Williams still opting out; Humphries in Sixers' future?
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Williams still opting out; Humphries in Sixers' future?
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
If the Sixers do agree to let Elton Brand walk under the NBA’s amnesty clause, they will be in position to add a power forward from the crop of potential free agents in the 2012 class. Amnesty allows a team to pay a player his salary – something even wealthy team owners don’t look upon favorably – while it comes off the team’s salary cap.
The power forward who has risen to the top of that list is believed to be New Jersey unrestricted free agent Kris Humphries. Just 27, the 6-9, 235-pound Humphries averaged 13.8 points and 11.0 rebounds for the Nets in the recently completed season. He shot better than 48 percent from the field.
He is a very good offensive rebounder – something the Sixers sorely need – and he is an improving defender.
The Sixers will almost certainly have their name mentioned in connection with Humphries because, if Brand comes off the books, they’ll have plenty of cash below salary cap, which should be in the range of $58 million when it is determined later this summer. Another name you should keep your eyes on is Carl Landry (New Orleans). He’s also the kind of power forward that the Sixers may like.
However, it might behoove the Sixers to wait until next summer to think about spending their money, because the free-agent list then will be significantly more appealing.
The list could include restricted free agents Blake Griffin and Taj Gibson. The list of unrestricted free agent forwards will include Josh Smith (Atlanta), David West (Indianapolis), and Utah’s Paul Milsap. Milsap teammate Al Jefferson, a center, will also be unrestricted.
On a different note, I remain utterly convinced that Sixers guard Lou Williams will terminate the final year of his contract and hit the market as an unrestricted free agent. Ignore any question directed at Williams asking him if he’d like to come back to Philly. Yep, Philly is a great town. And I think Williams likes playing here. In fact, I know he does.
"At this point I just think it would be crazy for me to leave," Williams said. "This is somewhere where I have carved out a lane. This is somewhere where my family is and it's my second home outside of Atlanta.
"But business is business," he continued in the same breath. "Once it comes time to deal with that we'll get to the table."
Williams won't just take the money and run; he has too much pride for that. He's not going to want to play for a loser just for more money, either.
But this is a business for these guys. Just because they like playing somewhere doesn’t mean that they aren’t interested in taking care of their family to the best of their ability. Williams, according to a source very close to the situation, wants a nice, long-term deal. And after that one is over, Williams, just 25, is going to want one more deal.
Can’t blame him.
Contact staff writer John N. Mitchell at jmitchell@philly.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmitchInquirer
The thing that this team needs more than anything is toughness. We need some players with some edge who aren't afraid to take a hard foul or to attack the basket with reckless abandon. Stephen Jackson was a player I always coveted as a Sixer. A player who many people have questioned because of his attitude, but when it comes down to it Stephen just wants to win. He will cover the best player on the court and knock down a big shot when need be. Give me a player like Zach Randolph with a constant chip on his shoulder. EB was probably the only player on this team who had that quality. He wasn't afraid to take the hard foul or to scrum for a lose ball. We have too many "nice guys" on this team and to make it to the next level we need to add some swagger. That is the type of player that I hope the Sixers go after. I think of the players that I have seen mentioned that Ryan Anderson may have that characteristic. This team grew up a lot in these playoffs, but one of the biggest things they need to work on especially with their young players is getting tougher.— Mattb- for whtatever reason Bear I can reply to comments But I would take Moutrie. Even though Melo is a space eater. I think the teams we need to plan for are Detroit and Indy with legit center. I think Moutrie would a better version of Dalembert.— BigVilFromWestPhil
- The 76ers need to make franchise altering moves. Ditching Brand and replacing him with Kris Humphries doesn't make them competetive with the Heat or Thunder. Rod Thorn needs to approach his roster with an eye on competing against the two teams that will be at the head of the class for the next five years. Deron Williams would begin the process. At least inquire with Orlando about Howard. NOBODY on this roster should be untouchable.NOBODY. Shuffling the deck chairs didn't save the Titanic and it won't improve the 76ers.— syddan26
- After the playoff performance of Lou Williams, he really needs to go. He plays very poor defense and had the biggest dropoff offensively of any Sixer. Lots of changes to the way this team looks next season. Sorry Bear, I know you like Lou a lot, but even you have to admit his shooting was atrocious in the post-season.— Bobby V
- Lou would be the first one to tell you his three point shooting went south in the playoffs...That being said, Lou's 3 to 1 aasist to turnover ratio BLEW AWAY the field, as did his +21 in the Celtics' Series...ET -43,Jrue-44,Iggy-24,Hawes -22,EB -37,Thad -20...Lou's +/- was second to Iggy in the Bulls' Series...The Sixers' bench production was not its problem, it was its strength...They just didn't sustain performance as the competition got tougher. — bearsfriend
- Ah, the wonderful time of NBA free agency. Where the supply and demand issues of a league full of bad teams leads teams to overspend and create more bad contracts. Someone will overpay Lou Williams because there aren't enough scorers out there.
