Lou Will signs 5 year deal per Philly.com

[bebopdeluxe]

Westbrook36:

Obviously, we disagree on Hinrich, and that's cool...but let me ask you a question: if we sign Iguodala this summer, and extend Miller before next summer, do you think that our starting backcourt shoots well enough to take advantage of Brand's presence in the paint and gets the Sixers to playing basketball games in mid-June?

I don't.

[LongLiveHinkie]

I do. They won't be lights out, but the shooting will be good enough.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I think it depends on the role players that we have. Obviously the Sixer brass believes in the Miller/Iguodala backcourt (I do too). However we are going to need Kareem Rush to step up and be that bomber that we need from outside. Thad and Iguodala are going to have to not only develope but improve on their three point shooting. I can't rule out Willie Green or Louis Williams improving there either. I seem to remember Louis Williams being a very good shooter in high school and that being able to shoot from outside was one of his skills NBA scouts were impressed with. I think he's the guy that can improve our team in that catagory. If Lou could hit say 100 threes for us this year at about 35% that would be really great in my opinion. The bottom line is I believe that you can be an average three point shooting team and win a ring but i've yet to see a team that didn't have consistant outside threats and still win a ring.
So I do think it is important.
Thinking back to teams that have won a ring...Miami is the only team that comes to mind that really wasn't great from beyond the arc but still squeeked out a win over Dallas (who was supposed to win and was a great outside shooting team). All others as far back as Detroit from 1989, Bulls, Rockets, Spurs, and the 2008 Celtics were above average to great three point shooting teams and had the role players that could hit that shot. I agree with the half that says we need shooters on this forum it's a must if you are going to not only utilize Brands strengths to his maximun but also more importantly win.
A trade with Willie Green and Reggie Evans for JJ Redick, and Brian Cook would really make me happy. We give Orlando a little of what they need and they give us the same in return. I realize this isn't a trade topic but I just threw that out there. Apologies for the long post if any of you actually read this.

[Mozy-76er Fan]

From Today's Hollinger chat on ESPN:

Drew (Philly): What do you think of the Lou Williams contract(5yrs - $25 mil)?

John Hollinger: Williams is a bargain.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=21810

[Phillyboy]

Get your head on straight and get back in the game. You're losing it!

With all due respect, I'm not losing anything, sir.

You might have been making a point and I might have been with you until the last two sentences. I think it's a bit harsh especially between long time posters. If I may, I submit that your last sentiment was every bit as bad (or worse) than anything I may have said in my post.

Tough to take TGP and I'm not sure what to think of it.

However, as I said, your initial point is taken. I was frustrated reading page after page of what I consider to be nonsense and I posted in a manner unbecoming of my age and experience. I make no apologies for my point just for my poor choice of expression.

I know I'm a veteran poster here and I will try to remember that even in moments of frustration.

Doesn't mean I'm changing any of my views and it doesn't mean I'll be discourged to express them. No sir, that won't happen. But I will work on my intensity level.

[sixers hoops]

Westbrook36:
do you think that our starting backcourt shoots well enough to take advantage of Brand's presence in the paint and gets the Sixers to playing basketball games in mid-June?

I don't.

I don't either. I look at Miller, Iggy, and Thad all playing 35+ minutes and all shooting less than 33% from 3. Hopefully, they'll improve but based on last year's performance, they'll have trouble bringing defenses to the perimeter and keeping them from clogging the paint.

I am not solely concerned with their shooting from 24 or 25 feet, but I don't have stats from 18 feet and out. Nonetheless, none of the three are really good shooters at this point.

[bebopdeluxe]

sixers hoops:

This is why any talk of extending Miller makes no sense...for right now, I am fine with starting the season with him, but I want to see a liberal dose of Lou at the point, and I want to keep an open mind to any trade opportunities that come up at the deadline...deals that will probably not reveal themselves until a particular team gets off to a tough start due to injuries or tough play (like Detroit or Chicago), and they start liking Miller's expiring deal and will only have to deal with any roster issues for a couple of months.

And if we get to the Finals with Miller, we can still sign him next summer.

[geiger]

But if a team like that runs into trouble and wants expiring contracts, what will they give us for Miller. And there are always other options as well. A lot of PGs on the market these days. But it still makes no sense to extend Miller right now. He will be 33 this year. He and Brand did not mesh last time they played together. We still don't know what Lou is capable off.

[Loose Cannon]

We know Louis isn't capable of playing as the full-time, designated PG. And there is no reason that Miller won't mesh well with Elton this year... nobody on that dysfunctional Clippers' team meshed well.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

And we know this how? He was Andre's main backup and we made the playoffs. Certainly there wasn't an incredible disparity in the way we played with Williams at the point.

[Loose Cannon]

Do I have to spell it out? idk mayb bcuz hes a combo gard dat is a scorer n not much ofa playmaka?

[geiger]

He's 21 years old. You don't know sh*t about his long term capabilities and neither does anyone else. He certainly already has the requisite ball handling skills. Does he have the court vision and desire to be a full time PG? That we won't know until he learns the game more and matures.

[philly262]

I still think even if Miller does walk I was looking at two options we could do.

One that the board seems split at is bringing Iverson back for 2-3 years at the MLE.

Another more likely and maybe better idea is signing Ramon Sessions from the Bucks for the MLE for a 3-4 year deal.

I think both guys could help if Miller walks next season.

[Loose Cannon]

He's 21 years old. You don't know sh*t about his long term capabilities and neither does anyone else. He certainly already has the requisite ball handling skills. Does he have the court vision and desire to be a full time PG? That we won't know until he learns the game more and matures.

No one does, but looking at him from here you can't expect him to suddenly develop playmaking skills and do things that Miller did for us last season, that's just idiotic to go about managing your team that way. Who's to say he'll never become a pass-first, true PG? Nobody, but from this juncture, I'd (and everyone else) would rather not roll the dice and gamble the team's chances; Miller is holding the keys for now.

[Loose Cannon]

I still think even if Miller does walk I was looking at two options we could do.

One that the board seems split at is bringing Iverson back for 2-3 years at the MLE.

Another more likely and maybe better idea is signing Ramon Sessions from the Bucks for the MLE for a 3-4 year deal.

I think both guys could help if Miller walks next season.

I wouldn't be averse to bringing Iverson back, and I haven't quite seen enough of Ramon to declare him ineligible... I know he had a game-winner last season and a monster game with assists toward the end of the season, but my guess is as good as yours.

[76ciology]

From Today's Hollinger chat on ESPN:

Drew (Philly): What do you think of the Lou Williams contract(5yrs - $25 mil)?

John Hollinger: Williams is a bargain.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=21810

Definitely agree with that.

But honestly, I don't see any team risking to offer more than 5/25m for Louis.

[jmon]

Definitely agree with that.

But honestly, I don't see any team risking to offer more than 5/25m for Louis.

5 years 25 million is 6th man money. It will be like less than 7% of the luxury tax threshold. That is cheap.

[geiger]

You have to factor in potential upside for a 21 year old kid who came out straight out of high school.

[TheAnalyst]

I think we all have a man crush on Lou.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU