Panic Time

This weekend, when the 76ers fired Maurice Cheeks, they not only pushed the panic button.

They slammed on it with a sledge hammer repeatedly.

Just 23 games into the season, the Sixers stood at 9-14. Coming into the season, they were expected to compete for one of the top spots in the East. If they playoffs had started today, they would be on the outside looking in. That would be dissapointing based even on last year, when the Sixers finished 7th in the East. After spending mega bucks in the off season, the Sixers felt they had to make a move. And you can't fire a team, so Cheeks had to go.

Whether or not it was a good move can be debated. The Sixers had to do someting, and Cheeks was the most expendable. But, last season they started out slow and they came back. So you could argue that he should have got a chance to turn it around.

But since they pushed the panic button, lets push it hear on Philly Stand Up.

A trade needs to be made. The fact that Thaddeus Young is coming off the bench is a joke. He needs to be starting. That means either Andre Iguodala has to play the 2, or he has to go. By my estimate, there are only 2 players on the Sixers other teams might want- Iguodala or Andre Miller. The Sixers are not trading Elton Brand, Samuel Dalembert makes to much, and Louis Williams is the best young player on the team. That leaves Iggy and Miller. 

Miller is an attractive piece for other teams because he makes 10.5 million a year, and this is the last year on his contract. Iguodala just signed a huge contract, might he is up and coming, and can be very helpful to a team. Im not saying teams would line up to get up, but he is the most tradeable piece they have other then Miller. 

So we pushed the panic button, and we hit up the ESPN Trade Machine to see what the Sixers could do to maybe turn this season around, or look ahead to this off season.

Trade 1: Sixers receive Micheal Redd for Andre Iguodala, Willie Green and Reggie Evans

The Sixers need a shooter, and Kareem Rush isnt doing the job. Micheal Redd is a pure shooter, as well as a pure 2 guard. he can slash to the basket, and knock down the jumper. He is older then Iggy, but he comes off the books in 3 years, unlike the 6 Iggy has left. The Bucks make this move to start rebuilding, and with Richard Jefferson at the 3, they have a young running team to build around. Redd isnt part of their future, but he can thrive in Philly.

Trade 2: Sixers receive Raef LaFrentz for Andre Miller and Donyell Marshall

The Blazers are a young team, and are loaded at almost all positions. The one you could say they might need an upgrade in is point guard. Steve Blake has played well, and Jayrd Bayless is a future star, but for this season, Miller could work wonders for them. He can run, he can distribute the ball, and can score when he has to. He can also play defense, and the west is loaded with point guards- Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Steve Nash. Raef LaFrentz comes with an expiring contract of 12.3 million, and the Sixers could use that to sign a point guard in the off season, such as Mike Bibby. Or they could sign a shooter like Ben Gordan. This season, they could turn the point guard duties over to Louis Williams to see what they have him in. The Blazers also get cap relief this summer, with Andre Miller coming off the books at 10.5 million.

Trade 3: Sixers receive Raymond Felton and Adam Morrison for Andre Miller

If the Sixers don't go anywhere this season,  Miller is not going to resign here. That would leave a huge hole at point guard. But they could trade him this season for a young point guard who needs a new home, and that is Raymond Felton. Felton is averaging 13 ppg as well as 6 assists. The Bobcats drafted D.J. Augustine this year, which makes Felton expendable. Felton is also a free agent this year, so if it didn't work out in Philly, they could let him walk. The Bobcats are not going to compete this year, and getting Miller gives them 10 million in off season spending for the 2009 free agent market, or to hold onto for 2010. Miller could also help young Augustine develop while he was there, and then walk to a contender in the off season. Morrison would be a throw in, as he as been a draft bust. But he does shoot .400 from beyond the arc, which could help the Sixers.

Trade 4: Sixers receive Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono for Andre Iguodala.

The Sixers need shooting, and boy do they get it with this deal. Parker is shooting almost .400 from the arc, and Kapono is shooting almost .500 beyond the arc. They also can both play the 2 and can run. Kapono is one of the best spot up shooters in the league, and Brand could kick it out to him for an almost automatic 3 pointer. Meanwhile, the Raptors are fading fast, and a core of Chris Bosh. Andre Iguodala and Jose Calderon could compete in the East. This also could make up for when they passed on Iguodala in the draft. 

I think all of these trades would do 1 of 2 things- either improve the team this year, or give the team some cap space for the off season. While it is early in the season, it wasn't to early to fire Cheeks, so it shouldnt be to early to make other moves.