[Philly Inquirer] Trade rumors swirling around 76ers' Iguodala(McGrady)

[xiki]

The latest nada from 6er land:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/...nsibility.html

Inside the Sixers: Sense and insensibility

POSTED: February 7, 2010
By Kate Fagan
Inquirer Staff Writer

HOUSTON - The phrase du jour is basketball sense.

Need to see it used in a sentence?


General manager Ed Stefanski is insisting that any move the team makes must make "basketball sense." In the meantime the team is just plugging holes.

The 76ers will trade Andre Iguodala only if it makes "basketball sense."

As the NBA's Feb. 18 trading deadline approaches, this has become the Sixers' company line, tossed over all rumored trade scenarios: Iguodala for Tracy McGrady's expiring contract? Iguodala for Amar'e Stoudemire's possibly expiring contract?

Nah, those deals make financial sense. Those don't make on-the-court, hard-core, basketball sense.

The phrase is quite clever, really, loaded with all kinds of twists and turns, meaning nothing while pretending to mean something.

On Feb. 18, when Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski holds his conference call explaining a trade or the lack of one, what couldn't be shoved under the umbrella of "basketball sense"?

If the Sixers make a trade for a player, they'll say it made basketball sense; if they make a trade for an expiring contract, they'll say it made basketball sense going forward; if they sit tight, they'll say nothing made enough basketball sense to pull the trigger.

The phrase is as versatile as Iguodala's game.

And, of course, the phrase is ironic: How many Sixers fans still trust the basketball sense of the men charged with deciding what makes basketball sense?

Not many.

And why should they?

Most Sixers fans are frustrated that they've been forced into a situation where rooting against victories seems not just rational but necessary. They've been told for three years there's a plan - a young, talented nucleus around which the team is building - only to witness a succession of moves that appear contrary to this plan. And now we've reached the point where the franchise has made it clear anyone on the roster could be traded.

Some plan.

The Sixers are 19-31, bad enough to probably miss the playoffs, but not bad enough for a franchise-changing draft pick.

Those fans who care enough - there are a few thousand - mostly hold one of two opinions: either the fault lies with coach Eddie Jordan, who's mismanaged a capable roster, or the roster is poorly assembled, just a random collection of decent spare parts.

In either case, Stefanski is left holding the deflated basketball. If the coach is the issue, Stefanski hired him. If the roster is the problem, he assembled it.

This isn't a mid-major college basketball program offering an eight-year leash: four years waiting for the previous coach's recruits to graduate and four more to recruit your own.

Either you've made the right moves and you start winning, or you haven't and you start losing.

It's not that complicated.

But what seems to be happening - highlighted by this new phrase, basketball sense - is a stubbornness that's becoming detrimental to any progress.

The Sixers had a plan. They tried to execute the plan. The plan is failing.

This season is playing like a mad scramble to plug holes: It might have begun with hiring Jordan and his gimmicky offense in May; it continued with the signing of Allen Iverson in November; and now it has come to sitting rookie Jrue Holiday for most second halves.

So what does make basketball sense?

Trading Iguodala makes sense. You think Iguodala is worried about leaving the Sixers? He's probably praying to the basketball gods each night that Stefanski trades him to Phoenix or Houston.

Let him go, collect the cap space along with one good up-and-comer (for example, Houston's Chase Budinger), and start over. Stefanski has the basketball sense to design a new plan, but not if he's unwilling to admit the previous one's failure.

There's no sense of purpose on the Sixers right now. They drift from city to city, winning a few, losing a few, collecting a paycheck. Do these players sense they're the foundation for something greater?

Not a chance.

And neither does the fan base.

[crash5179]

Get er done Stefanski!

I think the Rockets would have a hard time saying no to a trade

TMac and Chase

for

Iggy, Kapono and filler (Brezec)


Gets the Rockets under the Threshold and lands Iggy. Philly gets cap space and an Up & Comer

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/...nsibility.html

Trading Iguodala makes sense. You think Iguodala is worried about leaving the Sixers? He's probably praying to the basketball gods each night that Stefanski trades him to Phoenix or Houston. Let him go, collect the cap space along with one good up-and-comer (for example, Houston's Chase Budinger), and start over.

[Da Wink]

i'll take that...Kapono will be our 3pt. specialist to replace Bud...adding Speights would be great..we could send them also Andersen or Cook.

