Daily Babble: Supporting Stefanski's Stance on 'Dre Miller

by Steve Weinman on Jan 3, 2008 1:58 AM EST in NBA Articles

Reports out of Philadelphia seem to indicate that newly installed GM Ed Stefanski isn't in any rush to move Andre Miller, which comes as a surprise to many of the pundits who expected Miller to be one of the crucial commodities rather readily available between now and February's trading deadline. Granted, by now we should well know not to take general managers fully at their word regarding their interests in particular personnel moves, but that said, it wouldn't hurt Stefanski to actually take the approach he is currently espousing. Because it makes a lot of sense.

The points in favor of removing Miller right away are largely that getting rid of him will likely help the Sixers into prime tanking position and that he isn't in the team's long-term plans anyway. With Miller being 31 years old and the Sixers likely still a couple of years away from contending, the latter is probably true. The former is certainly so, given Miller's solid production throughout the season.

All that said, the important point to be made here is that while getting rid of Miller might be the right move in the long run, there is no need for panic here. It would be immensely foolish for the Sixers to jump at an early offer just for the sake of making a move and to end up getting underpaid for Miller. They have both the time to hang on to him for a bit more and a use for him.

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Miller is signed through the end of next season at a total close to $19 million between this season and next. In some regards, his value may only rise next season, as he will be a rental with an expiring contract for teams with a need for point guard help. There will be no obligation for any team that picks him up to take him on at close to $10 million for another season, but it should not take too much of an offer to bring back a point guard who will be entering a season in which he will turn 33, should his new employers decide that they are happy with him. That alone is enough to keep the Sixers from pressing on the Miller front. Letting the suitors come to them for now should do just fine.

This is supplemented, however, by Miller's current effect on this team in Philadelphia. While this is a team that should certainly be looking to let its young kids get as much experience as possible, those young kids need veteran leadership to show them the way, especially at the beginning. Having an experienced point guard on the floor will allow the youngsters on the floor with him to get their rightful proportion of touches and to understand what it means to play in an offense that is if nothing else well-run. With a bona fide point guard on the floor, it becomes much easier for the other young'uns to learn the game, and it becomes easier to fairly assess the work of those young players. Miller's solid play (16.1 points and 6.4 assists per game) has had a steadying effect on this team, and he has been a big part of helping them to come out more competitively than many expected this season, as they now sit at 14-18 and in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Perhaps keeping Andre Miller will hurt this Sixers team a few spots in the lottery this season. But when all is said and done, the Sixers are most likely not a playoff team and will probably end up getting at least a decent lottery pick albeit not a great one. But if they do manage to make a pseudo-miraculous run into mid-April, well, that wouldn't be the worst thing either. Making the playoffs in the first full season of the post-Answer era? Seems like a story that would be hard to pass up in Philly. And as far as the minutes for the kids, the kids that matter in the backcourt for this team are getting minutes. Making more room for Kevin Ollie in the rotation certainly doesn't need to be a priority for the Sixers.

Andre Miller provides a solid mentor for the youngsters in Philly and makes the current Sixers team much more competitive than many thought it would be. He will likely have as much if not more trade value in the season to come. And his presence keeps Kevin Ollie off the floor.

No rush, indeed, Mr. Stefanski.

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Comments

andre miller,igoudala,et.al. have a great coach in mo cheeks who gets them ready to play every game. dealing pretty boy korver’s contract was a good move. keep miller. as we celtic fans have discovered- you need good old pros around if you want to win.

by nazzbo on Jan 3, 2008 8:14 AM EST reply actions

Andre Miller is one of the most overrated players in the NBA. And Mo Cheeks is one of the most overrated coaches in the NBA. Wherever they go, they lose.

by Brickowski on Jan 3, 2008 9:21 AM EST reply actions

I might agree with you on Miller, Brickowski, but I’d say are dead wrong on Cheeks. Or maybe I should say you can’t make such a judgment considering the crappy situations he’s found himself in. I would say he’s actually overachieved. There’s no way with their inexperience and talent level the Sixers should have won as many games as they have this year.

by Ersatz on Jan 3, 2008 11:56 AM EST reply actions

Cheeks couldn’t win squat in Portland after Sheed was traded. Look at what Portland has done under Nate McMillan, a vastly superior coach.

The Sixers should have kept Obie, but Cheeks was Billy King’s binky. Now that Billy is gone, Cheeks should be the next to go.

by Brickowski on Jan 3, 2008 2:04 PM EST reply actions

Andre Miller only has around 7-8m to be paid on his contract next year and another 1-2m less this season too.

