i see a lot of people here still believe that toronto would win this trade by a mile. what happens if marion bolts this summer? marion might be a much better player than JO but JO fits a need in miami where marion does not (thanks to beasley). JO's contract will be one of the most desirable in the league by this summer and next years deadline. even if he only plays 40-50 games due to injury next season, his worth to the team if far greater than that... and his production to his new team will be 40-50 times greater than marion's will be in toronto if he leaves them this summer. now if marion stays, it's another story. we will only know who got the better end of this deal in 2010.
Why? They have Iguodala and Thadeus Young already. Iguodala, Young and Marion are all basically the same player.
Probably to get out from under his contract. I doubt they paid him all that money to be a .500 team. And, I don't think Marion is that similar to those guys he hasn't averaged less than 9 boards since his rookie season and I think he's much more capable and comfortable defending bigs. I think he would fit in but it would obviously just be a move to cut some salary loose. I just don't see why the Heat would want Brand.
1. 76ers is playing better without Brand. They have won 7 straight and almost a 500 team. And it's obvious Brand is a square peg to a round hole. 2. get rid of Brand's contract. Marion is still a better fit to the 76ers for the rest of this season.
1. The 76ers are indeed playing well without Brand. However, I still feel Brand can be a better fit for the 76ers once he's fully healed. He hasn't been given a legit opportunity to recuperate from that serious Achilles injury last year and only to have a setback with the shoulder injury this year. With all that said Brand is a legitimate option down low in the post/block and he gives the 76ers a legit half court threat once the playoffs come. Not having a post threat was the main reason why the Sixers lost last year to the Pistons in the Playoffs and Marion is NOT a post threat. The Sixers have been play Thaddeus Young at the 4 position since Brand has been out and they've been successful thus far but that I can guarantee you will NOT fly for the whole season. In the limited games he's played this year Brand has put up nearly 16 and 10 with a little over a block a game. I think he can get back to putting up 20 and 10 with nearly 2 blocks once he's fully healthy at the same time nice disrupt chemistry and help the Sixers win. 2.) Getting rid of Brands contract just to get rid of it is silly in my opinion. Especially for Marion because there's a strong chance that he'd just be a 1 year rental and if the Sixers can't sign Marion or any other key FA they'd be in trouble considering Brand is still a premier player in this league if healthy. At the same time Brand would look nice playing alongside Dwade and Beasley and I know he can put up nice numbers and help the Heat out a lot which is why I'm saying trading for Marion is a bad idea in the first place. 3) I wouldn't be too quick to point the finger at Brand as being the square peg to the round hole. If anything the blame should be on Mo Cheeks and not Elton Brand. Tony DiLeo has a 11-6 record and he's gotten the Sixers back to .500 Also Iggy was struggling early on and it looks like he's back on track now. Obviously, DiLeo knows what he's doing and I'd like to see him integrate Brand in the lineup.
I think differently. The 76ers is a running team. When the young guys run, get easy layups and dunks and shoot the ball freely, their energy level are different. When Brand was out, I already expected the 76ers to play better. And here they come, almost get back to 500. Brand is not a running guy, and the 76ers just dont know how to play with him. Brand will come back soon and I expect the 76ers begin to fall off again. "If it doesnt fit, then you must quit."
Who are you? Don Nelson? Tell me when was the last time a team that strictly ran without a post presence won a championship? If Brand comes back and the Sixers struggle then trade him in the summer when you have a guaranteed return. You don't quit on player without giving him a fair opportunity when he's played only 23 games after signing him to a multi-million/year dollar contract. He was their big investment and supposed "missing piece". It's waaaaaaay too early to blow up the Brand experiment.
http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/56668/20090118/oneal_for_marion_almost_finalized/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Jan 18, 2009 12:08 PM EST The Jermaine O'Neal for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks trade is gaining momentum and could be finalized within a week if Miami is satisfied with the health and play of O'Neal now that he is back on the floor. Sources confirmed talks are nearly completed at the highest levels of each organization. O'Neal, according to sources and various Internet reports, has told friends and acquaintances that he expects to be dealt to Miami. League sources tell the Star that nothing is expected to happen in the next 24 or 48 hours, and it could be more than a week before any deal is finalized.
You just tried to argue. You're not talking about bball. The 76ers is not a championship calibre team. They want some competitive games and make the playoffs. They have a better chance making the playoffs w/o Brand. It's plain and simple.
I'm not trying to argue. I'm just stating my point of view. The correct point of view that is the 76ers signing Brand was supposed to make them a darkhorse candidate and a championship caliber team in the East and I still think they can be just that once Brand is back and fully healthy. Every teams ultimate goal is to win the championship. Not just be competitive and make the playoffs and lose in the first round. If every GM had a loser mentality like yours where being competitive and "just" making the playoffs is good enough then your right by all accounts.
Andre Iguodala was sucking earlier and is starting to play better now, another reason for the Sixers improving. I dont think trying to fit Elton Brand in shoulda effected his numbers unless he was being a sulking McGrady about it. Brand isnt Shaq or Yao, he's played on some decently paced Clipper teams before. Nor is he a Zach Randolph only about getting his numbers. Disappointment so far but its definitely worth trying to make it work with a balanced attack and letting Brand get healthy I think Jermaine O'Neal is a risky waste of a damaged player. But Miami's record isnt getting helped out much from Shawn Marion either, and certainly getting nothing from Marcus Banks. 40 games of a half-assed O'Neal just might equal the same contribution of a full season Marion. Raptors get slightly better short term, Miami gets possible long term benefits with an eye on 2010.
Do not count Brand out yet........ I believe that Sixer team will figure it out and be a scare to a top dog in the playoffs.....
LOL you haven't been reading the posts, haven't you? The quote you quoted was a reply to a brand for marion trade. I think Marion fits well in Philly. Marion and Iggy are not the same players. Marion is a sf/pf hybrid while AI is an sg/sf hybrid. The thing is their coach seems to be Don Nelson light, and the 76ers have been winning by running and gunning the past few games. Marion would be a perfect fit for that, plus they get a mulligan on the Brand signing and can go after another marquee free agent in 2010.
