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Larry Brown playing consultant role for 76ers during Iverson talks
By David Aldridge
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(MCT)
PHILADELPHIA - Larry and A.I. are back together. Sort of.
As the 76ers decide when and where to trade Allen Iverson, they are seeking the advice of former 76ers coach Larry Brown, who is acting as a consultant to team president Billy King as the latter sifts through the many offers for the temperamental guard.
Brown moved back to the Philadelphia area weeks ago after being fired as coach of the New York Knicks last summer. He received an $18.5 million settlement from the Knicks' parent organization, Cablevision, to release him from the final four years of his contract. His relationship with Iverson had its ups and downs during the years, as did his relationship with 76ers management. No one in the organization was especially sad to see Brown leave in 2003 to take the Detroit Pistons' head coaching job.
But bygones are apparently bygones.
"We would be foolish not to take advantage of that relationship," a source within the 76ers organization said Thursday.
It is not known whether the team sought out Brown's advice, or Brown volunteered it and it was accepted. Nor was it known whether Brown's consultation was specifically linked only to the Iverson trade, or whether he is going to have a bigger role within the organization going forward. It was Brown who brought King to Philadelphia soon after Brown replaced Johnny Davis as head coach in 1997.
Brown's longtime agent, Joe Glass, confirmed that Brown was again working with the Sixers.
"He's a friend of the family," Glass said. "I guess that's the best way to put it. He's good friends with Billy, with Mo (Cheeks), with Ed (Snider, the team's chairman). I guess they want to pick his brain. It's as non-exotic a situation as you can have. They're just picking his brain, which is good."
Glass would not discuss whether Brown is being paid for his opinions or whether he will continue working with the team after Iverson is traded.
"We're just happy to be in a situation where we're breathing fresh air," Glass said, "after dealing with the rancid air that we've been dealing with (in New York) the last 14 months."
More offers
Brown's reemergence with the Sixers came as King continued sifting through offers for Iverson. The Denver Nuggets are continuing to try to broker a three-team deal that would send Iverson to Denver, forward Nene to Portland, and center Jamaal Magloire (from the Blazers), forward Joe Smith (from the Nuggets), and another player to Philadelphia.
The Blazers, according to a source, are doing their due diligence on Nene, and now believe his surgically repaired knee is sound after he missed almost all of last season after suffering a ligament injury. Nene is a base-year compensation player, meaning the Nuggets can only take back 75 percent of his $8 million salary this season in a trade. But by adding Smith and another player to the deal, Denver would free up enough money to bring in Iverson's $17.1 million salary.
Sources indicated Thursday that the Chicago Bulls are also trying to get into the discussions, along the same lines as Portland. Under this scenario, the Bulls would try to get center/forward Marcus Camby from Denver, while sending veteran P.J. Brown to the 76ers. Smith and the other player would still come from Denver to Philadelphia, and Iverson would wind up a Nugget.
But the sources said that King was not very interested in 37-year-old P.J. Brown, despite his expiring contract ($8 million this season). Brown is not playing much at all in Chicago and would welcome a trade.
The Pacers, Celtics and Warriors all remain potential suitors for Iverson. Miami coach Pat Riley indicated that the Heat also are interested.
King has told friends that he is in no hurry to complete a deal, despite breathless speculation all week from both broadcast and print media that an Iverson trade was imminent. Iverson has been separated from the team since Snider disclosed Friday that the club would honor his request to be traded; his locker at Wachovia Center has been cleaned out, with his nameplate removed.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/16243025.htm
By David Aldridge
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(MCT)
PHILADELPHIA - Larry and A.I. are back together. Sort of.
As the 76ers decide when and where to trade Allen Iverson, they are seeking the advice of former 76ers coach Larry Brown, who is acting as a consultant to team president Billy King as the latter sifts through the many offers for the temperamental guard.
Brown moved back to the Philadelphia area weeks ago after being fired as coach of the New York Knicks last summer. He received an $18.5 million settlement from the Knicks' parent organization, Cablevision, to release him from the final four years of his contract. His relationship with Iverson had its ups and downs during the years, as did his relationship with 76ers management. No one in the organization was especially sad to see Brown leave in 2003 to take the Detroit Pistons' head coaching job.
But bygones are apparently bygones.
"We would be foolish not to take advantage of that relationship," a source within the 76ers organization said Thursday.
It is not known whether the team sought out Brown's advice, or Brown volunteered it and it was accepted. Nor was it known whether Brown's consultation was specifically linked only to the Iverson trade, or whether he is going to have a bigger role within the organization going forward. It was Brown who brought King to Philadelphia soon after Brown replaced Johnny Davis as head coach in 1997.
Brown's longtime agent, Joe Glass, confirmed that Brown was again working with the Sixers.
"He's a friend of the family," Glass said. "I guess that's the best way to put it. He's good friends with Billy, with Mo (Cheeks), with Ed (Snider, the team's chairman). I guess they want to pick his brain. It's as non-exotic a situation as you can have. They're just picking his brain, which is good."
Glass would not discuss whether Brown is being paid for his opinions or whether he will continue working with the team after Iverson is traded.
"We're just happy to be in a situation where we're breathing fresh air," Glass said, "after dealing with the rancid air that we've been dealing with (in New York) the last 14 months."
More offers
Brown's reemergence with the Sixers came as King continued sifting through offers for Iverson. The Denver Nuggets are continuing to try to broker a three-team deal that would send Iverson to Denver, forward Nene to Portland, and center Jamaal Magloire (from the Blazers), forward Joe Smith (from the Nuggets), and another player to Philadelphia.
The Blazers, according to a source, are doing their due diligence on Nene, and now believe his surgically repaired knee is sound after he missed almost all of last season after suffering a ligament injury. Nene is a base-year compensation player, meaning the Nuggets can only take back 75 percent of his $8 million salary this season in a trade. But by adding Smith and another player to the deal, Denver would free up enough money to bring in Iverson's $17.1 million salary.
Sources indicated Thursday that the Chicago Bulls are also trying to get into the discussions, along the same lines as Portland. Under this scenario, the Bulls would try to get center/forward Marcus Camby from Denver, while sending veteran P.J. Brown to the 76ers. Smith and the other player would still come from Denver to Philadelphia, and Iverson would wind up a Nugget.
But the sources said that King was not very interested in 37-year-old P.J. Brown, despite his expiring contract ($8 million this season). Brown is not playing much at all in Chicago and would welcome a trade.
The Pacers, Celtics and Warriors all remain potential suitors for Iverson. Miami coach Pat Riley indicated that the Heat also are interested.
King has told friends that he is in no hurry to complete a deal, despite breathless speculation all week from both broadcast and print media that an Iverson trade was imminent. Iverson has been separated from the team since Snider disclosed Friday that the club would honor his request to be traded; his locker at Wachovia Center has been cleaned out, with his nameplate removed.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/16243025.htm
Unless it's from Soap, the comedy, of course. 
That show was a riot.
