All 76ers fans wish that Elton Brand would be dealt. However, with three years and a contract worth over $50 million remaining, it seems impossible for this to happen. But in an off-season where some teams are doing everything they can to win; there could be a potential suitor out there. Enter the Orlando Magic.

The Magic have added Chris Duhon this off-season, and well, that’s about it. They would likely lose to Boston in the playoffs, and realistically, the Miami Heat would eat them alive. For all the trade talk surrounding Gilbert Arenas, perhaps Orlando could look towards Elton Brand, as power forward is a position of need. A potential trade idea could be sending Brand, along with Thaddeus Young to Orlando for Vince Carter and Brandon Bass. Bass would replace Brand down low, and Young would make the deal a little more enticing for Orlando to take on Brand’s contract.

Brand could then join Dwight Howard in the post area, and then Rashard Lewis could move back to his initial small forward position. For Philadelphia, it would rid them of the Elton Brand contract that will haunt the team for the next few years. Plus, it would probably be best for Thaddeus Young to try his skills on a new team. The window for this Orlando team is closing, and they need to do something. And Philadelphia needs to keep going in the right direction, and rid themselves of the roadblock.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

I am aware that the 76ers traded Sam Dalembert quite some time ago, but it has been bothering me as of late. I firmly believe that this was an absolutely terrible trade. No, not because Dalembert really possesses any talent. He is a good shot-blocker and can rebound, but his laziness, ability to complain, foul trouble, inconsistency, and more takes his positives and turns them into huge negatives.

Philadelphia fans had to watch him stink up the joint for eight seasons, so what is one more to fans? More importantly, he has a large expiring contract. Now the 76ers got a mediocre young center in Spencer Hawes, and a role player in Andres Nocioni. What will it get them? This team is still a few years away from remotely competing for anything. If Dalembert’s contract just flat out expired, the 76ers would have had a humungous amount of cap space next summer. Sure 76ers fans do not want another Elton Brand signing, but the team could have slowly used its cap space and got players that fit their future plans.

Alternatively, they could have traded Dalembert for a good player next season. All-Star caliber players are often traded mid-season for expiring contracts, such as Pau Gasol and Kevin Martin. For example, Philadelphia could have entered the Al Jefferson sweepstakes (or whatever a lesser version of sweepstakes are) with Dalembert’s large expiring deal. So instead of acquiring an all-star at some point, the 76ers got a soft young center, and a veteran role player. Nocioni would help out a team that is competing, but what will he do for the team this season? He will just hit 3-pointers for a team poised to miss the playoffs.

For years, 76ers fans wanted Dalembert gone. But management should have waited it out this time.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

The Philadelphia 76ers greatly struggled in attendance last season, and the 2010-2011 season will likely be no different. In recent e-mails sent out to season ticket holders, the following message was sent:

“”Pick out the Best Seats to see Evan Turner & Jrue Holiday take on the NBA’s best!”

No, that does not mean that Andre Iguodala is being traded. It just shows that the team is trying to steer away from the mediocrity that has been haunting Philadelphia basketball for the last eight years or so. If Iguodala and/or Brand were advertised, it would just remind fans of the misery. But advertising this backcourt is something for fans to look forward to. Or at least the few who show up to the games.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

After drafting Evan Turner, the 76ers added yet another young gun to their loaded roster (that always leads to mediocrity). But despite the fact that they look mediocre, this team has a potentially bright future. However, two men may be blocking that bright future. One is Andre Iguodala, and the other is Elton Brand. Imagine if the 76ers didn’t have those two? The starting lineup would include Spencer Hawes, Marreese Speights, Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner, and Jrue Holiday. That would be an incredibly young and exciting lineup. Would the team do worse? Yes. But it is not exactly like an NBA Championship is coming their way anyway.

If this were the lineup, many positives would come out of it. First of all, Philadelphia would have a ton of cap room. That is not realistic though, as you cannot just dump these contracts for nothing. But suppose they got dumped for expiring deals. Philadelphia would have loads of cap room in the future to use however they wanted. Also, these five young guys would be playing together, and maturing together. There would be nobody like Iguodala hogging shots from them, and they would get the playing time necessary to fully grow.

There is no way of trading Elton Brand. And we all know Philadelphia has always overvalued Iguodala. But if there is a way to move one or both of these guys, it needs to be done.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

On Thursday night’s NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers made Evan Turner the second overall pick. Despite rumors that the team was focusing on Favors, it seemed clear all along that Turner was Philadelphia’s man. Turner will give Philadelphia much needed help in all aspects, especially scoring.

