Only hours until free agency begins…
June 30th, 2009 | by Kevin Hanson |
When the clock strikes midnight, the NBA’s free-agency period will begin.
And, as Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes, free agency begins with point guard Andre Miller.
The Sixers drafted point guard Jrue Holiday to be their point guard of the future, but he’s not ready to step in and start at the NBA level.
Miller, who earned $10 million with the Sixers last year, is looking for the same amount per season over three years, according to a source of Fagan.
Although the Sixers are above the salary cap, they are able to re-sign Miller. However, if Miller decides not to re-sign with Philly, the Sixers wouldn’t be able to offer Miller’s salary to another free agent.
“He’s the main free agent, an important free agent,” said Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski. “Neither of us is going to be at each other’s doorstep at 12:01 a.m., but we will talk on July 1. There’s no doubt.”
Stefanski calls signing and trading Miller “a possibility.” If they sign and trade Miller, they will get something (of value, hopefully) in return.
With or without Miller, most (if not, everyone) wouldn’t consider the Sixers to be one of the elite teams in the East. While Miller did a great job of running the offense last year, do the Sixers want to lock up a 33-year-old point guard for three more seasons? And especially if they are already above the cap?
It seems like best move is to sign and trade Miller. But that leaves the Sixers with the same question they face today – who will be the point guard next season?
Tags: Andre Miller, Ed Stefanski, Free agency
