ESPN : C's should target Iguodala

[Who]

I´m not sure I understand your question.

Do you mean development in a certain area?
If so, I will just say that he has room to improve at every facet of the game, he´s not elite in any certain skill.

(1) Non-All Star high quality starter -- A Jose Calderon level contributor
(2) Borderline All-Star -- a player on the brink of an All-Star team who may make a couple of ASG's in his career or not. A Lamar Odom. A Caron Butler.
(3) Perennial All-Star -- selected year after year
(4) All-NBA player -- a top 15/18 talent
(5) Top 7/8 player
(6) MVP candidate

Which of those groupings do you see Thaddeus Young fitting into down the road?

I think the first is most likely and the second a legit possibility. I would be surprised if he became more than that.

I don't think he has enough of a scorer's mentality or enough passing ability to become a top level offensive player. Also, I think he's limited by his size defensively and lack of rebounding ability. That's why I wouldn't expect him to become more than that.

[Who]

Brand's contract provides more negatives than an All-Star player provides positives.

I think the situation is a bit different if you´re a team built solely for the short-term, but realize you´ll struggle to achieve your goals.

I somewhat agree ... I think I'm happier with the Celtics as they are presently than most. So my my willingness to sacrifice future flexibility is lower than others.

I think the current Celtics team is one of the three best best teams in the league and has a legitimate chance at a title. I'm happy going into the playoffs with the team we have.

It would need to a large upgrade for me to agree to take on Brand's contract. Something that puts us ahead of the pack. Which I don't think Iguodala does (who I consider a perennial All-Star caliber player). An improvement, yes, but not that large of one.

I'd be happy to take on Dalembert's contract but not Brand's.

Elton Brand's decline = I think he's a solid bench player at this point in his career. I'm not willing to pay that type of money for a bench player. Not without getting an MVP or All-NBA level talent as part of the package.

I would disagree on the "decline" part. He was injured, and returned to a joke of a team with a new coach and no identity. I think, unlike Sheed, we can expect him to play better on a team with a clear goal (championship) and leadership.

I think Elton Brand's legs are gone. Terrible lateral movement defensively and a lack of explosiveness offensively + defensively.

I think Elton Brand's problems are physical and therefore don't see him playing any better elsewhere.

You could be right, but it`s hard for me to say exactly which of his problems are physical, and which are mental, as I haven´t watched the 76ers a lot lately. If you say you´ve watched more than 5 76ers games this year, I`ll trust your opinion.

Oh well, the real purpose of my trade idea was to get rid of Sheed, not necessarily to get Brand, anyway. 

I watched Philadelphia play a lot at the start of the season + after they acquired Iverson (a dozen games overall I reckon). Not over the last month though.

[scoop]

If we trade for Dalembert, it makes no sense whatsoever to keep Perkins -  we should move him as well, in the same trade or in a different one.

[twinbree]

Wow a Rondo Iguodala backcourt would be unbelievably entertaining. Those two are so freakishly athletic in a way. When they are playing I have a fascination with them I don't have other athletic guys around the league. It'd be highlight reel steals and fast break dunks nightly. Sigh. I just don't  see how this trade would be possible.

[Casperian]

(1) Non-All Star high quality starter -- A Jose Calderon level contributor
(2) Borderline All-Star -- a player on the brink of an All-Star team who may make a couple of ASG's in his career or not. A Lamar Odom. A Caron Butler.
(3) Perennial All-Star -- selected year after year
(4) All-NBA player -- a top 15/18 talent
(5) Top 7/8 player
(6) MVP candidate

Which of those groupings do you see Thaddeus Young fitting into down the road?

I think the first is most likely and the second a legit possibility. I would be surprised if he became more than that.

I don't think he has enough of a scorer's mentality or enough passing ability to become a top level offensive player. Also, I think he's limited by his size defensively and lack of rebounding ability. That's why I wouldn't expect him to become more than that.

Going strictly by that list, I`d agree that 2 is a legit possibility, but I think there`s an outside-chance that he could end up in the third tier.

Perk or Rondo weren´t world-beaters at the age of 21, either. Many of us thought Rondo would never improve his shot, but it happened, if only a bit. Who could realistically expect Josh Smith to develop his post-moves in one summer?

Caron Butler is a fine player. Substitute Butler for Young in the trade (ignore the salaries), and the deal looks a lot better.

The point is, not only do we need help in the froncourt, it couldn´t harm to sneak a talented player on a rookie contract into the mix, and the 76ers seem willing to do a trade like this to get rid of their long-term salaries.
It´s definitly better than to simply hope for someone like Iguodala, additionally have to swallow a bad contract, and still have no real help in the frontcourt.

[OCsWestCeltic]

Wallace & Ray for Iggy and Dalembert;  I would do this deal today.

