Blockbuster Sixers trade: Philly picks up Bynum, deals Iguodala

As part of a huge 4 team trade involving Dwight Howard, the Sixers have pulled off a major addition, acquiring Andrew Bynum from the Lakers while dealing off Andre Iguodala to the Nuggets.  The details of the trade are still emerging, but as of now the deal looks something like this:

Sixers get:
Andrew Bynum
Jason Richardson

Lakers get:
Dwight Howard

Nuggets get:
Andre Iguodala

Magic get:
Arron Afflalo
Al Harrington
Nikola Vucevic
Moe Harkless
Three 1st round picks

While the Sixers did have to give up several more pieces besides Iguodala, including their two most recent first round picks, Bynum and Jason Richardson are huge additions for the Sixers.  Bynum is certainly enigmatic but he is also one of the best centers in the league, probably better than all big men besides Dwight Howard.  The one drawback to Bynum is that he is a free agent after the coming season and has indicated that he won't re-sign but he is from New Jersey so perhaps he will consider staying closer to home.  Adding Richardson and his three point prowess to the team will also help spread the floor.

As for Iguodala, he been a key member of the Sixers for nearly a decade and he will be missed.  While he was miscast as the leader of a team, Iguodala is still a great defender and a solid all-around basketball player.  It's unfortunate that all of this went down when he was in London representing our country but the Sixers likely had to strike now to make sure the deal got done.

Huge, franchise changing move for the Sixers, and one that I applaud.  Bynum could certainly leave after just one season but the Sixers have taken their first step towards becoming a team that can compete with the Heat in the Eastern Conference.

On to the second round: the Sixers??!?

It may need an asterisk but a number 8 seed knocking off a number 1 seed is always a tremendous accomplishment.  The Sixers pulled off that task after beating the Bulls on Thursday and winning their first round series, 4-2.

Fittingly, the hero for the Sixers was Andre Iguodala, who has taken a ton of heat over the years for not stepping up in the clutch and hitting the big shots.  After the Bulls foolishly tried to add to their 1 point lead in the final seconds of the game, Iguodala grabbed a rebound and took the ball coast-to-coast and got fouled with 2 seconds left.  Iguodala had ice in his veins, hitting both free throws to give the Sixers a series win.

The Sixers now await the winner of the Celtics/Hawks series, which will likely be Boston.  Don't expect a Celtics/Sixers series to be pretty but also don't expect the Celtics to simply walk all over the Sixers.  It's been a long, long time since the Sixers got to the second round of the playoffs and they deserve a ton of credit for getting there.  While their path was easier due to injuries, the Sixers still deserve a ton of credit for knocking off one of the elite teams in the league.
(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Latest Iguodala trade rumor: Chris Kaman??

Please tell me this rumor is completely made up. According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Sixers and Clippers are discussing a possible Andre Iguodala for Chris Kaman swap. Stein reports that no deal is imminent but the two teams have discussed a possible deal, which could be a one for one swap since their salaries match.

This would be a great deal for the Clippers, who are an up and coming team and could really use a small forward like Iguodala to round out their starting five. As for the Sixers, the deal makes little sense. I know that they are targeting big men but they have to be able to do better than Kaman, who can be best described as oft-injured. While Kaman was an All-Star in 2010, injuries slowed him down last season and he was only able to play in 32 games. The deal would allow the Sixers to shed Iguodala's salary and replace it with Kaman's deal that expires after next season but it really doesn't give them much value on the floor. Is Kaman really that much of an upgrade over Spencer Hawes?

I'm all for the Sixers trading Andre Iguodala as long as they get something of value in return. Shedding Iggy's salary and giving more minutes to Evan Turner and Thad Young are both good things in the long run for the Sixers. Maybe I'm overrating Iguodala but I think the Sixers can do a lot better than an average NBA center. I'd rather they made the Monta Ellis deal than this one, though I'm not a fan of that deal, either.

Rumor: Sixers and Warriors discussing Iguodala for Ellis swap

In a move that may delight many fans, it looks like the Sixers are looking to deal their supposed franchise player, Andre Iguodala. According to Ric Bucher of ESPN, the Sixers and Warriors have had discussions about a deal that would send Iguodala to the Warriors in exchange for big-scoring guard Monta Ellis.

