Liberty Links: Ramon Sessions and C.J. Watson

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 7:26 AM PDT Comment 20 comments

In a year where the economy is struggling mightily, the Mid-level exception has potential be a very valuable asset if used correctly. Players who would normally sign for double, maybe triple the amount of the 5-6 million dollar MLE are forced to sign a shorter contract, worth a lot less money.

Two perfect examples are C.J. Watson and Ramon Sessions. If this were 2005 or 2006 a young, talented point guard like Sessions would be signing a 5 year, 50 million dollar deal. This year, he'll probably sign for the MLE and nothing more.

The only downside to signing players like Sessions and Watson to the MLE is the probability that they only sign short-term deals, expecting a huge payday when the economy rebounds. Coincidentally, the Sixers are only looking for a one or two year stop-gap until Super Jrue is ready to take over.

General consensus is, the stop-gap should be savvy veteran (an old fart) in which Jrue can learn from, but who says the stop-gap has to be old and savvy? Why not young, a little less savvy, but proven?

Both Sessions and Watson fit the bill. Between the two, Watson would be my choice. He shoots the three to a tune of 40 percent, he has experience in a run and gun offense (Golden State), and he has a better chance of sticking around as a role player when Super Jrue takes over.

Now, offering either player the MLE does not guarantee anything. If I were a betting man, I would bet that both Watson and Sessions sign elsewhere, but there's nothing wrong with taking a chance. The Sixers literally have nothing to lose.

Brian from Depressed Fan shares the same opinion and actually opened my eyes to the C.J. Watson possibility.

CJ Watson would represent [a missed opportunity] to me if Orlando did, in fact, sign him to an offer sheet. The Sixers can top Orlando's offer, and they should. Force Golden State to make a tough decision, consider it your due diligence.

As for Sessions, Kevin Arnovitz provides a nice breakdown of 'The Best Free Agent Nobody is talking about'.

Sessions has the size and ability to guard both ones and twos, and has demonstrated the capacity to do so.

According to Gerry Woelfel, the Knicks plan to offer Sessions the MLE by tomorrow at the latest, and I think the Sixers should do the same. Again, what do they have to lose?

Absolutely nothing.

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Nice write-up

I’d be content with either Watson or Sessions.

by guitarmouse35 on Jul 20, 2009 11:34 AM PDT reply actions

I wouldn’t mind earl watson – i’m pro sessions but he’s a starter – for long term – and cj watson i’d probably vomit a little.

Earl Watson reportedly already has a deal in place with the Pacrs

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Jul 20, 2009 11:36 AM PDT reply actions

yeah Earl got snatched up almost immediately.

and I don’t think we can bank on jrue being a starter, so I’d love to see em try for sessions. worst case, we have TWO good point guards.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 11:49 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

And I think you’re wrong – Jrue will be a starter by all star game 2011

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Jul 20, 2009 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions

we still have no way of knowing if he’ll be a good starter on a championship contender.

ask Shaun livingston. ask Sebastian telfair.

I have confidence in jrue. I just don’t think we should put all our eggs in one basket.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 1:02 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Livingston was derailed due to injuries (which were expected cause of his freakish body) and Telfair? Telfair was more flash than substance and you could tell he was going to be a bust (well i could) from the way he handled the whle thing

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Jul 20, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

So you’re 100% sure Jrue is a starter on a championship contender?

I’m about 70% sure on a good day, and that’s enough to explore other options.

Plus, Sessions is only going to sign a 2-3 year deal max. Would you be against signing him to a 2 year, 12 million dollar deal?

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Sessions is also a crap shooter – why not just keep miller for one year if we’re going to sign a crap shoot er:)

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Jul 20, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, I think they would, if Miller would accept the deal.

Miller can’t like more New York more than Philly, right?

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Brian has a valid point about bad blood if he comes back to philly for just the MLE and going to NY for the MLE cause the sixers wouldn’t offer him better – not sure how miller would take it

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Jul 20, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I think he'd get over it.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Clips have agreed 2 send Quentin Richardson to Wolves for Sebastian Telfair, Craig Smith and Mark Madsen,

Don't frack with me or you'll get a punch in the kidneys...you've been warned

by jemagee on Jul 20, 2009 12:39 PM PDT reply actions

solid trade. telfair and smith could be good backups

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 1:04 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

wow

richardson’s gettin passed around like a hot potato

by guitarmouse35 on Jul 21, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions

C.J. Watson turned down the Sixers

From Marcus Thompson II:

Representatives for Watson — who already has turned down a one-year, $2.3 million offer from the Philadelphia 76ers — spent Monday trying to hammer out a deal with the Magic. Watson is hoping for a three-year deal.

So credit Philly for pursuing a player who makes sense for them, given their well-documented need for outside shooting. But they didn’t want to make a multi-year commitment to him, so he’ll wind up playing for Orlando or staying in Golden State next season.

About to post this in FanShots, by the way.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."

by Ben Q Rock on Jul 20, 2009 9:59 PM PDT reply actions

Good stuff Ben.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Jul 20, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Go old savvy, sabbe

Two guards battling it out for the same, sole starting spot is testosterone enough. There’s no need for three. Earl or Brevin’ll do for the time being, help teach Jrue what he needs to know about being an effective distributor. Roles and expectations would be clear for everybody.

I’m with you on the confidence level in Jrue (read: not exactly skyhigh, lacks vision, offensive discipline/IQ), but they bought him, so no point in bailing on him before he’s even had his first year, nevermind first game. Let’s set him up as best as possible for success.

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"The other teams could make trouble for us if they win." --Yogi Berra

by wryomatic5000 on Jul 21, 2009 8:53 AM PDT reply actions

The big men on the Sixers’ radar, according to the source, are 7-1 Primoz Brezec (Toronto), 7-foot Aaron Gray (Chicago), 7-foot Ryan Hollins (Dallas), 6-11 Jake Voskuhl (Toronto), 6-10 Adonis Foyle (Orlando), and 6-11 Jared Reiner, who was not in the league last season.

By Kevin Tatum at The Philadelphia Inquirer

by andyreidswaistline on Jul 23, 2009 7:00 PM PDT reply actions