On The Sidelines 08.20.08: The Other AI and Ben Gordon

Posted by Porfirio Diaz on 08.20.2008

Sixers re-sign Andre Iguodala, but at what price? How about an approximate $80 million for the next six years. Will giving Iguodala that crazy amount of money pay off well for the Sixers and their future? Plus, Ben Gordon thinks he's done with the Bulls. He wants more money but he's crazy if he thinks he's more valuable than he's worth.

From last week in the comment section:

Wheres the Rise of the Sixers? did I miss it? Is it coming up? They deserve a story just as much as the Hawks.

Then let it be so.


Inside The Lines

Andre Iguodala officially re-signs with Sixers

Andre Iguodala, who helped the Philadelphia 76ers reach the playoffs for the first time in three years, was rewarded Monday with the official announcement of a six-year contract worth a reported $80 million…The 24-year-old swingman could have played this season under the terms of a one-year, $3.8 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next year. When Philadelphia signed forward Elton Brand away from the Los Angeles Clippers, it became evident that keeping Iguodala was vital. "We clearly wanted Andre in a Sixers uniform," Stefanski said. Iguodala was the ninth overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. He averaged 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals in 82 games last season. (Source: ESPN.com)

So last week, I talked about how the Hawks scored big time at getting back Josh Smith at a bargain price. With the Sixers' latest signing…not so much.

Let's compare the two signings:

Josh Smith (22 years old): 5 year, $58 million ($11.6 million/year) - Career stats: 13.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.5 BPG
Andre Iguodala (24 years old): 6-year, $71 million w/ $9 million in incentives ($80 million total, 13.3 million/year) - Career stats: 14.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.4 BPG

Both have had good careers but the Sixers paid $22 million more for Iguodala than what the Hawks paid for Josh Smith. Iguodala may be a better scorer and a much better passer but Josh Smith is the better overall player. Yet Iguodala gets $22 million more than Smith does. I don't know if that says something about the Sixers desperation to be noteworthy again or Smith's contract negotiation skills. Iguodala is good but $80 million good?

Ok, I'll be fair. Hawks got the break of a lifetime when Smith accepted the Grizzles contract offer. It was only natural that the Hawks matched it at that price. Sixers didn't have that luxury. Either they pay him mucho dollars or watch him walk away in return for nothing. Sixers had to do it. They couldn't lose their most important piece of last year's playoff run and certainly not after the team pulled off a major move in signing Elton Brand. Plus with European teams throwing money to NBA players like they were Adam Pacman Jones in a "script" club, the Sixers couldn't bear the thought of losing another talented "AI".

But $80 million?

*That's too much*

Let's put the salary aside for a minute and look at the positives. Because I'm all about the positives.

He's only 24 and continues to improve each year. The 2006-07 season was a year that was notable for Iggy since he was one of 4 players (along with Kobe, LeBron, and T-Mac) to average as much as 18 point, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Add in the fact that he has averaged over 2 steals per game the last two years and there's no doubt he'll continue to improve those numbers again. That was without major inside presence too. Add Brand to the mix this year and he's guaranteed to get more looks and more chances to score. I've heard that he's was constantly working on his jumper this season and if that's true, his shooting percentage should improve with those extra looks. I would just leave the 3-point shooting at home, Iggy.

Plus, the Sixers are set or at least they think they are. They wouldn't have given Iggy all that money if they didn't know what they were getting. Obviously, the team believes that having Iggy on board equals great success. Sure, they might have to pay the luxury tax in a few years, but the point is clear: Sixers want to win now. I'm sure Sixerfan would agree. The team's strong push to re-sign Iguodala sends a great message to the fans that want to see a winning product on the floor not seen since Allen Iverson's day in Philly. Now they have the younger AI signed for 6 years and should look for a much improved team during his tenure in Philly.

PG: Andre Miller, SG: Andre Iguodala, SF: Thaddeus Young, PF: Elton Brand, C: Samuel Dalembret

Not only did the Sixers fill a huge hole in their starting lineup with Brand Elton but the bench is improved as well. Louis Williams surprised many last year with his explosiveness off the bench while veterans Kareem Rush and Willie Green add depth to the team, something that was sorely missing last year. Like the Hawks, the Sixers are not ready to compete for a championship anytime soon, but it's a fairly young team that will improve over time. If healthy (especially with Brand's leg), this team looks poised to have a bright future ahead as well. Look for them to have another playoff run next year. They pretty much have to because Eastern Conference = teh stinks.

Just remember Sixerfan. Iggy hasn't done anything that warrants an $80 million contract, so you better hope he lives up to his side of the bargain. Just because he's getting a lot of money doesn't mean he'll be a slam dunk All-Star like player.

Just ask Stephon Marbury. Or at worst, Barry Zito (grrr).


