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Friday, July 24, 2009
Miller finalizing deal with Portland

Andre Miller's agent, Andy Miller, has confirmed that within 24 hours Andre Miller will be a Portland Trailblazer.

Andy Miller said the two parties are "finalizing" the deal today and it should become official within 24 hours. His client, who has been the 76ers starting point guard for the last 2-1/2 seasons, will receive a deal that one source said was "an improvement" over the deal the Sixers were offering, which was reportedly in the 1-year/$6 million range.

Yesterday, Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski removed the team's offer to Miller, essentially ending any chance of Miller returning to the Sixers. Last season, Miller started all 88 games (82 regular season, 6 playoff) at point guard, averaging 16.3 points and 6.5 assists a game.

A call to Stefanski went unanswered.

Stefanski has said (since free agency's official opening in early July) that he was worried about re-signing Miller to a longer contract because of his age (33) and the team's young nucleus. Stefanski said it might not been in the best interest of the organization to tether itself to an aging point guard. Now, with Miller all but signed and delivered to the West Coast, that leaves combo guard Lou Williams and rookie Jrue Holiday as the team's current options at PG.

Of course, the Sixers are looking at a number of current NBA free agents, many of them point guards, who could come in and provide relief, and experience, at that position.

--Kate

Posted by Kate Fagan @ 2:31 PM  Permalink | 56 comments
56
Comments   
Posted 02:34 PM, 07/24/2009
himills
Ouch.
Posted 02:36 PM, 07/24/2009
C-Bent
at least we have closure
Posted 02:41 PM, 07/24/2009
76er
SO the 76ers get nothing for Miller? They draft a point guard with "upside" and get nothing for Miller. No sign-and-trade. No trade at Feb. deadline last season. Nothing. Nice job, Ed. It's hard as a fan to accept this.
Posted 02:43 PM, 07/24/2009
jimmy76er
Tough news. Andre won a few games by himelf by hitting pivotal baskets or helping to rally the team in closing moments. For all the talk about Lou playing point, I remember many times where Andre had to get off the bench in the third or fourth quarters to turn things around or stop the runs by opposing teams -- because Lou wasn't cutting it that particular night. This team has remaining talent but no wiggle room. With his game management skills, Andre helped compensate for missing players in the past and I can't imagine how that will be replaced.
Posted 02:46 PM, 07/24/2009
HandNik
Good. Now keep losing pieces till they can get a lottery pick.
Posted 02:50 PM, 07/24/2009
psuwelsh
Getting nothing reflects on mgmt and their inability to manage. I find it very frustrating that they could not see this coming (meaning, they were never going to pay him) and trade him last year.
Posted 02:50 PM, 07/24/2009
russ4philly
good, now get a vet that fits the new system and let lou and he fight for playing time. let the games begin!
Posted 02:52 PM, 07/24/2009
syddan26
This falls under the category of who cares. They would stink with him; they will stink worse without him. Would you spend your hard earned money to see this? PG - Lou SG - Iggy C- Sammy PF - Elton ST -Thaddeus Bench - Green,Speights,Smith,Holiday and whatever one year retreads they can sign. It smells like 20-25 wins this year. This year has disaster written all over it.
Posted 03:02 PM, 07/24/2009
rayzoe
Now the axe has been laid to the root!
Posted 03:05 PM, 07/24/2009
drumminge6
"Of course, the Sixers are looking at a number of current NBA free agents, many of them point guards, who could come in and provide relief, and experience, at that position."..... like who? who you do like best out of everyone we're looking at? provide some insight next time please. 6ers are gonna blow this year.
Posted 03:20 PM, 07/24/2009
johnnysanz3
the sixers need to tank this year, get a stud in next years draft, and they are good to go.
Posted 03:21 PM, 07/24/2009
Fozzie27
I agree with 26 - this year has disaster written all over it. Every contending team in the east just got stronger in the off-season - while the Sixers got Andrew Kopono and a 19 year old unproven point guard. Oh, and a new (old) logo. Nice work, Ed!
Posted 03:23 PM, 07/24/2009
traugdog420
This all but asures them a lottery pick for next years draft...one that should be much deeper then this past years draft. I like it in a way. Yeah this year is going to be a struggle but the team is so young that with time to mature and learn the neuances of the game and and added peice here or there next year we should be a championship contender.
Posted 03:24 PM, 07/24/2009
m23haz
I never understood why they didn't trade Miller either of the past 2 seasons at the trade deadline. In my opinion, if you are not going to with the title in the NBA (and it's pretty obvious that only a few can) then you need to do whatever you can to add talent. I still have no idea why they thought that having a PG who was miserable in Philly and who could play no defense was better than trading him for future assets to continue to improve for the future.
Posted 03:25 PM, 07/24/2009
lmonzo
andre who?
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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