Sixers Draft '10: Five reasons to draft Evan Turner
by Jordan Sams on May 21, 2010 12:15 AM PDT
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The dust has settled and everyone has collectively pinched themselves after learning the Sixers will draft second in next month's draft. The discussions have quickly turned to Evan Turner and whether or not he's can co-exist with Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala. While Turner might not be a perfect fit for the Sixers, here's five reasons why the Sixers should draft him - after the jump.
1. Go-to scorer potential
We've talked ad nauseam about how Andre Iguodala isn't a go-to scorer, and how desperately the Sixers need one. Now they have a chance to draft Evan Turner with the second pick, who can - and probably will - be that guy.
Turner has almost everything you want in a go-to scorer. He can create his own shot, create for teammates, and score in a variety of ways. His moves are fluid and he has impressive balance and basketball IQ, especially for a kid coming out of college. And we all know he's got ice in his veins.
The biggest knock on Turner is his lack of legitimate three-point range. Unlike Iguodala, Turner has solid mechanics on his jumper and a good mid-range game, which leads me to believe he'll develop at least an average three-point shot at the next level.
Another knock on Turner is his athleticism - he's not the most explosive athlete. Would it be nice if Turner leap tall buildings in a single bound? Absolutely, but he isn't a stiff either. He has quickness, average bounce, and crafty hesitation/spin/crossover moves. The Villain should have little problem getting his shot off at the next level. He might not have the athleticism, but his size, body control, and overall basketball skills more than make up for it.
2. Marketability
The Sixers haven't ranked in the top 20 in attendance since the 04-05 season. Last year they ranked near dead-last - barely ahead of the Nets - in percentage of seats filled. Also, despite having a young, athletic team who made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons the Sixers were awarded only seven nationally televised games last season (in hindsight, good call).
Drafting Evan Turner would have an immediate impact on the Sixers, not only on the court, but off the court. He would become the face of the franchise and give the team national relevance again. The casual fan digs players like Turner. He has an aesthetically-pleasing jumper. He was the 2010 National Player of the Year. He has a nasty game-winner under his belt.. And he has the coolest nickname (The Villain) in this year's draft.
When the Sixers drafted Iverson, they went from second-to-last in attendance to 22nd, despite winning only 22 games. I'd expect Turner to have a similar effect - not because he's Iverson - but because he has perennial all-star potential, scores the basketball, and makes the team much better.
3. "Defense wins championships"
Here are the defensive efficiency rankings of the last 10 NBA champions: 6th, 7th, 21st, 1st, 5th, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, and 9tt. Nine of the past 10 champions have ranked in the top nine, so it's safe to say the old cliche proves true, time and again.
Turner might not have the most defensive potential (Favors) in this draft, but he's polished and NBA-ready. He's 6'7'', can guard multiple positions, and likes to play defense - which I think is important. His high basketball IQ works in his favor, showing awareness and good fundamentals on the defensive end.
Long-term, drafting Turner and pairing him with Jrue would give the Sixers the potential to have one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA. Short-term, a starting lineup of Jrue, Turner, Iguodala, Brand and Dalembert has top 10 defensive potential, effective immediately.
4. Best player available
Is Turner the perfect fit next to Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala, no. None of them are proven three-point shooters - although Jrue shot 39% from his rookie season - which makes for less-than-ideal floor spacing. Sixers fans have witnessed over the past couple years, starting three players at the 1-2-3 who don't spread the defense can make for some ugly and ineffective half-court offense. The better fit on the wing is Wes Johnson, who wouldn't take the ball out of Jrue and Iguodala's hands as much, and stretch the defense with his range.
But here's why you don't worry about fit. 1) Turner is the best player available. 2) Turner has all star-potential.
The Sixers have numerous needs, so the best thing for them to do is draft the best player available - which is Turner. Since the Sixers won't be championship contenders any time soon, they have the luxury of stockpiling talent, experimenting with "fit", and adjusting their roster accordingly.