Ben Gordon Claims He's Done in Chicago

Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon won't sign the club's one-year qualifying offer of $6.4 million, setting the stage for a possible departure from the team, The Chicago Tribune reported Saturday."I'm definitely not taking it," Gordon said. "I've already expressed that to them. I mean, that's not an option." As a restricted free agent, Gordon can't force a sign-and-trade, but the Bulls' leading scorer for the last three seasons could sign with a European club. Asked if he believed he'd played his last game for Chicago, Gordon said: "Yeah, I guess that's safe to say." Gordon, who's averaged 18 points a game over four seasons, turned down a five-year, $50 extension last summer. Gordon is believed to be seeking about $72 million, which would put the club into luxury-tax range. (Source: foxsports.com)

Can you believe that he thinks he's better as Allen Iverson (supposedly) and wants to be paid as such?

Talk about an ego inflated balloon.

Gordon has some skills: shooting at a high percentage, sparking energy and points off the bench, and being a decent go-to-guy in the clutch. In addition, he was the first rookie to win the sixth man of the year. That's good for something.

Not good enough for $72 million though and he's crazy if he's worth that much. In other words, he's crazy.

If you want to know, he prefers root canals to contract negotiations. That's pleasant.

One has to wonder why the Bulls would let this negotiation drag on this far into the offseason. I'm sure that's the least of their problems now. They have an unhappy player with no intentions of re-joining with the team and now chemistry between them is all kinds of screwed up. Gordon is expecting more than he's worth and the Bulls are not going to cave in and give him all that money. He has no room to bargain for more money or even to force a sign and trade, and Bulls' management has no reason to increase from their initial offer. I don't think they want another Ben Wallace situation again where they overpay a player far more than he's worth again. Plus, Gordon was the 39th best scorer in the NBA last year and he now expects to be worth over 13 million a year? Wishful thinking.

I say let him go to another team or Europe. Bulls already have a good young nucleus with Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha, Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich (for now), and of course this year's first overall pick Derrick Rose. Are they going to be better without Gordon? Probably not, but his presence and production can be replaced.

You have to wonder what happens with Gordon now. Who else is willing to give him that kind of money besides European teams. I can only think of Memphis as a team who has enough money to pay Gordon while every other team would have to sign and trade for him. But if he does go to Europe, he'll be a top 5 player for sure, despite the move being a step back for him. Don't know if anyone has offered him a contract though. Don't worry, he'll be on a team sooner or later.

One things clear, he wants cash and he wants it NAO~!


Free Agency 2008

This section is going to be a brief look into some of the moves during free agency.

