Sixers offseason

[Rome]

King is clueless.

Another instance where Ed Snider hired someone who is completely overmatched yet refuses to pull the trigger when it's clearly past time to do so.

[The BIGSTUD]

So now that we established Harrington for Webber isn't a wash, would anyone here want to keep AI if the Sixers could land Harrington for Dalembert?

Or would you still want to deal AI to get younger?

Harrington would definitely be the best player AI has ever played with(at that current time in their careers), but the team overall still isn't a championship caliber team. I think they'd be back at the playoff level again though.

It's a tough call, what would you do?

[Dillen]

Still trade Iverson. Everyone thought the exact same thing when King traded for Webber.

[The BIGSTUD]

The question is, since the big AI rumor was to Atlanta, if you trade Sammy there, then where do you ship AI?

Do you try for Chicago? I think if Chicago drafts Aldridge, they'll be even more reluctant to deal Gordon, because they'd have a really nice young team that would be good for a long time.

Minnesota has interest, but who do they have? McCants is really the only young guy they have worth getting, but the Sixers would have to get a lot more than McCants for AI. Even adding a first rounder wouldn't be enough to pull the trigger.

Maybe Toronto? They have some nice big men. Maybe Villanueva who had a very good rookie season and a first rounder next year?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I can't root for AI anymore.  The team needs to get something for him while he's still worth something, and move on.

[Drunkmasterflex]

I can't root for AI anymore.  The team needs to get something for him while he's still worth something, and move on.

I can still root for the guy, but I agree it is time to move him.

[hunt]

nothing changes on this team if they don't trade a1.

[Rome]

nothing changes on this team if they don't trade a1.

HERESY!

BURN HIM!!!!  WITCH!!!!11111!

[hunt]

another rumor probably made up by chad ford is sammy to toronto.
raps reportedly interested in sammy or magloire (preferably sammy)...with villanueva & alvin williams the likely trade bait.  raps think cv is expendable & plan on drafting his replacement with the #1 pick...most likely bargnani.

[Sgt PSN]

another rumor probably made up by chad ford is sammy to toronto.
raps reportedly interested in sammy or magloire (preferably sammy)...with villanueva & alvin williams the likely trade bait. raps think cv is expendable & plan on drafting his replacement with the #1 pick...most likely bargnani.

I'd make that trade simply for the fact that Villanueva sounds alot like Villanova. 

[BigEd76]

We'd make fun of him not having any hair though....

[reese125]

....combined with the Suns' amazing success playing a small-ball style that favors shot-making over boxing out and threes over post-ups, seems to make Kurt Thomas the odd man out.

And so, in keeping with our occasional series that humbly suggests ideas on how to fix the home white, we ask: Should the Sixers pursue Kurt Thomas?

Thomas will be 34 by the time next season begins. He has a screw in his foot. He would not be a long-term solution to the Sixers' woes. On the other hand, he's also not a long-term contract risk, either, with only two years at $7.3 million and $8.09 million remaining on his deal.

He has earned a reputation as one of the league's better low-post defenders and rebounders. Since becoming a full-time starter six years ago, he's never averaged fewer than 7.8 rebounds in a season. And he's increased his offensive repertoire over the years.

With Thomas playing either power forward next to Samuel Dalembert or center next to Chris Webber, the Sixers would have a much different defensive look. Thomas would strengthen their interior defense, leaving Dalembert free to provide weakside shot-blocking, or Webber free to use his still-quick hands to get into passing lanes and create deflections.

If Kyle Korver interested the Suns, he could be dealt in a package after his base-year compensation status expires July 1. (That would make him much easier to trade.) But if the Sixers want to hold on to Korver, they could put together a package featuring rising free-agent swingman John Salmons.

Phoenix has a $6 million trade exception after executing the sign-and-trade with Atlanta that sent Joe Johnson to the Hawks and brought Diaw to Phoenix. If Salmons agreed to a similar sign-and-trade deal but didn't become a base-year player himself (too complicated to explain - don't ask), he could fit into that slot.

The Suns also have two first-round picks (21 and 27), either or both of which could be thrown into the mix for the Sixers' No. 13 selection.

Some think Salmons needs to go elsewhere for his game to blossom.

"John Salmons can play," said an NBA veteran who's gone against him many times the last few years. "Just wait until he gets out of there."

If Salmons turned into a star in Phoenix like Diaw, it would be agonizing. And Thomas may well still be a vital part of the Suns' immediate future. But a numbers crunch is a numbers crunch, and Thomas is strong where the Sixers currently are weak.

Is it a gamble worth considering?

On the NBA |

Is He Worth It?

If the 76ers have their eyes on Kurt Thomas of the Phoenix Suns, here's what they might look forward to:

He has averaged 10.6 points per game for his career, but really he was a role player on some good Knicks teams in the late 1990s before becoming a starter in 2001-02.

In his four seasons as a Knicks starter, and as a starter for more than half of this season with Phoenix, he has scored 12.1 points per game.

Despite missing the last 29 games this season plus the playoffs, Thomas played in all but five games the previous four seasons as a full-time player.

In rebounding, Thomas' 7.6 career per-game average jumped to 8.8 in the last five seasons.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Barf.

[phattymatty]

But if the Sixers want to hold on to Korver, they could put together a package featuring rising free-agent swingman John Salmons.

ha

[The BIGSTUD]

I'd take Kurt Thomas. Nice depth coming off the bench. Do the Suns need more guys like Salmons though?