Sixers, Golden State talking Iguodala
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Sixers, Golden State talking Iguodala
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The 76ers and Golden State Warriors have discussed a swap of swingman Andre Iguodala for shooting guard Monta Ellis. The potential trade is a straight-up swap because the salaries of the two players match closely enough that no other players need be involved.
Although there is no indication from any source that this deal is imminent, this is a trade that – if done – would be executed sooner rather than later. The timing of this trade is important because the Warriors’ draft strategy (they hold the No. 11 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft) would be altered if the trade were executed as stated above. The 2011 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23, but almost all NBA teams are currently in the process of working out draft prospects. For the Warriors, trading their starting shooting guard would, by all accounts, require them to shift focus in the draft.
Again, this trade is not in its final stages, but there seems to be motivation to get it done – if it is to be executed at all – in the next 10 days. One factor to consider is Golden State’s recent hiring of head coach Mark Jackson and whether his addition, and his input, will affect a trade discussion that was already in motion.
This trade makes sense for both teams because the Sixers need a consistent perimeter scorer, while the Warriors need size and defense on the perimeter to complement point guard Stephen Curry. Also of note, Curry and Iguodala played together for the USA in last summer’s World Championships.
In the first part of our Sixers 2.0 series, which ran just over two weeks ago in the Sunday edition of the Inquirer, we outlined the scoring guards the Sixers would target in exchange for Iguodala. The No. 1 target on that list was Ellis – and for good reason. You can find that story here: Iguodala trade.
For the Sixers, the trade makes sense because they played the entirety of the 2010-11 season without a consistent scoring option from the perimeter. While second-year point guard Jrue Holiday blossomed, he is not yet an everyday scorer. In addition, starting shooting guard Jodie Meeks is streaky from the outside and Iguodala is more of a capable defender and facilitator than an all-star level scorer.
The drawback to dealing Iguodala is that the Sixers would be trading, by far, their best perimeter defender in exchange for a guy who stands 6-foot-X and is hardly known for his defense. The one thing to keep in mind with this swap is that it’s not an exact exchange in the starting lineup of Iguodala for Ellis. That is to say, Ellis would become the starting shooting guard, with Meeks moving to the bench. This would open up the starting small forward position, which would become a battle between Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young. So in essence, the Sixers are replacing Meeks with Ellis and Iguodala with either Turner or Young. They are not replacing Iguodala with Ellis.
If this trade were executed, it would leave the Sixers with a backcourt of Holiday, Ellis, and Turner or Holiday, Ellis, and Young.
--Kate
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To all the people in favor of this trade, and not understanding the discontent, Ellis' defense isn't the main issue. It's that we're getting essentially a PG that plays as an undersized SG, who cannot play off the ball, and is not really a shooter per se, more a slasher(33% career from downtown). We already have Holiday and Turner whom need the ball in their hands, and Turner's a slasher himself, so I dunno how that floor spacing would work, with just one average 3-point shoote at best (Holiday). Golden State CLEARY is getting the better end of this deal, and they're tripping if they want sweetner in this deal. To make this deal legit, in my mind, they at least have to throw in Udoh.
hooray. 24 points a game. last year brand led the team with 15. team has 2 huge holes. no nba level starting shooting guard and center. 1 down.
perhaps center is bigger need, but i don't see a trade there w/ same impact. i love the trade.— fishtown charlie- PhilPhans, You hit the nail on the head. I wouldn't even try to explain it anymore because people just refuse to see the big picture. blkfeet, incog, chuckW & post more than 10 comments also had some valid points
I'm truly amazed at the folks who think this is a good deal. Sounds like a bunch of people who just want iggy gone but do not see the potential consequences. I personally would keep him & build butttt if the right deal came along, i'd ship him.
I'm not sure who mentioned trade iggy for ellis and then get jefferson but c'mon dude? iggy would be the chip to get either jefferson or ellis str8 up, you can't make both moves with iggy alone.
someone also mentioned dalembert. Seriously, if he wanted to come back, i'd take sammy back for the MLE in a heartbeat just off of GP so N.Y. or Mia doesn't land him.
@2076, with all due resepct, you must be living in the year 2076 when the sixers are perennial champions. We DO NOT need another small guard. we have that already. Lou williams is a cheaper, poor man's version of ellis in my book.
You mentioned we don't know if he can play D or not. Let me explain something, dude been in the league for 5 yrs now, either he has it or he doesn't. using golden state as a scapegoat on why he doesn't play D is nonsense. The sixers were terrible last year but iggy still played Defense(period).
i agree that whomever is in the finals or semi-finals on the East is who we try to create matchup nightmares for. Dwade is not scared of ellis. Wade or lebron who shut dude down. We didn't get outscored by miami, we got out-rebounded. they killed us on 2nd attempts. "Men lie, women lie, numbers don't!" Please watch the games before making dim comments!— Mack of the Pack - Mack, On 1 hand you say numbers don't lie but on the other you say we should bring Sammy back. Have you seen his numbers? Dalembert felt Dileo & Jordan under-utilized him offensively and wanted to leave even though the Sixers over-paid for his services. Off he went to Sac-town and he put up the same mediocre numbers there.
Career - 8.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 1.5 topg
2010/11 - 8.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.7 topg
People on these blogs complain about how bad the Sixers have been over the years yet many of the same people want us to bring back former players. I've read about Sammy, Reggie Evans, Jason Smith etc. These are guys who didn't perform here and also did next to nothing for their new teams. Let's move on and try to develop a young team that can compete for the chip 2 or 3 yrs from now.— mtairy1 - Just what this team needs; a selfish gunner who plays no defense at all and has no interest in team offense! Can't wait to see this!— JBinPA
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.
