Into the Future: Nuggets or Sixers?
by Jordan Sams on Jul 21, 2010 6:01 AM PDT
in Read and React
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The Sixers clearly aren't contending anytime soon, and the championships for the next five years are clearly the Heat and L*kers to lose. The only things for Sixers fans to hold onto are the few bright spots, the glimmer of hope that the front office has learned from their mistakes, and the small chance that they're one of the teams in contention when the Heat/L*kers era comes to a close.
So just how bright is the Sixers future and how does their current situation compare to other teams in the league? Let's find out.
Before summer's end we'll compare the Sixers roster, salary cap and front office to the rest of the NBA. I'll provide the essential links and my take, then hand it off to you guys with a poll and a chance to voice your opinion in the comments. At the end we'll see how many teams we'd trade places with, given the chance.
First up: Denver Nuggets.
Roster
Salary
Front Office
Sixers
MAIN OWNERS: Comcast Corporation
CHAIRMAN: Ed Snider
PRESIDENT / GENERAL MANAGER: Ed Stefanski
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT / ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER: Tony DiLeo
Nuggets
MAIN OWNER: Stan Kroenke
VICE PRESIDENT OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS: Mark Warkentien
VICE PRESIDENT OF PLAYER PERSONNEL: Rex Chapman
My take:
The Nuggets have the advantage in the front office, as most teams will during this exercise. They have a legitimate superstar in his prime in Carmelo, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season. They also have a couple solid pieces (Nene, J.R. Smith, Afflalo and Ty Lawson), but all but Ty Lawson will become free agents over the next two years.
They Nuggets have two options: they could re-sign Melo and continue to build around him, or they could start fresh no later than two years from now, with only three four current players scheduled to be on their payroll (Lawson, Balkman, Birdman and Al Harrington), and presumably a few rookie contracts.
Compare that to the Sixers who have a legitimate chance to begin building a powerhouse in 2013 if they play their cards right between now and then, and already having two legit pieces in place, both on their rookie contracts (Jrue and Turner).
This is a toss-up for me and if it came down to talent and salary cap alone I'd chose the Sixers. The largest difference is the confidence, or lack thereof, I have in Snider, Stefanski and company. However; taking everything into account, I'd still chose the Sixers future over the Nuggets.
Your thoughts?
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I have a feeling
Carmelo is begging the Nuggets FO daily to let him leave Denver. He seems destined to be a New York Knick.
IMO it is not even close.
The Sixers have zero superstars and no cap room. They appear to be 3 years away from even trying to make a big step forward.
The Nuggets have a 26 year old superstar and a near blank slate to build around him. They also have a promising young PG and a 28 year old center in his prime (if they decide to re-sign him.) They are in good position to build in the new CBA. environment. So the Nuggets can compete now and have a chance at a bright future.
I believe the difference in Melo and Iguodala is minimal. Melo is more of a superstar because he can create for himself in the half court. Besides that him and Iguodala have near equal value in my mind, and I’d probably even give the slight edge to Andre.
Nene is vastly overrated in my opinion. I’d much rather have Sam. MUCH rather.
Jrue is better than Lawson (or will be better), and he’s younger.
IMO the threesome of Andre, Sam, Jrue are a better threesome to have than Melo, Nene, Lawson. The only reason the Nuggets made the leap two years ago is because they had a good coach, great role players and Chauncey Billups. Where were they before Billups was traded there?
If they re-sign Melo and Nene and Billups leaves (retired, free agency), they won’t even come close to contending with the Lakers or Thunder or Blazers in the West. You can’t win when Nene is one of your three highest paid players.
Sam?
Liberty Ballers / Ridiculous Upside / @TAFKAMikeBourn
The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Michael Bourn
by Michael Levin on Jul 21, 2010 7:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Jordan you’re killing me with this assessment right here. Sammy D over Nene? It’s not even close. Nene is an above average offensive center and an average defensive at worst. Gives huge effort and is much more agile than Sammy D. The skills and threat on the offensive end is just too much for Sammy D
I chose the Sixers.
I don’t think Carmelo will be sticking around in Denver and that alone should spell a temporary death knell for the Nuggets. I see the Sixers as a team that will be on the rise within a couple years while the Nuggets are just the opposite.
Melo isn’t a restricted free agent, he’s unrestricted. Small distinction, but a huge one because Denver can’t do anything about him walking next summer (or the following summer if he doesn’t use his ETO).
Once Melo’s gone, they really have nothing. If I had any confidence the Sixers wouldn’t botch every trade they make I’d give them the edge based on young talent. You can flip a coin at this point, though.
Send GT Green packing.
It’s 50/50 depending if Melo resigns or not, so looking strictly at personnel, the Nuggets take this is FO and coaching. Collins should be a very solid coach but Karl is one of the more underrated coaches in the league.
Players younger than 30 Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony
Nene Hilaro
Arron Afflalo
Renaldo Balkman
Joey Graham
Ty Lawson
J.R Smith
Sheldon Williams
Players under 30 76ers
Willie Green
Spencer Hawes
Jrue Holiday
Andre Iguodala
Jason Kapono
Jodie Meeks
Jason Smith
Marreese Speights
Evan Turner
Louis Williams
Thaddeus Young
Did any team draft worse than the Sixers during the 1990s?
1993 second overall Shawn Bradley (next: Penny Hardaway, who was traded for Webber)
1994 sixth overall Sharone Wright
1995 third overall Jerry Stackhouse (next two: Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett)
1996 first overall Allen Iverson
1997 second overall Keith Van Horn (traded for Tim Thomas; next pick was Chauncey Billups)
1998 eighth overall Larry Hughes (next two: Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce)
1999 no pick
2000 20th pick Speedy Claxton
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