- Grant Hill exercises option with Suns for 2008-2009 season
- Gilbert Arenas opts out of contract with Wizards
- Elton Brand opts out of contract with Clippers, leaves $16.4 million in last year of his deal
- Baron Davis opts out of contract with Warriors, leaves $17.8 million in last year of his deal
- Corey Maggette ops out of contract with Clippers
- Ron Artest declines to opt out of his contract, remains with the Kings
- Jamison, Wizards sign 4 year, $50 million extension
- Kings hold on to Beno Udrich, signs for 5 year, $33.3 million deal
- Baron Davis signs with Clippers, estimated deal worth 5 year, $65 million
- DeSagana Diop gives verbal commitment to sign new contract for Mavericks
- Chris Duhon signs with the Knicks on a two year worth over $11 million contact
- Former slam duck champion Gerald Green signs one year, minimum salary contract with Mavericks
- Chris Paul agrees on four year, $68 million deal extension with Hornets
- Mickael Pietrus reaches a verbal agreement with the Magic, contract details unknown
- Sixers send forward Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, and a future first-round pick to the Timerwolves for a second round pick.
- Elton Brand accepts a five-year, $79.795 million deal from the Sixers
- Corey Maggette accepts a five year deal, worth around $50 million.
- Pacers and Raptors officially complete trade, sending Jermaine O'Neal and the rights to Nathan Jawai to Toronto while Indiana obtains T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and the rights to Roy Hibbert
- James Jones signs five-year deal worth more than $23.2 million
- Celtics sign Patrick O'Bryant for a one-year deal
- Marc Gasol signs three year, $9.72 million deal with the Grizzlies
- Los Angeles Clippers renounce their rights to free agents Shaun Livingston, Dan Dickau, Boniface Ndong, Smush Parker, and James Singleton
- Raptors re-sign Jose Calderon to five-year, approximate $45 million contract
- Brent Barry signs 2 year contract with the Houston Rockets
- Roger Mason sign a two-year deal, worth less than $8 million with the Spurs
- Bucks signs Andrew Bogut to five-year, $60 million extension
- Gilbert Arenas signs six year, $111 million contract with the Wizards
- The Clippers agreed to terms on a deal with the Denver Nuggets to acquire center Marcus Camby for only a second round pick
- Magic signs Anthony Johnson, contract details unknown
- Warriors signs Anthony Randolph
- Nets sign Eduardo Najera
- Cavs sign Daniel Gibson to five-year extension, financial terms were not disclosed
- Celtics sign Patrick O'Bryant
- Bucks signs Tyronn Lue and Malik Allen
- L.A. Clippers sign Kelenna Azubuike to offer sheet, a three-year $9 million deal
- Warriors signs Ronny Turiaf
- Knicks sign Anthony Roberson for two years, worth more than $1.6 million
- James Posey leaves Celtics, signs 4-year $25 million deal with the Hornets
- Deron Williams signs 4-year, $70 million extension with the Jazz
- Eddie House and Tony Allen agree to remain with the Celtics, reportedly a 2 year deal worth over $2 million
- Nets acquired Keyon Dooling from the Magic in exchange for cash and the trade exception the Nets got in the deal that send Jason Kidd to the Mavs
- Spurs re-sign Kurt Thomas, contract details unknown
- Nets trade Marcus Williams to the Warriors for a conditional first round pick
- Jazz acquires Brevin Knight from the Clippers for Jason Hart
- Golden re-signs Monta Ellis to a 6-year, $67 million contract
- Sebastian Telfair signs a new 2-year contract with the Timberwolves
- Chris Andersen, who was reinstated by the NBA early March, signed with the Nuggets, contract details unknown
- Warriors match Clippers' 3-year, $9 million offer sheet to Kelenna Azubuike
- Josh Childress leaves NBA to sign a 3-year contract with Olympiakos of Greece
- Sasha Vujacic agrees to Lakers' 3-year, $15 million contract
- Maurice Evans agree to terms with the Hawks on a 3-year deal, worth about $7.5 million
- Emeka Okafor and the Bobcat reached a 6-year, $72 million deal
- According to sources, Deng and the Bulls are on verge of a six-year, $71 million deal
- Kings agree to trade Ron Artest to Rockets in exchange for Houston's first-round draft pick in 2009, Bobby Jackson and the draft rights to Donte Greene.
- Kwame Brown signs 2-year, $8 million contract with Pistons
- Nuggets acquired Renaldo Balkman from the Knicks for Taurean Green, Bobby Jones and a second-round draft pick in 2010.
- Louis Williams re-signs with Sixers reportedly worth than $25 million over 5 years.
- Carlos Arroyo leaves NBA, signs with Israeli giants Maccabi Tel-Aviv over an estimated 3-year contract worth $2.5 million net next season (roughly the equivalent of a $5 million NBA salary after taxes)
- Earl Boykins signs a one-year deal worth more than $3.5 million to play with Virtus Bologna of the Italian league, which makes him Italy's highest-paid player.
- Jason Williams agrees to Clippers offer, reportedly receiving a 1-year contract. Financial terms of contract are unknown.
- Hornets re-sign Ryan Bowen, terms to deal unknown
- Pistons re-sign Walter Herrmann, contract details unknown
- Sixers and Andre Iguodala agree to reported 6-year, $80 million contract
- Hawks sign Ronald "Flip" Murray, terms of deal are unknown
- Three way trade: Cavs receive Mo Williams, Bucks receive Damon Jones, Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin, and Oklahoma City receive Joe Smith and Desmond Mason
- Jannero Pargo signed with Russian club Dynamo Moscow on 1 year, $3.5 million deal (after taxes)
- Michael Finley re-signs with Spurs, contract details were not available
- Clippers re-sign unrestricted free-agent Paul Davis, contract details unknown
- 38-year-old Shawn Kemp signs with Italian team Premiata Montegranaro
- Gordan Giricek signs with Turkey's club, Fenerbahce on a two year contract

Remember when Flip was the rage in Seattle? Man, are those days now long gone.

Have to be honest, I don't know jack about Mo Williams but I've been hearing that it's a good move for the Cavs. They get a player that would take pressure off LeBron in scoring and more importantly, LeBron is happy. I'll hold judgment until I watch some Cavs games and see how he does with the team. In the meantime, you can discuss it on the comments section or on the forums.

Spurs can't get any older, can they?

That's rich. Kemp gets to go to another country to spread his seed around. Watch out ladies, here comes Shawn Kemp~!


No doubt he'll be adding new chapters very soon


Out of Bounds

- Michael Phelps = GOOAT (greatest Olympian of all time). No debate. As for greatest athlete ever and greatest sports accomplishment ever, that is debatable. DISCUSS~!

- On a related note, is Michael Phelps a douche? Just asking indeed.

- Good news for all: the "beer goggles" effect is real! Which means more of this:



Too bad I don't drink.

Plus, Is it just me or do others also think of this whenever the word "goggles" is mentioned?




Final Seconds

Prediction time: Sixers will get the seventh seed again, Gordon will play in Miami and the Bulls will not make the playoffs.

Just a hunch.


And I'm out of time. See you next time!