Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers confirmed to be discussing deal
That’s right, Cavs’ fans, it’s official. The Cavs and the 76ers have been reportedly discussing a deal that would involve Andre Miller and Drew Gooden as the principles. The interesting piece to this potential deal is the constant scuttlebut that the Cavs and Sixers aren’t good trading partners. That may be true, but if there’s one thing I can guarantee you, that won’t stop a deal from happening.
Reportedly, the deal being discussed was Andre Miller and Reggie Evans for Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Ira Newble. Draft picks were also bantered about in the discussions, although nothing serious. It’s believed that Ed Stefanski is in the beginning stages of looking at potential deals, but does appear to be searching for a way to get further under the cap. According to Stefanski, the Sixers will only be $6 million under the cap. It’s not a bad figure, but for a team rebuilding, it’s nowhere near enough.
Miller may never be in a more tradable position. He is playing at a high level right now, and has Cavs’ roots. For as well as he’s playing, Miller isn’t a name that will be flashing in neon signs in many GM’s eyes. Danny Ferry, on the other hand, must have Miller at the top of his list. The Sixers have the upper hand with this deal because of the high need for point guards across the league. Still, the Cavs do have something the Sixers want. And I just want to get this off my chest, Andre Miller is good, but he’s not as good as the Philly media has been making him out to be. I read somewhere ripping into Drew Gooden for playing for three teams in his years of playing. No offense, but Andre Miller has rolled with four teams. There’s a reason for that. We aren’t talking about a game-changing player here, but a role player. Granted, he’s a role player that will give you 14 and 7 a game, but let’s not confuse Miller as a gamebreaker, or an all-star. In the land of supply-and-demand, he has good value, but let’s not overvalue him.
Reggie Evans is the perfect forward for the Cavs. Why? He’s not Drew Gooden. Let’s put it this way. With Reggie Evans, you pretty much know what you are going to get game in and game out. He’s going to give you 5 or so points per game, and 7 or so rebounds. He’ll have an occasional bigger night, but that’s more the exception than the rule.
We all know that Ira Newble is a throw in as an expiring contract, and Cedric Simmons is a guy the Sixers have been interested in for awhile. If Simmons doesn’t work out, he’s only 1.6 million on the books for another year.
Drew Gooden is the key to this deal. I don’t like Gooden as a player, because he leaves too much on the table. Sure, he’ll give you 13 points, and 9 boards a game, which is solid NBA output, but you know within all of that is a guy who could go 18 and 12 a game. Maybe it’s the offense, or maybe it’s the player, but either way, it’s time for Drew to go. At only 26, the Sixers would be getting a young player with good experience and upside, to go along the #’s every game. No, he’s not Karl Malone, or even LIAR LOOZER, but he’s a solid #4, which the Sixers are wanting. He also has a cap friendly contract. As far as returns go for Miller, Gooden would be a good get.
The Cavs, hopefully, are focusing on Miller, and not dealing Hughes. I’m sorry, but it’s a pipedream that anyone is going to take on Larry Hughes’ contract. Hughes has to prove that he’s a viable player, and right now, he’s not. It’s too bad they couldn’t drop him at the end of the season, like in the NFL, and get rid of some of the cap hit. If they DO deal Hughes, unless they get a group of lepers in returns, Danny Ferry should be named GM of the Decade.
I have a feeling that we are a long way from seeing anything happen, but it should be an interesting run.
Apologies go out to the lepers. No offense meant. I’m sure you all could play a lot better than Hughes.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, December 26th, 2007 at 1:33 pm and is filed under James Pete, Reggie Evans, Cedric Simmons, Ed Stefanski, LIAR LOOZER, Andre Miller, Danny Ferry, Philadelphia 76ers, Karl Malone, Drew Gooden, Ira Newble, Cleveland Cavaliers.
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18 Responses to “Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers confirmed to be discussing deal”
December 26th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Should you continue to hold a grudge against Carlos, then you, sir, are the LOOZER. Derek Fisher is a sportsman of the year candidate and he, too, is a LIAR. Play it forward.
December 26th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Not to focus on the past, because your article is relating to the future and correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it the Cavs own fault they lost Boozer?
As for this deal, I knew Drew Gooden would have to be involved. I still think the Cavs would get the better side of the deal. Miller would be a nice fit for the Cavs. He’s makes the game easier for everyone on the floor.
