76ers Trade Rumors

"WHO'S No. 1? If the question is whether Andre Iguodala is the No. 1 player around whom the 76ers will build their future, the answer remains more than somewhat hazy. If the question is whether Iguodala, as a restricted free agent, is president/general manager Eddie Stefanski's No. 1 priority, the answer is unequivocally yes. In a teleconference yesterday with reporters, Stefanski said Iguodala, " . . . is a very good basketball player. I think - I know - he's a guy we'd like to keep, going forward here. "Now, negotiations are negotiations," Stefanski said. "What I've said numerous times is, we're trying to get a 'team.' We're not built to run [the Detroit Pistons'] style, but if we can get a team like that and have a style we'd like to play, which is an up-tempo style, that would be our goal.""

"Ed Stefanski said he has a number of off-season priorities, but deciding the future of 76ers point guard Andre Miller isn't at the top of the list. That doesn't mean the Sixers' president and general manager doesn't value Miller's huge contributions. It's just that because Miller is signed through the 2008-2009 season and can't be a free agent until afterward, Stefanski can focus on other issues. At some point, however, Miller's future will have to be addressed both by him and the team, because the decision will affect many of the other decisions the team is going to make this summer."

"Here are some off-season decisions that Stefanski will have to make: Andre Miller On Friday, Miller, the point guard, said he didn't know if he would like to stay with the team after his contract runs out next season. He will be paid nearly $10 million for the 2008-09 season. Miller is 32 and doesn't have the game that will decline swiftly because it's based on intelligence more than sheer athletic ability. The most important thing is whether Miller wants to stay. After speaking Friday, he gave the impression he wants to see the improvements before making a commitment."

"Stefanski obviously is not tipping his hand as to whom he will pursue. But it has been mentioned that forward Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks, a restricted free agent, could be someone the Sixers would like."

"Back in October, it seemed ludicrous that Andre Iguodala would turn down a contract extension for five years and $57 million."

"Brand also maintained he intends to be a Clipper next season. He again fell just short of saying he will not use his opt-out clause and test free agency. Brand is believed to still be wavering on whether to opt out of the final year of his contract in which he is due $16.4 million. Few teams, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Grizzlies among them, are expected to have enough salary-cap space to sign a high-profile free agent."

"Although the Bulls believe they need an upgrade over Kirk Hinrich, the belief is they'd go for Beasley if they got first pick and Rose if they got the second... This Bulls team needs to be more like the Celtics of last season: package the pick with one or two players and perhaps pick up a veteran point guard like Andre Miller. I could also see them pursuing a star player in perhaps a sign-and-trade with Washington for Gilbert Arenas, sort of a go-for-broke summer. Perhaps Elton Brand tells the Clippers he won't re-sign and the Clippers cash in for a package that includes Hinrich, Andres Nocioni and the Bulls' first pick. And if Nene gets healthy, the Nuggets have to move someone."

"He wants to be a franchise player. He wants to be paid accordingly. But he walked away from a $57 million contract extension. And his team is 28-33. And that has observers all around the NBA wondering exactly where that leaves the 76ers' Andre Iguodala as he approaches restricted free agency this summer."

"In a move that had been expected, the 76ers waived Gordan Giricek yesterday, two months to the day after they got him from the Utah Jazz with a first-round pick for Kyle Korver. Giricek, who was acquired Dec. 29, is expected to sign with the Phoenix Suns after clearing waivers."

"Bygones, Brent Barry. Greetings, Gordan Giricek. Barry told Suns General Manager Steve Kerr on Thursday night that he would re-sign with San Antonio despite a tempting role offer in Phoenix."

"In the end, Brent Barry just couldn’t leave home. Barry told Suns general manager Steve Kerr late Thursday evening he intends to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs when he is able to do so next month... The Philadelphia Daily News reported the 76ers are willing to release Giricek as long as he signs with a Western Conference team, and that his direction is Phoenix."

"As long as Giricek is waived before midnight Saturday, he will be playoff-eligible if he signs with another team. The source indicated that, as of now, his likely destination is Phoenix, although that hinges on a decision coming from veteran Brent Barry, recently waived by Seattle after being traded there by San Antonio."

"Gordan Giricek, who has seen scant playing time since being acquired by the 76ers for Kyle Korver on Dec. 29, has been given permission to seek a deal - with a few provisions. An NBA source said yesterday the Sixers would be willing to allow Giricek to leave if he can join a team that has a chance to make the Western Conference playoffs."

