Missing Small Forward Found - How Do We Get Him?

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 9:20 AM PST

Even after the extreme high of a win over the Celtics, there is still a few glaring needs this team has to get to the next level. We've all talked at length about the question mark at small forward, and most agree our general team gaps include:

- A slasher (someone who gets to the basket off the dribble and can finish or get free throws)

- Defense, especially on the perimeter

- Toughness

There are surprisingly very few small forwards that fit the bill, and most are not realistic targets (e.g., Rudy Gay). Andre Iguodala is our man. Mark it down. Now help me figure out how to make it work.

Why Iguodala?

- Slasher? check

This guy has averaged between 5-7 free throws per game in the last three seasons while shooting a solid 76% for his career.

- Defense? check

Has a career average of nearly two steals/game (1.8) and is a true swing player between the 2 and the 3 spots.

- Toughness? check

Hard to quantify, but those that have seen him play know he's not a finesse player.

- Additional benefits include:

Pac-10 roots, playoff experience, veteran youth (he's still only 24, but has already played in a conference finals)

I look at Iguodala and see Jerome Kersey, complete with the athletic ability and questionable shot selection. Kersey played small forward at 6'7". Iguodala is 6'6", but plays big and tough. He's a guy that would get a dish from Brandon and drive to the basket with force instead of settling for jumper every time. He would help us grind through ruts by getting ugly points at the free throw line and off of hustle rebounds.

Would Philly give him up?

I think they would, but after making the playoffs last year and adding Brand, they won't be interested in just starting over. I think we might need to give up Rudy in a deal, and as much as I love Rudy, Iguodala could help bring us a ring. Iguodala is a base year player, so trades would be really tough on that front, but maybe adding an Andre Miller into the deal could help.

Players I'd be willing to give up? Anyone but LMA, Oden and Roy, including future draft picks and Raef's expiring contract.

Thoughts?

Poll

Do you think Iguodala is a realistic target?

Yes

37 votes

No

95 votes

Not unless we gave up one of our untouchables (Roy, LMA, Oden)

39 votes

171 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 34 comments | 0 recs |

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Read More: small forward, trade, andre iguodala, 76ers

Comments

shakes head

When will people learn that steals =/= defense….

(Just a side note I wanted to emphasize…)

by JordanLeDoux on Dec 31, 2008 9:29 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

I like him, but...

his contract is ridiculous. He’s scheduled to make $16 million in 2014. That’s the contract of a franchise player, but he’d be #4 on the Blazers.

I know they don’t grow on trees, but we need someone like Bruce Bowen; a guy that does a few things really, really well and doesn’t command a huge salary. Hopefully Batum becomes that guy.

That said, there are a couple other overpaid small forwards I like as well in Gerald Wallace and Kirilenko. AK’s contract is shorter than the others, and his defense, rebounding, and post game are all better. Plus, he’s a foreigner and Paul Allen is apparently collecting those.

by matthewcc on Dec 31, 2008 9:32 AM PST reply actions

Roy is to portland

what iggy is to philly……..they may trade him straight up for Roy but outside of Oden and Roy philly would not trade him for anyone else. In my humble opinion.

by blazerbeliever97504 on Dec 31, 2008 9:32 AM PST reply actions

Agreed

I think the two guys I mentioned above are both available (whether the Blazers would want either is debatable), but Iggy is not. Philly is not going to go into a rebuilding mode with Miller and Brand. They’re building to win now.

by matthewcc on Dec 31, 2008 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

you may be right

I look at them as a team that has no shot with it’s current nucleus. Iguodala is simply not a franchise player. He is an all-star and could be a key part of a championship team, but he will never be the guy you want with the ball in his hands to win a game. That’s why he’d be good on our squad.

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 9:55 AM PST up reply actions

if I were Philly

I would trade Igoudala for Roy in a heartbeat. I’d include a boatload of cheesesteaks. I’d trade the ghost of Allen Iverson.

They might like Andre a ton, and I’m sure he’s a fine player. But not in the class of Roy.

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Dec 31, 2008 11:01 AM PST up reply actions

B.T.W.

i am part of the trade for Caron Butler commity(sp?) We need Butler! we need Butler!

by blazerbeliever97504 on Dec 31, 2008 9:34 AM PST reply actions

I don't think we need a scorer

which is Butler’s strength. We already don’t have enough shots to go around. I think he’d average 10 points in our offense and get paid $10 million a year to do it.

by matthewcc on Dec 31, 2008 9:37 AM PST up reply actions

disagree on needing a scorer

if you watch when we struggle to score, it’s because we have too many of the same types of scorers. Only Brandon can reliably get to the basket and finish or get free throws. Bayless may become that. For now, we have a huge void when it comes to players who can create their own shot and get to the foul line for those grit points that sustain teams through dry shooting spells.

