A.I.-Owner spat
Snider: A.I. wants trade, so we'll do it
By PHIL JASNER
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/16201098.htm
jasnerp@phillynews.com
Billy King and Maurice Cheeks worked at being politically correct. They responded cordially to questions. They offered, at best, limited information.
Ed Snider blew it up.
These were among the questions, not necessarily in direct order, Snider fielded during a meeting with reporters at halftime of the 76ers' 113-98 loss to the Washington Wizards last night at the Wachovia Center:
Is it time to trade Allen Iverson?
"Yes," said the chairman of the Comcast-Spectacor group that oversees, among other entities, the 76ers and the Flyers.
Because?
"Because he wants to be traded."
Has Iverson played his last game with the Sixers?
"Probably."
Has Iverson's time passed with the Sixers?
"Yes."
Has the team received many calls from other teams?
"About half the league."
Has the Iverson situation held back the development of any of the Sixers' young players?
"You have to decide that on your own."
King, the team's president/general manager, and Cheeks, in his second season as the head coach, chose their words more carefully.
Not Snider.
Iverson, in his 11th season with the Sixers and tied with the Eagles' Brian Dawkins as the longest-tenured major pro athlete in Philadelphia, met with King in Chicago Tuesday and asked to be traded. He sat out the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's miserable loss to the Bulls - ostensibly because of back spasms - and did not practice Thursday. He was told by Cheeks at yesterday morning's shootaround that it was not necessary for him to participate.
Later, Cheeks told Iverson he would not be playing in last night's game against the Washington Wizards or tonight's game in Orlando.
He was told not to come to the Wachovia Center last night.
King and Cheeks said that Iverson was not being suspended and that the move was not disciplinary.
"He didn't practice, the coach said he's not going to play," Snider said.
Is that a sign that the Sixers are no longer going to tolerate such situations?
"Yes," Snider said.
Asked whether Iverson would remain on the team if he were not traded, Snider said, "We're going to trade him."
Rumors were already swirling last night.
In Denver last night, Nuggets coach George Karl said Iverson would not be coming there. The Minneapolis Star Tribune suggested that, if the Timberwolves were involved, a package would likely include the likes of rookie guard Randy Foye, the former Villanova star who was the No. 7 overall pick in the June draft, and probably guard Mike James. (Foye fielded questions before and after the Wolves game last night, but knew nothing about what was going on behind the scenes.)
Whatever happens, Snider said: "The president and the coach have my full support, and I think everything has been handled as well as it could be under very adverse conditions.
"He asked to be traded," Snider said. "I don't tell Billy what to do. Billy has to do what he feels is best for the organization. I think [Iverson] is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He has incredible talent. He's done a lot of great things for this organization, and I wish him well."
In a statement issued through agent Leon Rose, Iverson said, "I truly wanted to retire a Sixer."
Told that Iverson had wanted to play last night, Snider told Comcast SportsNet, "Maybe he should have been ready to practice, too... If Allen feels that he doesn't want to practice and then he wants to play, it just doesn't work any longer."
Time to go?
"I think it's time for him to move on and for us to move on and find out where everything stands," Snider said at halftime. "I really didn't see it coming, because Allen says all the right things, and I thought he really was behind Mo and what we were trying to accomplish, but obviously he's not."
Has the Iverson situation been disruptive to the rest of the team?
"I'm not here to talk about Allen and the good points and the bad points," Snider said. "I mean, Allen's been here for 11 years. He's done a great job for this organization. I'm really not here to diss him in any way, shape or form. It's just time for him to go his way and for us to go our way."
Iverson-less.
Snider: A.I. wants trade, so we'll do it
By PHIL JASNER
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/16201098.htm
jasnerp@phillynews.com
Billy King and Maurice Cheeks worked at being politically correct. They responded cordially to questions. They offered, at best, limited information.
Ed Snider blew it up.
These were among the questions, not necessarily in direct order, Snider fielded during a meeting with reporters at halftime of the 76ers' 113-98 loss to the Washington Wizards last night at the Wachovia Center:
Is it time to trade Allen Iverson?
"Yes," said the chairman of the Comcast-Spectacor group that oversees, among other entities, the 76ers and the Flyers.
Because?
"Because he wants to be traded."
Has Iverson played his last game with the Sixers?
"Probably."
Has Iverson's time passed with the Sixers?
"Yes."
Has the team received many calls from other teams?
"About half the league."
Has the Iverson situation held back the development of any of the Sixers' young players?
"You have to decide that on your own."
King, the team's president/general manager, and Cheeks, in his second season as the head coach, chose their words more carefully.
Not Snider.
Iverson, in his 11th season with the Sixers and tied with the Eagles' Brian Dawkins as the longest-tenured major pro athlete in Philadelphia, met with King in Chicago Tuesday and asked to be traded. He sat out the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's miserable loss to the Bulls - ostensibly because of back spasms - and did not practice Thursday. He was told by Cheeks at yesterday morning's shootaround that it was not necessary for him to participate.
Later, Cheeks told Iverson he would not be playing in last night's game against the Washington Wizards or tonight's game in Orlando.
He was told not to come to the Wachovia Center last night.
King and Cheeks said that Iverson was not being suspended and that the move was not disciplinary.
"He didn't practice, the coach said he's not going to play," Snider said.
Is that a sign that the Sixers are no longer going to tolerate such situations?
"Yes," Snider said.
Asked whether Iverson would remain on the team if he were not traded, Snider said, "We're going to trade him."
Rumors were already swirling last night.
In Denver last night, Nuggets coach George Karl said Iverson would not be coming there. The Minneapolis Star Tribune suggested that, if the Timberwolves were involved, a package would likely include the likes of rookie guard Randy Foye, the former Villanova star who was the No. 7 overall pick in the June draft, and probably guard Mike James. (Foye fielded questions before and after the Wolves game last night, but knew nothing about what was going on behind the scenes.)
Whatever happens, Snider said: "The president and the coach have my full support, and I think everything has been handled as well as it could be under very adverse conditions.
"He asked to be traded," Snider said. "I don't tell Billy what to do. Billy has to do what he feels is best for the organization. I think [Iverson] is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He has incredible talent. He's done a lot of great things for this organization, and I wish him well."
In a statement issued through agent Leon Rose, Iverson said, "I truly wanted to retire a Sixer."
Told that Iverson had wanted to play last night, Snider told Comcast SportsNet, "Maybe he should have been ready to practice, too... If Allen feels that he doesn't want to practice and then he wants to play, it just doesn't work any longer."
Time to go?
"I think it's time for him to move on and for us to move on and find out where everything stands," Snider said at halftime. "I really didn't see it coming, because Allen says all the right things, and I thought he really was behind Mo and what we were trying to accomplish, but obviously he's not."
Has the Iverson situation been disruptive to the rest of the team?
"I'm not here to talk about Allen and the good points and the bad points," Snider said. "I mean, Allen's been here for 11 years. He's done a great job for this organization. I'm really not here to diss him in any way, shape or form. It's just time for him to go his way and for us to go our way."
Iverson-less.