His contract was front-loaded in Denver so while it’s down on the Salary Cap as 19m it’s really only 15-16m that Phily has to pay

by Who on Jan 3, 2008 3:08 PM EST reply actions

I thought keeping Andre Miller was a great idea last season. His passing and point play allowed all of Phily’s youngsters room to succeed …… however ….. the team simply hasn’d made enough changes to back up that claim.

A lot of their talent are mediocre and won’t be with the team in two years, or at least shouldn’t be. Louis Williams is the only impressive talent there, Young may be good down the road also.

I’m not considering Iggy young anymore. Fifth season, second year as first option. He isn’t getting the rookie treatment.

So how much is helping these two players? Well he’s eating Williams’ minutes so not at all. His teaching and mentoring of the youngster were important, but it’s now clear Louis is ready to run. He’s a great kid who listens to his coach, so he can learn from Mo Cheeks one of the league’s finest PGs in his era. He needs more time to put his lessons to the test. As for Thaddeus Young … well he’s barely playing so Andre Miller isn’t helping him at all. That’s your two top prospects that he’s doing nothing for.

Who’s he helping? He’s hiding the flaws of Reggie Evans and Dalembert and Carney and Smith and Giricek and Willie Green. These guys aren’t your future (Smith maybe if he improves but he’s got a way to go).

So the whole helping the youth assertation isn’t working for me anymore, it did last year but not now. Phily didn’t do enough to change the shape of their roster. If they managed to keep Joe Smith and made a playoff run this year …. then maybe okay I can see some value there. Players learn by winning. But they’re not.

Andre Miller is a very good fourth best player on your team type of player. Is his presence going to convince anyone to sign with Phily next summer? Heck, it might not be enough to get Iggy to re-sign.

Good player in a wierd situation. I’m not sure what he’s adding to the task. Trade him to Miami for J-Will and take the cap space a year earlier. Give Louis Williams the chance to run and let’s see what happens.

by Who on Jan 3, 2008 3:19 PM EST reply actions

Andre Miller specializes in putting up good numbers on bad teams. He must be closing in on Tom Van Arsdale’s record for most games played without a playoff appearance.

He pounds the ball. He can’t shoot. He shows phony toughness on defense but can’t keep quicker players in from of him.

by Brickowski on Jan 3, 2008 5:24 PM EST reply actions

Andre Miller specializes in putting up good numbers on bad teams. He must be closing in on Tom Van Arsdale’s record for most games played without a playoff appearance

Andre Miller was in the playoffs in Denver for three straight years.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim is the league leader for most games played without a playoff appearance by my estimation. He got to 744 games before he made the playoffs a year and a half ago with Sacramento.

by Who on Jan 3, 2008 5:30 PM EST reply actions

Andre Miller was in the playoffs in Denver for three straight years.

No wonder they never got past the first round.

by Brickowski on Jan 3, 2008 6:07 PM EST reply actions

Andre Miller was in the playoffs in Denver for three straight years.

No wonder they never got past the first round.

One could easily argue that Andre Miller was their best and most consistent player in the playoffs over those three years.

Melo stunk up the joint two of those seasons and gave a below par performance in the other. Nene was poor in the two seasons he played, missed the third through injury. Nobody else on the roster showed up except for Camby and Miller.

It’s either Camby or Andre that was their best player those three years …. oh yeah that was why they lost 3 straight seasons in the playoffs. Bad team.

I don’t know what you expect at of Andre Miller … he clearly isn’t an all-star and he isn’t paid like one. He’s your fourth best player on a contending team, maybe third best on a team with two truly dominant players. I don’t think he’s an all numbers an no wins type of guy. You can’t win if you’re playing with bad players. Give him some horses and he’ll make them run. Quality ball player.

by Who on Jan 3, 2008 6:43 PM EST reply actions

Steve Weinman has been an excellent addition to CelticsBlog….I have no other brilliant insight to add but man am I enjoying the Who/ Brick experience (though my assessment of Miller runs in line with Whos)….in any event, the article was a great provocation Steve keep them coming

by Rick Robeys Return on Jan 3, 2008 9:27 PM EST reply actions

Rick Robeys Return,

Much thanks for the kind words; it never hurts to feel appreciated. Even more importantly, as you touched on, much of the credit goes to you, Who, Brick and the rest of the readers and community members here at CelticsBlog who do so much toward driving these discussions. It is a pleasure to write for this community of fans, and I look forward to more discussion in the future.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on Jan 4, 2008 12:06 AM EST reply actions