Free agency time has begun and I want Josh Smith. He runs the floor, defends, and can shoot. Perfect fit for our style of play. Not the biggest guy (6'-9", 235), so we'll still be a little undersized at the 4, but his versatility and shot blocking ability make up for his lack of typical 4 height. Plus, with that squad I will be unbeatable in NBA 2K9.
Some other affordable unrestricted FA notables that I like in a Sixers jersey:
Chris Duhon - backup PG with the Duke pedigree
Matt Barnes - old Sixer comes back with new game (and new tattoos)
Mickael Pietrus - solid defender w/ 3pt range
Jamaal Magloire - one time All Star could be nice off the bench at the 5 spot
I have to add Shaun Livingston to this list and highlight the reason why. Even though his knee injury was horrific, possibly the most gruesome example of a human knee collapsing next to Joe Theisman, I still think he has a tremendous "upside" and great "length" (special thanks to Jay Bilas for the use of these terms). He's a tall PG that has nasty handles and court vision like Magic. Additionally, I think that he'd be a perfect successor to Andre Miller and a nice compliment to Sweet Lou Williams in a youthful and skillful backcourt.
You gotta love the lineup of Miller, Igoudala, Young, J Smooth, and Dalembert for the next 3 or 4 years. Livingston, Lou, Carney, Speights, Green, Barnes and Magloire off the bench. Bring Kyle Korver back and that's a team that sure would be entertaining to watch. We could even trade Miller, rumor is he would like to play for a contender (back to Cleveland perhaps), to free up more cap space for Korver or add another pick to next year's draft.
Bottom line is that the offseason is only a success if we get a major player like Smith. In fact, J Smooth is probably the Sixers only option if you consider some of the alternatives. Elton Brand is not likely to leave the Clip joint, especially since they are close to inking Baron Davis. Omeka Okafor is a defensive force, however, he's not enough of an offensive presence. Loul Deng has a killer mid range game but doesn't crash the boards enough for my liking. Ben Gordon is instant offense at the shooting guard position, however, Chicago is unlikely to let him go.
Even though J Smooth is a restricted free agent and Atlanta can match any offer, we have to put the full court press on him and his team of advisors. By all means, take them out on a Cheesesteak run, take them to a Phillies game and top it off with the VIP treatment at Deliliah's Den. If we don't succeed at convincing Smith and his crew that Philly is the place to be, then it will undoubtedly be another year of mediocrity for the Sixers.
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