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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Sixers/Nets Summer League team plays its second game today at 5 p.m., this one against the Utah Jazz. Since these games are tough to really evalute, the only really interesting story line is that Utah's first-round pick is point guard Eric Maynor from VCU. Obviously, Maynor's name was circulating pre-draft as a guy the Sixers might be interested in. The Sixers chose Jrue Holiday. I would think Holiday and Maynor would be matched up for much of tonight's game.

If you have some free time and want to watch an on-line stream of the game, click here: Summer League.

It's still early summer, but another thing to keep an eye on is Marreese Speights. It certainly seems like the minutes of Sixers starting center Samuel Dalembert, which were dwindling even last year, might continue that downward trend. With big-man Jason Smith still not fully recovered from a knee injury, Speights would seem to be the guy to whom a lot of those minutes would fall. In yesterday's game, he spent a lot of time shooting jumpers on the perimeter. I think today the Sixers/Nets will look to get him more touches on the block.

So that's the snapshot of tonight's Summer League game.

And as for the free agent market, which is really the hot ticket, here's a few quick hits:

1.) Mike Bibby has -- as was reported by the Atlanta Journal Constitution -- agreed to a deal returning him to the Hawks. Although it had already seemed unlikely the Sixers would be able to snag Bibby, now that door is officially closed.

2.) Andre Miller and the Sixers seem to be far apart in their demands, with Miller's camp wanting money in the 3-year/$30 million range. The potential sign-and-trade with the Portland Trailblazers, according to one source, is not being discussed. So, for right now, there isn't much developing on this front.

3.) What "role players" will the Sixers sign to fill in the holes left by guys like Kareem Rush, Royal Ivey, Theo Ratliff, etc? Tom Moore out at Phillyburbs has said the Sixers have contacted former Sixer Rodney Carney, who was part of that cap-clearing space during the 2007-08 season, but Carney wants more than the minimum the Sixers would be offering. Ivey, who opted out of his contract, would be open to returning to the Sixers, but has yet to hear from them. Obviously, Rush and Ratliff are goners.

4.) If Miller does not return -- and that is looking less and less likely -- than the Sixers have Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday as their point guards. The Sixers are willing to give Williams a chance to run the show, but would first try to find another point guard for help on the free-agent market. One guy to look at is Juan Dixon, who played for Eddie Jordan with the Washington Wizards. He would be a vet minimum guy, although he's not a traditional PG. Another guy that might be a possibility is Bobcats PG Raymond Felton, who is a restricted free agent.

--Kate

 

 

 

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 4:48 PM  Permalink | 14 comments
14
Comments   
Posted 05:10 PM, 07/07/2009
CT6ersfan
Good stuff as always Kate. Hopefully Mareese can improve his low post game and rebounding. I actually agreed with EJ about Speights needing to not spend so much time on the perimeter. Mareese should wait a few more years before getting all Sam Perkins on us. Go Sixers.
Posted 05:57 PM, 07/07/2009
maximus
Oh Boy... Jordan wants to bring in Juan Dixon. Great. Jordan will mess up Speights head, but I think Speights is tough.
Posted 05:57 PM, 07/07/2009
maximus
Oh Boy... Jordan wants to bring in Juan Dixon. Great. Jordan will mess up Speights head, but I think Speights is tough.
Posted 06:06 PM, 07/07/2009
Kraymehr
does anyone else think it would be ridiculous to give Miller more than a 1 year deal or to give him as much as he's asking for? I mean, its not like other teams are banging down his door. Similar situation to Marty Biron... He thought he would be worth 5m per year for 5 years... but now he'll be signing a backups contract for very limited money.
Posted 06:20 PM, 07/07/2009
paolibulldog
Hello, Kate, I posted this comment under another story before this one was published, so I'll repeat it: what is the incentive for Portland to do a sign-and-trade for Miller? Wouldn't they do that only if they wanted to give Miller a bigger (i.e., Bird rights) contract than they would have been able to give him as a UFA? Why would they do that in this market? The only other reason I could think of is to help the Sixers get a trade exception -- but why would Portland do that?
Posted 06:34 PM, 07/07/2009
RunningTheBases
Unfortunately, the Sixers don't want to give Miller what he is worth because of the bad contracts last off-season to Iguodala and Brand. Sorry, Miller is worth the three years and $30 million. Only because of the inexperience and lack of ability behind him on this roster. And, if you think last season was bad, wait until you watch Lou Williams and some journey-man PG try to replace Miller. You'll be screaming for Miller within the first five games of the season.
Posted 06:50 PM, 07/07/2009
brob1900
Portland would want to do a sign and trade for 2 reasons: 1. The Sixers can offer Miller more then anyone else, so one would think he'd want the extra money. 2. Portland would be able to shed salary of the player(s) they would trade to the Sixers.
Posted 07:19 PM, 07/07/2009
derrickwh
Kate: YOu mean it's looking more and more likely that Miller won't return, right? Also, I like Felton, but getting him would mean the Holiday pick was unnecessary.
Posted 09:25 PM, 07/07/2009
syddan26
The Sixers are in the driver's seat with Miller. There is no team other than the Sixers that will give Miller anywhere near the 10 million that he is looking for. If he wants to play elsewhere, he is going to either settle for a lot less than 10 million in a multi year contract or take a mid-level exception. Mike Bibby took a 3 yr deal for 18 million. Miller is not worth more. I would offer him 2 years , 12 million. He will not do better elsewhere.
Posted 12:20 AM, 07/08/2009
Half-Baked Mcbride
Maynor > Holliday
Posted 10:04 AM, 07/08/2009
gallen024
Juan Dixon would be a good addition to the Sixers, he can shoot the 3.. See you later Andre Miller.. Lets play Lou and Jrue and get a top 5 pick in next year's draft..
Posted 10:11 AM, 07/08/2009
ricky
I'd like to see Speights in the low post, but this {Philly/NJ) team doesn't seem to have any coaching behind it. I have yet to see Speights set up inside and get an entry pass. Chris Douglass-Roberts (a Nets player) is a complete ball hog who refuses to pass. But the coaching staff allows him to force bad shots. This platooning was a bad idea, even if they are saving money, this is a terrible way to evaluate talent when not all the teamates are on the same page.
Posted 11:04 AM, 07/08/2009
paolibulldog
brob1900 -- unless the Blazers intend to pay Miller more than they can afford under the cap, why sign and trade? They offered Turkoglu a ton of money, so I don't think they are cap-squeezed. And as far as shedding contracts, the only big, bad contract they have is Joel Przybilla. (If I were the Sixers, I'd like to take back Blake and Fernandez, especially if I could dump Green in the deal.)
Posted 12:44 PM, 07/09/2009
FireChief
Listen up people, Miller is gone unless he accepts what the Sixers have offered, they can't afford more money or more years, doesn't matter if Miller is worth more, he won't get it here! They need to dump salaries for the next couple of years, they aren't going to offer an older player big money, can't happen, or should I say shouldn't happen!!!
About Deep Sixer Blog
Kate Fagan was, until recently, the all-time leading three-pointer shooter in the University of Colorado women’s basketball program. Her former teammates say that’s because she was also the all-time leading three-point taker in program history. Somewhere along the way, journalism became her passion, and there are those who say that she still likes taking her shots. This is her second season as the 76ers beat writer for The Inquirer. She brings a rare combination of first-hand basketball insight, writing ability and an attitude that fits perfectly in her new hometown.
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