Sixers, Nuggets reach agreement for Iverson

[Kori Ellis]

Sixers, Nuggets reach agreement for Iverson

By Marc Stein and Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2702501

The Denver Nuggets have reached an agreement in principle with the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire Allen Iverson, according to NBA front-office sources.

The trade, pending league approval, some two weeks after Iverson demanded a trade in Philly, would send Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks to the Sixers for Iverson and perhaps another minimum-salaried player or two. It was expected to be completed later Tuesday barring any snags.

The Sixers had been hoping to take back only expiring contracts in any Iverson deal, unless they were receiving a top-flight young player like Minnesota's Randy Foye or Shaun Livingston of the Los Angeles Clippers.

But with Philly and Denver struggling to find a third team to join in to make the deal more financially enticing for the Sixers, they decided to end an auction that began in earnest when Iverson's demand to be traded was confirmed by Sixers chairman Ed Snider on Dec. 8.

This deal will bring Philly a former league assist leader in Miller, Smith's expiring salary of nearly $7 million and those two first-round picks in June -- projected to be in the 20s -- to go with their own lottery pick. Miller is averaging 13 points and 9.1 assists per game -- third-best in the NBA -- while Smith, an 11-year veteran, has played little this season, averaging only 13.5 minutes and 5.1 points per game.

The Nuggets' interest in Iverson dates to last February and has only increased since the Sixers made him available to the whole league earlier this month. Their chief motivation is pairing Iverson with Anthony in coach George Karl's up-tempo attack, but acquiring Iverson now -- just a day after Anthony and J.R. Smith were suspended for 15 and 10 games, respectively, for their roles in Saturday night's fight with the New York Knicks -- gives a much-needed jolt to Denver's depleted roster.

The former teammates from the 2004 U.S. Olympic squad won't be able to play together until Anthony is reinstated for a Jan. 20 game at Houston.

Miller, who led the NBA in assists with 10.9 per game for Cleveland in 2001-02, makes $8.7 million this season and has $19.2 million left on his contract over the following two seasons.

It's apparent, though, that the Sixers decided it was better to absorb Miller's contract now -- along with the opportunity to have three first-round selections in what scouts are calling the deepest draft in years -- as opposed to dragging out the Iverson saga further.

Iverson has been in exile for the past 11 days, languishing on the Sixers' inactive list while still accruing his per-game earnings of $156,218.

Iverson, 31, is averaging 31.2 points per game -- second only to Carmelo Anthony's 31.6 ppg -- in 15 games this season. He has a career 28.1 ppg scoring average in 11 NBA seasons, all in Philadelphia. He led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, but the team has seen little playoff success since.

He was Rookie of the year in 1997 and MVP in 2001. He has led the NBA in scoring four times, most recently in 2005, finishing in the league's top three every year since 1999, and twice led the league in steals.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

[timvp]

The Sixers got owned in that trade. Two late picks and an overweight Andre Miller for Iverson?

:lmao

[timvp]

C Camby
PF Nene/Najera/Evans
SF Anthony
SG Smith
PG Iverson

Damn, the Nuggets might have just become title contenders.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

man stan is ponying up this season with some serious $$$

Im glad he is serious about winning no matter what

Two steals for the Nuggets this season :smokin

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

The gayest trade ever.

[Kori Ellis]

The gayest trade ever.

:wtf
It sucks but it's not "gay".

[MannyIsGod]

Eh, not with George Karl coaching. AI will help them put up more points and get steals, but does this really help them in become a better overall team? I know AI is a HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE upgrade over Miller, but I don't see how it makes them a more complete team because Karl doesn't coach D.

Doesn't anyone ever wonder if Nene would be awesome in another system?

[timvp]

Billy King just cemented himself as the worst GM in sports with this move. You're telling me he couldn't get something better than Andre Miller? Miller came to camp out of shape and even when he was in shape, he was an overrated and overpaid player.

[timvp]

Eh, not with George Karl coaching. AI will help them put up more points and get steals, but does this really help them in become a better overall team? I know AI is a HUGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE upgrade over Miller, but I don't see how it makes them a more complete team because Karl doesn't coach D.