While he makes it clear that nothing is imminent, Bucher argues that the trade makes a lot of sense for both teams, though I don't see why the Sixers would make this deal. I'm all for the Sixers trying to get some value for Iguodala but Ellis only does one thing on the basketball court and that's shoot the ball. While he's very good at filling it up, Ellis doesn't bring anything else to the Sixers should they add him to the mix. Perhaps the Sixers are trying to re-live the Allen Iverson years by acquiring the player most like him in the NBA?

Say what you will about Iguodala's leadership but he brings a lot more to the table than Ellis. Even if Iguodala never becomes the big-time scoring threat we all hoped he would be, he is still a lock-down defender who can guard the best player on the floor night in and night out. Trade Iguodala if you must, Sixers, but please get more than just a volume shooter in return.

What are the chances? Chondromalacia strikes another Philly sports athlete!

Apparently, there is a case of chondromalacia going around Philadelphia.

According to PR man Michael Preston, despite his efforts to help the Sixers erase a big 4th quarter deficit against the Utah Jazz, Andre Iguodala has a knee injury that could sideline him for a few days. That injury? None other than the same injury that is currently sidelining Chase Utley, chondromalacia, which is also known as runner's knee. Yep, two of the biggest stars in Philly are both sidelined with the same injury that most of us had never heard of until a week ago.

Hopefully Iguodala has a quicker recovery than Utley or the Sixers are going to be making an even faster than expected first round playoff exit.

At least Andre Iguodala can still throw it down

Yeah, so the Sixers pretty much suck. All the talk in the preseason about a new team culture and how Doug Collins was going to turn things around was just talk. While another season seems to be going down the drain, at least Andre Iguodala is still posterizing fools:

Sixers discussing Iguodala for Carmelo trade?

In a story that is likely too good to be true, Philly.com is reporting that the Sixers and Nuggets are in discussions regarding a trade that would send Andre Iguodala to Denver in exchange for Carmelo Anthony. The trade would of course include other parts, likely another quality piece or two being shipped out of Philly and something from Denver to get the salaries to match. Before the deal would be agreed upon by the Sixers, they would also have to negotiate a long-term deal with Anthony, something that would be tricky considering he has never shown any interest in coming to Philadelphia.

Call this deal a longshot at best. From the Sixers perspective, the deal is a slam dunk as long as they get to hold on to Evan Turner. Anthony is an elite player and would immediately take them from a fringe playoff team in the East to a contender for a top 4 seed. Considering Anthony has a say in where he goes and he wants to go to New York, New Jersey or Chicago, even if the Sixers put together a good package of players, that doesn't mean a deal will go through.

I suppose we can all still dream, however. How does a starting five of Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Carmelo Anthony, Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand sound to you?

Time for a shakeup: Andre Iguodala to the Cavs?

The time to shakeup the Sixers is now. The only thing falling faster than the Sixers are in the standings are their ticket sales, which has the team hemorrhaging money left and right. The return of Allen Iverson, as expected, only made the Sixers a temporary novelty in Philadelphia and now they are simply an afterthought in a city counting down the days until pitchers and catchers report.

With the team realizing that this season is a wash, rumors have begun to swirl that every veteran Sixer has been placed on the trading block. While the Sixers would love to find someone willing to take Elton Brand off their hands, basically the only valuable commodity the team has is swingman Andre Iguodala. Iggy is "the man" in Philly but would be a great third option on a team with championship aspirations.

Enter the Cavaliers. Apparently the Cavaliers are dangling a package that would include former All Star Zydrunas Ilgauskas and a young player (J.J Hickson?) for Iguodala. Iggy would be a perfect fit for the Cavs as he is a solid defender and he could play a complimentary offensive role to LeBron James.

From the Cavs perspective, this deal makes a ton of sense. Ilgauskas has an expiring contract and, with Shaq, is part of the Cavs two-headed monster at center. While the Cavs would hate to part with Ilgauskas, they hold out the hope that whatever team they trade him to buys his contract out so the Cavs can simply sign him up again in 30 days.

So, does this deal make sense for the Sixers? The trade wouldn't be about getting Ilgauskas, they have no use for him on a team that has no hope for the playoffs. The deal is all about unloading Iguodala and getting some cap space that could be used down the road. On paper, the trade favors the Cavs by a landslide but the Sixers still might consider it if they feel that Iggy isn't going to be part of their next rebuilding project. Personally, I would hope the Sixers could get some kind of usable talent or draft pick in the deal but they almost have to take the best deal they can find if they throw Iggy out on the market.

