If this is true, make the move

[Skates]

From ESPN's evaluation of the top 10 tradeable expiring contract.  If Miller has value, take it.  He is just not working out and declining rapidly:

10. Andre Miller (Philadelphia 76ers)
Expiring Salary: $10,333,334
Soon to be traded? UNLIKELY

There will be no shortage of interest in Miller if the Sixers do decide to make him available. Most teams don't expect that to happen, given Philadelphia's playoff aspirations and the fact that Miller and high-profile newcomer Elton Brand already have some familiarity after playing together with the Clippers. But there is a sense that if the Sixers continue to disappoint/underachieve, Miller could end up on the market, since he's the most movable player Philly has and since the Sixers already are out of the 2010 free-agent frenzy.

[Skates]

Portland would seem an ideal landing spot for Miller, a west coast team with young assets to trade, needs a better PG until Bayless grows up.  They were supposedly interested in a swap with Memphis for Mike Conley, but that has fallen through for now according to reports.  Sergio Rodriguez is available, plus Blake would not be needed in Portland if they get Miller.  Rodriguez, Blake plus Outlaw or Frye for Miller would work.  If they want another PG back we could wait until December 15 and include a swap of Ivey for Shav.  Blake could start while we see if Rodriguez can be developed.  Outlaw would be a very nice addition to the core, Frye less so, but might give more offense up front in place of Reggie at times.  The Blazers would get a better replacement for Blake, get rid of Rodriguez who has been complaining about a lack of PT, plus gain cap room this summer that they could use more than the Sixers can.  The Sixers could still get cap room down the road to correspond with WG, Sammy and Reggie coming off the payroll.  If the deal included Outlaw I would do it in a heartbeat.

[jemagee]

Rumors have the Blazers looking at Conley - because they think it'll help oden
Rumors have the Blazers looking at Bibby early this season as well, but the hawks 'hot start' made the hawks less interested in moving him.

Channing Frye is a nice off the bench guy who gives more big man depth making it easier to start Speights and dump sam.

Outlaw has reportedly 'stalled' in development this year and does he really help the already crowded bench as long as mo is the coach?

[DuckyNinja]

All aboard the trade machine! Woo wooooooooooo!

My ideal trade (would happen on December 15):
Sixers receive: Martell Webster (or Travis Outlaw), Steve Blake, and Sergio Rodriguez
Blazers receive: Andre Miller and Royal Ivey

Why it works for the Blazers: Andre Miller would undoubtably give them much better play with 30 minutes at PG than Steve Blake.  Webster's contract runs past 2010, and the Blazers still want to clear more cap space (alternatively, there's not really room for Outlaw to play and they may as well try to get value out of him).  There's not room for those guys to play and plenty of people available to take their minutes (Miller, Roy, Bayless, Batum, Fernandez, Outlaw).

Why it works for the Sixers: Andre Miller is clearly not the right PG for this team.  Blake, Rodriguez, and Webster/Outlaw would pretty much immediately become the 3 best 3-point shooters on the team.  Webster and Rodriguez would give the team much needed depth at guard not named Willie Green or Louis Williams.  Sixers have no reason to really hold cap space hostage.

Why it wouldn't work for the Blazers: They love to shoot the 3 from everywhere.  Blake shoots the 3.  Rodriguez shoots the 3.  Andre Miller doesn't shoot the 3 and it's questionable whether he'd fit in Portland any more than he fits in here.  I included Webster or Outlaw because I'm not sure which they would be willing to trade more.

Why it wouldn't work for the Sixers: Steve Blake is not as good overall as Andre Miller, and other than bringing the ball up and shooting the 3, he doesn't really do very much.  This would make the Sixers look very weak at PG.

What each team would look like after the trade:
Blazers: Miller-Roy-Batum-Aldridge-Oden with Bayless, Fernandez, Outlaw/Webster, Frye, Pryzbilla, and Diogu off the bench
Sixers: Blake-Iggy-Thad-Brand-Dalembert with Rodriguez, Lou, Webster/Outlaw, Green, Speights, and Evans off the bench

[jemagee]

The blazers HAVE to clear cap space to keep all their guys and stay under the tax level

On the flip side, even though cuban makes a lot of noise - i have to think paul allen is at least in the top 3 in terms of richest owners?

[DuckyNinja]

According to my friend, a Blazers fan, they actually have no problem with cap space because Miles, Francis, and Raef all come off the books after this year.

[jemagee]

According to my friend, a Blazers fan, they actually have no problem with cap space because Miles, Francis, and Raef all come off the books after this year.

Cap space isn't so much their problem - it's 'tax space' - they have a lot of guys who could earn rather large contracts come free agency - sort of right on top of each other

Aldridge
Roy
Oden
the spanish guy they won't trade

3 of them are max or close to max guys if they pan out - that's a boatload of cash...i don't know that any team could afford to keep those 3 guys without going into tax land - but like I said, paul allen has the ducats to keep these guys together for a long time.

if he's willing

[Skates]

They actually have more of a problem in Portland with roster space, a full roster now, not enough playing time for the guys on the team, guys playing in Europe and a ton of upcoming draft picks.  Aside from the small market, a guy like LeBron or Wade would be much better off in terms of future championship contention by forcing a S&T to Portland which could easily afford the young players and future draft pick price of any team looking to trade a franchise player..

[jemagee]

If the guys in portland all pan out do they really need a guy like lebron or wade though?

Can i just say that today i've seen suggestions of benching andre iguodala for willie green AND Royal Ivey?

[DuckyNinja]

If the guys in portland all pan out do they really need a guy like lebron or wade though?

Can i just say that today i've seen suggestions of benching andre iguodala for willie green AND Royal Ivey?

You must've missed the guy on philaphans suggesting benching Thad for Green.

[tk76-]

You must've missed the guy on philaphans suggesting benching Thad for Green.

I'm pretty sure Phillyrocks must be related to Willie.  His admiration for the man show no bounds.

[DuckyNinja]

You must've missed the guy on philaphans suggesting benching Thad for Green.

I'm pretty sure Phillyrocks must be Willie.  His admiration for the man show no bounds.

Fixed.  Seriously, he has a hard-on for a 9th man.  I don't get it.

[jemagee]

There's some SERIOUS Iguodala hatred out there in sixer fan land...i mean yeah he's bad so far this year but so is everyone and some guys are worse than him in my opinion

[Skates]

If the guys in portland all pan out do they really need a guy like lebron or wade though?

They have all of the makings of a great supporting cast, Roy is a rich man's Iggy, Oden could become a Nate Thurmond type defender, the Garcia looks like a future Manu type, but I don't see any of them carrying a team come playoff time.  If Denver goes the true rebuild route, they could do worse than flip Carmelo to Portland for quantity.  Melo would give Portland the dominant scorer it needs.

As for the bench Thad crowd, I have suggested it on some occasions myself, not because WG or Rush is more talented, but simply to bolster the bench and because the bench guys actually pass to Thad on occasion.  My view of it is that Thad and Speights are probably the two most talented players on the team, but Mo is of the honor the veterans' veteranicity school of coaching.

[tk76-]

People are fixated on his contract.  No way he'll ever live up to the 80M, but I have to agree he is really struggling to find his way out there.

People do seem to ignore he still is putting up good assist and rebound numbers.  If he can find his way and become a more efficient scorer he will eb worth a lot (just maybe still not 80M.)  I generally don't get angry at players for what they make- they are all overpaid in the grand scheme of things.