Karl isn't that bad of a coach. He made it to the Finals with the Sonics and almost with the Bucks.

He nags and whines and his players end up hating him after a while, but when he has his players listening, he's pretty effective.

Plus he's never really been able to put in his fullcourt pressure defense he's used in Seattle and Milwaukee because Andre Miller was such a "big boned" PG he couldn't press anyone.


Doesn't anyone ever wonder if Nene would be awesome in another system?

I think Nene pretty much sucks (not to mention he's a tweak away from his career being over) and the Nuggets signed him to a horrible contract. But this trade pretty much makes up for that.

[JamStone]

Billy King is the greatest GM ever. He just solidified getting the best percentage chance at the no. 1 pick in this upcoming draft so he can get Greg Oden.

Good job, Billy.

[picnroll]

So does Iverson play for the East in the all-star game?

[dknights411]

So the deal is officially done, or does it still need to clear with the league?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

its no given the Nuggets are the contenders. Buy this system suits AI, he can basically score like crazy and play little defense :lol

[ShoogarBear]

Did anyone else pick up on this?



This deal will bring Philly a former league assist leader in Miller, Smith's expiring salary of nearly $7 million and those two first-round picks in June -- projected to be in the 20s -- to go with their own lottery pick. :lmao Stein has officially eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs on December 19th.

I don't think Miller is trash, and would be a great point guard on a team that just lacked a primary distirbutor. But two picks in the 20s and only $7 million in cap space? Yeah, the Sixers screwed themselves by admitting too early they were trading him.

May AI can toughen up Melo. But are there going to be any shots left over for JR Smith now?

[dimsah]

The Sixers got owned in that trade. Two late picks and an overweight Andre Miller for Iverson?

:lmao
How's that?
They dropped the dead weight of Iversons contract. Took Smith's expiring contract. Got a point gaurd who can distribute which is what they need, and got 2 extra first rounders to go with the high first rounder they're going to get from a draft that's going to be deep.

Denver's the one that got owned.

[Mitch Cumsteen]

Billy King just cemented himself as the worst GM in sports with this move. You're telling me he couldn't get something better than Andre Miller? Miller came to camp out of shape and even when he was in shape, he was an overrated and overpaid player.
He is making Isiah look smart.

Philly is getting boned in this deal. They aren't even getting that much cap relief. The way I'm looking at it, they owe AI $38M and get $26M back in salaries from Smith and Miller. They just traded one of the greatest players in NBA history who still has a lot in the tank for $12 million and two crappy first round picks who will probably both be out of the league in 5 years -- especially if King is doing the picking. This is unbelievable. How can this be the best deal they could make?

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Miller distributing can't hurt the Sixers, but they still got hosed.

[FromWayDowntown]

Billy King is the greatest GM ever. He just solidified getting the best percentage chance at the no. 1 pick in this upcoming draft so he can get Greg Oden.

Good job, Billy.

I don't know how Billy King can even be considered the worst GM currently working in the NBA, given the dude who operates that team that plays at MSG.

King at least didn't spend consecutive lottery picks on Eddy Curry.

[picnroll]

Billy King is the greatest GM ever. He just solidified getting the best percentage chance at the no. 1 pick in this upcoming draft so he can get Greg Oden.

Good job, Billy.
Agreed.

Only better trade he could have gotten was prying a Biendrins type player but that wasn't going to happen. This draft is deep and he can parlay two 20s into a low lottery and get a helluva player. 6ers were going nowhere with AI and weren't going to get much for him. Denver got a great deal but that's the way it goes. Look at what TO got for Carter or Oralndo for TMac if you want to see what a crappy deal looks like.

[FromWayDowntown]

:lmao Stein has officially eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs on December 19th.

That jumped out of the original story at me as well. Harsh, particularly in the East; but probably spot-on, too.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

Whose picks are those? If they're getting a extra chance or two at Oden that's the only way this makes any sense, even then though...

edit: Wait, they're projected to be in the 20s? W...T...F...?

[AZLouis]

Philly definitely clears some space by ridding of...