Expect a ton of Andre Iguodala rumors to bubble up over the next few weeks. The rest of the NBA smells the blood in the water in Philly and they are hoping to swoop in and get some talent on the cheap. It will be up to the Sixers to try to get as many draft picks, cap space and young talent as they can for whatever pieces they ship out of town. Sixers GM Ed Stefanski has one last chance to save his legacy in Philadelphia, let's see if he can fix some of his mistakes with a few smart moves.

Sixers shock Magic with thrilling come from behind win in Game One

(AP Photo/John Raoux)

They say winning is contagious, and what happened in Philadelphia sports today is proof of that saying. First, the Phillies won with a walk-off home run by Raul Ibanez. Then, the Flyers played their best game of the playoffs and turned away the Penguins. Finally, the Sixers turned in the most surprising performance of all as they knocked off the Magic, 100-98, in a thrilling come from behind win.

The Sixers were down as much as 18 in the third quarter but used a 39-19 run to pull off the shocking victory over the favored Magic. Philly got back into the game thanks to the contributions of several players, including Donyell Marshall, who had three 3's and 11 points in the 4th quarter, and Theo Ratliff, who played a bunch of minutes down the stretch and had a key basket late in the game. While Marshall hit a huge three to tie the game with 34 seconds left, the biggest hero of the night was Andre Iguodala, who, with the game tied at 98, hit a tough fall away shot with 2.2 seconds left to give the Sixers the win. Iggy didn't have a great game overall, shooting 10 of 23 for 20 points, but he made the big basket when it counted.

For those with good memories, you will remember that the Sixers series against the Pistons last season started in the exact same fashion. The Sixers came back from 15 down to knock off Detroit in Game One of that series, just like they did today against the Magic. Hopefully this Orlando series will turn out differently, but it is important to remember this is just one game in a seven game series. Orlando is still the better all-around team and they could easily beat the Sixers down in Game Two, but winning this first game is huge for Philly. They have taken the home court advantage away from the Magic; if the Sixers can somehow win all of their home games in the series, they will move on.

So caps a great day in Philly sports. Your heroes for the day are Raul Ibanez, Claude Giroux and Ander Iguodala. It's nice to have this ray of hope after an otherwise depressing week of tragedy and bad losses.

Video: Iggy beats Lakers at the buzzer!

Wow! What a win! Andre Iguodala hit a game-winning three pointer at the buzzer to knock off the Lakers, 94-93. The shot capped off a Sixers rally that erased a 14 point deficit in the 4th quarter. It was the best moment a Philly team has had against L.A. since Matt Stairs homered against the Dodgers in the NLCS.

The Sixers are now riding a 4 game winning streak and are firmly in position to make the playoffs. They have no chance at advancing to the second round, but that's not the point.

Iggy dunks on Yao!

In case you missed it, here is Andre Iguodala's dunk over the 7 foot 6 inch Yao Ming from Wednesday night. WOW!

Hat tip to whoever posted this on YouTube

Sixers knock off Rockets, reach .500

(AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Since I bashed the Sixers a bit after their last game, I think it is only fitting that I give them some credit after erasing a 15 point deficit and beating the Rockets, in Houston, 95-93.

The Sixers didn't play particularly well until midway through the 3rd quarter when the Rockets had a 65-51 lead. From that point forward, Philly outscored the Rockets 44-28 and won the game after Andre Iguodala hit a pair of clutch jumpers in the final 2 minutes. Iggy led the team with 20 points while Lou Williams added 17 off the bench.

Elton Brand played much better on Wednesday in his 6th man role. Brand had 14 points, 7 boards and 6 blocks, easily his best game since returning from the separated shoulder injury. Perhaps that will quiet some of those trade rumors?

The Rockets have been one of the hotter teams in the NBA so the Sixers have to feel good about their come-from-behind win. Any time you can knock off one of the top teams in the West on the road, that's a quality W.

3 posts in a row about the Sixers on ATPS?? Let's just say I'm making up for a real lack of Sixers coverage earlier in the season.

Iguodala stays a Sixer with 6 year deal

The Sixers appear to have taken care of their last piece of off-season business: ESPN.com is reporting that they have signed Andre Iguodala to a 6 year, 80 million dollar deal. Iguodala was a restricted free agent, and no team really had enough money to pay him, so it was only a matter of time before he re-signed with the Sixers.

