Allen Iverson - MERGED

[VF21]

I'm also concerned about the lack of Bee coverage: If the Maloofs were really interested in an AI/Bibby deal, they would have said something by now. They're just not as tight-lipped about these things as Petrie is.

Nope. If the Maloofs are really interested, they aren't going to say a word. They learned a lesson when Peja found out from TV that he had been traded. I'm pretty sure they all discussed it and Petrie made them take a blood oath that they would NOT discuss pending Kings business to anyone in the media.

 

[VF21]

Another supposed rumor: Bucher on ESPN:
Sac: Iverson, Iguodala, Dalembert
Philly: Bibby, Miller, Martin, Potapenko, 2007 #1

I don't think that was a rumor so much as a "well, maybe it's this" comment.

The next time Ric Bucher gets inside information on a trade will be the first time.

 

[LMM]

Nope. If the Maloofs are really interested, they aren't going to say a word. They learned a lesson when Peja found out from TV that he had been traded. I'm pretty sure they all discussed it and Petrie made them take a blood oath that they would NOT discuss pending Kings business to anyone in the media.

Exactly how I feel.

 

[Elise10]

I keep forgetting about those blood oaths. For now I guess we're left with BSPN talking "for them"

 

[BawLa]

And the Bee cares about this, why??? they're there to sell newspapers, they don't care about the team.

I know they don't care. I'm trying to point out that after what happened last year with Peja, our front office is smart enough to withold information from the bee. Do you remember the disappointment that Peja had after he heard the trade on the television? IMO our front office will comfront Bibby and then the media if they can tenatively agree on a deal with Philly.

 

[BawLa]

The first one makes no sesne because I cannot imagine where/how Stephen Jackson is going to be involved -- nobody wants to touch him wiht a 10 foot pole and yet somebody is going to get him to replace either A.I. or Bibby?

Yeah. Not to mention there is no way Steven would be reunited with Artest unless the Maloofs really wanted to blow this thing up.

 

[Greenspan 101]

ESPN.com shows that the Sixers want to deal Iverson off within the next 48 hours, which of course cheapens the price. The last time something like this happened was when the Lakers dealt Shaq off in a hurry. That one seemed to work out okay for the Heat.

*Cheaper in terms of talent, not contracts

 

[ezekielbear]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2693389

The link to AI being gone in 48 hours or less.

 

[SacTownKid]

If we did that Bucher trade I wouldn't stop vomiting for days. Just a horrible deal for us. On the other hand Philly becomes a top 3 EC team immediately.

 

[LiGhTsOuTT]

Iverson, Iguodala, Dalembert for Bibby, Martin, Miller, Potapenko, and your #1.

Would Sac fans do it?

yea seems like a pretty good trade offense for offense and defense

 

[Bricklayer]

yea seems like a pretty good trade offense for offense and defense

Its just such an absolutely enormous risk. Wow factor is there, as is the solid theory of A.I. + all defensive minded players who don't need to score = contender (ala Philly 2001). It could work. We could contend. Then again, if it does not, and it blows up, you don't have much left.

In any case it means:

C- Dalembert (blocks+rebs)
PF- KT (rebs)
SF- Artest (defense, #2 gun)
OG- Iggy (defense, steals)
PG- AI (#1gun)

6th- Reef (scoring)
7th Salmons (versatile, defense)
8th- Cisco (versatile, defense)
9th- Price (defense)
10th- Corliss (scoring, physical)
11th- Hart (defense)
12th- douby (mini-Iverson to be tutored int eh art of the ballhog)

If you squint hard there is a coherent theory there. Athletic, defensive, everbody playing the game the same way. Good 7 man and all defensive hustlers/bangers deeper on the bench. But chemistry would be paramount, and frankly I think half that squad has already had a taste of playign wiht A.I. and not liked it (KT, Salmons, Iggy, Corliss...nto sure how Daly feels).


Take away that #1 pick mentioend, or at least lottery protect it or some such, and its a ridiculously risky but potentially fruitful gamble. Maybe.

