Posted on Thu, May. 8, 2008
Ed Stefanski said he has a number of off-season priorities, but deciding the future of 76ers point guard Andre Miller isn't at the top of the list.
That doesn't mean the Sixers' president and general manager doesn't value Miller's huge contributions.
It's just that because Miller is signed through the 2008-2009 season and can't be a free agent until afterward, Stefanski can focus on other issues.
At some point, however, Miller's future will have to be addressed both by him and the team, because the decision will affect many of the other decisions the team is going to make this summer.
In a conference call yesterday with reporters, Stefanski discussed some of those issues, including that he would like to re-sign restricted free agents Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams.
Stefanski suggested that, with the club about $11 million under the salary cap, the Sixers expect to be active this off-season.
Sometime in the next two weeks, Stefanski said, he plans to meet with coach Maurice Cheeks to discuss an extension of his contract, which expires after next season.
In addition, Stefanski said he felt comfortable with longtime assistant general manager Tony DiLeo and director of player personnel Courtney Witte, so a front office shake-up doesn't appear likely.
Stefanski reiterated that the Sixers will get a talented player drafting 16th, but he wonders if that player will be able to crack the rotation immediately.
And then there is Miller, who was considered the most important reason the Sixers went 40-42 and earned their first playoff berth in three years.
The 32-year-old Miller had the best of his nine seasons, averaging 17.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.28 steals, while shooting a career-best 49.2 percent from the field.
In the six-game playoff series with Detroit, Miller led the Sixers in scoring, averaging 15.3 points. He also averaged 3.3 assists as the Sixers averaged just 85.8 points per game.
On Friday, when asked if he would be interested in staying with the Sixers beyond next season, Miller answered: "I don't know. It's hard to tell right now."
Stefanski has yet to talk to Miller, saying he has to concentrate on the current free agents and the draft. Eventually, he plans to sit down with him.
"Andre has to be on board [on] the team, so there are two sides to this thing," Stefanski said.
Not knowing if Miller will be here beyond next season may hinder the Sixers' planning. Stefanski said he wasn't sure that Williams, a 21-year-old whom some see as the heir apparent to Miller, is a true point guard.
"I thought Lou did a nice job, and the question will be: Is he more of a two [shooting guard] than a one [point guard] who you can give him the ball to run a basketball team?" Stefanski said. "I think we'll see as he gets older."
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com. Read his blog at: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/
deep-sixer/.