A trade that would help both teams (76ers & Magic)

[JSD]

The 76ers went into the season thinking they could contend for a playoff spot, but the organization has changed their stance writes Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News.

"Their strategy seems to have changed from "we can win with this group" to "we want to see what we have and make changes." They, meaning president Rod Thorn to general manager Ed Stefanski and on down through the front-office guys to Collins, all realize that this is not a team that they are going to try and tweak to make the playoffs. It appears they believe that a player added here or there really isn't going to make a difference," Cooney wrote.

The 76ers lost their first game of the season to the Heat on Wednesday night.

Via Philadelphia Daily News

76ers
Brand
AI
Nocioni

for

Magic
Lewis
Carter
1st rounder


The Magic get the slasher they were hoping for in AI, a solid PF who could return to best form next to Dwight.

C - Howard
PF - Brand
SF - AI
SG - Redick
PG - Nelson

Key Role Players

4/5 - Gortat
2/3 - Pietrus


The 76ers get out of Elton Brand, and go into rebuilding mode with a solid young core and financial flexibility. This trade is really about freeing themselves of obligations and moving forward with Turner.

C - Hawes
PF - Young
SF - Lewis
SG - Turner
PG - Holiday

[Chris]

Interesting.  I like it from both sides.  I don't think it would ever happen, but I still like it.  Very bold, and certainly risky, but also has very high reward potential. 

I actually think the Magic are going to be a team to watch on the trade front this year.  I think they should, and will, try very hard to upgrade Carter by taking on some longer term salary.

[JSD]

Interesting.  I like it from both sides.  I don't think it would ever happen, but I still like it.  Very bold, and certainly risky, but also has very high reward potential. 

I actually think the Magic are going to be a team to watch on the trade front this year.  I think they should, and will, try very hard to upgrade Carter by taking on some longer term salary.

With a looming CBA, and the high amount of money being exchanged, you're probably right.

I agree, VC is not the player they thought they were getting and I think they're going to look to move him. After I read about the 76ers on Realgm, I thought about different possibilities. This was one of them anyway.

[BballTim]

  Brand and AI are both players that would make Howard less effective.

[JSD]

 Brand and AI are both players that would make Howard less effective.

Why do you say that?

Brand has decent range on his jumpshot, and I think AI and Howard would have incredible chemistry. Howard would make plays for AI. His mere presence in the paint means his defender can't sag off to help if Iguodala gets by his defender. That means Iguodala will have clear vision of the floor, plenty of passing lanes and even some scoring lanes.

[Who]

That would make Orlando significantly worse. They'd no longer be a contender.

[BballTim]

 Brand and AI are both players that would make Howard less effective.

Why do you say that?

Brand has decent range on his jumpshot, and I think AI and Howard would have incredible chemistry. Howard would make plays for AI. His mere presence in the paint means his defender can't sag off to help if Iguodala gets by his defender. That means Iguodala will have clear vision of the floor, plenty of passing lanes and even some scoring lanes.

  Brand takes about 80% of his shots from inside 15 feet. He doesn't come close to spacing the floor like Lewis does. They don't want DH to pass the ball out of the post for a long 2. I don't think AI spreads the floor like VC does, and I don't think he's a great spot up shooter.

[the_Bird]

If Philly's motivation is to shed salary and start rebuilding, do they really take back Rashard Lewis' contract?  

Elton Brand costs Philly three more years at a total of $51M.

Rashard Lewis would be on Philly's books for those same three years, but at a total of $64M.  That's $13M to the negative for Philly.

Paying Vince Carter for this season costs Philly $17M, versus paying Nooch for this season $7M.  Both expire after this season.  That's another $10M in the red for Philly.

So, what's the benefit?  To get out from Iggy's contract?  Iggy's on the books for another 4 seasons at about $14M per.  

So, to get out of paying Iggy the 4/$56M he's owed, you take on an extra $23M (the amount more that Lewis earns over Brand, and that Carter earned over Nooch).  

Doesn't seem like all that much in real cash savings.  Not enough, at least.

I also personally believe that they might be able to unload Iggy in basically a salary dump at some point, if they REALLY wanted to get out from his deal.  He's overpaid, but it's far from the most egregious contract in the world.  I don't see them needing to take on Rashard Lewis' contract (which might *be* the most egregious) in order to unload him.

[Change]

Don't the Magic already have an Elton Brand type of player (Brandon Bass) Discounted. And Andre Iguodala is a spacing killer. With all his problems last season, Vince Carter is still a star player. He is off to a great start this season too.

The reason why Magic system works great is the spacing. With all the shooters they have starting and coming off the bench, teams can't double team Howard. If he gets doubled their shooters make you pay. Take the shooters out and the Magic become one dimensional and much easier to game-plan against.

Tp, Interesting trade

[JSD]

Why dump AI when you can use him to upgrade Brand to Lewis, instantly free up playing time for your star rookie and get a 1st rounder?

The thing that really hurt the Magic in the past couple of postseasons has been their offense in the half court set. I think this trade would help them solve that problem.

Does anyone have a trade involving these teams that they think would make more sense?

[Who]

Orlando have three power forwards better than Elton Brand in Rashard Lewis, Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson.

If the Magic did make this trade, they'd be best off keeping Brand glued to the bench and starting Ryan Anderson at the four with Bass as first choice backup. Ryan Anderson's shooting ability and scoring ability being a better fit alongside Iggy and Dwight than Bass's superior defense.

[Who]

PG -- Jrue Holiday
SG -- Evan Turner
SF -- Vince Carter
PF -- Thaddeus Young
C -- Rashard Lewis

Ugly lineup but I think that would work best in the short term for Phily.

Unfortunately, Lewis and Young would be their best big man defensive combination. Speights is too weak defensively to function effectively alongside an undersized PF + Hawes is an empty shirt. Speights would be more effective as a sixth man where he could go up against some less talented offensive/defensive players.

Then focus on moving Thaddeus Young for a center. Someone like Marcin Gortat would be ideal. Slide Rashard back the four and keep the three perimeter starters.