Iverson - $18.2 million (06-07), $20.1 (07-08), $21.9 (08-09)

Taking on

Miller - $8.6 (06-07)

Smith - $6.8 (06-07)

Plus some picks.

Hard not to like a trade that clears your books from that kind of salary while netting you some picks which may be useful.

Obviously the trade isn't equal as far as talent is concerned. But it could save Denver some face during the suspensions of Melo and JR Smith.

--------

The trade isn't that bad for Philly. They were stuck in the muck anyway and had the possibility of wasting a losing season by winning their division.

So they could have 3 1st round picks in the next draft? Not bad. Tools they could use to rid of CWebb's albatross of a salary and begin complete rebuilding process with Iggy as one of the centerpieces.

[timvp]

If you're Billy King and the best offer you're getting is Andre Miller's bad contract and two late first rounders, you sit on Iverson until a team gets desperate.

Actually, Kevin McHale is the one who came out of this the worst. It looks like all they had to give up was Randy Foye and salary fillers to get AI. How the hell don't you make that happen?

KG and AI make the T'Wolves a very good team. Foye might be good someday ... but by that time KG will be traded or out of his prime.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

:lol noone got owned

Dre is very underrated (see the game last night as an example). He is a great passer, can rebound and score in bunches when needed. His only knock is his D

he is a great pickup for Philly. They could use a solid veteran PG to help groom any rookie point guard they get next year,

[lefty]

Damn, I have to admit Nuggets GM is very active ; Melo is suspended, so he did everything he could to fill the void

I just hope Melo doesn't care about his potential scoring title, now that AI is his teammate ; that would be a bad thing to screw the team up

Anfre Miller is an excellent addition to the Sixers

[timvp]

How's that?
They dropped the dead weight of Iversons contract.

I'd take Iverson at $17M over Miller at $9M any day of the week.


Got a point gaurd who can distribute which is what they need

They don't need a distributing point guard. They don't have any scorers. Or post players. Or anything, really. Who is a distributing point guard going to pass it to?


Denver's the one that got owned.

Billy King is that you?

[mavsfan1000]

Not enough balls for AI and Melo to share. I don't expect Denver to be a title contender.

[MannyIsGod]

So does Iverson play for the East in the all-star game?Uh, he's in the West now, so no.

[FromWayDowntown]

Yeah, I don't think that anyone can look at the Miller part of the deal and think that it has anything to do with Philly trying to win right now. Miller was a fairly talented malcontent in Cleveland and in LA, and who knows what he'll do in Philadelphia. His contract had to be included in the deal for it to work -- the fact that Denver was willing to jettison him at this point speaks volumes about what they think of him -- and I suspect he'll either be moved again as soon as possible or that he'll just bide his time with a team that isn't going anywhere. His contract isn't favorable for much of anything other than facilitating a trade like this one.

[Leetonidas]

This is going to be interesting. Iverson has never played on a team with another superstar. Nuggets have a good team, let's see what Iverson can do with them.

[rayray2k8]

Welcome to ballhog USA

[ShoogarBear]

Philly definitely clears some space by ridding of...

Iverson - $18.2 million (06-07), $20.1 (07-08), $21.9 (08-09)

Taking on

Miller - $8.6 (06-07)

Smith - $6.8 (06-07)

Is Miller's contract expiring this year, too? If so, that makes a little more sense.

[MannyIsGod]

I think you gotta see who Philly drafts before you say they got hosed, but right now theres no way they got nearly what you excpected them to get out of this deal.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Is Miller's contract expiring this year, too? If so, that makes a little more sense.

Nope.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/salaries/nuggets.html

$8,733,333 - 2006
$9,366,666 - 2007
$9,999,999 - 2008

[ShoogarBear]

I wonder how happy a camper JR Smith will be when everyone gets back from "vacation".

[MannyIsGod]

AI being in the West fucking sucks though. He always kills the Spurs.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I think you gotta see who Philly drafts before you say they got hosed, but right now theres no way they got nearly what you excpected them to get out of this deal.

I think where Philly got a bad deal is in why couldn't a MIN or GSW deal be worked out (if the right pieces were on the table, those were much better trades).