[Egghead]

Originally Posted by Da Wink i'll take that...Kapono will be our 3pt. specialist to replace Bud...adding Speights would be great..we could send them also Andersen or Cook.

um Kapano has a player option for next year...

[LifeisButaDream]

Re: SF76 Deadline Thread

Postby mo4allstar on Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:07 am
latest post by w&g

"LOL .. Never refer to me, and being definitive about a trade in the same sentence ever again !! I just never know for sure if something is ever going to actually happen. I was probably more posiitive we would be landing Shaq last trade deadline than of any of them ..and Phoenix backed off at the last second.

Of course, you never know the dynamics that the Sixers are dealing with, and what is happening with other teams ... but, just tonight I've gotten some rumblings from people that are pretty connected in Philly, and people that are close with Iguodala's people ..and he's getting some impressions that something could be happening pretty soon.

He's actually been talking pretty openly about the possiblities of coming here, and he's very hopeful that it can get done and he can become a Cavalier.

We shall see .. this one might not go til the deadline. It will either ultimately fly or fail during the break I think.

I don't know what the trade would ultimately entail, or how it would shake out. I'm sure multitudes of options are being discussed. I'm just going on a gut feel, and things I heard in the grapevine this evening."

[Rockets4279]

Sixers are in a long-term mess. They need to accumilate money and buy picks, trade unfair contracts and don't sign free agents off the market. They need to focus on finding players who are young and keep losing to become a winner at worst. The patience card was played to it's fans and they loss hope.

[clutch citizen]

Originally Posted by LifeisButaDream Re: SF76 Deadline Thread Postby mo4allstar on Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:07 am latest post by w&g "LOL .. Never refer to me, and being definitive about a trade in the same sentence ever again !! I just never know for sure if something is ever going to actually happen. I was probably more posiitive we would be landing Shaq last trade deadline than of any of them ..and Phoenix backed off at the last second. Of course, you never know the dynamics that the Sixers are dealing with, and what is happening with other teams ... but, just tonight I've gotten some rumblings from people that are pretty connected in Philly, and people that are close with Iguodala's people ..and he's getting some impressions that something could be happening pretty soon. He's actually been talking pretty openly about the possiblities of coming here, and he's very hopeful that it can get done and he can become a Cavalier. We shall see .. this one might not go til the deadline. It will either ultimately fly or fail during the break I think. I don't know what the trade would ultimately entail, or how it would shake out. I'm sure multitudes of options are being discussed. I'm just going on a gut feel, and things I heard in the grapevine this evening."

Isn't he the 76ers insider?

I kind of want Iggy here now. As long as Landry and Lowry stay. Everyone else is up for grabs IMO. Otherwise, no deal for me.

[LifeisButaDream]

Originally Posted by clutch citizen Isn't he the 76ers insider? I kind of want Iggy here now. As long as Landry and Lowry stay. Everyone else is up for grabs IMO. Otherwise, no deal for me.

No a cavs insider.

[Rockets4279]

Obviously McGrady don't sound like the plan to Philly, it sounds more like giving to recieve they are more interested in. They just keep Dalembert and we keep McGrady. If there is players outside of Dalember Rockets may hold interest in would be Iggy/Young for sure, than Speights, than Williams Maybe.

[Rockets4279]

Originally Posted by Rockets4279 Obviously McGrady don't sound like the plan to Philly, it sounds more like giving to recieve they are more interested in. They just keep Dalembert and we keep McGrady. If there is players outside of Dalember Rockets may hold interest in would be Iggy/Young for sure, than Speights, than Williams Maybe.

Coach also said they lack bodies they had 6 bigs and 4 smalls. Evidently any trade by his statement means we'll end up with more players.

[larsv8]

Id probably give up Budinger for the Iggy deal.

[LifeisButaDream]

Cavaliers are Closing on a Deal for Iguodala.

Postby drewd on Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:08 pm
So I've heard from some people in both organizations, That the Cavs are closing on a deal were they are willing to deal one of two JJ hickson or Danny Green with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, whos' contract is 75% paid for which sweetens the deal. Danny Ferry (Cavaliers GM) would have to S&T Wally Szczerbiak and also dish off a first round pick. I've heard they would be taking Dalembert in the deal with Iguodala, unfortunately not Brand. The fine details of the deal will be finalized around the 3 days off during the allstar break.