"The Suns failed to make a trade before Thursday’s 1 p.m. deadline. Efforts to acquire Los Angeles Clippers guard Quenton Ross did not pan out... The Suns would prefer keep an eye out for players who might get bought out of their contracts. Potential buyout candidates could be Brent Barry, who was dealt from San Antonio to Seattle in the Kurt Thomas trade; Gordan Giricek of Philadelphia; and Tyronn Lue, was traded to Sacramento in the Mike Bibby deal."

"If there's a trade for the 76ers to make before today's NBA in-season deadline, Eddie Stefanski insisted before the start of last night's game against the New York Knicks that he wasn't aware of it."

"The 76ers and coach Maurice Cheeks are closing in on a contract extension. An NBA source said last night that both sides have been in negotiations regarding a new deal, one that appears imminent."

"A source familiar with the situation confirmed that Stefanski is on the verge of finalizing a contract extension for Maurice Cheeks."

"With tomorrow's 3 p.m. trade deadline looming, the 76ers continue to get calls about Andre Miller. According to a league source, the Sixers have been telling teams that they are not interested in shopping the point guard."

"Several point guards reportedly are available, including Philadelphia's Andre Miller, Memphis' Kyle Lowry, Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley and Portland's Jarrett Jack. Memphis swingman Mike Miller also is considered available, though Riley downplayed that possibility last week."

"And after trading Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz for the expiring contract of Gordan Giricek and a first-round pick, the Sixers seemed content to ride out the string and be ready for the summer with about $10 million in salary-cap space and another lottery pick. The only issue seemed to be if some team would make an enticing enough offer to acquire veteran point guard Andre Miller."

"Meanwhile, the Nets will continue to wheel until Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline. Sources throughout the league say Kiki Vandeweghe is generating a heated rush of discussions involving Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Miller and Nene... With Kidd apparently spoken for, the player drawing the most attention from promising title contenders is Philly's Andre Miller. Nuggets, Cavaliers and Rockets are sincere suitors - Celtics feel they're first in line for Sam Cassell - but not serious enough to offer more than expiring contracts and a first-round pick in the 20s."

"According to several league sources, the Cavs are involved in discussions with a handful of teams. They have looked into acquiring point guard Andre Miller of the Philadelphia 76ers and shooting guard Mike Miller of the Memphis Grizzlies, among others. But neither is assured of being traded and if the Cavs get into bidding wars with other teams, they are not in a good position because they don't have very attractive trade assets."

"The rumors that the Sixers are interested in Sacramento's Ron Artest won't amount to anything, according to a person familiar with both teams. . . . One basketball source suggested that Denver is showing interest in Seattle guard Delonte West, the former St. Joseph's star."

"The Lakers are said to be looking hard for a more traditional small forward with shooting range. Perhaps the Wizards' Caron Butler, who was injured and couldn't play in Sunday's All-Star Game... The Spurs don't make many major moves, but they are looking to deal Francisco Elson. The SuperSonics have had enough of their French connection and are offering Johan Petro and Mickael Gelabale. Seattle also would like to move Wally Szczerbiak and Damien Wilkins... The Rockets would like to be rid of Bonzi Wells. The 76ers are offering Gordan Giricek... And Ben Gordon's nameis another that has made the rumor rounds. "

"The 76ers are interested in point guard Kyle Lowry. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer source, the 76ers were among several teams discussing a trade with Memphis for Lowry, who was a high school star in Philadelphia at Cardinal Dougherty and played two seasons at Villanova."

"Maurice Cheeks' contract expires after the season. He has no assurances from the 76ers' management that he will get an extension for next season and beyond, which in a sense makes him a lame-duck coach."

"An ESPN.com report said the Sixers were among the teams interested in Lowry. A league source confirmed last night that the Grizzlies were shopping Lowry, and that the Sixers were one of the teams they had called. The source said it would be surprising, however, if anything materialized with the Sixers."

" No, the Mavs don't need Jason Kidd, because breaking up the core of the team to acquire him defeats the purpose. But Donnie Nelson and Mark Cuban had better be working the phones day and night to add a point guard – the Los Angeles Clippers' Sam Cassell or Philadelphia's Andre Miller would fit nicely – to the roster or this postseason will be every bit as disappointing as last season's embarrassing debacle."

"Sure, they'll consider Artest. It's hard to disregard the availability of one of the NBA's better defenders. But Artest is looking to sign for, likely, a $13 million-per-year contract this summer. Denver doesn't have the cap room for that (keep your eye on Philadelphia). So if the Nuggets deal for Artest, they will have to deal Linas Kleiza, who is playing well and still on his first contract, and maybe the 2008 draft pick, who if Denver kept, would, obviously, also be on his first contract."

"So word on the street is Larry Brown wants back into coaching. Any chance of seeing Larry on the bench next year?"