Note: Don't be surprised if the Holiday-Turner-Iguodala experiment turns out to be a success. Turner's ability to create for teammates could be the best thing that ever happened to Holiday and Iguodala. Iguodala shot 39.4% in catch-and-shoot situations last year - in the 74th percentile, and Holiday shot 45.8% - in the 94th percentile.
5. Versatility
Turner can play three different positions, point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. In drafting him, the Sixers open up a world of possibilities. They can go uber-big and play Turner at the point. They could go small and play Turner at small forward. Or they could go conventional and play Turner at the two. As we witness in the playoffs, year after year, series often boil down to which team can create the most mismatches, and Turner is a mismatch waiting to happen.
*The only question I want answered before the Sixers draft Turner is whether his back will become a problem later in his career.
Next up: The Case for Derrick Favors
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Jordan, you said "he’s a stiff either’, we all know you meant he’s not a stiff, but I’m just letting you know.
Well written Jordan,
I do love Turner for this team. One of the biggest reasons is because he plays with a mean streak, an absolutely nasty edge that can hopefully filter through the rest.
IMO, there are 2 personality types for scorers in the league:
1) The type of guy who’d rather play make-it-take-it and win by scoring on every possession instead of wanting to D up. They are the type who can score a bunch, but will give a bunch back defensively with a helpless KanyeShrug(aka Lou Williams, Kevin Martin, Carmelo, Brandon Roy, AI, Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison, Gilbert Arenas, Dominique Wilkins, Barkley to a certain extent etc)
or
2) The type who wants to alternate possessions so that they can shut you down after scoring on you, enjoying every single moment of your frustration. They want to dominate you completely, maybe embarrass you, just to let you know that they are on another level and challenging them is purely ignorant folly(aka Jordan, Kobe, Bird, Pippen, Prime Artest, Pierce, Garnett, DWade, Rondo, Durant is learning how).
I’d put Turner in the 2nd category. He wants to destroy folks. That is a mentality this team needs. Screw the nice guy thing, we need a proper “Villain” in this town. :-)
Yes please. Admittedly, I wouldn’t scream bloody murder and demand DiLeo’s head on a pikestaff if he chose Favors. But this kid is tough (four weeks to return from a broken back? Are you kidding me?) and nasty. This team cries out for that. They need an actual leader out there. No one else seems to want to do it. He might be the kind of player who will drag this collection of nice guys along with him.
You are absolutely right, Iggy is not a go-to scorer, everyone knows it. Everyone but Iggy. You can see it in Iggy’s body language and hear it in what he says, he thinks he is that guy, he tries to put himself in the same class as some of the other elite scorers and all stars but he isn’t that guy. I am not sure how drafting Turner will help him or how he will take Turner now being that go to guy. Maybe not his rookie year but eventually that will be his role and I don’t think Iggy will really take to that idea.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
1. Stop calling him Iggy. Andre reads this blog and we want him to keep coming back
2. Don’t play armchair psychologist (John’s fave) for Andre. He’s been second fiddle most of his career. With a guy like Turner coming in, Andre will work with him and adjust his game to benefit the team.
3. The second part of number 1 may not be completely factual.
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Ok I can call him AI2, or Dale, or the less fun Andre.
Secondly…who has Andre been second fiddle to exactly? 2004-2005 was the only year Andre and Iverson played together with the exception of a few games this season.
From 2005-2006 until now, he has been that guy for the Sixers, or at least, he was wrongly expected to be that guy, and wanted to be that guy, but he isn’t and never will be. That’s not a knock on him, it’s the truth and honestly I think when he accepts that and plays his game accordingly, it will make him that much better.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
As well as Hassan Adams, Salim Stoudamire, Channing Frye at U of A.
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions
He also played with Iverson 2 seasons before he was traded in the 3rd. This year was the only year he’s had to be the real focal point. And it didn’t work out. If Collins comes in with a gameplan for him, it’ll work just fine.