 

[Elise10]

Source: Iverson could be traded as early as Monday

Source: Sixers looking to pull off trade by Tuesday

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2693389
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com






Allen Iverson's 11-year tenure in Philadelphia is on track to end as soon as Monday night.
A source close to Iverson has told ESPN.com that Sixers brass met Sunday to go over the various trade proposals that have come in over the past few days. One or two three-team trade proposals were expected to be explored Monday, and the source said the Sixers were inclined to pull the trigger shortly thereafter -- either Monday night or Tuesday.



While the Sixers are apparently looking to pull the plug on the trade quickly, Iverson will be inactive for Monday's game against Portland.

The source indicated the Minnesota Timberwolves were not seriously in the running, and the attention being paid to Denver and Boston was being overblown.


"The offers are better than what was out there last summer," the source said.


The source said the Sixers seemed determined to avoid having the Iverson divorce linger anywhere near as long as last year's protracted Ron Artest trade saga in Indiana, which dragged on for nearly seven weeks before he was dealt to Sacramento for Peja Stojakovic.

"The best offers are the ones that come at the beginning," a well-placed Pacers source told ESPN.com on Saturday, looking back on that drama and comparing it to what's happening in Philadelphia with Iverson.


Sixers chairman Ed Snider has already said definitively that Iverson will be granted his wish and be traded, something Iverson asked for last Monday -- a day after the Sixers lost by 11 at home to Minnesota as Ricky Davis jawed with front-row spectators while scoring 14 fourth-quarter points to lock up the win.


Amid speculation that Davis, or Mike James, and rookie Randy Foye might be the centerpieces of a deal that would send Iverson to Minnesota, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor on Friday night told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press: "There's no trade. It isn't that I don't like him, just money-wise it wouldn't work out."


And although Taylor backed off those comments somewhat on Saturday, ESPN.com's source, who because of his closeness to Iverson was being kept abreast of all developments, indicated the 76ers weren't enamored of either Davis or the additional pieces they'd have to take back from Minnesota to make the salaries match.


Unlike last year's Artest saga, when his relatively small salary ($6.8 million) gave the Pacers a myriad of options to consider, the Sixers have a limited number of proposals to sift through due to the number of players it would take, in most cases, to have salaries that add up within the range ($13.75 million to $21.5 million) of what is needed to match Iverson's salary (he makes $17.2 million this season, $19.1M in 2007-08 and $21.1M in 2008-9) for the trade to work under NBA rules.


The Celtics have the advantage of being able to add Theo Ratliff's $11.7 million contract into the mix, while the Memphis Grizzlies would be one of the few teams able to offer Philadelphia cap relief for next summer through Eddie Jones' expiring $15.7 million contract -- if not for the inconvenient fact that team president Jerry West's hands are tied because of the pending sale of the team, precluding him from making trades.


Dallas also could offer a package starting with two expiring contracts (Jerry Stackhouse and Austin Croshere), as could New Orleans (Desmond Mason and Mark Jackson add up to almost $13 million), while the Charlotte Bobcats are far enough under the salary cap to take back Iverson in a trade in which the salaries would not have to even come close to matching.


Another team that can't be totally dismissed is the New York Knicks, who are in the unique position of being able to take back both Iverson and Chris Webber in a trade. Because the salaries of Iverson and Webber add up to nearly $38 million, the Knicks would have to offer at least $30.4 million worth of contracts back -- a total that could be reached with a package of Steve Francis, Quentin Richardson, Malik Rose and Channing Frye.


And although the Sixers would prefer to trade Iverson to a Western Conference team, they're going to take the best offer that's out there, East or West, even in their own division -- and they're going to do it soon.
Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Hmm...do we want to give up Martin this early in his young, blossoming career, even if it does meant getting AI and a young Iggy?? Hmmm...well, what do we have to lose, right, it's not like we're tearing up the league and playing with any sort of passion right now...Passion 4 Purple??

 

[Elise10]

Oh and another thing.....

Iverson in royal purple?Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he wouldn't rule out a trade that would send Iverson to Los Angeles and pair him with Kobe Bryant.

"I think he has trade value. Certain teams know what he could do for them,"

Jackson said Sunday before the Lakers-Spurs game in Los Angeles.

