The dust has finally settled down. I am done flipping out. I was already for the Sixers to take Perry Jones or maybe even Terrence Jones.Then to everyone’s surprise you hear Moe Harkless’ named being called out. My first thought was “how on earth could you draft another wing player that can’t shoot?”
We already have a plethora of them; Iggy, Thad, and even my boy Turner. Just did not make any sense to me at the time. What pissed me off even more was the quote from Thorn saying, that Harkless’ growth plates are still open. He will grow more. That might have been the dumbest quote I have ever read. I needed to sleep off the anger. I knew if I wrote directly after I would have been an all out rant. I knew there had to be more to this. I woke up calm, cool and collective.Harkless is a tremendous athlete. He can finish at the rim and is solid defender as well. The bottom line with this pick is that someone has to go. Reports from last night had Iggy going to Memphis for Rudy Gay. Though the talks obviously broke down. So does this mean that Iggy will finally get traded? Are the Sixers trying/willing to move Thad or Turner? Something has to give. About an hour later another surprise came.
The Sixers traded back into the first round and grabbed Arnett Moultrie. As you know by now they traded a future first round pick and the 45th pick to the Heat for him. The good thing about that first round pick it is lottery protected in 2013, 14, and 15. After that it becomes a second-round pick. I am happy with this move. Moultrie was projected to go as high as eleventh overall in some mock drafts. Moultrie has some game in him. He can be little bit of a complainer on the court when things are not going his way. He plays like a small forward on the offensive end. On the defensive end, he is a beast of the glass. He also has very nice touch on his jumper. He will be a nice addition to this team.
So with the additions Moultrie and Harkless the Sixers have easily have become the most athletic team in the league. The more I think about it, I am becoming OK with the drafting of Harkless. Simply for the fact that there has to be a bigger move coming. Hey man, at least the Sixers surprised us for once. I am hoping they do it again come July 1.
Another brilliant, straight from the heart, article Joe. I too was set off by Thorns comments……Growth Plates……gthoh!!! with that non-sense. I guess thats the NBA VERSION of High Motor.
I dont know with Harkless, I really didn’t pay that much attention to him. I dont see a shooter, like they claim he is, but then again they think Igoudala, and Turner are shooters…….
Wouldn’t it be easier to just go after Ryan Anderson, and call it a Night, with a still young proven asset at that position?
I don’t understand the facsination with Rudy Gay. To me to trade Igoudala for him would be a lateral move. Yeah, Gay is a better shooter but, fails in the defensive part of that equation. I jus feel that Doug Collins, like Andy Reid is trying to clone his man crush on Igoudala, and draft players for his coaching system, and like Reid, he will learn that that has the tendency of making you re-think your philosophy a bit
I too feel Doug Co;;ins is out of touch somewhat as far as talent is concerned, What was a superstar talent in the 70’s, is not necessarily a superstar in the year 2012.
For Instance John Havlicek, is in the hall of fame, but there are guy riding the bench in the NBA today, that are 10 times more talented then he was. Doug probably sees Connie Hawkins in Harkless; as soon as his Growth Plates kick in of course. He just isn’t the man for a job like that. But I do love Arnett Moultrie as we all do.
Good stuff Joe…DO you have any opinion on the report of Jrue wanted a MAX deal? I think its ridiculous…he is an average point guard in the league and nothing more than that…If that is true and he won’t sign for anything else I am trying to trade him as of right now…Could let turner run the point (think he would actually do pretty well there)…and im sure you could trade Jrue for a quality shooter/big man.
Jrue Holiday is a fantastic point guard, with much more potential at that position than Evan Turner. Mainly because Turner isn’t a point guard; He can handle the ball, but, he gets toodamn cute sometimes, which is why Doug Collins would bench his ass.
Pheags, you don’t trade a talent like Jrue Holiday, you trade an overrated Evan Turner. I don’t think he’s worthy of a max deal either but, he’s talented enough to potentially earn one; more so than Turner, who I would have traded by now.
Gmcliff I respectfully disagree and think Jrue currently is average. I count at least 13 PG’s that are better than him and probably about a dozen more that are just as good as him or have similar potential. Sixers made a mistake taking him over Ty Lawson IMO and arguably Teague is better also.
Jrue Holiday has a bright future but still has lots of improving to do
Holday is a pure Guard, Evan Turner is not, Turner is a shooting Guard who doesn’t shoot consistently enough yet.. Holiday is a true Point Guard where he is more of a facilitator and gets other players involved..