[Who]

(1) Non-All Star high quality starter -- A Jose Calderon level contributor
(2) Borderline All-Star -- a player on the brink of an All-Star team who may make a couple of ASG's in his career or not. A Lamar Odom. A Caron Butler.
(3) Perennial All-Star -- selected year after year
(4) All-NBA player -- a top 15/18 talent
(5) Top 7/8 player
(6) MVP candidate

Which of those groupings do you see Thaddeus Young fitting into down the road?

I think the first is most likely and the second a legit possibility. I would be surprised if he became more than that.

I don't think he has enough of a scorer's mentality or enough passing ability to become a top level offensive player. Also, I think he's limited by his size defensively and lack of rebounding ability. That's why I wouldn't expect him to become more than that.

Going strictly by that list, I`d agree that 2 is a legit possibility, but I think there`s an outside-chance that he could end up in the third tier.

Perk or Rondo weren´t world-beaters at the age of 21, either. Many of us thought Rondo would never improve his shot, but it happened, if only a bit. Who could realistically expect Josh Smith to develop his post-moves in one summer?

Caron Butler is a fine player. Substitute Butler for Young in the trade (ignore the salaries), and the deal looks a lot better.

The point is, not only do we need help in the froncourt, it couldn´t harm to sneak a talented player on a rookie contract into the mix, and the 76ers seem willing to do a trade like this to get rid of their long-term salaries.
It´s definitly better than to simply hope for someone like Iguodala, additionally have to swallow a bad contract, and still have no real help in the frontcourt.

I would consider taking on Brand's contract for a prospect. I'm not convinced enough in Thaddeus Young's future to do it for him but a prospect like Anthony Randolph? That I would consider.

Although, I'd need someone to fill in Ray's role because I wouldn't sacrifice a chance at a title this season.

[Casperian]

I would consider taking on Brand's contract for a prospect. I'm not convinced enough in Thaddeus Young's future to do it for him but a prospect like Anthony Randolph? That I would consider.

Although, I'd need someone to fill in Ray's role because I wouldn't sacrifice a chance at a title this season.

That´s the big question: Can Daniels fill in for Ray?
He won´t replace what Ray gave us in 2007/08, but maybe the better frontcourt could make up for it, so our chances to win it all this year increase, because right now, we`re not on the 07/08 level, even with Ray on the team. If we believe in Daniels, then we need a replacement for him, not for Ray.

Anyway, all this is moot if you consider the possibility of a three-way trade, (maybe with Portland, who need big men) because it means more options, of course.
Maybe GSW is willing to take Young + "insert trade chip here" for Randolph?

[Who]

I would consider taking on Brand's contract for a prospect. I'm not convinced enough in Thaddeus Young's future to do it for him but a prospect like Anthony Randolph? That I would consider.

Although, I'd need someone to fill in Ray's role because I wouldn't sacrifice a chance at a title this season.

That´s the big question: Can Daniels fill in for Ray?
He won´t replace what Ray gave us in 2007/08, but maybe the better frontcourt could make up for it. If we believe in Daniels, then we need a replacement for him, not for Ray.

I'm not confident enough in Daniels to do that. I don't want to put another non-shooter in that starting lineup ... it would need to be a terrific player in other areas (Iggy) for me to do that which Daniels is not. Solid all-round game, yes. Excellent, no.

Edit: The prospect changes the situation. A guy like Thaddeus Young is a good 35 minute a night player already. Someone like Anthony Randolph, well he's injured but even if he was healthy he isn't much of a player in the present tense.

I don't see Elton Brand as a significant upgrade in the frontcourt. I don't see him offsetting a loss a major loss on the perimeter.

[Timdawgg]

The more I keep reading, the more I feel like I NEED IGUODALA here. Iggy or BUST, who is with me???

[Casperian]

I would consider taking on Brand's contract for a prospect. I'm not convinced enough in Thaddeus Young's future to do it for him but a prospect like Anthony Randolph? That I would consider.

Although, I'd need someone to fill in Ray's role because I wouldn't sacrifice a chance at a title this season.

That´s the big question: Can Daniels fill in for Ray?
He won´t replace what Ray gave us in 2007/08, but maybe the better frontcourt could make up for it. If we believe in Daniels, then we need a replacement for him, not for Ray.

I'm not confident enough in Daniels to do that. I don't want to put another non-shooter in that starting lineup ... it would need to be a terrific player in other areas (Iggy) for me to do that which Daniels is not. Solid all-round game, yes. Excellent, no.

(Edited the quoted post.)

Hmm, to be honest, I haven´t thought about that, but you´re right. That would be a problem, indeed. Although, I wouldn´t call Ray an "excellent" player, either. Not anymore.

The factors I´ve considered are:

A) we need help for the short-term, especially in the frontcourt
B) we can´t expect a superstar, not even an Iggy-type talent, for Ray´s contract. It´s possible, but not realistic
C) Ray´s contract is only valuable for bad teams, and most of them already cleaned the house, which leaves a very short list of potential trade partners
D) If we trade Ray, it´s mandatory to include Rasheed, imho
E) The trade should be realistic, but bring back the most talent possible

So, looking through our potential trade partners for Ray´s contract, this one seemed to make a lot of sense.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.