76ers make trade
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76ers make trade
Here's the official deal: the 76ers have traded guard Royal Ivey and center Primoz Brezec plus a second-round draft pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for guard Jodie Meeks and center Francisco Elson. It was initially reported that the Sixers would receive a second-round draft pick, but that information was backwards, they have given the second-round pick.
Earlier at Sixers practice, saw Brezec standing against the wall being talked to a lot, didn't see Ivey, but was told he was at the practice. When I asked to talk to Ivey -- a little bit late -- was told he was already gone from the facility.
Here's what Ivey Tweeted earlier: "Well it's done I'm going back to the Mil! It's been real going miss my teammates real rap! It's a business got to get it!"
Here's what Andre Iguodala Tweeted: "Shout out to my man Royal Ivey, one of the best t'mates I ever had. Didn't get to show what he could do this year, but will show and prove: Good Luck!"
According to a source close to situation, the Sixers were most interested in getting Meeks, a 6-foot-4 rookie shooting guard from Kentucky who the Sixers were reportedly interested in drafting this past summer. This season, Meeks is averaging 4.1 points in 11.9 minutes a game. In the 2009 NBA Draft, Meeks was the 41st overall pick by the Bucks. He's 22 years old and, for anyone following college basketball, was a big-time scorer at Kentucky and shot 40.6 percent from three his junior season (he didn't stay for his senior year).
Meeks is making $650,000 this season and has a 3-year deal.
Elson is a 7-foot center-forward in his 7th NBA season. He's played in only 11 games this season, averaging 0.9 points in 5.6 minutes a game.
Again, the heart of this deal was to get Meeks.
Ivey and Brezec have played -- to say the least -- a very limited role this season on the Sixers, with both spending a good deal of time on the inactive list.
Obviously I can already predict the reaction to the news of this deal, especially considering the deals going down around the league right now including names like Boozer, McGrady, etc. It looks like a non-move, non-impact, etc. Agreed that it's not changing anything for this season, but getting a guy with upside like Meeks could help the team in the shooting department, especially going forward. (Read: next season.)
I'd say, going forward, the Sixers picked up a player -- Meeks -- that could fill a void they need filled. A shooting guard who (supposedly) can shoot. Not a starter, but a guy that could potentially be in an 8-man rotation. As the trading deadline of 3 p.m. closes in, we've learned the Sixers/Stefanski believe(s) in the talent on this roster.
So now that the details of the trade are confirmed and the specific are down, let's get to the more important thing: Does it matter? What's this trading deadline say about the Sixers?
The Sixers believe they have the roster/talent to be a playoff team. If they didn't believe they were better, significantly better, than their 20-33 record, they would have made a big-time move. They didn't. They didn't because they believe this season has been a worst-case scenario. What's it mean if the franchise believes in the ability of the players, but is confused about the record? It probably means that a hefty portion of the blame for the record is going on the shoulders of Eddie Jordan.
If you were sitting around talking about the Sixers and their lack of a headline-worthy deal, you'd come to the conclusion that Stefanski doesn't believe the roster is the issue. If he'd made that big-time trade (taking McGrady's expiring), he would essentially be saying that this 20-33 record was because of the roster, nothing else.
Instead, Stefanski kept his roster in tact and gave up a future second-round pick for a guy, Meeks, he thinks could become a contributing member of something better in the future.
Right or wrong, the Sixers are holding tight with their roster. But will they hold tight with everything?
--Kate
I really like given up the pick. It would have been wasted anyway.— JimDunfee- I agree with jim715, 50+ points in an SEC game shows me something!— Super5
- I have kept a wait and see attitude towards stefanski but he must go. I have difficulty that this was important to get a guy who was a second round pick and averages less than double digits a game. You want a scorer, get Kevin Martin from the Kings. Even worse, the opportunity was laid at your feet to free the current salary structure and put together a defined team philosophy but he put his pride ahead of the organization. I hope the 8 thousand people who go to the games enjoy the new look sixers!!!— rvb2321
- Why get excited about this team. They will be a joke in the NBA for many years to come as they have been for many years in the past. They just STINK— eaglesman1
Comment removed.- Poor Meeks. What did he do to deserve this? But, great news for Ivey and Brezec.— interlocutor2
- Is this what basketball sense is? What a joke of an organization.— billro3
i like meeks...good trade. lets hold tight— teenwolf- I say they sell this team to another city... does anyone care about this team anymore. Let's go flyers, eagles and phillies. Basketball is done in this city.— EaglesFan1983
- Luck for Ivey and Primoz - who have already survived the Philly hell - when the fans will do?: Stefanski ist the worst GM; Jordan the worst coach in the whole league Thanks for no confidence in the future! Thanks, Ed! The fans should strike for that level of inability.— miller_fan
- They traded a second round pick for these guys? Wow. That's embarrassing. We gave up expiring contracts.— 76er
- Get rid of Eddie Jordan and we could be a playoff team. Maybe get to the second round, albeit never beyond. With Eddie Jordan, we are in trouble. He MUST go. He is ineffective in ever regard. The players don't respect him...........and his rotations are ridiculous!— Philly19131
- Sixers do have the PLAYER talent to be a playoff team, they just don't have the COACH talent to be a playoff team. I lay this whole mess of a season at the feet of the two Eddies. Eddie Jordan has been a miserable coach for this team. Brutal hiring by Stefanski.— JBP
- I was fine with the deal when it was first reported that the sixer GOT a second round pick. Now that they lose a pick, this makes no sense. I am glad Ed Stanfanski did not hurt this team worse. So I have a sense of relief. This is another dumb move to add to his resume.— 76er
- Stefanski is still a joke. I mean this trade does nothing. This team is going nowhere and I am not interested.— Big Ragu
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.