While 80 million does seem like a ton of money, Iguodala is a crucial part to the Sixers future. In the last few years he has proven that he might not have what it takes to be a number one guy on a contending team, but he definitely can play second fiddle behind a guy like Elton Brand. The team will go as far as Iguodala and Brand can take them, and with both signed for at least the next five years, the future of the team is in their hands. With 160+ million dollars tied up between the two of them, they better deliver.

This move caps a busy off-season for Ed Stefanski. He has signed free agents Elton Brand, Royal Ivey and Kareem Rush to contracts while re-signing restricted free agents Louis Williams and Iguodala. Stefanski certainly deserves high marks for all of these moves; the Sixers had a ton of salary cap space and Stefanski used it wisely.

Sixers blow chance to take over series

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

It was a tale of two halves. In the first half, the run and gun Sixers forced numerous Detroit turnovers en route to taking a ten point lead at halftime. In the second half, the Pistons defense took over and forced Philadelphia to take bad shots and dominated the Sixers to win the game 93-84 and tie the series at 2 games apiece.

The first half of the game looked just like the Sixers' Game Three blowout as Philly built a 14 point lead with a number of steals and fast break dunks. The Pistons looked lethargic on offense and didn't seem at all interested in playing defense. They flipped the switch at halftime and clamped down on defense, only allowing the Sixers to score 16 3rd quarter points. The Pistons beat the Sixers at their own game, forcing turnovers and finishing easy transition baskets at the other end.

The Sixers featured a balanced scoring attack with 6 players finishing in double figures. Thaddeus Young led the way with 15 points and Samuel Dalembert added 12 rebounds to go with his 12 points. Andre Iguodala played well in the first half but struggled down the stretch, finishing with 12 points on a 4 of 16 shooting night.

Philly had no answer for Tayshaun Prince, who shot 11 of 12 from the field to give him 23 points on the night. Prince couldn't be slowed down no matter who guarded him. Rasheed Wallace also played his best game of the series and finished with 20 points and 10 boards.

The Sixers missed a golden opportunity to take control of this series. They dominated in the first half and looked like they would easily build a 3-1 series lead but the Pistons had other ideas and completely shut them down when it mattered. Andre Iguodala, except for a massive dunk early in the first quarter of today's game, has looked completely flustered on the offensive end. He repeatedly settles for turnaround jumpers instead of trying to slash into the lane. He is the Sixers top scoring threat, so he feels the need to force things that just aren't there. It really highlights the Sixers need for another complementary scorer.

Game Five is back in Detroit. The Sixers will need to play the way they did in the first half of tonight's game if they want to stay in this series.

The big highlight of the night for the Sixers, Andre Iguodala's huge dunk over Rasheed Wallace. Notice Jimmy Rollins' reaction in the clip:

Sixers hold on, beat Pistons

In a match-up that could be a preview of the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Sixers continued to show why they are going to be a dangerous opponent for whoever they end up facing in a seven game series. The Sixers knocked off the 2nd seeded team in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, 101-94. The Sixers built an early lead and never allowed the Pistons to catch up. In fact, once the Sixers took the lead 18 seconds into the game on a Samuel Dalembert basket, they never gave it up. The Pistons were playing without their leading scorer, Richard Hamilton, and, with their playoff spot wrapped up, they gave plenty of minutes to their second string, but the victory was impressive nonetheless.

Leading the way for the Sixers offensively was Andre Iguodala, who scored 16 points in the second half to finish with 25 points. Iguodala made four three pointers on the night, and also filled up his score sheet with 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Dalembert also had a great game, netting 20 points and 13 rebounds. Andre Miller added 9 assists.

The dream season continues for the Sixers, who have won 14 of their last 19. The amazing thing is looking at all the top teams they have beaten this year: Boston, Detroit, Orlando, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Dallas and Denver have all lost at the hands of the Sixers. It's a testament to how far the team has come this season that they not only can beat the teams they are supposed to, but they are hanging with, and even knocking off, the NBA's elite.

Highlights courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Sixers beat Hawks, Clinch Playoffs!

Philadelphia is wrapped up in playoff fever tonight, as the Sixers joined the Flyers in wrapping up a postseason bid. The Sixers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 109-104 to ensure they would be playing basketball beyond the regular season. The Sixers held small leads most of the way, as the Hawks, who were riding a five game winning streak, proved to be pesky and wouldn't be put away until the very end.