December 26th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I like it, Jim.
Yeah, I think the Hughes stuff is all pipe-dreaming.
This could happen. I’d still worry about getting scoring from someone outside of LBJ. A lot of nights, it’s Gooden who gets the other points.
You can get those points out of Miller, but I do think Miller would reduce Gibson’s minutes, because it will be hard to defend with both of them on the floor for extended minutes. I think Sasha’s got to start every night if you make this deal.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d still swing the deal. But, with Marshall hurt, blind and/or dead, Evans and Andy aren’t gonna give much O up front. The key will be opening up Z some more. Which needs to happen anyway.
December 26th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Would be a slam dunk deal for the Cavs. Evans would be a tougher rebounder than Gooden and Miller would more than make-up for his scoring and would be a great asset to Cleveland’s line-up, without question.
December 26th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Gibson is effective in the right match-up. He belongs coming off the bench and concentrating on shooting, nothing else.
December 26th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
This is the type of deal that makes sense for both sides. Personally, I think a starting 5 of Z, AV, LBJ, Boobie, and Miller would be pretty darn good. Miller’s 16/6/4, plus 50% shooting looks very good coming from the point guard position.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:46 am
I think it’s a great move for the Cavs if they can do it.
LeBron leads the Cavs (by far) in assist-to-turnover ratio at about 2.3-to-1…..Miller is averaging 2.5-to-1 on a less talented Philly team. You would have to think he would raise that ratio as a Cav.
In my opinion Reggie Evans is a man’s-man when it comes to rebounding and would fit right into the the Cavs philosophy of controlling the boards…..he is WAY tougher than Gooden.
Negatives I see is that the Cavs have struggled from the free-throw line…..71.9-percent this year…..69.5-percent last year.
Miller IS a career 80-percent tosser, but this year he is only at 75….and two years ago he shot 72…..
Moving Gooden means that Evans or Varejao would then start…..Evans is a career 52-percent free throw shooter, and Andy is 57-percent career…..
Gooden was not a lock from the line…..but if Evans or Andy start, that means more trips to the line for both….and both are WAY worse than Gooden…..and our team percentage is ALREADY bad…….so it should get even uglier.
But that’s the only negative I see….
December 27th, 2007 at 4:58 am
Gooden is averaging 32 mins a game…..he has 64 offensive boards, and 199 defensive.
Evans is averagin 25 mins a game……he has 82 offensive boards and 154 defensive.
Already Evans has more offensive boards than Gooden…..in less time.
If Evans played Gooden’s 32 minutes a game….his numbers project out to 104 offensive rebounds and 197 defensive rebounds……..the defensive boards are equal then…..but Evans would have the edge in offensive rebounds by a 104-64 margin…….that’s 40 extra opportunities on Cavs misses that Evans brings to the table……..not bad at all.
In 32 mins Evans projected average would be 10.7 rebounds per game……and with Miller and LeBron running the show, you have to think that Evans would benefit from easy layups and dunks on drop off passes…..to me…..he is tougher then Gooden and another big physical presence inside - just what the Cavs need.
Miller breaking down defenses, LeBron roaming free without the ball, Z and Evans/Andy in the lane for drop offs and offensive rebounds, and Boobie waiting at the three-point line?
I think everyone on the Cavs improves with this deal.
December 27th, 2007 at 5:12 am
God knows we need something to happen and this seems good. The only alternative to pulling the trigger on this deal IMO would be to fire Mike Brown and can Danny Ferry while Gilbert is at it. Not like that would ever happen…
December 27th, 2007 at 5:16 am
I gotta agree with vzakusilov on this one.
If you can make that deal, I think it’s huge improvement for the Cavs. Gooden’s basic problem on this team is he’s kind of flaky/box of chocolates. That’s maybe ok if Pavlovic and Hughes weren’t also the same way and Gibson being young - not knowing what you’re going to get from him on a nightly basis.
If Ferry trades Hughes, he should not be named GM of the decade. He should be named Jesus.
December 27th, 2007 at 6:32 am
MC Welk…Damien Nelson…
Thanks for your comments on Loozer…firmly appreciated…
MC…yeah…I’ll hold a grudge to the punk until the day he retires. That’s my prerogative. I also hold a grudge to Gund and Paxson, who are equal Loozers in this equation…
which I believe answers your question Nelson.