"Other teams would say no thank you at this time.
"I wouldn't say outright we have no interest." --Associated Press
Iverson in royal purple?

Taken from same article as above

 

[nbrans]

Its just such an absolutely enormous risk. Wow factor is there, as is the solid theory of A.I. + all defensive minded players who don't need to score = contender (ala Philly 2001). It could work. We could contend. Then again, if it does not, and it blows up, you don't have much left.

In any case it means:

C- Dalembert (blocks+rebs)
PF- KT (rebs)
SF- Artest (defense, #2 gun)
OG- Iggy (defense, steals)
PG- AI (#1gun)

6th- Reef (scoring)
7th Salmons (versatile, defense)
8th- Cisco (versatile, defense)
9th- Price (defense)
10th- Corliss (scoring, physical)
11th- Hart (defense)
12th- douby (mini-Iverson to be tutored int eh art of the ballhog)

If you squint hard there is a coherent theory there. Athletic, defensive, everbody playing the game the same way. Good 7 man and all defensive hustlers/bangers deeper on the bench. But chemistry would be paramount, and frankly I think half that squad has already had a taste of playign wiht A.I. and not liked it (KT, Salmons, Iggy, Corliss...nto sure how Daly feels).


Take away that #1 pick mentioend, or at least lottery protect it or some such, and its a ridiculously risky but potentially fruitful gamble. Maybe.

Philly wasn't even remotely good with 4/5ths of that starting lineup and two of the same benchers. Artest is really good, but I don't think he's the difference between a team that could barely even make the playoffs and a team that's a contender.

It's already been tried and it didn't work.

The Kings need a different strategy. Martin would be the first real complimentary scorer AI has ever had (the dual alpha dog strategy with Stack and Hughes was faulty since those guys couldn't score without dominating the ball). Miller would be the first center to consistently draw away bigs from the hoop.

I'd take a AI/Martin/Artest/KT/Miller lineup over AI/Iggy/Artest/KT/Dalembert. I know you're going off history, and a dirty work team + Iverson made it to the finals, but don't forget how bad the East was that year and how thoroughly they were trounced by the Lakers (and would have been trounced by whoever made it out of the West). If AI's going to win a championship I think you need a more balanced team that yeah, has all the defense and dirty work, but also has some guys who compliment AI's game. I think the Kings have the complimentary guys in Martin and Miller, and maybe the Kings would be able to get that final pesky big in free agency.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Isiah Thomas probably has wet dreams about getting AI.

 

[BALLER4LIFE]

from espn insider

Who wants Iverson? Lots of folks


by: Marc Stein
posted: Sunday, December 10, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry

Sixers officials were behind closed doors Sunday, meeting as an organization to formulate their Allen Iverson strategy.

Your faithful Stein Line correspondent was on the phone, calling all over the league in an attempt to assemble the most up-to-date list of serious Iverson suitors.
My list coming out of the weekend:
Timberwolves
I keep hearing that the Wolves have the player Philly wants most for Iverson: Villanova alumnus Randy Foye.
Not clear is how they can complete this deal with zero first-round picks to offer the Sixers and only unfavorable contracts to add to Foye, Ricky Davis and Eddie Griffin to make the numbers work.
If Iverson ends up with Kevin Garnett's Wolves -- which makes the most basketball sense if you're talking superstars AI can play with -- chances are it'll have to be a three-team deal. Or bigger.
Celtics
Word is no team is hotter for Iverson than the Celts, just as they were in June at the draft.
Of course, there's probably no team Philly would rather deal with less than Boston. The Sixers want to see as little of Iverson as possible when this is all over, as opposed to seeing him in the same division wearing the colors of a longstanding (and hated) rival.
Philly's problem? Boston might have the most attractive combo of youngsters, draft picks and salary-cap relief. So then what do you do?
Kings
Ron Artest and Allen Iverson? The Maloof Brothers, as they're fond of telling us, are gamblers. Artest and Mike Bibby don't look like the happiest couple, so why not swap Bibby (and any other required salaries) for The Answer?
I can think of a zillion reasons not to, actually, but gambles don't get bigger than letting Ron-Ron and AI wrestle for control of the team. With the Maloofs riding their instincts more than ever, instead of simply deferring to Geoff Petrie, I've been advised to take this one seriously.
Bobcats
Don't scoff. Not only does the potential of a Michael Jordan-Iverson tag team grab your attention, but Charlotte's considerable salary-cap space makes absorbing Iverson's $17.2 million salary easier than for the 'Cats than any other suitor.
If President Jordan's boss -- Bobcats owner Bob Johnson -- is finally ready to spend and fill up his building, Iverson holds obvious appeal, with the Sixers obliged to listen because of the Bobs' own cache of promising youngsters and enticing draft picks.
The field
Not sure why Indiana, after its spin on the Artest roller-coaster and struggles to win back the local community, would suddenly consider building around Iverson.
Not sure why Golden State, whether it offers Baron Davis or Monta Ellis, is intrigued by pairing Iverson with whoever stays.
Not sure why the Clippers, even though Mike Dunleavy wanted Artest this time last summer, think an AI-Elton Brand combo just might work.
But speculation backing all of those scenarios is out there if you want to believe it.
Teams that have publicly announced that they won't be bidding for Iverson include Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, New Jersey, New York and Orlando.