[Egghead]

Originally Posted by larsv8 Id probably give up Budinger for the Iggy deal.

nope.

[rockets934life]

Originally Posted by LifeisButaDream Cavaliers are Closing on a Deal for Iguodala. Postby drewd on Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:08 pm So I've heard from some people in both organizations, That the Cavs are closing on a deal were they are willing to deal one of two JJ hickson or Danny Green with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, whos' contract is 75% paid for which sweetens the deal. Danny Ferry (Cavaliers GM) would have to S&T Wally Szczerbiak and also dish off a first round pick. I've heard they would be taking Dalembert in the deal with Iguodala, unfortunately not Brand. The fine details of the deal will be finalized around the 3 days off during the allstar break.

Iggy for Amare looks like it happening...

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...ok-at-iguodala

Suns take up-close look at Iguodala February, 7, 2010 Feb 74:59PM ETEmail Print Share By Marc Stein Are the Suns inching closer to a trade with Philadelphia headlined by Amare Stoudemire and Andre Iguodala? Separate sources close to both teams caution that it’s too soon to answer that question affirmatively. One source with knowledge of the Suns’ thinking, in particular, insisted that Phoenix was still evaluating several potential trade candidates. However . . . You can safely say that the Suns have ramped up their evaluation of Iguodala, whom they’ve liked dating to the 2004 draft when Iguodala turned pro after two years at Arizona. We know that because the Suns quietly dispatched one of their lead decision-makers – senior vice president of basketball operations David Griffin – to New Orleans on Friday night to watch the Sixers play the Hornets in person. As discussed in the Weekend Dime, Phoenix has made it known that – in spite of its longstanding aversion to taking on long-term money – it has serious interest in Iguodala (even with four seasons left on his contract after this season worth $56 million) and would also be willing to acquire Samuel Dalembert (due to earn $12.2 million next season) to clinch the deal. The Suns, though, would undoubtedly want Philly to take back Jason Richardson in such a swap. Even though the Sixers would have to surrender another player to make the salary-cap math work, such as Jason Kapono or Willie Green, they wouldn’t realize any significant savings in this trade configuration until the 2011-2012 season if Stoudemire follows through on this week’s suggestion that he will not become a free agent at season’s end and plays out his contract at $17.7 million in 2010-11. You can also expect Philly, if these talks go any further, to insist on Leandro Barbosa instead of Richardson to make it a simpler two-for-two trade: Stoudemire and Barbosa for Iguodala and Dalembert. Phoenix, furthermore, appears to be the team driving these discussions anyway. The Suns, by all accounts, like the idea of trading for Iguodala more than the Sixers like the thought of gambling on Stoudemire, who remains an undeniable force offensively but comes with that well-chronicled injury history in addition to the opt-out conundrum. The optimistic view in the desert goes so far as to suggest that Dalembert – shopped by Philly without success going back to last season – would be better than ever playing alongside Steve Nash, not only because Dalembert holds a Canadian passport but because Nash brings the best out of mobile centers. Yet we should also pass along the warning that came from one front-office executive whose team has expressed its interest in Stoudemire. The exec believes that the Suns could well choose not to move Amare before the Feb. 18 trading deadline if they start playing well again … and Phoenix just went 4-0 on a four-game road trip during which Amare averaged nearly 28 points and 12 boards.

[Rockets4279]

Originally Posted by LifeisButaDream Cavaliers are Closing on a Deal for Iguodala. Postby drewd on Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:08 pm So I've heard from some people in both organizations, That the Cavs are closing on a deal were they are willing to deal one of two JJ hickson or Danny Green with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, whos' contract is 75% paid for which sweetens the deal. Danny Ferry (Cavaliers GM) would have to S&T Wally Szczerbiak and also dish off a first round pick. I've heard they would be taking Dalembert in the deal with Iguodala, unfortunately not Brand. The fine details of the deal will be finalized around the 3 days off during the allstar break.

Let em, the thing about this though. it's impossible to do in a single scenario it takes 2 scenarios to make it possible. S&T's can only be 1for1 swaps.

I came up with a pretty fair scenario. Send Tracy to Philly and take back nothing else, but Phillys top ten pick goes to Houston and expiring contracts.

It don't matter how they do it 3 or 4 teams, all we need is the top ten pick, let them figure out the pieces.

