Supreme_Being
02-13-2009, 12:11 AM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=tradetalk-090205
San Antonio's desire to acquire one more big man (preferably a floor-stretching big man) to counter the Lakers and Boston is no secret.
The surprise stems from the rumbles I've heard about Detroit free-agent-to-be Rasheed Wallace having legit interest in joining the Spurs to team up with his 2005 NBA Finals nemesis Tim Duncan, with 'Sheed chief among the Pistons unsettled by the realization that big changes are undoubtedly coming in that locker room.
Don't see a real trade possibility here -- given that the Pistons are unlikely to take back anything other than expiring contracts for the expiring deals possessed by Wallace and Allen Iverson unless they have a chance to trade for someone like Stoudemire or Chris Bosh -- but it's something to file away for free agency.
Another note for the future on Iverson: Detroit is far more unlikely than likely to find a workable trade home for Iverson after the Pistons' struggles since acquiring A.I. from Denver in the first week of the season, but I've heard multiple executives say there might be a better-than-expected market for the 33-year-old in free agency this summer as long as his demands are not exorbitant.
"There's never been a time where we're all touched by the economy at the same time," said one exec, suggesting that Iverson will appeal to a few teams just because of his ability to sell tickets.
Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click her
San Antonio's desire to acquire one more big man (preferably a floor-stretching big man) to counter the Lakers and Boston is no secret.
The surprise stems from the rumbles I've heard about Detroit free-agent-to-be Rasheed Wallace having legit interest in joining the Spurs to team up with his 2005 NBA Finals nemesis Tim Duncan, with 'Sheed chief among the Pistons unsettled by the realization that big changes are undoubtedly coming in that locker room.
Don't see a real trade possibility here -- given that the Pistons are unlikely to take back anything other than expiring contracts for the expiring deals possessed by Wallace and Allen Iverson unless they have a chance to trade for someone like Stoudemire or Chris Bosh -- but it's something to file away for free agency.
Another note for the future on Iverson: Detroit is far more unlikely than likely to find a workable trade home for Iverson after the Pistons' struggles since acquiring A.I. from Denver in the first week of the season, but I've heard multiple executives say there might be a better-than-expected market for the 33-year-old in free agency this summer as long as his demands are not exorbitant.
"There's never been a time where we're all touched by the economy at the same time," said one exec, suggesting that Iverson will appeal to a few teams just because of his ability to sell tickets.
Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click her