[MannyIsGod]

My question too. If its less than 2 more years I don't think this is a bad move. Miller will mildly help Webber.Only if he's going to use Miller as a walker.

[whottt]

It's a great trade for the Nuggets and does elevate them to contender status, just wait and see. But it's a short window of opportunity and it's also a shaky one due to Camby's fragility and AI's rapidly closing prime. Plus the inevitable AI Karl fallout...then again, GP loved George Karl, maybe AI will too.

Still, it isn't hard to see how excellently these pieces are going to fit together under Karl.

The Nuggets are exactly the type of team that can channel AI's talent into wins...and that's without Carmelo Anthony being taken into account.

Hell just having Camby on the same team with AI makes a potential title contender.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I wonder how happy a camper JR Smith will be when everyone gets back from "vacation".

Enough to finagle a E-Will/Bonner for JR Smith deal, hopefully.

[timvp]

Yeah, I don't think that anyone can look at the Miller part of the deal and think that it has anything to do with Philly trying to win right now. Miller was a fairly talented malcontent in Cleveland and in LA, and who knows what he'll do in Philadelphia. His contract had to be included in the deal for it to work -- the fact that Denver was willing to jettison him at this point speaks volumes about what they think of him -- and I suspect he'll either be moved again as soon as possible or that he'll just bide his time with a team that isn't going anywhere. His contract isn't favorable for much of anything other than facilitating a trade like this one.

If Philly can turn around and trade Miller for some more picks and maybe a young project, then this trade will start making more sense. Right now they traded AI for a bad contract and two picks in the 20's.

Miller is already 30. He's gone from a bad defender into a horrible defender within the last two years.

If Philly wanted to win the Greg Oden sweepstakes, they should have traded him to a team that would only give them a dead expiring contract back and a couple first round picks. Miller is just good enough to lead them to a couple victories but not good enough to really make a playoff push.

[ShoogarBear]

I wonder if AI will have any of the old Larry Brown sentiment playing for Karl.

One things for certain, this will be the most talent he's ever played with. So that excuse will be gone.

[picnroll]

Uh, he's in the West now, so no.
SO if he's voted in as a starter for the East? They just skip him?

[ShoogarBear]

Hot damn, the Spurs take three days off and the world goes to shit!

[timvp]

This draft is deep and he can parlay two 20s into a low lottery and get a helluva player.

There's no way you can trade two 20's for a low lottery pick in this draft. This draft is deep, but the talent drops off around pick 18 or so. You might be able to trade two 20's for like pick 15 or 16, but even that I wouldn't count on.

[MannyIsGod]

The question should be if will those votes be transfered over to the west or will he have to be selected by the coaches.

Tony's shot at another ASG just dropped.

[ducks]

Billy King just cemented himself as the worst GM in sports with this move. You're telling me he couldn't get something better than Andre Miller? Miller came to camp out of shape and even when he was in shape, he was an overrated and overpaid player.

larry brown was giving king advise NICE MOVE LARRY

[Spurminator]

Wow. Denver's hurry-up offense just upgraded their slowest piece for one of the quickest players in NBA history.

No one's going to be able to keep up with them. This will be fun to watch.

[timvp]

Wow. Denver's hurry-up offense just upgraded their slowest piece for one of the quickest players in NBA history.

No one's going to be able to keep up with them. This will be fun to watch.

Yeah, they are going to be scary. 110 points per game before AI and with a slow point guard leading the way?

And now they'll be able to press fullcourt like the old Sonics used to do so well. Karl has a short life span as a coach but if the pieces fall together right, they are going to be a power.

[dknights411]

Is Miller's contract expiring this year, too? If so, that makes a little more sense.

I think ESPN said that it was.

[timvp]

No but one of those and their own lottery pick might help get them there.

Yeah but if they don't get number one, they aren't going to be able to trade for it. In this draft, picks 2 through 5 look about the same value.