 

[SacKings384]

Man, thinking of Artest and AI on the court together is scary how good they can be. Thinking of them off the court together is just scary...

 

[thebostonstrangler]

Sixers fan here. How is Bibby's relationship with his father? I thought they had a strained relationship? Anyway, I only ask because Bibby's father is an assistant coach for us so that might impact a potential trade for him.

Also why is Bibby struggling so much this year? Is it just the injury or is he declining as a player?

 

[BonziFan]

He has apparently mended the relationship a bit as it has been noticed that elder Bibby has come and seen Mike play. He is just getting over the injuries now so should really start to take off.

 

[KingKong]

Isiah Thomas probably has wet dreams about getting AI.

Now that's funny.

 

[Bricklayer]

The worst part of this being that I think that if this DOESN'T happen at this point, and if the Kings go back to struggling, that the combo is going to be even more lethal to the fanbase. Hopes have been up, well...I guess. But at least hope for a change, some excitement. Follow that with nothing -- a long boring/frustrating drag and I could see them calling sellouts with pidgeons being the only thing moving in the upper deck.

 

[Troy]

Good grief.. the last one is basically switching most of our players for most of theirs... at that point we would have almost in succeeded in exchanging teams! I'm a very faithful Kings fan, and I consider myself a Kings fan more than a player fan, but if I was watching a game in Arco & Webb, Bibby, Miller and Martin were playing AI, Iguodala, & Dalembert, I'd have trouble cheering for the "Kings"!

That would be very confusing, I know the name on the front says Kings, but I think I'd be cheering for the 76ers.

 

[VF21]

The worst part of this being that I think that if this DOESN'T happen at this point, and if the Kings go back to struggling, that the combo is going to be even more lethal to the fanbase. Hopes have been up, well...I guess. But at least hope for a change, some excitement. Follow that with nothing -- a long boring/frustrating drag and I could see them calling sellouts with pidgeons being the only thing moving in the upper deck.

I've been thinking about that, too. I think the fact that this thread has over 260 posts is indicatve that people are hungry for SOMETHING to happen, something that will, as you say, create some excitement.

They always say you don't run your team for the fans, but in this case I think the powers that be are going to have to understand that the fans need something to continue to believe, to continue to attend, to continue to spend money...

Brad made a comment after the game when he was asked if one win erased the bad taste. His response, along with a look of total disbelief, was that of course one win wasn't going to make everything right. He said they needed to do a lot more... and he's right.

 

[y2kings]

Man, if we had Iggy and AI with Ron, we'd be such a solid team on defense. Iguadola is so underrated, i went to Cal and i saw him play at Arizona...this guy is amazing. He much more athletic than marting with range that is pretty good and developing. I think he's a better version of martin right now.

Having AI would give us a Go to guy. I could slow down the game because we'd finally have a super skilled player who commands a lot of attention...


