two. Certainly not an easy decision to make and I am glad I don't have to make it.

[ChuckS]

Who in their right mind would not like a shooter like Michael Redd? My personal dream would be a younger Ray Allen because I believe he is also an under-rated defender, but I even bemoaned the loss of Korver.

I am merely questioning improving our three point shooting by replacing the guy who made twice as many, nearly fifty more, than anyone else on our team. Kevin Martin made six more last year. Certainly four out of ten is better than three out of ten, but would anyone in their right mind choose to intentionally cheat off of Iguodala to clog the lane? And if we are really going to replace someone in the starting lineup to improve shooting, am I the only one who would replace Iguodala last? He sometimes has been made to sound like Reggie Evans on this board. We complain about his performance against Detroit (with reason), but doesn't the fact that they chose to target stopping him give anyone pause about dumping Andre?

[bballin76]

It gives me great pause. I don't want Andre to leave or be traded. He's 23-24 years old! He still has room to grow and develop for the next several years. Getting open looks from Brand being doubled down low should only help him improve his 3 point percentage and outside shot. Brand is our 1A offensive option, Andre can now slide into the more comfortable role of 1B that we all felt he was better suited for.

With Thad's continuing development and Andre at shooting guard, this team is set on the wings. Brand and Miller are a great combo too. The only questionable player is Dalembert, but if Speights summer league is any indication, we may have our future center already on the team.

We're relatively stacked for now and the future, guys. This is a good team again.