Mr.Bottomtooth
12-17-2006, 06:05 PM
Nuggets, Wolves lead A.I. chase
Source: James, Jaric, Davis and Hassell are in Wolves' offer
BY MARC J. SPEARS
Denver Post
BOSTON — The Denver Nuggets are leading a tight, three-team race for Philadelphia 76ers star guard Allen Iverson, but the Timberwolves are a very close second, according to a Western Conference executive.
The key to the Nuggets completing a deal is finding a third team to help facilitate the trade, including moving several players whose contracts will expire after this season or next.
"It's a race," the executive said Friday. "(The Nuggets) have the best chance and the best hand. But they need someone else badly. … I'd say (the Nuggets) with Minnesota are 1 and 1A. Then Beantown. I can't believe Miami is a real player."
Denver could execute a deal for Iverson without involving a third team but prefers to include a third team to keep from losing players.
The source said the Timberwolves are offering guards Mike James, Marko Jaric, Ricky Davis and Trenton Hassell.
Iverson is making $17.1 million this season, and any suitor must come within 25 percent of his contract on a deal to make it work.
The executive said the Timberwolves, Denver and Boston have been "looking all over the league" for expiring contracts. Players in the final year of their contracts those three teams have inquired about include Portland's Jamaal Magloire ($8.4 million this season), Orlando's Grant Hill ($16.9 million), Dallas' Austin Croshere ($7.3 million), Memphis' Eddie Jones ($15.6 million) and Chicago's P.J. Brown ($8.6 million).
"It's a salary-dump race," the executive said. "The first team to the dumpster wins."
Saturday, the Nuggets continued to work phones and have turned to Seattle and Dallas as potential third teams, league sources said.
Another source said Iverson wouldn't have any problems playing in Denver. There have been reports the seven-time NBA all-star would refuse a trade that would take him to Charlotte, Sacramento or Golden State.
The Nuggets have several players potentially in the final two years of their contracts who could be moved to Philadelphia in Earl Boykins, Yakhouba Diawara, Julius Hodge, DerMarr Johnson, Linas Kleiza, Eduardo Najera, Jamal Sampson and J.R. Smith.
The two Nuggets most likely to be moved in an Iverson deal are Joe Smith and Najera. Smith, a former Timberwolves forward, is in the final year of his contract, making $6.8 million, while Najera is making $4.5 million this season with a team option for $4.95 million for 2007-08.
The source also said the Celtics are offering forward-center Theo Ratliff, who is making $11.6 million this and next season, and a young player or two.
After scoring a season-high 42 points in a 119-114 loss at Boston on Friday, Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 31.5 points. Iverson is second at 31.2 points. Nuggets center Marcus Camby said he believes Iverson could help ease Anthony's scoring load.
"We need another scorer," Camby said. "We need a guy that can complement 'Melo. That would be crazy to have them two here, the one and two scorers in the league. (Iverson's) a guy that can fit into our offense running up and down the court. I think we could use him more as a playmaker if he is here. Use him more at the point and run him at off guard, also.
"He's a guy that's been MVP. He's been to the Finals. He has a lot of experience. I would definitely welcome playing with him."
Boston forward Paul Pierce said he believes the Nuggets could be an NBA title contender with Iverson.
"When you have players like Carmelo and Iverson on the same team, that means you can put two superstars out there every night," Pierce said. "If that happened, I think you'd have to put them up there as contenders."
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16258701.htm
Source: James, Jaric, Davis and Hassell are in Wolves' offer
BY MARC J. SPEARS
Denver Post
BOSTON — The Denver Nuggets are leading a tight, three-team race for Philadelphia 76ers star guard Allen Iverson, but the Timberwolves are a very close second, according to a Western Conference executive.
The key to the Nuggets completing a deal is finding a third team to help facilitate the trade, including moving several players whose contracts will expire after this season or next.
"It's a race," the executive said Friday. "(The Nuggets) have the best chance and the best hand. But they need someone else badly. … I'd say (the Nuggets) with Minnesota are 1 and 1A. Then Beantown. I can't believe Miami is a real player."
Denver could execute a deal for Iverson without involving a third team but prefers to include a third team to keep from losing players.
The source said the Timberwolves are offering guards Mike James, Marko Jaric, Ricky Davis and Trenton Hassell.
Iverson is making $17.1 million this season, and any suitor must come within 25 percent of his contract on a deal to make it work.
The executive said the Timberwolves, Denver and Boston have been "looking all over the league" for expiring contracts. Players in the final year of their contracts those three teams have inquired about include Portland's Jamaal Magloire ($8.4 million this season), Orlando's Grant Hill ($16.9 million), Dallas' Austin Croshere ($7.3 million), Memphis' Eddie Jones ($15.6 million) and Chicago's P.J. Brown ($8.6 million).
"It's a salary-dump race," the executive said. "The first team to the dumpster wins."
Saturday, the Nuggets continued to work phones and have turned to Seattle and Dallas as potential third teams, league sources said.
Another source said Iverson wouldn't have any problems playing in Denver. There have been reports the seven-time NBA all-star would refuse a trade that would take him to Charlotte, Sacramento or Golden State.
The Nuggets have several players potentially in the final two years of their contracts who could be moved to Philadelphia in Earl Boykins, Yakhouba Diawara, Julius Hodge, DerMarr Johnson, Linas Kleiza, Eduardo Najera, Jamal Sampson and J.R. Smith.
The two Nuggets most likely to be moved in an Iverson deal are Joe Smith and Najera. Smith, a former Timberwolves forward, is in the final year of his contract, making $6.8 million, while Najera is making $4.5 million this season with a team option for $4.95 million for 2007-08.
The source also said the Celtics are offering forward-center Theo Ratliff, who is making $11.6 million this and next season, and a young player or two.
After scoring a season-high 42 points in a 119-114 loss at Boston on Friday, Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 31.5 points. Iverson is second at 31.2 points. Nuggets center Marcus Camby said he believes Iverson could help ease Anthony's scoring load.
"We need another scorer," Camby said. "We need a guy that can complement 'Melo. That would be crazy to have them two here, the one and two scorers in the league. (Iverson's) a guy that can fit into our offense running up and down the court. I think we could use him more as a playmaker if he is here. Use him more at the point and run him at off guard, also.
"He's a guy that's been MVP. He's been to the Finals. He has a lot of experience. I would definitely welcome playing with him."
Boston forward Paul Pierce said he believes the Nuggets could be an NBA title contender with Iverson.
"When you have players like Carmelo and Iverson on the same team, that means you can put two superstars out there every night," Pierce said. "If that happened, I think you'd have to put them up there as contenders."
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16258701.htm