The Sixers got their typical stellar play by the Andre's, Iguodala and Miller. Iguodala was all over the court, making a number of dunks, big shots and one sweet block, shown in the video below. Iguodala finished with 30 points and 1o assists. Andre Miller continued his solid play that should be garnering him more attention for MVP. Miller put up 23 points, 6 assists and 5 boards. All 5 starters also finished with double-digit points.

The playoff berth is a big step in the evolution of this Sixers team. They have gone from a young team with a lot of promise to a playoff team that could do some damage. The Sixers are currently tied for the 5th seed in the East with the Washington Wizards. If the season ended today, they would face LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the first round. You can bet that no one wants to face the surging Sixers in the playoffs, as they are just the type of hot team that will cause fits for any top team who has just been coasting.

While some may hate on the Sixers because they are only 2 games over .500, they have still improved by leaps and bounds over the last few months. They are an exciting team that runs the fast break with the best of them. No one expects the team to win a championship this year, but any playoff experience their young guys can get will be good for them down the road.

Enjoy this feeling Philly fans. Two of our teams will be entering the playoffs, and neither one will go down without a fight. More importantly, both teams are on the right track and have bright futures ahead of them. We may be seeing the beginnings of our next Philadelphia championship in one of these two teams.

Highlights of the game courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Sixers Down Nets to End Skid

Just when the luster of the Sixers season started to wear off with a recent two game losing streak, they regrouped and downed the New Jersey Nets 108-99. The Sixers led for most of the game, but every time they started to pull away, the Nets fought right back. Down the stretch, the Nets cut the lead down to 2 and looked poised to steal a victory when Louis Williams hit three straight shots, two of them threes, to put the game away for Philly. The win pulls the Sixers to within a half game of the idle Wizards and Raptors for the 5th seed in the East.

There were several solid individual performances from most of the usual suspects. Andre Miller found his scoring touch after a few off nights and netted 24 points to go with 11 assists. Andre Iguodala had a solid all-around game, picking up 17 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds.

Samuel Dalembert had one of his more impressive performances of the season, picking up 15 points, 13 boards and 5 blocks. He was active all night, getting to loose balls and creating havoc on the defensive end. His blocks led to several easy baskets for the Sixers, including the play highlighted in the clip below. In the clip, Dalembert blocks a Nenad Krstic shot into the hands of Miller, who passes ahead to Iguodala. Iguodala bounces the ball behind his back as he takes it to the hoop, where he throws it down with authority and gets fouled. Iguodala missed the free throw for the three point play, but the sequence is a microcosm of everything the Sixers have been doing right. They have been making solid defensive plays to set up their fast-break offense, where they are using great court vision to find the open player who finishes with a high percentage shot. It's everything that has made them exciting over their last 30 games.

Clip courtesy of Comcast Sportsnet

Sixers handed a dose of reality by the Suns

Well, the good times weren't going to last forever for the Sixers. The Suns gave them a little dose of reality, beating them 107-93. The Sixers fell behind early when they missed their first 13 shots, and made numerous efforts to get back in the game, but the Suns proved to be too good. At one point, the Sixers were down by 24, but they managed to pull within 10 in the third quarter before the Suns went on a run to widen their lead again. The loss, coupled with the Raptors beating the Knicks, pushes the Sixers down into the 7th seed in the East.

Andre Iguodala had an off night, shooting 3 of 12 from the field and finishing with only 13 points, although he did have a highlight dunk, which you can watch below, in the third quarter. Andre Miller had a solid game on paper, finishing with 16 points and 10 assists, but he also shot poorly from the field, making 6 of 17 shots. The Suns had a balanced attack, with 5 players finishing with double digits in points. Steve Nash had only 5 points, but he was still solid distributing the ball and finished with 10 assists.

The Sixers next game is Sunday against possible first round opponent Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The schedule lightens up after that game, with a game against the Nets and a home and home with the Hawks on tap for next week.

The lone highlight of the game, another amazing dunk by Andre Iguodala, this time over the helpless Grant Hill:

Iguodala with another huge dunk!

It's halftime in the Bulls/Sixers game, and the Sixers appear to be in control. Andre Iguodala is having another great game, highlighted by this massive dunk:

Andre Iguodala Throws it Down!

Great win tonight over the Celtics. Great game by Andre Iguodala, including this monster dunk: