Fans split on Iguodala's future
The 2011-12 Sixers season, abbreviated because of the lockout, can probably be best divided into three parts.
Fans split on Iguodala's future
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
The 2011-12 Sixers season, abbreviated because of the lockout, can probably be best divided into three parts.
There was the opening surge, where the young team rushed out to a 20-9 start. Fans were excited. There was even talk of this team being a legitimate contender, especially after they thrashed the Bulls by 16 points at the Wells Fargo Center on February 1.
But the two months that followed saw the Sixers go just 11-21, and left them fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot. Fans were calling for ownership to blow up the team. Everyone was to blame.
The third and final segment of the season was perhaps where Sixers fans saw the best example of what this team was truly made of. They went 4-1 over their last five games, finishing the regular season at 35-31 and securing a playoff spot and a matchup with the Chicago Bulls. Shockingly enough, the Sixers knocked off the top-seeded Bulls (thanks in part to Derrick Rose's torn ACL), and took the Celtics to the brink before being eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Now, with the season in the rear-view, we asked Sixers fans to tell us who they want to see back next season and who the want to send packing. The results, as always, were surprising.
What to do with Iguodala?
Some love him. Some hate him. Either way, there is definitely a role on this team for Andre Iguodala. He is one of the best defenders in the league, and the constant knock against Iguodala is that he isn't a "number-one guy." People complain that he can't put the team on his back in the last five minutes of a game and carry them to victory. Those people, for the most part, are right. That's not who he is as a player. Sure, he gets paid like it, but Iguodala is not a superstar. Is that his fault? Can you blame him for a bad Ed Stefanski contract?
Once fans get over the fact that he is making over $13 million per year, there isn't much to dislike about the guy. He's unselfish, plays defense, runs the floor, has a solid mid-range game, can hit the three and has a great relationship with Doug Collins. He also was named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Ok, he needs to work on free throws. I'll concede that.*
Because the Sixers' season ended in a loss, I figured fans would be down on Iguodala. He is usually one of the first to catch blame. Much to my surprise, fans are nearly split on the veteran small forward. 49.5 percent of voters want to see him back next season, compared to just 30.1 percent of fans after last season.
So will the Sixers trade Iguodala? Bob Cooney of the Daily News weighed in, and he puts the chances that he'll be back next season at 60-40.
Amnesty for Brand?
That brings us to Elton Brand, the savvy veteran who signed a max deal but has not been able to reach his full potential because of injuries. I like Brand, and what he brings to the locker room, but he simply can't get it done anymore.
I expected him to land on the "Go" side of things, but I did not expect it to be this lopsided. Just over 17 percent of fans want him back next season. What I took away from this is that a lot of people want the team to amnesty Brand, and use that money to bring in a free agent.
It's hard to disagree with that...as long as the right free agent is out there. If not, the Sixers can always bring him back for the final season of his contract. He can mentor young players like Lavoy Allen. Then, after the 2012-13 season, his contract will be up, and they can then target a free agent.
Backcourt on the rise
For all the flack that Evan Turner took this season, fans certainly gave him a ringing endorsement in this poll. Nearly 89 percent of voters want to see the second-year guard back next season. Jrue Holiday's popularity dipped slightly (98.5 percent to 94.3 percent), but he was by far the most popular player last season, so there was really nowhere else for him to go but down.
These two are beginning to look like they could be in the backcourt together for years to come, and judging by the way fans voted, they would welcome that.
Mr. Popular
As I mentioned, Holiday was the most-popular player after last season. This year, however, the honor goes to Philly's own Lavoy Allen (96.7 percent). I'm sure he was helped by the fact that he's a Temple grad and Philadelphia native. But the way he played in the Celtics series, guarding one of the best power forwards in the game, Kevin Garnett, opened a lot of fans' eyes. Expect good things from Allen in the future.
| 2012 SIXERS STAY OR GO | |||
| Stay | Go | Total Votes** | |
| Andre Iguodala | 49.5% | 50.5% | 5662 |
| Elton Brand | 17.2% | 82.8% | 5408 |
| Evan Turner | 88.6% | 11.4% | 5214 |
| Jrue Holiday | 94.3% | 5.7% | 4976 |
| Lou Williams | 65.2% | 34.8% | 5078 |
| Jodie Meeks | 27.9% | 72.1% | 4610 |
| Thaddeus Young | 83.6% | 16.4% | 4617 |
| Spencer Hawes | 44.8% | 55.2% | 4765 |
| Nik Vucevic | 81.1% | 18.9% | 3985 |
| Lavoy Allen | 96.7% | 3.3% | 4242 |
| Sam Young | 32.7% | 67.3% | 2935 |
| Tony Battie | 13.0% | 87.0% | 2944 |
| Craig Brackins | 21.6% | 78.4% | 2623 |
| Xavier Silas | 17.9% | 82.1% | 2576 |
| Doug Collins | 94.0% | 6.0% | 4401 |
| Rod Thorn | 70.5% | 29.5% | 3674 |
**Results as of 9 a.m. on 6/1/12
*I am not an Andre Iguodala apologist. I am a realist. Before you kill me over this issue, consider this: If he was making $8 million/year instead of $13 million, would you still feel the same way about him?
Matt, this piece really annoys me. Most rationale fans acknowledge that Igoudala has a lot of tools and is a good player. The issue for most is that his tools don't match his contract and that, combined with the lack of controbution from brand, has prevented this team from pursuing a difference-making player. If the sixers could somehow add a difference-making player and still keep igoudala, i'd love it, but that is not possible and so since he has some value around the league its a no brainer to move on from AI.— CosmoK- This wraps it up very nicely. — blah
- It's not just the contract; it's failure in the clutch. True, he hit two big free throws after Chicago completely botched a game they ought to have won. But, game 7 against the Celtics is a classic if you wish to understand a fan's disappointment with Iggy in the clutch. It was once excruciating to watch Wilt wilt at the line. But, Iggy? Even Twiggy could hit more free throws in the clutch. — VANDERGRAAFK
- Seems as if a number of fans and media think that teams will give the Sixers whatever they want in a trade and that franchises can really get ahead if they cut loose 23 year old centers capable of averaging a double-double. Apparently, there is an over abundance of top notch free agents wanting to come to Philly so yeah, after the season the Sixers had, let's go ahead and gut the team.— DeanoP44
Simpy asking stay or go is ridiculous. Anyone can stay or go depending on the circumstances. There are no untouchables and no gotta gos. What can we get in return? How do they affect our cap space? Is there a better option available? Are they willing to accept a lesser role? These are the issues that affect stay or go.
As for Iggy I posted elsewhere he is our only real tradable commodity. Jrue, Thad and ET have modest value but I think Thad & ET's may have dropped during the playoffs. Lavoy & Vucevic have throw-in value and Brand's expiring contract will be valuable at next season's trade dealine but that's it. Iggy has the most value on today's market but I wouldn't trade him just to trade him. I wouldn't trade him for a draft pick. This is a deep draft it may not be a star driven draft and you can make a mistake. I would only trade him for a proven NBA player that we know can help this team like Gasol. Packaging Iggy & Vuc for Gasol & Ebanks is worth it, trading him for a "maybe" draft pick or just to get rid of him is not.— mtairy1- Figuring that Iggy has 2 years of service (current contract length) left on the team, with the potential of being somewhat hampered by the tendonitis and other lower body issues, ouldn't the prospect of obtaining the Warrior's # 7 pick appeal?...While this draft is not filled with any "no brainers", it does have a plethora of good players, and at 7, even has a few "high end" types that would be easier to select if a # 15 still exists as well....Lots of interesting combinations there. — bearsfriend
- Mtariy1: this goes beyond the silly stay or go question; this poll is about as scientific as mud wrestling. An anonymous online poll where ANYONE, Sixers fans or Knicks fans or Celtics fans, Turnerites, an obsessive Lou Williams fan (hello Bear), can vote early and often is useless. I would imagine Rod Thorn sat at his computer and voted 1,000 times to bring him back after his outstanding tenure as GM. My concern with Iguodala, as I have stated before, involves his knees, particularly given the way he plays and the minutes he logs. Best to move him while he still has value. — chuckw
- Iggy has to go ....We've been waiting for 2 years now to see what ET and Jrue can do together by having the proper spacing and being able to be the primary ball handlers on the squad...Forget the contract Iggy and ET cant play together as of right now ETs upside is higher then Iggy...Iggy is what he is great defender who cant shoot...ET cant shoot but he can handle the rock get to an spot on the floor finish with both hands and play solid d....It was good knowing you Iggy — salis15
- I disagree with your assessment of Iguodala...if he were an unselfish player who knew his role on this team he would not demand or hog the possession in the last two minutes of a game trying to make a big shot we know he is incapable of making, or hold the ball waiting to get fouled so he can miss shots at the line. I know he had a couple big plays in the playoffs this season, but his track record is abysmal. Trade for a Big and Draft a SG who can shoot— tkohl
- @Deano. Your statement would be 100% accurate if it went on to say "if they cut loose 23 year old centers capable of averaging a double-double..." ...that are soft, play little defense, and have a history of injury issues. I like Hawes as a player, but a team will overpay him for the exact reasons you state, but it will be a big mistake, as it would be for the sixers to bring him back on a big contract.— CosmoK
- @CosmoK: That is kind of what I was saying. I think he would thrive with a legit No. 1 option playing alongside him. They thought that was going to be Brand, but we all know how that turned out.
@tkohl: I don't that that it is him hogging the ball, as much as it is that they don't have anyone else to be the man in that moment. Going forward, it will likely be Holiday. But he wasn't ready for that spot for most of the last two season. This season he seemed to step into that role. Even if Iggy is back next season, I think you will see Jrue get the call in those spots...— MattMullin - I agree so much with Cosmo, although Iggy's defensive acumen won't necessarily show up on an individual boxscore...But his versatility and leadership on the defensive end has to be looked as a key for the team's excellent numbers this season....To me, it's purely taking advantage of Iggy's stock, which in his All-Star season (purely subjective) his value may never be higher (increased exposure shutting down Deng and Pierce for the most part)...No Sixer IMO should be untouchable if the right offer comes along, and there are definite needs, whether an atnletic big or sniper with range can be secured...Evan Turner simply does not command the value Iggy can at the moment, and both can do similar things on the court, outside of Iggy's thunderous finishes on the break...Last, Iggy turns 29 this season, has endured chronic knee tendonitis these past 2 seasons...and with the pending Olympic trials,and a fair chance Iggy makes it...well, I'd bet on a third...Two years left on Iggy's deal,so some teams will have him on their "wish list". But the question is, how much will they pay.— bearsfriend
- Iggy and Lou to Lakers for Pau Gasol, or Thad Young to the Kings for Jason Thompson. Amnesty Brand, bring in KG and Landry Fields. KG could sign here if Boston fails miserably, but he would only get around $10 mil per season. Fields could be had for $5 mil per. I would also look for a backup PG on the cheap, like Delonte West. Bringing in a veteran presence who can contribute, along with size, is what this team needs to succeed.— beegal99
- Lou is not going to be under contract after he opts out of his final year. Also, Gasol is old.
- I don't care if he stays or go's just don't have Iggy, ET and Jrue as the perimeter starters. Please keep 2 of them and find a shooter who can play off the ball. If we're saddled with the 3 of them please petition the NBA to allow us to play offense with more than 1 ball.