PLEASE....At the very most, at lesat this shows we're trying!!!

 

[BMiller52]

Martin is a better player than Iguodala, much better.

My favorite potential line up IF we got AI is: AI/Martin/Artest/Miller/Hunter. I don't really like other ones. But I doubt we get AI, there are 28 other teams who want him too.

 

[DETON8ER]

I was just wondering, why do u guys put SAR behind every single player?
U put him behind HUNTER? cmon the dude is a NOT A PF HE's A C.
You guys tend to forget who SAR IS... i hope he gets traded to a team that actually gives him credit.

 

[Bricklayer]

Martin is a better player than Iguodala, much better.

Is he?

I don't want to argue the merits of the ubertrade too strenuously as I consider it a major risk, as is the whole get Iverson plan. Could blow up in our faces, and it certainly was nothing I would have come up with before a few days ago. But in any case:

Kevin Martin:
35.5min 21.1pts (.504 .437 .910) 4.2reb 1.8ast 1.4stl 0.1blk 2.0TO
Andre Igoudala:
39.4min 13.8pts (.468 .349 .796) 6.2reb 4.6ast 2.1stl 0.4blk 3.0TO

Now Kevin I think is clearly the more natural scorer. But basically at everything else, Iggy is better. He's a better rounded player. Adn if I;m starting a team, I likely bank on Kevin, figure with some development maybe he can become a #1 or #2 scorer, a star. But now if I'm looking to put a wingman next to a notroious super ballhog, I'm not lookign for a scorer or star. I'm looking for a do it all defensive minded roleplayer. Enter the Iggy. Better rebounder. Better passer, and creates as part of his game (Kevin can pass, but its like Peja -- doesn't flow naturally from his scoring). More disruptive defender. Physically strong, super athlete.

Or ponder this:

Artest 2.7stls
Iverson 2.2stls
Iggy 2.1stls

Has there EVER been a team who's PG/OG/SF all averaged 2+ steals? I certainly can't think of one. The Bulls had Michael and Pippen both over 2 I think, but Harper was probably too old at that point for those kind of numbers. In any case, that could be the single most disruptive defensive PG/OG/SF combo in the league. Throw in Dalembert to play goalie...

*End pitch* I can make arguments why not as well. But there is something there if that's actually been on the table. That whole identiy crisis thing we've been having would be over. We'd be a) a super disruptive pressing/trapping/scrambling team with guys flying through all the passing lanes; b) built around the 1 on 1 talents of Iverson and Artest, with Iggy as the outlet scorer/fast breaker. The pieces "fit". Its just such a drastic departure that 1000 things could go wrong (not least of which the guys taking all the shots both shoot 40%), and do we trust this coach to make it all work?

 

[Smills91]

Is he?

I don't want to argue the merits of the ubertrade too strenuously as I consider it a major risk, as is the whole get Iverson plan. Could blow up in our faces, and it certainly was nothing I would have come up with before a few days ago. But in any case:

Kevin Martin:
35.5min 21.1pts (.504 .437 .910) 4.2reb 1.8ast 1.4stl 0.1blk 2.0TO
Andre Igoudala:
39.4min 13.8pts (.468 .349 .796) 6.2reb 4.6ast 2.1stl 0.4blk 3.0TO

Now Kevin I think is clearly the more natural scorer. But basically at everything else, Iggy is better. He's a better rounded player. Adn if I;m starting a team, I likely bank on Kevin, figure with some development maybe he can become a #1 or #2 scorer, a star. But now if I'm looking to put a wingman next to a notroious super ballhog, I'm not lookign for a scorer or star. I'm looking for a do it all defensive minded roleplayer. Enter the Iggy. Better rebounder. Better passer, and creates as part of his game (Kevin can pass, but its like Peja -- doesn't flow naturally from his scoring). More disruptive defender. Physically strong, super athlete.