[clutch citizen]

So Caron Butler's next on the list, right?

Might as well just let Tracy McGrady's contract expire.

Morey...whatever you do...do NOT do the "12:01 AM jersey-with-your-name-on-it" thing. You are 0 for 2 with that strategy. Looks like we'll just have to wade for the offseason

[Mr. J]

oh, Nash said something...
Yeah~

Originally Posted by clutch citizen Amid Stoudemire trade speculation, Nash turns 36 with Suns on 5-game win streak By Bob Baum (CP) – 8 hours ago (please pay attention to the posted time) PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are surging amid speculation Amare Stoudemire could be traded in the next two weeks. Steve Nash turned 36 on Sunday with the Suns on a season-high, five-game winning streak that includes their first 4-0 road trip since December 2006. Nash said it would be a shame to see Stoudemire traded away, with the team playing as well as it is. "I think everyone feels good about our team and wants it to stay the same," he said. "It's not really in our hands. A lot of it has to do with contracts and extensions and stuff and those areas are fairly personal matters. We've just got to worry about the things we can control and keep building as a team." For the second year in a row, it appears the Suns are listening to offers for Stoudemire. The all-star forward can opt out of his contract after this season, and the Suns don't want to see him walk away with them receiving nothing in return. "I'm just staying away from the trade talk now," Stoudemire said as he walked to his car following Sunday's practice. "I said pretty much what I said about the whole situation and I'll just let it play out." On the team's recent road trip, Stoudemire said he could decide not to opt out of the final year of his contract, whether he's in Phoenix or not, and take the US$17 million he is schedule to receive. Stoudemire is averaging 25.6 points and 10 rebounds during the Suns' winning streak, which has coincided with the insertion of seven-foot Robin Lopez into the starting lineup. "Now guys can't totally focus on me out there," Stoudemire said. "They've got to worry about him as well because he's a force to be reckoned with definitely on the boards." Coach Alvin Gentry put Lopez in the lineup 11 games ago in place of Channing Frye to toughen up the Suns' soft interior. "I just thought we needed a change," Gentry said. "We were struggling a little bit defensively and I thought he would give us a presence defensively in there. His offence has been a real pleasant surprise, to be honest with you." Lopez, whose twin brother Brook plays for the New Jersey Nets, has mostly sat through his first two seasons and was out for a month after breaking a bone in his left foot during a training-camp scrimmage. "Coming back I didn't really know where I was going to be," he said. "I felt confident where I was going to be on the defensive end but in training camp I played well on the offensive end. I was glad to see I was able to continue. I was wondering if I was going to have to work back to that level but I was able to fit right in." Lopez has averaged 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots since he became a starter. He's also altered many more shots. "I try to affect the game with my length," he said. "You're not always going to be able to block the shot. You get a lot of fouls that way. The past two games notwithstanding, I've found I've been able to stay out of foul trouble that way." Nash, meanwhile, is having a season that belies his age and then some, averaging 18.4 pounds and 11.1 assists. The Victoria native is shooting 52 per cent from the field, 44 per cent from three-point range and 94 per cent from the foul line. Nash has had 10 or more assists in each of the team's last five wins. "I don't know how old or how young I feel," he said, "but I feel really good and I'm enjoying my teammates." Gentry believes Nash is playing as well as in any of his five seasons with the Suns, just maybe not as fast. Although Phoenix remains the highest-scoring team in the NBA, it's not the "seven seconds or less" blur of coach Mike D'Antoni's years. After a 14-3 start to the season, Phoenix went 12-18 to fall to 26-21 after an overtime home loss to Charlotte on Jan. 26. But the Suns beat Dallas at home, then followed with victories at Houston, New Orleans, Denver and Sacramento. "You've got to understand, 10 days ago we were out of the playoffs," Gentry said. "Now we're in fifth and a game and a half out of fourth place. ... But we're also 3½ games from being out of the playoffs. I think it's going to be that way the next 29-30 games. Every week I think somebody will jockey for position and something will change." Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

[Clutch]

Phil Jasner of Philadelphia Daily News:

