 Jason Smith Possibly Done For Year
This news and link stems from the comments on a previous post. Jason Smith has torn his ACL and could be done for the year. Disappointing news for a guy who looked like he was set up to contribute in the front court rotation this season, and really be the team's backup center.
This should open the door for Speights to see heavier time at the 5. It also makes Reggie Evans very important to this team. The Sixers don't have a lot of depth among their bigs. I expect we'll see small lineups with Brand at the 5, Thad at the 4, Iguodala at the 3, Williams at the 2 and Andre Miller at the point. This also opens the door for another big man to be added to the roster. Here is a list of unrestricted free agent big men who may or may not be available for the minimum:
Another possibility would be swapping one bad contract for another. Willie Green is due $11.046M over the next three seasons. It's a horrible contract, so maybe the Sixers could find an equally bad contract for a front-court player. I've been looking, but I just can't see a fit. No one is going to give the Sixers anything of value for Willie, so the only hope would be a salary dump. The Sixers could take back 125% of the '09-'10 value of Green's deal, so $4.235M. A couple of names fit in that range: Charlie Villaneuva, Ryan Gomes and Brian Cook, but none of those guys have bad contracts, and they all probably have some value. I think the Sixers' best bet is to get a warm body for the end of the bench, preferably someone who does something well, like Ratliff, and use a rotation of Dalembert/Speights/Brand/Evans/Thad at the 4 and 5 for 90% of the minutes.
Latest Posts• Twelve is Looming • More Distractions • Moving Day • There Is a Precedent • First-Person Report: Sixers vs. Pistons • At Least It Wasn't the Threes • Our Weakness is Weaker Than Yours • Thriving At the Two? • Eddie Jordan Confidence Meter (1/4 Seaso • The Day After • Sixers All Over NBA.com Video • First-Person Report: Sixers vs. NuggetsSearchBlogs in The NetworkSixers BlogsPassion and Pride Sixers 4 Guidos Liberty Ballers Recliner GM PhillyArena Heard In The Cheap SeatsSilver Dollar Slots | ||||||||||||||||
I imagine Harrison would cost more than the minimum. The good news about this is we'll see more of Speights. Judging by summer-league play at least, he seems to be a talented guy and it would've been a shame for him to be buried. This way if he turns out to be really good - like, starting power forward good - and we have no room for him, he still builds up trade value. Whereas if he'd been totally buried, the other teams can't really assess how good he is.
That's the silver lining. I thought Speights would be buried as well, let's just hope he can handle the minutes in his rookie year, playing games that should actually matter.
This sucks. I'm hoping for Theo or Dikembe, or "Horry for the win!"
I'd take a chance on Mutumbo and then Ratliff, in that order. Ratliff might be younger, but he's been riddled with injuries most of his career. I wouldn't want to sign either over the veteran league minimum.
Of course, Mutumbo must be like a zillion years old now. Is he the oldest guy in the league?
He might be the oldest guy on the planet. He's listed as being 42, though.
I definitely didn't want anything to happen to Smith but I think more minutes for Speights will be a very good thing. I think he has the ability to 'surprise' out of his draft slot. I think if he works hard he could easily be one of the top players from this draft class.
Another person I'd like to see them sign (for the minimum) if possible is Herbert Hill. Assuming he's healthy I'd be curious to see what he could do. Not like I expect him to be any great shakes but he is a back to the basket player, has good size / strength combo and he can block a shot or two. At least there would be a chance he could develop into something. A lot of those other guys were "never was" or ancient to the point of disability (Mourning and Horry).
I don't know what's going on with Herb. Didn't he get a DUI this Summer?
He signed overseas.
http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=fra&Team=346
Some Sixers fans may remember a certain former pick there as well... lol. Sam Clancy!!
Yup, good call. He got a DUI also.
Never trust those Providence guys :)
I wouldnt mind seeing PJ brown come aboard. Hes a savvy vet and can still defend and rebound. AND score 6-8 points a game.