Or ponder this:

Artest 2.7stls
Iverson 2.2stls
Iggy 2.1stls

Has there EVER been a team who's PG/OG/SF all averaged 2+ steals? I certainly can't think of one. The Bulls had Michael and Pippen both over 2 I think, but Harper was probably too old at that point for those kind of numbers. In any case, that could be the single most disruptive defensive PG/OG/SF combo in the league. Throw in Dalembert to play goalie...

*End pitch* I can make arguments why not as well. But there is something there if that's actually been on the table. That whole identiy crisis thing we've been having would be over. We'd be a) a super disruptive pressing/trapping/scrambling team with guys flying through all the passing lanes; b) built around the 1 on 1 talents of Iverson and Artest, with Iggy as the outlet scorer/fast breaker. The pieces "fit". Its just such a drastic departure that 1000 things could go wrong (not least of which the guys taking all the shots both shoot 40%), and do we trust this coach to make it all work?

Kevin's not your ty[ical scorer...at his eficiency, he won't be taking shots away from anyone.

 

[nbrans]

Is he?

I don't want to argue the merits of the ubertrade too strenuously as I consider it a major risk, as is the whole get Iverson plan. Could blow up in our faces, and it certainly was nothing I would have come up with before a few days ago. But in any case:

Kevin Martin:
35.5min 21.1pts (.504 .437 .910) 4.2reb 1.8ast 1.4stl 0.1blk 2.0TO
Andre Igoudala:
39.4min 13.8pts (.468 .349 .796) 6.2reb 4.6ast 2.1stl 0.4blk 3.0TO

Now Kevin I think is clearly the more natural scorer. But basically at everything else, Iggy is better. He's a better rounded player. Adn if I;m starting a team, I likely bank on Kevin, figure with some development maybe he can become a #1 or #2 scorer, a star. But now if I'm looking to put a wingman next to a notroious super ballhog, I'm not lookign for a scorer or star. I'm looking for a do it all defensive minded roleplayer. Enter the Iggy. Better rebounder. Better passer, and creates as part of his game (Kevin can pass, but its like Peja -- doesn't flow naturally from his scoring). More disruptive defender. Physically strong, super athlete.

Or ponder this:

Artest 2.7stls
Iverson 2.2stls
Iggy 2.1stls

Has there EVER been a team who's PG/OG/SF all averaged 2+ steals? I certainly can't think of one. The Bulls had Michael and Pippen both over 2 I think, but Harper was probably too old at that point for those kind of numbers. In any case, that could be the single most disruptive defensive PG/OG/SF combo in the league. Throw in Dalembert to play goalie...

*End pitch* I can make arguments why not as well. But there is something there if that's actually been on the table. That whole identiy crisis thing we've been having would be over. We'd be a) a super disruptive pressing/trapping/scrambling team with guys flying through all the passing lanes; b) built around the 1 on 1 talents of Iverson and Artest, with Iggy as the outlet scorer/fast breaker. The pieces "fit". Its just such a drastic departure that 1000 things could go wrong (not least of which the guys taking all the shots both shoot 40%), and do we trust this coach to make it all work?

I agree with the last part, that would be a seriously strong perimeter defense, but I don't agree that overall Iguodala is a better player. Just looking at those stats, Kevin could very well focus on rebounding and average 6 a game. Or he could focus on passing and get 4.8 a game. Those are within his grasp if he focused on them. But I don't think there's any way Iguodala could suddenly become a 20 point scorer. It's so much more difficult to make the jump from 13 points to 20 points per game than it would be for Kevin to get 6 boards. I think Kevin is much much better than Iggy on offense, and Iggy is better on defense, but Kevin isn't a slouch.

I still maintain that Kevin would be an ideal guy playing off the ball and benifitting from AI's kickouts and the attention that AI would draw. We've seen in the past few weeks that Kevin-as-focus-of-defensive-attention is not pretty. But defense would have a hard time focusing on both AI and Kevin. They'd really be ideal offensive partners -- Kevin is unselfish and doesn't need very many shots to score 20, which is something AI has never really had. He would thrive on AI's kickouts (which is how AI gets most of his assists)

So while I would be really intrigued by the perimeter defense of an AI/Iggy/Artest combo I really would hate to lose Martin, who I think is already better and has a higher cieling than Iguodala.