[VaSpursFan]

wow...if this is indicative of anything, it's that no one really gave a rat's ass about iverson.

now with only 1 ball in denver, how do you keep 3 high volume shooters happy especially one chasing his first scoring title? it's only a matter of time before that team implodes. i'm sure camby will start moaning about not having enough touches too. it'll be fun to see how this chemistry experiment plays out.

[PM5K]

So wait, the moderator of this forum/owner can't even post in the right section?

Interesting...

How exactly does this have anything to do with the Spurs?

[ducks]

everything in denver land will be fine if denver is winning
when denver is not winning and everyone is back there will be problems

[ducks]

So wait, the moderator of this forum/owner can't even post in the right section?

Interesting...

How exactly does this have anything to do with the Spurs?

YOU MY FRIEND ARE BEING AN ASSHOLE
DENVER IS IN THE WEST
SPURS ARE IN THE WEST :ihit

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

So wait, the moderator of this forum/owner can't even post in the right section?

Interesting...

How exactly does this have anything to do with the Spurs?

The Nuggets just moved into contention for the West. If you fail to see how that doesn't affect the Spurs, then you're dumber than somebody who posts about having fantasies about mowing another Spurstalker's lawn.

And how do you moderate an owner?

[timvp]

Carmelo didn't have much trouble sharing the ball and getting his touches playing with Team USA. He actually handled it better than Wade and LeBron did.

This trade is either going to make the Nuggets a huge force ... or it could blow up in their face. We'll see but this isn't good news for the Spurs. AI is the one player that they've never been able to slow down. Now he comes West.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

everything in denver land will be fine if denver is winning
when denver is not winning and everyone is back there will be problems

exactly. Its the same with any teams. Everyone is happy when they r winning but things get ugly when they r losing

[Kori Ellis]

So wait, the moderator of this forum/owner can't even post in the right section?

Interesting...

How exactly does this have anything to do with the Spurs?

Because it improves Denver into a contender and it's major NBA news. All major news is posted here.

Follow the bread crumbs.

[ducks]

Carmelo didn't have much trouble sharing the ball and getting his touches playing with Team USA. He actually handled it better than Wade and LeBron did.

This trade is either going to make the Nuggets a huge force ... or it could blow up in their face. We'll see but this isn't good news for the Spurs. AI is the one player that they've never been able to slow down. Now he comes West.

MELO PUBLICALLY WANTED AI
HE GAVE HIS STAMP OF APPROVERAL
JAMES AND WADE ARE THE ONES THAT WANTED the BALL MORE IN THE GAMES
BUT LETS BLAME MELO FOR THAT TO BECAUSE JAMES IS PERFECT :downspin:

[mavsfan1000]

Iverson no longer has the excuse of having crappy players around him except having to share with another ball hog. I will change my mind about him if he is able to make Denver considerably better.

[Mr. Body]

Philly absolutely had to go in the tank this year. Their pick would go over to GSW if they made the playoffs -- it's top 15 protected and if they keep it, they only owe $1 million.

The draft picks they get from Denver are Denver's and Dallas', so one will be early 20s, the other late 20s with a slim chance Denver doesn't make the playoffs and the better of the two gets nicer.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Why is everybody forgoing the triumphant return of the Sixers other prodigal son Joe Smith?

[MosesGuthrie]

DUCKS.....WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

:p:

[MosesGuthrie]

Joe Smith is still in the league?

[PM5K]

YOU MY FRIEND ARE BEING AN ASSHOLE
DENVER IS IN THE WEST
SPURS ARE IN THE WEST :ihit

That's like fucking Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon....

[dimsah]

How does this make Denver a contender? Isn't everyone jumping the gun here?
They added a shoot first point guard who gets his points from shooting 25 - 35 shots a game. What bench do they have? Boykins? Najera?

[ShoogarBear]

Team USA is not a valid comparison. That's an artificial short-time situation where everybody goes in knowing that they are supposed to check their egos at the door.

Carmelo may or may not be willing to relinquish ownership of the team to AI, and AI may or may not be willing to defer that leadership to Carmelo. There are certainly enough shots just for those two. And for the next 14 games that isn't going to be an issue, anyway. :lol

I think the potential problem comes with JR Smith and Boykins and whether they going to be happy with their roles.