As for Fisher…let me know when his lying involves the Cavaliers, and I’ll let you know when I start launching an attack on him.
Chris…I don’t like Mike Brown as a coach…I truly don’t think he knows how to utilize his talent. He literally seems to focus on one thing at a time, and isn’t a multi-tasker…which will be my next article.
At the same time, it’s going to be hard to fire him with the bogus talent he has to work with…that’s on Ferry.
I’m so damn sick of hearing about how Ferry is a GM-god for signing freakin’ Flip Murray. Yeah, it was a great move…but they were looking to move Flip, and he was available. Everyone knew it. It’s not like he dug it up…but that’s for another argument.
December 27th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Gooden is nothing special. I only deal Miller for something worth getting excited about. Sorry. I like Simmons, but would have to do better than Newble to get Stefanski to bite. Devin Brown is iffy, Gibson is probable although highly unlikely from your end, and Pavlovic is questionable.
December 27th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Jon…I don’t disagree that Gooden isn’t really anything special…he’s a 13 and 9 guy at the power forward slot. Nothing overtly special there.
But aren’t we overvaluing Andre Miller a bit here? Listen, the guy is averaging 16 points, which is nearly two over his average. I don’t think a guy his age goes nearly 2 over his average because he’s just become a scorer. Where is he on the list of point guards, as a career 14 and 7 guy?
Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, Mo Williams, Jamaal Tinsley, Jason Terry, Tony Parker, Raymond Felton and Chauncey Billups would all probably be rated ahead of him…off the top of my head. Many of them have similar or at least better numbers than Miller, and are a lot younger. Nash and Kidd are older, but much better, as is Billups. Don’t get me wrong here, his value to the Cavs is high…
but again…we aren’t talking about NBA elite here.
I don’t know what the Sixers are thinking, but if they are thinking they are going to get something MORE than a guy like Gooden, who’s young, more than servicable, and with a lot of upside on a team that will actually run an offense (the Cavs don’t…they are back to watching LeBron), he may up that 13…where as Miller will drop assuredly with the Cavaliers.
The Sixers are looking for a quality, affordable 4, and Gooden is exactly that.
I can’t stand him…but as far as getting a player that would excite you for Miller…I don’t know. We can analyze that deal for Iverson until we are blue in the face…but that was…well…not for this conversation.
We’ll see, as the days pass…
As far as Newble…again…he’s a throw in as a toss out contract…and Simmons is a guy that will get the deal to work.
There aren’t many players that will ‘excite you’ that are going to be on the table, or will seem like an even deal. Maybe if Miller was 28…but a guy closing in on 32? I’m not saying he’s old…
But he’s not exactly…”exciting” in the big scheme of things.
Now…if the Cavs got Miller…I WOULD BE EXCITED…
That’s just me…
December 27th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Ok, by exciting I’m talking more about Simmons types than Gooden types. And the Sixers are not in a must trade situation. They are actually tied for 8th right now and nipping at the Cavs heels. I think you can get better than a Gooden-type power forward, meaning somebody like Jason Maxiell or Glen Davis.
December 28th, 2007 at 7:02 am
I would absolutely prefer Maxiell or Big Baby…
It’s funny Jon…I was talking to Mick…our resident Pistons scribe about Maxiell last year during the playoffs…and how he reminded me of a young Rick Mahorn…maybe with more potential offense…
and he raved about him…but was confused about the nonchalance of the Pistons brass about the kid…
Big Baby and Maxiell would be HIGH on my list as well…they have that Varejao kind of energy…with more offense…
December 28th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Actually, my ultimate guy would be Utah’s Paul Millsap, but they already have a pretty good point guard. I don’t think the Pistons are parting with Maxiell either, and they are in good hands with Chauncey.
December 28th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Obviously…Boston would be a team that would want Miller…
The problem with Boston is that to make a deal work to get Big Baby…
Boston would have to give up half their roster to get him…because of the skewed nature of their roster…
December 28th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Great deal. I’ve been a Reggie Evans guy for a while, and it would be ironic getting him back in a trade involving Drew considering the fact that we were talking to Evans in 2006 to gain leverage in our negotiations with Gooden.
I like it…we’d actually become an even better rebounding team AND get a point guard in the process. Now, if only we can pawn off Hughes…but I guess when Ferry gives you an inch, you shouldn’t be asking for a foot.
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