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/83784647.html

I can't tell you I hear everything, but I do hear some things. We all have "sources;" some are more reliable than others. I have a handful that I trust implicitly. Still, I can't guarantee the information is totally pure, but here is some of it: While the speculation revolving around Iguodala has been most prevalent lately, one of my sources who is familiar with the situations of the Sixers and the Houston Rockets suggests that the Sixers "are not prepared to break up their team." Could be. But I believe the Sixers have had conversations with Cleveland, which apparently is interested in giving LeBron James one more significant piece. There have been stories that the Cavaliers have focused, in some order, on Washington's Antawn Jamison, Indiana's Troy Murphy and Iguodala. Oh, and there have also been Iguodala mentions in Sacramento and Dallas. I thought the Cavs would have a dilemma with Iguodala, who has 4 years and $56.4 million left on his contract. How, exactly, would they feel if they acquired Iguodala to help James, and then - after the season - James decided to leave in free agency? How would they then feel about having Iguodala's contract? I'm told by a source familiar with the Sixers' thinking, "Teams around the league are not put off by that contract." At the same time, there have been talks with Phoenix (and probably every other team). The Suns, for example, are supposedly interested in taking Iguodala and Dalembert for Amare Stoudemire ($17.7 million next season, with a right to terminate early, with a contract that reportedly includes a trade kicker). The Rockets were said to have renewed interest in Iguodala and Dalembert for Tracy McGrady's expiring $23 million contract. My source described the Suns and Rockets rumors as "old news," as if to say there's nothing substantial with either team, at least for now. Comcast SportsNet reported that, according to a source, the Suns "desperately want Iguodala."

Kate Fagan of Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://dailyphiladelphian.com/2010/0...rade-deadline/

Andre Iguodala, once considered an untouchable, has regressed this season and will never be the clutch, sharpshooting player many have envisioned. He’s being thrown around in trade talks with Houston and Phoenix. Both deals could bring in expiring contracts at season’s end in the form of Tracy McGardy (sic) or Amare Stoudemire. Either way, the Sixers need to clear cap room and dealing Iggy may be the only way to do it. More to the point, dealing Iggy and Samuel Dalembert to Houston makes too much sense to pass up. Dalembert’s contract has been untradeable, but it expires after next season. Suddenly, his contract has value, especially to a Rockets team that needs help in the paint with Yao Ming out for the season. Dalembert could fill that hole, then be shipped out of town next season. McGrady, meanwhile, has played less than a complete game this entire season. Iggy could fill McGrady’s slot and add some spark to that squad, which sits at 27-23 and in the nine spot in the West. Iggy is no McGrady when the superstar is healthy, but something is better than nothing.

Stephen A. Smith quotes T-Mac as saying he would love to finish the season in Philadelphia. Can you tell that Stephen A. wants his crown jewel source in a Sixers uni?

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sport...raft_pick.html

There's a point guard in Lou Williams who is more of a scorer. More than $80 million has been committed to a shooter in Andre Iguodala, who is known as anything but a shooter. We could easily focus on the jump-shooting Elton Brand, a 6-foot-9 forward given $79.5 million for a power post game. Or lament Samuel Dalembert's continued lack of consistency or Allen Iverson's personal and basketball troubles. or the fact that Tracy McGrady would love to come to Philly but probably can't because the Sixers don't have enough attractive parts to lure his expiring salary of $23 million away from Houston. But we're trying to be nice here. Oh . . . did I fail to mention how much former point guard Andre Miller is missed? ................. What matters most now is where the Sixers go from here. Knowing Stefanski, he'll swear they're about making "basketball decisions," not financial ones. Well, here's one: Tank the season. Stop wasting folks' time trying to win what amounts to meaningless games. The Sixers need to emulate San Antonio (Tim Duncan), Cleveland (LeBron James), Miami (Dwyane Wade), Toronto (Chris Bosh) - teams that once did everything they could to position themselves for a top draft pick just to get their hands on a franchise-caliber player. They also need to keep pursuing McGrady, who told me, "I'd love to finish this season in Philadelphia." That would be a step in the right direction. At least it would look that way.

[xiki]

Here's Johnny hosting the game show, 'Who do you trust?'

So, with Iggy gone to Suns no Cavs but no, don't ignore Mavs, does that make Butler more likely to Rox? Or still Iggy to Toy Shop? Or...whom? Whom, I say,
whom do you trust?

[Hball]

Originally Posted by Clutch They also need to keep pursuing McGrady, who told me, "I'd love to finish this season in Philadelphia."

Im sure the guy would love to finish the season anywhere, as long as he doesn't get the cameo role.