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 9:53 AM PST up reply actions

Butler is also an

awesome defender. He has been asked to score for the Wiz so thats what he does. When he gets asked to play D he does it.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Dec 31, 2008 12:19 PM PST up reply actions

I think Butler would be a great add.

He’s on my list as well. I like Iggy’s grit and defense.

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 10:13 AM PST up reply actions

Iggy wouldn't work in a half-court offense anyway

His numbers are down across the entire board since Brand joined the team, simply because he operates best in a running environment. Portland will never been a running team.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

Founder of the "Crash Batumcoot" Movement.

by damir on Dec 31, 2008 9:55 AM PST reply actions

I've been thinking this for a couple of weeks

The fans in Philly are very down on Iggy and Evans. They seem to think that since both Thad Young and Iggy play the SF. There is agreement that both of them are too small to play PF and neither is the outside shooter or quick enough to play SG.

They want a SG. Webster can play there and gives them options a SF. They need a low post scorer to spell Brand in the short-term. Ike can do that. (If they like Frye better, it works too.) And Miller will be a Free Agent at the end of the year. Surge gives them a possible answer there.

Evans is a borderline “dirty” big man according to Hollinger’s player profiles. I think that is something that Portland could use.

Memphis will need to be involved because Iggy is a BYC player. They could get rid of a player who gets no minutes (and has a super hot girlfriend) with a lousy contract, and they get a prospect, 3 mil. AND RLEC!

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=182823862750454302527953004387&teams=2222202920202922&te=&cash=29:22

With Roy and Blayless (Long-term) as the two that can break down the defense off the dribble. Is Iggy really needed? He has the rep of a premier defender. I’m not sure that that’s right.

He is a do everything SF. An elite player, but his turnover #’s kind of scare me.

Under this proposal, I don’t think that Philly gets enough in the deal. I think Memphis would do this.

by parkinglotj on Dec 31, 2008 9:57 AM PST reply actions

Interesting.

I don’t think an injured Martell is enough. Hence, my thought about Rudy. I actually think Philly gets better with Rudy’s outside game coupled with Brand inside. The philly fans might not know it, but Rudy has all-star potential if he is featured, and if you include Sergio (who is suddenly becoming a hot commodity), they have their present/future backcourt and cap space to go after another free agent.

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 10:09 AM PST up reply actions

We've got 3 small-forwards

Let’s wait a year or two before we decide what we need. We are getting great production out of the position. On 82games.com it shows our small-forward production as third in the league based on PER.

The needs of this team as I see it is a defensive point-guard who can hit an open three and play off Brandon. A player on the second unit that can drive to the hoop draw contact and get the shot off, this would open up Travis and Rudy immensely. And a back-up power forward that can come in and give some hard fouls when we need them.(Although now that I think about it, when Greg can play starter’s minutes without getting in foul trouble, we can use Pryz as our enforcer).

by boppitywop on Dec 31, 2008 9:58 AM PST reply actions

That's like closer-by-committee

I’m not sure you go that far with that setup. With today’s salary cap, I’m not certain we have two years to figure this out. I think we could wait through this season, but if you could get a long-term solution that could grow with the team now, do it. Remember, if we wait 1-2 years and find out that we DON’T have the solution in-house, it’s going to take at least half a season for a new guy to work himself in.

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 10:11 AM PST up reply actions

I think we do have him.

We’re playing Travis and Batum, not a committee. Now I’m not huge on Travis, but I do like Martel. I think the odds are that we wait till Martel comes back and see how he fits in. If things go well, we trade Travis. He is our most “valuable” small-forward. We let Martel and Batum develop. Batum already is at the level of great role player and could stay on this team or most teams as a stopper off the bench. If he develops further he’s the starter. If Martel keeps going and shows what he’s got he’s the starter. If Batum becomes a reliable(not go to guy) scorer we’ve got everything we need in a small forward.

I worry more about our point guard position where we truly are getting production by committee. Steve is playing lights out, but I’d rather see him be a solid backup than a starter. Sergio still is more one dimensional than not, and Bayless hasn’t shown much yet.

by boppitywop on Dec 31, 2008 10:29 AM PST up reply actions

Anybody know when Martell comes back?

Perfect practice makes perfect.

by Ojala John on Dec 31, 2008 11:54 AM PST up reply actions

let's see what martell can do

when he gets back. i’m a little worried, but do not rule him out.

no way we trade rudy at this point.

and it seems like, after having coached him in seattle, nate probably knows very well whether or not he would like reggie evans around.

ignacio

by ignacio on Dec 31, 2008 10:09 AM PST reply actions

I watched a lot of reggie evans here in seattle

He’d be a great bench player for us. He’s a rebounder who gets some junk points. Solid role player and good guy in the locker room

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 10:18 AM PST up reply actions

I agree on Evans

Reggie is Buck Williams-Lite. But I wouldn’t give up Rudy to get him.