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 8:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Winning also changes everything. I’m sure Dala didn’t like winning 27 games last year. Plus it helps that him and ET are supposedly buddies.
Sure, but just being friends doesn’t mean you can play well together. Wasn’t long ago Kobe wanted his buddy Jason Kidd running the point for the Lakers, which, if it happened would have been the worst idea ever. Players make the worst GM’s.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
You’re right, my mistake, it was two seasons not one.
And I agree, if Collins makes it clear that Andre is not the focal point of the offense then I think he will work out fine.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Maybe so. I saw it differently. I saw Miller running the offense and being the one with the ball in his hands most of the time. As for Lou…he just doesn’t seem like a guy who really likes passing and would rather take a shot, even when he has hands in his face and has 3 other options he can go to.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Here’s how I saw it:
AI2 was an instrumental part of the offense early and often in the shot clock as a ball handler and offensive creator(for himself and for his teammates). He and Miller took turns for the most part generating offense, but Miller had the ball in his hands more often only because he was the point guard and better ball handler. AT2 needs that as he is not a point forward and also could use 1-2 easy buckets per game(particularly early in the game so he could save his drive for when he needed it)due to a sweet pass from the PG.
Iguodala showed late in ‘09 that he is able to put up 20 5 5 while allowing a good finisher(Thad at the time) to lead the team in scoring. But he was clearly the best overall offensive player on the team and had to be the one to make things happen(or get the ball to other people for them to score when the defense collapsed) in crunch time.
The way he was utilized that season under Dileo was close to the ideal way to utilize him offensively. Any drastic changes from that, and both AI2 and the Sixers are likely better off parting ways. Giving the ball to mostly Turner and Jrue as the two offensive creators while AI2 trots around for an open shot or a cut to the hoop is a horrible use of someone with his talents(and weaknesses). He is not a 12 ppg player in this league. So devising an offense that doesn’t utilize his strengths and makes his weaknesses obvious again is not the way to go. Going into the season with the plan to make him a primarily off the ball scorer is a huge mistake. He has demonstrated in his career repeatedly that he needs the ball in his hands early and often in the shot clock with the ability to freelance in order to be in his element. Since there are only 24 seconds in the shot clock, there won’t be enough time for both Turner and AI2 to free lance while Jrue does the majority of the ball handling. One of the three of them will have to play more off the ball when they are all together on the court.
If the Sixers go into the season with the plan to just give Turner the ball from day 1 and let him do his thing, then they are better off trading AI2 before his trade value goes down.
If the plan is to have Turner be the off the ball scorer and defender in the 1st quarter, and then let him run wild in the offense in the 2nd quarter while AI2 is on the bench…..then Turner can still develop his game while AI2 does not lose trade value. If Turner clearly demonstrates he can be the better 4th quarter option, then at that point in time, AI2 should be traded while he is still averaging close to 20 5 5 on a winning team. It would take courage and basketball sense to trade AI2 when he appears to be at his best, but that is the best approach to this situation.
AI2 is a talented defender, but he is not a Ben Wallace or Sottie Pippen in their primes type of defender. Thus, paying him an average of 14 mil/season over the rest of the course of his contract while trying to squeeze a square peg into round hole with him on the offensive end is a huge mistake that may set the franchise further back.
Jordan, you may have missed an obvious “because we haven’t had a shooting guard since Jerry Stackhouse” as a reason.
No…Turner actually plays defense. He isn’t a stopper but he does the job. Stackhouse was allergic to defense.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
I know…I was just adding to it.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Well, let’s say you were trying to add to it
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Whatever you say funny man.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
You aren’t anyone to me.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Well If i wasn’t anyone to you – you’d stop responding to me – you’re entertaining to me – cause you seem to think that what happens on a blog matters or has merit.
Nd you’ve never seen goodfellas – which is just sad
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Funny…I own it, on DVD and Blu Ray. Seen it plenty of times…but seeing as “Am I a clown to you”, is not the actual quote from the movie then why would I respond as if it was?
