Is it Time for the Sixers to Upgrade Past A.I. 2.0?
So, the New Jersey Nets pulled out of the running in the Carmelo Anthony Sweepstakes when owner Mikhail Prokhorov instructed his team to back away because it was taking too long – like the couple who’s trying to go out, but one spends WAY too much time in the bathroom.
I’m not exactly buying it, personally, because this has the dreaded “vote of confidence” feel to it. No matter how Carmelo’s situation turns out, I’m not one to dwell on just one particular story. I’ll leave that to ESPN’s bottom line. (Ahh, there it is – the first cheap shot taken at ESPN in my columns in 2011.)
I have enjoyed the "A.I. 2.0" era in Philadelphia, but it may be time to move on.
When I think about the NBA season, I’m inclined to gravitate towards my hometown Philadelphia 76ers. At 17-24 and sitting in a playoff position currently, this team has actually exceeded my expectations, which actually gives me this kind of feeling going forward past the All-Star break.
As okay (just OKAY) as the Sixers have been, there is one looming elephant in the room that I always bring myself to question. That would be the remaining three years and $40.6 million left on G/F Andre Iguodala’s contract. Don’t get me wrong. I love flashy dunks as much as the next person, but just that isn’t going to win you championships. Ask Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic.
Andre Iguodala has gotten similar amounts of trade rumors since the start of the season (albeit not nationally televised every night outside of Philadelphia), and this close to the deadline, there’s thoughts of what the Sixers should do. Michael Fogliano, a Bleacher Report contributor, suggested the Sixers try to package Evan Turner and Elton Brand in a trade for a superstar alongside Andre Iguodala, but this is beyond asinine for two reasons:
- You don’t give up on the #2 pick in the draft (especially one of Turner’s potential) after one year.
- What team and what superstar would we be talking about here? Gerald Wallace? Thanks, but no thanks.
There are potential moves that general manager Ed Stefanski could make to several teams and not get utterly laughed at to shed Iggy’s money and at least stay competitive now and have some kind of set up for the future.
(Andre Iguodala & Jason Kapono to the Utah Jazz for Andre Kirilenko’s expiring contract & C.J. Miles or Raja Bell)
AK-47 would be a serviceable replacement for the rest of the season as he does a lot of what Iggy does.
If there is one team that could use Iggy’s services, it’s the Utah Jazz. The Jazz have been simply anemic at shooting guard for the last couple seasons. Ronnie Brewer didn’t work, and the C.J. Miles/Raja Bell combo isn’t working. A trade for Iguodala gives Utah someone to pair with point guard Deron Williams who is DYING for help along the perimeter.
As much as the city of Philadelphia may be against someone who is the spitting image of Ivan Drago, Kirilenko has the same similar Iggy traits (i.e. lock-down defense & above average rebounding numbers for a small forward), but “AK-47” is an expiring contract — making it a better situation going forward. You could honestly ask for C.J. Miles in the deal as we’ve already been down the Raja Bell ringer, but you’d risk Miles displeasure of riding the pine in favor of Kirilenko and Evan Turner – who would be inserted in the starting lineup.
(Andre Iguodala to the Houston Rockets for Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill and Shane Battier’s expiring contract)
Houston's Chase Budinger is reaching "Mike Miller" status in my eyes. He's just a dude I'd love to have.
I would love to just say Iggy for Yao straight up, but I’d be publically ridiculed for my stupidity. Therefore I propose this. Iguodala could play alongside Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin increasing an already swift backcourt. At 20-23, the Rockets aren’t exactly out of the playoff race, and Iggy could mean four to five more wins down the road if all Martin has to do is concentrate on scoring 20-25 ppg – since he’s a black hole in terms of defensive skill.
Battier is not nearly what he used to be, but again, he does most of what Iguodala does: defense & rebounding. Chase Budinger could mature into the next one of “Adio Royster’s Guys” because he has the same sweet stroke he did at Arizona – Iggy’s alma mater. Jordan Hill has a lot of potential as a serviceable big man down the line since my patience (and hair) is thinning when talking about Marreese Speights.
(Andre Iguodala to the Oklahoma City Thunder for James Harden & Morris Peterson’s expiring contract)
Imagine this scenario:
Thunder start a fastbreak. Russell Westbrook has the ball and he’s going down the court. On one side, he’s got Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala on the other. Two questions: 1) Who’s stopping that? and 2) How SCARY is that if you’re the unfortunate soul that has to defend that insanity? The question becomes: “Which posterization is LESS embarrassing?”
Ladies and gentlemen, your starting small forward... Questlove.. er.. James Harden.
Let me say this. I love Oklahoma City as constituted, and I love their stances on not overpaying or trying to do too much. However, at some point, you have to make that one little transaction that goes against the grain. Adding Iguodala to the roster provides the Thunder with a third scoring option. If Westbrook or Durant have a bad night, Iggy is capable of putting up 20-25 if the situation calls for it.
I love James Harden for a couple of reasons. He’s young, shoots 40 percent from 3-pt and with his facial hair looks like he should be the next member of The Roots. I like a backcourt of Holiday and Turner with Harden on the wings doing nothing but knocking down three pointers because it will more or less be his only responsibility.
(Andre Iguodala & Jason Kapono’s expiring contract to the Denver Nuggets for Aaron Afflalo & Kenyon Martin’s expiring contract)
This is one of those “all-or-nothing” trades for the Nuggets. Let’s say the Nuggets can’t get a good trade for Carmelo Anthony. You can do one of two things: scrap it and embrace your next “Period of Suck” or make a deal for Iguodala and go for it all one more time.
Iguodala is the perfect kind of player for Anthony. Iggy takes all of the defensive responsibilities off Anthony – not like he defends, anyway – and keeps Anthony a bit fresher on the offensive end.
There are worse things in life than a UCLA Bruins-laden backcourt.
Aaron Afflalo is a young UCLA product, so you could pair him with Turner and Holiday for a 66% UCLA Bruins starting lineup — a situation that may actually get The Jack Of Sports to (perhaps) cheer for the team. Martin is another injury-prone, skill declined big man who the Sixers would have to put up with … but only for a couple of months as opposed to two more years. (You do not fool me, Elton Brand. I know you’re capable of going down at any moment, and I brace myself every night for said next occurrance.)
With the trade deadline about a month away, the Sixers really have to identify who they want to move forward with. As we’ve seen, Turner and Iguodala have difficulties meshing on the floor when they’re together, and Turner’s best games came when Iggy was injured.
After going through the original age of A.I. and going through A.I. 2.0, it’s time the Sixers retool and go in a new direction. Unless Turner and Iggy can play together where both are productive, there’s little chance for success in the coming years at Wachovia, F.U., Corestates or whatever bank is sponsoring the arena.