Some 76ers fans were disappointed that no other moves were made. There is a logjam on the roster, and some moves need to be made. All 76ers fans can do now is hope and pray that something is done.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

According to Chad Ford, the 76ers have agreed to trade Sam Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

Yesterday, Philadelphia 76ers general manager Ed Stefanski did an online chat with 76ers fans around the globe. Surprisingly, he answered some interesting questions. He stated that the only way the team would trade the #2 pick is if it was involved in a blockbuster deal. To read the Q & A chat, check out the link below.

http://www.nba.com/sixers/chat/stefanski_100615.html

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

76ers fans around the globe (or the 10,000 that are located in Philadelphia) have their sights set on next Thursday’s NBA draft. That is when the 76ers will likely select Evan Turner to become a franchise cornerstone. But lost in the conversation is last year’s first-round pick, Jrue Holiday. Holiday got more playing time in his rookie year than Marreese Speights and Thaddeus Young did, who were the first-round picks the years before Holiday.

But if the 76ers were smart, Holiday would be starting next year. Even though he is still raw and developing, he needs adequate playing time. Lou Williams is just not cut out to be a starting point guard. With his shoot-first mentality and scoring ability, he is far better served as a sixth or seventh man. Even though Holiday just turned 20, he would still be the better starting option.

Thaddeus Young was able to have a very successful sophomore season in this league because the team increased his minutes by over 13 per game. Marreese Speights showed minimal improvement in his second season, largely due to the fact that he did not see an increase in minutes. But both have been mishandled, as Young has not been given the chance to get a lot of shots, and Speights did not see any increase in minutes last year.

Assuming Philadelphia does not screw up and they draft Evan Turner, he has all the makings to be a star. And if Holiday is a starting point guard at the young age of 20, the sky could be the limit for him. For a team that does not have much to look forward to, there could be a dynamic backcourt in a few years for many years to come. Unless management screws it all up.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

Philadelphia 76ers fans (or whatever is left of them) always have mixed opinions on Andre Iguodala. Some think that he is under appreciated, while others think that he is overrated. Many believe that he is overpaid, while others think his contract is justified. But the fact is that he will be making over $12 million each of the next four seasons.

There is no denying that Iguodala is a good player. He can score, shoot, pass, and play defense. But while his defensive game should never be called into question, his offense game should. Iguodala has the mindset that he is a top-flight scorer. It was clear when Iverson returned that Iguodala kept chucking up shots, to try to get the point across that Philadelphia is his team. He may technically be the best player on the team, but that is why they have the #2 pick.

Barring a disaster, Evan Turner will be in Philadelphia. Iguodala should not take his development away. By the time the 76ers can actually become good, Iguodala’s contract will be up anyway. He is just preventing other players from reaching their potential. Iguodala has reached his, and it’s nothing better than being an all-star caliber player. He would work better on a team with stars above him, so Iguodala could know his role, and only do what he is good at doing.

Clearly, the 76ers need to rebuild. Jrue Holiday has potential to be good, but it is too soon to tell. Thaddeus Young does not mesh well with Iguodala, so one needs to be dealt. Dalembert is (thankfully) entering the last year of his contract. Speights seemed to look worse last year, especially after his injury. This team needs to just reboot itself, and trade away all the long-term deals that it can.

Philadelphia management doesn’t get anything right, but hopefully they do here. Trade Iguodala while he still has value.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

New Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins wants a “speedy” lineup for next season. A lineup that would put Elton Brand at center, Thaddeus Young at power forward, and Andre Iguodala at small forward is being considered. This would be a pretty stupid move. First of all, Elton Brand should be traded at all cost; even at the expense of trading the #2 pick. He is simply making too much money over the next three years, and the young core the 76ers have right now will not develop into a winning team.

But shifting focus back onto the potential lineup, it sounds like a terrible idea. Sam Dalembert does more harm than good, but he at least provides somewhat of a defensive presence. With this small lineup, Philadelphia would get killed inside the paint. Opponents would grab far more rebounds, and be far more dominant inside. Here’s a message to Doug Collins. Coaches like Mo Cheeks, Jim O’Brien, Randy Ayers, and Eddie Jordan haven’t gotten it done. Don’t join that list too soon.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network