The real quote, since apparently you haven’t seen it enough times, which is just sad is:
I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I’m here to fuckin amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?
And I responded to you, because you asked a question. It’s called common courtesy. Maybe you should try extending that to others sometimes.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Todays word of the day is PARAPHRASING
Please return to your regularly scheduled hockey discussion that less than .1% of the sports fans of the US care about.
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions
You are so delusional it’s unbelievable. Keep up the internet tough guy act I am sure it will get you far. It’s ironic that you attempt to lecture me on assuming that I believe posting on a blog has merit or meaning and yet you have roughly 9,000 posts on this blog, which aside from the bullshit you spew is actually pretty good.
You can call it paraphrasing or I can call it misquoting.
And what does the fact that I like hockey or that less than .1% of the US does, which is factually incorrect, have anything to do with this? I like basketball just like I like hockey, baseball and football. I also enjoying having intelligent conversations about the aforementioned sports but for some reason you seem unwilling to do that with me. That’s fine. If you honestly have nothing of value to add to anything I say then just don’t respond. It’s that simple.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Possibly becuase jemagee is part of the Liberty Ballers crew and occasionally writes an article or two, and might be expected to participate in discussions about said articles.
If your going to pick a fight with some one, it’s generally not a good idea to do it in thier house.
I don’t mind people picking fights with me.
I mind when in general they’re unarmed and obviously either from philly.com or wip or equivalent. It’s understandable that less interested fans will show up now that the sixers got evan turner (or the #2 pick)
However, when they slip back to being at best a 500 team next season (which is all they are good enough to be anyway) many of them will leave
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Which is my whole point…if you are part of the people that run this site, and post here then clearly you feel that why is being written on this blog has merit and matters, which I agree, it does. But jemagee is the one who made the comment:
cause you seem to think that what happens on a blog matters or has merit.
And I am not picking a fight, I was just posting, not bothering anyone and then jemagee says:
Well, let’s say you were trying to add to it
So you tell me, who is picking a fight with who?
I could careless if this his his/their house. I came here to discuss basketball because I felt like it was a good site with versed people posting on here, and not get into stupid back and forth arguments.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
I truly do not understand what you mean with that post.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
A tennis reference to your back and forth comment.
Don’t worry mate, go back to hitting pucks around the local duck pond.
I got that it was a tennis reference, I was just trying to understand the point of your post, or if there was supposed to be one.
And once again, I don’t see how me liking hockey has anything to do with this conversation. Try and keep the things that are pointless and nonsense out of the conversation as they serve no purpose.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
Well like I said, I never wanted my post to turn into that in the first place. I truly did come here to talk basketball. I never claimed to be the biggest Sixers fan in the world, but I am certainly not clueless either.
Go Go Gadget Gagne
What if Broad Street Didn't Fight Back? History HAS been made. 5-7-10
5-8-10...the day the Purdue Boilermakers basketball team won the 2011 NCAA Championship!!
lets everybody just settle down, alrighty?
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Turner sounds like another Iguodala, but not as athletic. If he can drive and create, that would be an improvement, but i don’t think the Sixers have a problem with a lack of playmakers, they have a lack of closers- people to put the ball int the hole. The worst thing about Turner as a pick is he doesn’t address the Sixers real problems which keep them from competing.
The Sixers have no outside shooting and no dominant inside post player. Turner doesn’t have an outside shot, and he’s not an inside player. Which means he’ll end up being a replacement. Iguodala isn’t a #1 option, but he is the team’s best player and plays the same position as Turner. You can’t have one play the 2 and have the other at the 3, with Brand and Dalembert on the front line. It just won’t work well enough.
Brand has to go. If anything will turn the Sixers around it is that. If you could do it without having the 2nd pick in the draft, you would have done it already. This is our best shot to turn things around for the Sixers and if that means passing on Turner, so be it. Replace Brand with a real power forward and I’d be very happy.