[PM5K]

This team is certainly better than the Sixers team Iverson got to the Finals, and George Karl is good in short stints...

[picnroll]

There's no way you can trade two 20's for a low lottery pick in this draft. This draft is deep, but the talent drops off around pick 18 or so. You might be able to trade two 20's for like pick 15 or 16, but even that I wouldn't count on.
Meant to say high, i.e. 12 - 13 range. There are going to be some very good prospects in the low 20s if a lot of players that can do come out.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

How does this make Denver a contender? Isn't everyone jumping the gun here?
They added a shoot first point guard who gets his points from shooting 25 - 35 shots a game. What bench do they have? Boykins? Najera?

:lol what bench?!

how about Diawara (a rookie stud), REbound (reggie evans), Nene or Eddie, Boykins (who can score when he is on) , Linas Kleiza (solid backup SF)

[picnroll]

what better deal could they get?

[WalterBenitez]

Does anyone is wondering about chemistry issue?

[PM5K]

How does this make Denver a contender? Isn't everyone jumping the gun here?
They added a shoot first point guard who gets his points from shooting 25 - 35 shots a game. What bench do they have? Boykins? Najera?

They don't need a bench as much as other teams do, they have two thirty point players...

[dimsah]

This team is certainly better than the Sixers team Iverson got to the Finals, and George Karl is good in short stints...
What are you talking about? That sixer team was one of the best defensive teams in the last 20 years.

How is this Denver team better than them?

[Medvedenko]

Damn....Melo, Mr. Glass and now AI....going to be sweet to watch. I kind of hoped AI would come to LA and pair up with Kobe and Odom....but I guess Dre Miller is the best Philly can do.....fleeced I say, who knows about the draft picks though. Only time will tell. Man I would hate to be a philly fan right now...

[MosesGuthrie]

Does anyone is wondering about chemistry issue?

I was wondering about that...but if they start winning...that will take care of itself.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

http://fisht.dreamhosters.com/images/ball/iverson.jpg

:smokin

[ShoogarBear]

Chemistry issues? On a George Karl team?

[WalterBenitez]

Iverson no longer has the excuse of having crappy players around him except having to share with another ball hog. I will change my mind about him if he is able to make Denver considerably better.

See you in june! :dramaquee

[mavsfan1000]

Any team with AI as your point guard will have chemistry issues. You need a pass first point guard to be successful in this league. AI will have to change his role.

[PM5K]

As mentioned, winning takes care of everything...

That's part of the reason we've had success with guys like Glenn Robinson, there isn't much to cry about when you are winning rings...

[MosesGuthrie]

How much will Demarr Johnson ask for #3? :)

[PM5K]

iverson is a great passer -- he's going to be dropping dimes all over the damn place

I don't know if that's supposed to be serious but he is a good passer, especially considering how many points he scores, but he's certainly not a true point guard...

[WalterBenitez]

Chemistry issues? On a George Karl team?

Chemistry issue in a team where AI is :eyebrows

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Any team with AI as your point guard will have chemistry issues. You need a pass first point guard to be successful in this league. AI will have to change his role.

http://www.hhweb.com/nba2005champs/ParkerTonyFinals2_small.jpg

[ShoogarBear]

How much will Demarr Johnson ask for #3? :)Hah. Potential chemistry issue #1.




Or #3, depending how you look at it.

[timvp]

Any team with AI as your point guard will have chemistry issues. You need a pass first point guard to be successful in this league. AI will have to change his role.

:lol

That's pretty classic coming from a Mavs fan. Jason Terry is a pass first point guard? And you do realize that the Mavs were last in the league in assists last year, right?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

iverson is a great passer -- he's going to be dropping dimes all over the damn place


exactly. He has Melo and JR running the wings, he wont have any problems passing :fro

[Bruno]

This deal is a steal for Nuggets.
An average starting PG + 2 very late first round pick (something like 25th and 28th) for Iverson ? :spin

The only concern for Nuggets is that they have too much big contracts and I don't think that the owner will agree to spend that much money. Nuggets should try to deal Nene for expiring contracts when he will be back at 100%.