And Humphries is a nice player, but not the kind of difference maker the Sixers need to win a championship. He's piled up good stats on a bad team. Put him on the same team with other good rebounders to share minutes and boards with, and he would be getting eight points and six boards a game.— DeanoP44 - Winning brings FA to your team. Superstar players want young talented players they can grow the team with. The Sixers have that and was on center stage during the playoffs. That was the best advertisement they could get. EB staying can't happen. The Sixers can not pay a guy 18 million to be a 15-18 minute player. Paying him to go and recovering the cap space is more beneficial than having him stay. I thought the new CBA was designed to get away from trading expiring contracts hence the amnesty clause. Hump is the lunch pale type that fans would respect in the long run and he's still young. However, Iggy for Gasol, Sign Ryan Anderson, Amnesty Brand draft a brusing PF. Lou for all his faults can score. The one thing coming off the bench this team needs. He wants to stay that says enough about him when most players are looking to run for greener pastures.— phillyinNJ
- I'll add that the Sixers need the same thing they've needed for the past 5-6 years- a bonafide scorer and low post presence. However they get those two things is of no concern to me. To me everyone, except maybe Holiday, is available. I would love to see OJ Mayo or Rudy Gay or Al Jefferson come here. The Sixers need buckets. If that means trading Iggy then so be it. I was in favor of amnestying Brand but we may bet value for the expiring contract next year in a trade. I want someone in a Sixers uniform who is a threat to get 30 every night.— ericthered1
- Greg Oden???!!
Even I wouldn't want Greg Oden on my team.
signed, Sam Bowie— IrishJoe 
Comment removed.-
Keep Holiday and Turner and Thad. Ditch Iggy. He's a cancer. Ditch Brand. He's slow. Keep Hawes. He's an underrated center in a league that lacks quality big men.
Ditch Meeks. Don't rely on Lavoy Allen. He's a hustle player who makes poor decisions.
Lou Williams -- I'm not sure. Good scorer. Doesn't give you much else.
Next year's starters: Holiday, Turner, Thad, new PF and Hawes. I like the Ryan Anderson idea for PF. Good shoot. Good rebounder. Will fit nicely if Holiday learns to break down the D, and pitch it outside.
Humphries overachieved this year. Remember: he played NJ. Plus, he was riding high off the Kardashian tang.— PoorGrammarAttacker - Doesn't give you much else?...His assists to turnover ration was 3.1 to 1...his PER (offensive efficiency rating) led the team,easily...His +/- led the team (by a ton) in the playoffs...He was 4rth in the entire league in 4rth quarter scoring, he was 3rd in the league at getting to the FT per minute (players avg over 20 mpg)...He wouild benefit greater if their were other true offensive options, as he ghenerally commanded the attention of the opponent's best defenders, despite playing just 65 A% of the Minutes both Iggy and Jrue averaged...Obviously, one doesn't want ot pay if the guy goes for greener pastures, but hopefully this makes you "sure" about whether he's worthy of being a Sixer. — bearsfriend
- It would be dumb to get rid of Hawes; he is greatly underrated. They do need a big who can get the O-board and also shoot, at PF.— frankn
- would be dumb to get rid of hawes he is underated and get o-boards"...are you using drugs? hawes is not under the basket when the shots go up from sixers he is on the perimeter because he is too weak, slow and clumsy to get a o-board sixers need to let this buffoon walk end the experiment he can't perform..I would work oden out just to see what he can do he does have nba talent and size if he looks good sign him for the minimum 1 yr, taj gibson would look great in a sixers uniform(doubt if bulls let him walk) humphries mediocre d but good rebounder.— only 9
- Iggy, Hawes & next year's #1 or #2 to Lakers for Gasol. Amnesty for Brand. Sign Humphries. Starters: Williams, Holiday, Gasol, Humphries, and Turner at weak forward. Young, Vukovic, Allen, Meeks off bench with PG draftee!— ginzo
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.