It’s not a matter of whether they’re alike, although apparently both can play the 1, 2 or 3. It’s a matter of whether you can have two 6’6-6’7" players on the floor together and win for the Sixers. We already have Iguodala, Young, Kapono and Carney to play small forward. One of them will to go for salary reasons. Collins is smart enough not to try to play Young as a four.
Lou and Jrue at the point, Andre and Willie at the 2.. Thad and Carney and Kapono at the 3, or more time for Iguodala. Speights and a new player at the 4, Dalembert and Smith at the 5, is where I see the team going. If we draft Turner, forget the new player at the 4, it will be Brand and we will be a bad team.
Turner sounds like another Iguodala
Turner doesn’t have an outside shot
So you don’t know him then claim he has no outside shot. Consistent.
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh come on – look who you’re arguing with – and more of them are showing up every day
I know they’ll draft turner – but part of me hopes they sthink again next year
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions
“The biggest knock on Turner is his lack of legitimate three-point range. Unlike Iguodala, Turner has solid mechanics on his jumper and a good mid-range game, which leads me to believe he’ll develop at least an average three-point shot at the next level.”
I didn’t write that, I took Jsams word for it. Apparently at this point, he doesn’t have a three-point shot!
Jordan should have said for that quote “his lack of deadly three-point range.” He shot 37.7% from beyond during his 3 years at OSU. He took less than 2 three’s a game however, making him not a 3-point specialist. To say “he can’t shoot,” is ignoring the fact that he’s already average from beyond, with great mechanics, and a willingness to put the work in. Playing off the ball for the first time since ’07 will help him with shot selection and turnovers.
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Aren’t his stats a lot like Iguodala’s at ASU? The College and NBA 3 point distances are quite different as you well know. I’ve been waiting for Thad and Andre to develop that outside shot with little satisfaction. My fear is adding another player who’s promise doesn’t pan out. And one who plays the same positions as the other two previously mentioned players.
Iguodala went to University of Arizona, not Arizona State. Turner is a much better player coming out of school than Andre was. And you’re getting caught up about position. The difference between shooting guard and small forward is minuscule. As long as one of them can stretch the floor, they are both wing players, so it doesn’t matter. Since they both can play defense, it’s basically a luxury.
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Evan turner – 34.5" no step vertical – four and half inches higher than john wall
"I'm a beast ready to be unleashed." -- Paul George
for the people obsessed with john wall’s outrageous athleticism and say turner is an average one at best it is
"I'm a beast ready to be unleashed." -- Paul George
by Tanner Steidel on May 21, 2010 8:44 AM PDT up reply actions
There are people who are obsessed with lou williams as a point guard or that iguodala can’t play with turner (or that he’s a selfish bastard who should be killed)
You’re letting the terrorists win
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
And as we know – All Iguodala is is an athelete – he’s a crappy ass basketball player
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions
It kind of fits with the observations that Turner had huge rebounding numbers for a guard in college and that he tested slower on the sprints than most of the other guard prospects. On drives, good leaping guards translate later lateral velocity to vertical lift, but the no step vertical is more relevant to rebounding.
1. One discussion that I have yet to read, is how well can/will Turner play without the ball in his hands as much. Jrue is our point gaurd, so is it unreasonable to assume that Jrue will run our offense more so than Turner. Or will Jrue be asked to bring the ball up past the half way line then pass to Turner, for Turner to then run the offense, relegating Jrue to floating around the 3 point line.
I actually like the idea of having 3 good ball handlers on the floor, and another (Williams) on the bench, if we’re running a fast break offense.
There should be plenty of minutes for Williams and Meeks (bye bye Willie) to be out on the floor as our “3 point shooter”. There really shouldn’t be too many minutes for any one else to play the SF position, other than Turner or Iguodala.
2. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought Young’s most productive periods have come when the team was playing fast break offense with Young at the PF spot, and Iguodala at the SF spot. I like Young better as an athletic, undersized PF who can get and run and finish in the open court, rather than a SF who can not create for himself. Now if some one (Doug Collins) can teach him to play defense, I’ll be happy. At this stage, is Youngs post defense any worse than Brands.