I think many of us are so excited about Holiday becuse the 76ers Guard play has been so poor since Iverson’s days and at least Holiday offers a glimmer of hope.. ET has never been a pure Guard and will most likely never be, it’s not his game
Your wrong mhenski….Who recommended Ty Lawson, and Teague to represent our country in the Olympics?, but Jrue Holiday was; He’s respected highly amongst NBA PROFESSIONALS. Nobody, among those group of individuals would agree with you. They did not make a mistake drafting him before Ty Lawson, and give me a break with Teague( Stop It please).
I respect your opinion, but I think youover estimate the talent of some you rate ahead of Jrue, but underestimate his overall talent, as a player. Those players you mentioned are not better than Jrue Holiday.
He’s not top 5, but in the top ten; especially among the young PG’s in the league.
1. Rajon Rondo
2. Derrick Rose
3. Darrant Williams
4. Chris Paul
5. Russell Westbrook
6. Steve Nash
7. Tony Parker
8. Jrue Holiday
9. Kyrie Irving
10. Brandon Jennings
Cliff Jrue was named to the practice squad not to the Olympic team.
Regarding Teague, his ppg, apg and rpg were very similar this past year. However Teague shot a 4.5% better from the field. After this year Teague & Jrue are neck and neck in terms of production.
I will take Kyrie Irving 100 times out of 100 over Jrue. You are prob right with Jrue ahead of Jennings b/c Jennings is just a gunner.
Lot of other players in the same neighborhood as Jrue who are young. Jrue’s time to really show up is this year.
Teague, He doesn’t even start for his team. Get out of here. He is not better than Jrue Holiday period. The production numbers mean nothing, Jrue is flatout a better player than he is. When The Sixers played Atlanta, Jrue made him look like what he is…. less than average.
Practice squad or not he was chosen, and the guys you mentioned aren’t even thought of as being worthy of such a status.
You would take Kyrie Irving over Jrue based on what? Because, if you haven’t noticed….they have the same game. I rated Jrue slightly ahead of him because of Jrue experience in the NBA, and he is a bigger, and taller Point Guard, and although Jrue has to improve his shot, he’s not as streaky as Irving,. You can choose him 100% of the time all you want, but it sounds like you would based on your personal disrespect for Jrues Game.
Yes Teague now starts now, didn’t all year and Jrue did so for Teague to put up almost identical numbers in less minutes is telling…
Who knows if the guys I mentioned are practiced squad worthy or not? They could have very well been asked to play on the practice squad and said no.
I would take Irving based on the fact that he shot from the field better, from the free throw line better, from 3 point range better, had more assists per game than Jrue and did all this as a rookie. Compare Jrue’s rookie numbers to his and it won’t be close. Kyrie is a game changer and could very well develop into the best PG in the game. Jrue is 1 inch taller but Jrue is by no means bigger…
I do not disrespect Jrue’s game, I root for Jrue, think he is total class and solid all the way around. I just do not think he is a stud and I think he will always be a middle of the pack point guard. Here’s to hoping I am wrong because I love basketball and good sixers basketball.
Cool Mhenski…love the conversation brother. Nice to post with someone who is absolutely reasonable. Good Job.
Jeff Teague was an excellent College player at Wake Forest and I watched a lot of his games while in College and always thought he would make a very good NBA Guard but h had some maturity and attitude adjustments to make as a Pro but his future is very bright.. He’s not a Derreck Rose, Chris Paul,Deron WIlliams type for he doesn’t have that size,strength, but he definitely is an upper tier Guard who will get better and better and is more of a facilitatot like a Rondo from the celtics but a better shooter..
Teague vs Holiday.. Teague is a much more agressive in attacking the basket
Paul, once again, with all due respect, you guys don’t know basketball talent. Teague, realistcally, is of the lower teir guards in the league, but your pumping up to be something he will never be. He’s as valuable as Jodie Meeks is to the Sixers.
i like Harkless a freshman that scored 30 on Duke he plays hard and attacks the rim often something i wish Iggy would do more. Moe reminds me of shawn Kemp with a little more sf to his game than PF. If you remember kemp was not a traditional PF to start he grew more into that role. i like Moultre but that would have been the spot to take Perry Jones smh. it was perfect now i feel like we took a chance on a guy that will be 10 and 7 a night at best. Moultre doesnt block shots he is another Mo Spigity in the making. hopefully his fire and competive nature will make him play above his skills. we will see.