Off-Season Game Plan: 76ers
A disappointing season should bring changes in the City of Brotherly Love, according to GM Billy King, who told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "If it takes rebuilding, we will."
King has made it clear that he wants the Sixers to become better defensively, so any big deals this summer should involve the kinds of players that will be able to help Andre Iguodala -- virtually Philly's only strong defensive player -- at that end of the floor.
If the Sixers are really going to break things up and turn over their current roster, and since Chris Webber seems virtually untradeable with two years and $43-million remaining on his deal when he exercises his player option this summer, it might require Philadelphia actually dealing Allen Iverson.
However, there are enough other moveable pieces to re-shape the roster should Philly be reluctant or unable to get a fair value in return for The Answer. Kyle Korver and Steven Hunter would probably be the most tradeable rotation players and both have the kinds of skills that give them value for a team looking to bolster its depth. Since the Sixers tried to trade Hunter to New Orleans at the trade deadline, he's far from an untouchable, even if he did end up starting down the stretch when the Sixers were disillusioned with the performance of Samuel Dalembert.
Some teams that a) might have some interest in AI and b) might be able to handle Iverson and the three years, $60-million remaining on his current contract: Golden State (Baron Davis and Mickael Pietrus), Denver (Kenyon Martin and Andre Miller), Indiana (Jamaal Tinsley, Stephen Jackson, Austin Croshere), Chicago (Ben Gordon and Luol Deng) and New York (Stephon Marbury).
On the free agent front, the Sixers don't have much flexibility, but can offer the midlevel exception or portions thereof to bring in a veteran or two that will play the solid defense that King expects. The kinds of veterans that might work would be guys like center Jarron Collins (Utah) or wings like Adrian Griffin (Dallas) or Shandon Anderson (Miami).
With the 13th pick in the draft, which is where Philadelphia would pick barring any lottery changes, the Sixers should be able to add either a point guard or an athletic big man to help out Webber and Dalembert in the low post. That's a start, but bigger, more dramatic moves will be required if the Sixers are to have any hope of returning to the postseason.
GM/COACH
Billy King/Maurice Cheeks
CENTERS
Returning: Samuel Dalembert, Steven Hunter. Free Agents: None
FORWARDS
Returning: Chris Webber (PO), Kyle Korver. Free Agents: Shavlik Randolph (RFA), Michael Bradley (UFA), Matt Barnes (UFA)
GUARDS
Returning: Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Ollie, Louis Williams . Free Agents: John Salmons (RFA), Willie Green (PO)
DRAFT
13th - Shelden Williams, Cedric Simmons, Patrick O'Bryant, Jordan Farmar, Mardy Collins. 47th
FREE AGENCY
Payroll: $70M
TRADE MARKET
Iverson (three years, $60M), Korver (five years, $23.6M), Hunter (four years, $13M), Dalembert (five years, $52.5M), trade exception ($4.45M)
