Brand Opts Out - ESPN News Reports

[johnny broad-street]

Couldn't agree more. I hear they're getting to keep the name though. Like the Browns did. So that's good

[Skates]

Nice catch and an interesting read on the AJC article, POSTER.

[jemagee]

Couldn't agree more. I hear they're getting to keep the name though. Like the Browns did. So that's good

Great, they get to keep the name, if david stern has his way they'll never get another team, i don't get moving to OKC...one season is a novelty....it's a bad idea, ESPECIALLY with a recession starting, and oil issues, to move to a state like oklahoma...they care more about college sports anyway...seattle i thought has a stronger economic base...sterns blackmail running amok and his total ownage of the players union makes me think he's shaving down his horns and hiding his tail, i mean all lawyers are inherently evil, but he's the worst

[Skates]

Couldn't agree more. I hear they're getting to keep the name though. Like the Browns did. So that's good

Great, they get to keep the name, if david stern has his way they'll never get another team, i don't get moving to OKC...one season is a novelty....it's a bad idea, ESPECIALLY with a recession starting, and oil issues, to move to a state like oklahoma...they care more about college sports anyway...seattle i thought has a stronger economic base...sterns blackmail running amok and his total ownage of the players union makes me think he's shaving down his horns and hiding his tail, i mean all lawyers are inherently evil, but he's the worst

Of course it's a great idea, I mean if a college town like Memphis can support an NBA team....er, wait, never mind.

[tk76-]

FYI, a 5 year deal starting at 5 years and raises would be about 5yrs/70M. 

That is some serious change to throw at Smith, but below market value for Brand (even though he will be 35 the final year.)

I would think Atl is very aware of what Philly can offer, and they will either pay the amn quickly, or make a trade.  I doubt they would wait for an offer sheet that they know is coming.  I think there is a good chance that we know the answer to the Brand and Smith situations quicker than I originally thought.  Deals can't be signed befoer 7/9, but we will probably know the outcome before then.

If Brand, Smith and Jamison are off the board, we are definitely moving into stop-gap rental territory.  I doubt the Sixers are looking to go after Okafor or Biedrins- unless they are being very discreet.

[DuckyNinja]

I doubt the Sixers throw more than 5/60 at Smith.  I'm pretty sure that would get it done anyway.

[jemagee]

The problem is that the hawks are so unknown...that franchise is a two headed mess, two groups in charge at cross purposes, forked tongues as it were, you can't always believe, so you make smith the offer and then you hgotta wait a week, and maybe they match, or maybe they don't, but that money is frozen until they decide.

[Skates]

FYI, a 5 year deal starting at 5 years and raises would be about 5yrs/70M. 

That is some serious change to throw at Smith, but below market value for Brand (even though he will be 35 the final year.)

I would think Atl is very aware of what Philly can offer, and they will either pay the amn quickly, or make a trade.  I doubt they would wait for an offer sheet that they know is coming.  I think there is a good chance that we know the answer to the Brand and Smith situations quicker than I originally thought.  Deals can't be signed befoer 7/9, but we will probably know the outcome before then.

If Brand, Smith and Jamison are off the board, we are definitely moving into stop-gap rental territory.  I doubt the Sixers are looking to go after Okafor or Biedrins- unless they are being very discreet.

I think they work out a deal in principle with Smith and go straight to Atlanta and offer a S&T and get the thing done or move on.

[tk76-]

I think they work out a deal in principle with Smith and go straight to Atlanta and offer a S&T and get the thing done or move on.

That is wjhat I am thinking/hoing.  you said it better and more concisely tha my rambling post.

[Derek Bodner]

Who would we dangle in a s&t?  Miller and the Utah pick?  What do we do about PG then?

Not that I wouldn't, as I think Miller's a goner after this year, just asking.

[jemagee]

That's my big concern that I think EVERYONE is ignoring personally, yes PF needs an upgrade, but so does PG, after this season I don't want to hear 'louis williams starting point guard'

[Skates]

Who would we dangle in a s&t?  Miller and the Utah pick?  What do we do about PG then?

Not that I wouldn't, as I think Miller's a goner after this year, just asking.

I think Jason Smith is a starting point plus draft picks, they need a center or two to move Horford to PF where he belongs.  They might ask about Lou Williams which I would definitely consider.  Williams is a former Georgia HS player IIRC, which would give him local appeal and might appeal to them as a future PG, full or part-time.  I doubt they want Miller on a one year deal when they already have Bibby.  If they decide to make a move they should be looking for young, relatively cheap assets they can use to continue building around the rest of their young and soon to need raises core.  I doubt they ask about Sam, but something could possibly be worked out there, but he's already making as much as they would be paying Smith.  Speights could be in the mix too, but he's a bit too much like Horford IMO.

[jemagee]

I think you grossly over value jason smiiths value

[Skates]

I think you grossly over value jason smiiths value

Not really, the value is a decent young big man with some upside + draft picks and/or another player + not having to match a hefty contract.  The Suns traded Joe Johnson in a S&T to Atlanta for Diaw (who had done little to that point, kind of like he does now that he's been paid) + two first rounders.  As a result of the trade they also had a sizable trade exception they could use, but might not have since they are so tax allergic.  I think we can do a little better than that starting with Jason Smith or Lou Williams and adding picks and/or players from there, without touching Iggy or Thad whom I consider to be our "core" guys at this point.  I'd also really like to keep Speights. If I thought Jason Smith was near equal value to Josh Smith I'd just say keep him and start him at PF.

[jemagee]

I'd like to keep speights as well, but jason smith is a nice 15 minute a night bench players, so is louis williams, diaw had value because he fit perfectly into the suns system and was good until he got his big contract (shocker anyone?)

Miller and the jazz pick is a much better and feasible starting point then two bench players and a mess of picks (i'd rather not trade a mess of picks since smith isn't a guarantee)