"It may turn out that Stefanski decides the smart move is to trade Miller for pieces of that future puzzle. That would be a shame, because right now, Miller is playing terrific basketball and serving as precisely the leader this young team needs to follow."

"When Denver sent Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round picks to the Sixers for Allen Iverson in December 2007, Miller was upset and remains so to this day. With his name being mentioned in numerous trade rumors, he's aware that there's a possibility he'll be dealt again."

"That's also why Miller has been in demand leading up to the trade deadline Feb. 21. Team president and general manager Ed Stefanski has insisted that he's not shopping Miller. Miller said he doesn't expect the rumors to stop now that he's won this honor."

"What you won’t miss are the near constant rumors that Miller is on the trading block. He tries to tune that out, but after being traded three times he knows anything is possible. Cleveland has been one rumored destination, and Denver, the team the Sixers acquired him from, is also reportedly looking for a point guard."

"Chicago general manager John Paxson said yesterday that, despite published speculation, the Bulls have not shown interest in Larry Brown as a possible coach in their future."

"General manager John Paxson denied a published report the Bulls have expressed interest in Larry Brown. In an interview on WMVP-AM 1000, Brown confirmed he hadn't talked to the Bulls and wouldn't speculate on his interest in the job, saying it's unfair to the current coach."

"Bulls general manager John Paxson refuted a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday that said longtime NBA coach Larry Brown 'has drawn interest' from the Bulls. Paxson reiterated that interim coach Jim Boylan, whom Paxson promoted after firing Scott Skiles on Christmas Eve, has the job at least until the end of the season."

"An NBA source said yesterday that Sixers executive vice president Larry Brown has drawn interest as a candidate for the Chicago Bulls' head coaching job."

"Q: Does trading (veteran point guard) Andre Miller make sense by the deadline? A: I have not called anyone to inquire what they would give us for Andre Miller — not one call have I made. "

"The only young player the Cavs have that is desired by the rest of the league is Daniel Gibson, who James calls his younger brother. He is not going anywhere. Other than James, the player teams would want the most in a trade is Anderson Varejao, and he cannot be traded under league rules...?Though the Cavs would like to have either one, the word going around the NBA is that neither Mike Miller of the Memphis Grizzlies or Andre Miller of the Philadelphia 76ers are being made available at this point."

"Until someone can offer a starting quality replacement at the position, I'm not so sure that keeping Miller isn't the best option. I see no reason why he couldn't play at this level through 2008-09, when he also will represent a $10 million expiring contract. Also, when it comes time to wheel and deal this summer, he will represent an enticing asset to a suitor likely to win big much sooner than the Sixers."

"In recent days, I have asked people in a position to know about speculation of interest from Phoenix and Toronto in Andre Iguodala and interest from Cleveland in Gordan Giricek. In each case, I have been told there is nothing there."

"The Hall of Fame coach said he would like to coach again in some capacity, but he doesn't want the Sixers' post. 'I don't want Mo's job. I have said that,' Brown said about Maurice Cheeks. "

"The Chicago Tribune speculated yesterday about a trade of Miller for the Bulls' Kirk Hinrich, but an NBA source said the two teams had not discussed a deal."

"An item in the Akron Beacon Journal suggested that the Cleveland Cavaliers may be interested in Sixers guard Gordan Giricek, but a source said yesterday that the Cavaliers have yet to contact the Sixers."

"Translation: If the Sixers trade Andre Miller or anybody else — Stefanski said 'there's nothing in the works right now' — he'll be looking for somebody to help the team long-term, as opposed to a guy in the last year of a contract... A report in Sunday's Akron Beacon Journal cited a league source as saying Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry 'has shown interest in shooting guard Gordan Giricek.'"

"So Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal is supposed to go next—and for next to nothing, assuming he comes back from a knee injury. Then goes Jason Kidd, though I seriously doubt the Bulls will get him. And when he is traded, it's clear the Nets won't get much, not after what Memphis and Minnesota received for Gasol and Garnett... Denver, which is now sending feelers to the Clippers about Sam Cassell, seemingly has to move on a point guard with the league's third-biggest payroll and paying the second-highest luxury tax."

"Amid all the speculation that the Wachovia Spectrum is in its final days, the Philadelphia 76ers are about to pay tribute to the building by playing a game in their old barn, the Daily Times has learned."

"The chances of the Sixers trading Andre Miller probably decreased when Nets point guard Jason Kidd announced his trade request last week."

"But Ferry is expected to continue to try to push through a deal before the trade deadline in three weeks. He might turn his sights to another Grizzly, shooting guard Mike Miller... Ferry also probably will monitor the Philadelphia 76ers and their intentions with point guard Andre Miller. "