A few minutes with Andre Miller
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
A few minutes with Andre Miller
Since I spent most of my morning waiting for the Portland Trailblazers to finish practice -- they practiced for about 2 hours the day before a game -- and then 75 more minutes waiting for Andre Miller to finish his extra shooting routine, I figured I should post the conversation with the 76ers former starting point guard. Last summer, the Sixers offered Miller only a 1-year deal. Miller wanted a longer deal. The Sixers said they didn't want to sign Miller, who is 33, to a longer deal because they wanted to see how Lou Williams would handle the point guard spot. And they drafted Jrue Holiday, also a point guard. Today, the Sixers maintained that reasoning for letting Miller walk away verifying that what they said this summer is exactly why they didn't re-sign him. Miller signed with the Portland Trailblazers for 2 years plus a team option for the 3rd. He's getting about $7 million a year.
Per usual, Miller was soft-spoken and thoughtful with his answers. Here's the conversation:
Did you think this summer would transpire as it did?
"Nah, I didn’t. I figured I had two good years there; I figured they would want to keep me. But [as it went along] I could tell it wasn’t going to happen."
Why not?
"There wasn’t no money available to pay me. So that was the problem right there."
Who were the leaders, other than you, on last year's team?
"Everybody stepped up: [Andre] Iguodala, Willie Green. Everybody pretty much played off of those two guys, they showed leadership."
Have you paid attention to the Sixers this year?
"I know they have problems; I know they’re struggling."
For a guy who spent two years there, any idea why they're struggling?
"I think it’s just they’re playing under a new system. I think that’s it. Those guys are athletes over there and they want to get up and down the court and fast break and force turnovers and I think right now they’re getting taught, basically, how to play college basketball. Passing and cutting and stuff like that."
Is that a good system for them?
"I don’t know. It’s hard, some guys over there didn’t go to college. That’s a system that’s going to take time. That’s a lot of athletes over there. It takes time and you have to be a thinker at the same time.
Did you want to remain with the Sixers?
"Actually I did. Actually, that was the No. 1 priority because I felt the two times we made it to the playoffs we actually had opportunities to advance. So I just thought with a little bit more time to gel together you know we definitely had a chemistry when I was over there. I did want to stay if [Ed] Stefanski wanted to bring me back."
Is it odd to you that they brought back Allen Iverson, who's older than you?
"That’s their problem now. I showed durability in this league. My game hasn’t declined, you know, it’s gotten better over the years and I’m healthy. That’s just an excuse to say, 'The reason we didn’t bring him back was because we felt his years were behind him,' which is bull … it was just the money, that’s all."
Who would you think would be the leader of this year's team?
"I think Iguodala. He’s the one that’s shown leadership. He took some of that role last year and the years I was there. It’s tough when you’re a young guy with so many expectations and then there’s a coaching change and you have to sit there and take in the system that he wants to put in. And you’re trying to teach yourself at the same time."
So there's Andre Miller's take on a number of Sixers topics. I figured since I spent three hours waiting for Miller at the practice facility (an insanely nice practice facility, by the way), that I should at least post a video of Miller shooting with his son. You can check that out in the Deep Sixer video player below on the right. Also, if you missed the post from earlier this morning, scroll down, it's called "7-22".
That's all for today ...
--Kate
I have to partially agree with HAMMER. I have no problem with the deals for Iguodala or even Brand, although both are overpaid. Tell me who is more overpaid than Dalembert??!!! In the words of a certain Sixers insider, he's a big minus.— jdr527- Thanks Kate- Miller was a class act and while we didn't do great things when he was here - we also werne't 7-22— buff1
- Please let nobody annoint Billy King as anything other than another stiff as a GM. He should have had the foresight to trade AI as soon as the the 2001ish era was over. Everyone who watches b-ball knew that AI could only last so long between his style of play, his disinterest in getting better, and his off-the-court issues which we do not know a fraction of what happened with him. Plus, he had to be totally mindless to sign Sammy D for a long term deal. Please keep in mind one thing- a GM is paid to know things that the average fan does not know.— rwolffd12
- One thing to keep in mind rwolf....we live in an age where the same information that GM's have is pretty much the same as what fans have. The GM has 2 primary jobs- make sure that the team is capable of winning, and that the franchise is profitable by managing the cap and keeping fans interested. King achieved both of those goals in the short term but not in the long run. Getting fair value for Iverson was extremely difficult at any time in his career so I don't see how King could've traded Iverson any sooner.— jdr527
- The best thing Stefanski has done is a build a team this season with a shot at a top 3 pick. The SPeights and Holiday picks were both solid, and I think Thad along with those two are a nice core to build around. Lou Williams is not a starter in this league, but on a good team could be six man of the year type player. We need a scoring two guard with some size, and a defensive big man. I'd rather watch us tank this season and get a high pick then see Andre Miller lead us to the 7th seed in the playoffs and another first round exit followed by mid-1st pick. This team needs a superstar, and with brand and igoudala and dalembert contracts the only way to get one is though the draft.— achoch22
Comment removed.- Kate - two hours practice and then over an hour extra shooting. Is that normal for NBA in mid season?? Maybe Andre is looking to be at his best to show his ex-teammates and team that they made a mistake letting him go— buff1
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
