Sixers deal no big deal

Sixers make deal with Bucks | Philly | 02/18/2010 – Just short of the trade deadline, the Sixers confirm they are trading Royal Ivey and Primoz Brzec to the Bucks in exchange for rookie shooting guard Jodie Meeks and journeyman Francisco Elson.

You are sadly disappointed, if you were looking for some blockbuster deal from Ed Stefanski. I thought he was very clear about his intentions earlier this week … He was not dumping salaries for cap space and tanking games. He was looking for a like for like trade to improve THIS club. Not tear it down and build another. Give Ed credit for being true to his word. If he goes down it will be on his own terms. Not the whim of public opinion.

So very little should have been expected today. And very little happened. Elson is hurt and will probably never join the team. Brzec, his counterpart, has been basically a DNP all season. So that’s a wash. Ivey was a fan favorite, their best on the ball defender, and had developed a 3 point (something he was not noted for). This will be his 2nd dance with the Bucks. His counterpart, the rookie Meeks, looks to have potential. They are about the same size, but Meeks is younger. So I guess you can say it’s a plus for the Sixers … kinda .. sorta … maybe.

I’m okay with it all. Let’s just get on with this death march to the end of the season. There’s no way Eddie Jordon gets this team to the playoffs. Let’s just get out of dodge with our butts intact. Like the Sixers GM, I am hoping this season was a special edition of the Twilight Zone and the hour will be over soon.

Sixers Trade Dalembert To Los Angeles For Candace Parker And A Throwback (Humor)

I thought this was funny. Fake news article about a Dalembert trade.

Sixers Trade Dalembert To Los Angeles For Candace Parker And A Throwback (Humor)

Don’t think this is a fair trade … Candice Parker is much better lookin’.

The Tradwinds are blowing

The Toronto Raptors trade Ermine O' Neal to Miami Heat for Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks. This is the first major move as the Feb. 19th trade deadline looms closer. Is this an act of genius or desperation. Moves made primarily because of an immovable date are rarely genius.

The Raptors appear rudderless by giving up on O' Neal after the off season trade to get 'em. They were once the leagues up and comers. But the wheels have fallen off for no discernable reason. They fired the head coach, but that didn't help. No they shed O' neal after half a season? Maybe Toronto was reading to much of their own press. Maybe they thought O' neal would put them on the precipice of a championship ... or maybe it just bad chemistry.

The Heat seems to get the better of the deal. The Matrix was never the right fit. The trade from Phoenix was more about addition by subtraction. Now was good time to move him, 'cause there only a year left on his deal. As a true center, O' neal is a better fit. But you have to wonder about the chemistry. The Heat is clearly D. Wade's team. It's not in O' neal's genes to play 2nd banana.

For their part, I hope the Sixers don't get caught up in the tradewinds. There is no obvious two team deal out there and multi-team deals are difficult. I know this team has weaknesses, but we can't fix everything at once ... that 's how we got into that predicament before and I worry about the chemistry more than a lack of an outside shot.

Home Sweet Home

It seems like some home cooking has been good for the Sixers. We Sixers fans were treated to 2 straight home wins. Of course the opponents had something to do with it also. The Wizards are struggling to toe the line without Agent 0 and dropped their 4th straight game. And the Miami Heat don't command the respect they used to. Add in the fact they where playing their first game without Shaq and you can just about lock in a Sixers W.

You can plainly see D. Wade's frustration from the look on his face. You look at the Heat roster and you don't recognize any of the names. Shawn Marion has gotta help some. But he's no savior. He just not a Eastern conference baller (IMHO) and comes with a lot of bags.

And what about Shaq ... I think its a good deal for him. He doesn't have to fit the Suns up temp style. All he has to do is be ready for the playoffs. He is on the team for one reason and one reason only ... to match up against Tim Duncan.

Talkin' about Shaq ... did you see that  funny story on True Hoops about the Hawks vs Heat game the teams have to replay. It was ruled in error that Shaq fouled out with a minute left. So the have to replay the final minute again! But now Shaq or any of the other player in the trade participate in the re-play, because of the trade.

Go figure.

Anyhow ... the Sixers. Standing at 20-30 the Sixers need to play .500 ball from here on out if the are to best last seasons record. And the best way to do that is win home games like they have done so far this week. The Sixers faithful (that actually attends games) appreciate it also :). Winning win-able games like the last two are perhaps even more important. The schedule gods have sets it up quit nicely for the Sixers ... 3 more games left on this home stand. With tonites home game versus the Clippers. Yes, the 16-30 Clippers ... who have reverted back to their old losing ways.

HOME+CLIPPERS = WIN?

We will see ...

Does the Pau Gasol trade make the Lakers contenders in the West?

Some teams have all the luck. The Lakers' blockbuster trade for Pau Gasol was a no brainer. Any trade in which you rid yourself of Kwamie Brown is a good one! Oh and you get an all star player to boot!

But I don't think the trade drastically changes the balance of power in the western conference. Yes, I think Gasol is a great player ... Yes I know any team would kill to have two all stars .... yea I know what a relief it is to Kobe ... blah ... blah ... blah

Gasol is not in impact player. He cannot defend Stodimire or Nowitzki, or Duncan. We don't even know if he can learn the famed triangle offense!

Memphis could not build a team around him. It looks like they are going to totally rebuild. Tanking like they did last year didn't help. So they're going the fire sale route. Shedding contracts and grabbing for draft picks. They have a long road to travel.

In the nice things happen to nice people department - I could not believe that Sixers assistant coach Aaron McKie was part of the Gasol trade. McKie has retired and started his coaching career as we always knew he would. Then he gets a license to steal money. He is signed by the Lakers the night before and traded to Memphis. Who is expected to release him. Just to make the dollars even out. But Aaron gets paid! His contract is guaranteed for the remainder of the season.

How lucky can you be? Just because he's a nice guy and well liked by the Lakers organization. Any doubt he will be behind the Sixers bench by the end of next week?

Ed Stefanski has made the move to the dark side

Kyle Korver is gone. The Ed Stefanski reign as GM has begun. He has moved to the dark side with his 1st personnel change. He could have waited all season with a pass and not make a move. But now he has put his own stamp on this team. Too bad for Kyle. He's a nice kid. I liked the move to acquire him in the 03 draft. The Sixers acquired him from the Nets for cash (think Ed new 'bout Korver then). Kyle had excepted his role as the 5th year veteran and bench player. He was certainly a fan favorite. But he is what we thought he was. He will never be more than he is right now. A good player ... a good guy, but not a star. So I'm okay with his departure.

Good luck to 'em.

What about Gordan Giricek? I'm sorry to say I don't know too much about him. I know what kind of game the Jazz play. A 5 year pro from Croatia should be able shoot the ball. Not a star. But it doesn't matter. Its not about Giricek. It's about his contract. Which expires at the end of the season. The Sixers resigned Korver in 05. Stefanski's clearing some cap space and announcing to the league he intends to be a playa in this summer's free agent market.

There's a new sheriff in town. Philly fans take note!

Hey Ed? Can you come down to marketing? We need to know what we're gonna do with all these #26 jerseys.