1. No one knows – just like Evan and Iguodala – until they play together…Turner isn’t a point guard, turner RAN THE POINT in OSU because no one else could – but he isn’t a point guard
2. Young can score, but that’s all he can do…as of now…doug collins can’t teach effort at defense and reboudning which thad seems to not care about
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Thad is too small to play the 4 against most teams, or at least the top playoff teams..As a three he is a size mis-match in the Sixers favor. He’s not an inside defender or a good rebounder, he’s a wing player. I always thought that Andre was a good size for a two, if he was a better shooter he’d be ideal, but I thought Thad’s outside shooting would help to offset that limitation. Evans could replace one of them in the line-up, but I think they’d command too much money to keep all three. Drafting Evans means forcing an inevitable trade of Iguodala or Young.
That’s the price you pay when you draft the best player regardless of position.
2 wing positions and 3 wing players. Apparently not enough playing time?
I don’t hink Thad is as good as you think he is. He’s a bench player who doesn’t do much but score. Iguodala would be the starting 3, Turner (not Evans) would be the starting 2, and Thad could spell them both (with Iguodala moving to the 2 to spell Turner). I don’t see what is so complicated here.
You’re forgetting about Carney and Kapono. But never mind that. On a salary basis you can’t keep Iguodala, Young and Turner, and I really don’t see why you would want to try!
Stop avoiding the issue- lack of inside presence for scoring and rebounding. Does drafting Turner help the Sixers address this problem yes or no?
Carney isn’t really even worth considering. Kapono is just barely worth considering. Neither should be in the longterm plans of the team.
Thad makes less than $3 million next season and the qualifying offer on him for 2011-12 is less than $4 million.
The 2nd pick last season was slotted $4.5 million.
Yes, I think we can afford to keep all three. At least through the 2011-2012 season.
And I’m not avoiding anything. The Sixers team right now has multiple issues. One of them is a lack of a go-to scorer, which is something Turner can become. The Sixers can’t address every issue they have with just one pick.
To sum up my points in a 2nd post:
There is enough minutes to give Thad, Iguodala, and Turner the playing time they deserve.
Evan Turner is the 2nd best player in this draft.
The Sixers aren’t in a position to draft for need.
Thad isn’t a good enough player for me to care about him playing a similar position as Turner. (that one is a point that I didn’t make yet but am making now)
I agree with all of this. Sean has been tearing it up lately. I dig it.
by Michael Levin on May 21, 2010 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
The Burden of failure is on kids of color…
Thanks Len – thanks for making it more racial than it has to be and presuming that no white kids grow up poor
by jemagee on May 21, 2010 9:38 AM PDT reply actions
he’s seemed uncharacteristically angry the past two days about the whole draft process
"I'm a beast ready to be unleashed." -- Paul George
by Tanner Steidel on May 21, 2010 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions
http://www.nba.com/sixers/video/2010/05/20/turner3100520mov-1323669/index.html
10 mins of Evan Turner interview from yesterday in chicago
"I'm a beast ready to be unleashed." -- Paul George
made it sound like he’s really gonna work hard on improving his three point shot
"I'm a beast ready to be unleashed." -- Paul George
by Tanner Steidel on May 21, 2010 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Says he makes 500+ shots per day, including making 100+ threes. Said it takes him 800 shots to get there
by MojoPharoah on May 21, 2010 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
ice in his veins?
he makes one lucky shot and he has ice in his vein? i’d like to see him drain a couple of free throws with the tournament on the line before anointing him as the next “mr. big shot”
i think the 76ers have to draft turner with the #2 pick. i see him as a richard jefferson at worst or a franchise player with the right coaching and effort.
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- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Hamed Haddadi goes to the zoo
- David Stern changed the competition committee to push new rules, report says
- Nazr Mohammed films Oklahoma City Thunder fans welcoming the team back at 5:30 in the morning (VIDEO)