Evan’s salary is 4.64K, that’s not an easy “match” for KP

Diogu + Bayless would match salaries with Reggie, but I wouldn’t deal away Jerryd

Diogu + Frye combined salaries = just over 6 mil, Philly would have to throw in Jason Smith or Mareese Speights (with Evans) to make the salaries align

I still like my “Channing + Ike for Chris Wilcox” deal better, b/c Wilcox is a UFA and can play C, if GregZilla can’t

by two4larue on Dec 31, 2008 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

I wouldn't give up rudy for evans either

Rudy is a future all-star in the right situation. Evans is a decent role player. We’re only talking Evans since his salary may help the deal work.

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 2:27 PM PST up reply actions

I do agree, though, on Martell

I love that in his 1 minute this season, he drove to the bucket with force. Good sign, and has me eager to see what we’ve got when he gets back.

by hawkblogger on Dec 31, 2008 10:19 AM PST up reply actions

Martell

I think we are pretty set with the development of Bayless and improved play of Blake and Sergio. Martell has all the tools to be the three we need…he just needs to be more aggressive. As for the backup four, I think Ike could be the energetic hustle player that bangs down low.

If he doesn’t pan out, I think Tyler Hansbrough would be a great fit. He is super competitive and plays with the energy and toughness we need. Also, he can defend other 4s that draw our big men out to the perimeter, and although he is relatively small for a four he knows how to score. Many 4s of his stature have been successful as hustle players in the NBA. He should be available late first and early second round.

Note: I really have disliked Hansbrough throughout his entire career, but I feel he’d be a great fit.

by franchiseblazer on Dec 31, 2008 12:10 PM PST reply actions

i'd rather take Marvin Williams

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Dec 31, 2008 12:25 PM PST reply actions

when was iggy in

the conference finals? If I remember correctly they have been a one and done each time they have made the playoffs with Iggy.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Dec 31, 2008 12:29 PM PST reply actions

The theory is that he'd be a very good complementary player

he’s just not there as a leading force

by Cablinasian on Dec 31, 2008 12:52 PM PST up reply actions

my response is to this

Pac-10 roots, playoff experience, veteran youth (he’s still only 24, but has already played in a conference finals)

not his potential role on the team

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Dec 31, 2008 5:41 PM PST up reply actions

After last nights game??

Edit – Find on this page . . .

Outlaw

Text not found

WTF? – Elgin

It doesn't mean you should just because you can. Like Abraham and Ishmael, fighting over sand - it doesn't mean you should just because you can. That is a fact of life. - Adrian Belew

by 22baylor on Dec 31, 2008 1:45 PM PST reply actions

Like him, but don't see it.

I like Iguodala. Good player, one I have warmed up to. But can’t see him in Portland.

by CanadianBlazerfan on Dec 31, 2008 2:13 PM PST reply actions

Interesting Philly discussion on a Portland trade idea

http://forums.philly.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=kr-sixers&msg=45282.1&ctx=1

At least in theory I know that Portland has players that would be of interest to Philly. They need outside shooters and we have several to choose from. Frye, Webster, Outlaw, Fernandez, Blake and Bayless. We need a player that will get his own shot so Roy doesn’t have to do it all the time.

I’d love Thad, but he’s very young. You’d think if Portland was going after someone he’d have at least a little experience. That’s why Iggy makes some sense. 24 years old but with experience.

by parkinglotj on Dec 31, 2008 10:43 PM PST reply actions

Good link, I think

http://forums.philly.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=kr-sixers&msg=45268.1&ctx=1

by parkinglotj on Dec 31, 2008 10:45 PM PST up reply actions

This is a trade about Surgio, Fernandez and Batum for Thad and filler.

http://forums.philly.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=kr-sixers&msg=45282.1&ctx=1

I can’t seem to make the link work. It’s at Philly.com in the sixers forum page.

by parkinglotj on Dec 31, 2008 10:54 PM PST reply actions

ummm... what?

1.) SF of present = Webster who is heads and tails better than current SF’s except that he’s going to have rust to shake off after being out so long.

2.) SF of future = Batum. Patience young grasshopper. This kid moves without the ball (thus doesn’t require all those touches our main starters do) and will improve with experience on defense.

3.) Slasher will be bayless. He’s a work in progress and looks to be a third year impact now, instead of this year… guess I owe dave a dinner as he in no way looks like a starter by the all star break.

Players I’d want would be a good character star on the decline with championship experience (like pippen). We have the young foundation, we just need that player coach veteran to really help turn the corner. heck, even without that we’ve been doing well. One of the toughest schedules and we’re 20/12. Seriously, how sweet is that?

Greg Oden, where posters happen.

by ratbastird on Jan 2, 2009 11:19 AM PST reply actions