[Bob Lanier]

Any team with AI as your point guard will have chemistry issues. You need a pass first point guard to be successful in this league. AI will have to change his role.
Jason Williams? Jason Terry? Tony Parker? Chauncey Billups? Derek Fisher?

[PM5K]

http://www.hhweb.com/nba2005champs/ParkerTonyFinals2_small.jpg

WORD TO THE MUTHA...

[The_Game]

How does this make Denver a contender? Isn't everyone jumping the gun here?
They added a shoot first point guard who gets his points from shooting 25 - 35 shots a game. What bench do they have? Boykins? Najera?

Anytime you add two superstars togeather you become instant contenders

[Spurminator]

The only way there will be chemistry problems is if they start losing. And they'd have to lose a LOT for AI to lose patience, considering where he's been playing.

There shouldn't be any scoring distribution problems considering how much of a run and gun team they will be. I see no reason both AI and Carmelo can't average 28-30 ppg each.

[dknights411]

exactly. He has Melo and JR running the wings, he wont have any problems passing :fro

He won't until mid-January, though!

Which poses another problem. Iverson's gonna be running the show for the next couple of weeks, as he has done for much of his career. How is he gonna handle Carmelo's return?

[WalterBenitez]

iverson is a great passer -- he's going to be dropping dimes all over the damn place

For sure he is, but what happen when he forget that!? okey, I am saying clearly that Denver with AI is better that Denver without AI ... in any team AI will be great to watch but I am curious about his ego, why because he was an MVP, scoring leader ... etc ... etc. that reasoning make think about chemistry, you know Melo is still the Star over ther, just that

[PM5K]

He'll handle the return well, that's exactly why he wanted to be traded, to play with better players and a better team, otherwise Denver isn't much better than Philadelphia...

As long as Karl doesn't ask Iverson to practice too much...

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

This...


Any team with AI as your point guard will have chemistry issues. You need a pass first point guard to be successful in this league. AI will have to change his role.

combined with this...



http://www.hhweb.com/nba2005champs/ParkerTonyFinals2_small.jpg


and this...



:lol

That's pretty classic coming from a Mavs fan. Jason Terry is a pass first point guard? And you do realize that the Mavs were last in the league in assists last year, right?


have resulted in me dusting this off...

mavsfan1000, your unprecedented amount of basketball knowledge has given me no other choice but to ask you to not say anything ever again.

[ShoogarBear]

There shouldn't be any scoring distribution problems considering how much of a run and gun team they will be. I see no reason both AI and Carmelo can't average 28-30 ppg each.Except for NBA History.

I'd have to look, but off the top of my head no duo on the same team has ever been over 28 ppg each.

[Bruno]

I don't see Andre Miller fitting into Sixers rebulding process. They should trade him soon. Trade Miller to lakers for some expiring contracts and the western conference will turn into a nightmare. :)

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

AI is the veteran and wants to win, he will defer but there will be games where he is the star and games where melo is the star.

It gives the Nuggets options beyond belief now

It wil work out, it will just take time

[dknights411]

I don't see Andre Miller fitting into Sixers rebulding process. They should trade him soon. Trade Miller to lakers for some expiring contracts and the western conference will turn into a nightmare. :)

Shh!!! Don't give them any ideas!!! :lol :downspin:

[MosesGuthrie]

AI is the veteran and wants to win, he will defer but there will be games where he is the star and games where melo is the star.

He is going to have to but he hasn't had to before. The question is will he? No one knows for sure. If he is truly all about winning though, its a no-brainer.

[Bruno]

Chemistry is overrated.

Signed : Antoine Walker and Jason Williamas, 06 nba champs.

[Spurminator]

Except for NBA History.

I'd have to look, but off the top of my head no duo on the same team has ever been over 28 ppg each.

2001 Lakers. And in 2003, Kobe averaged 30 with Shaq at 27.5.

And when was the last time a team averaged 110 ppg with essentially two primary offensive weapons?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

He is going to have to but he hasn't had to before. The question is will he? No one knows for sure. If he is truly all about winning though, its a no-brainer.


yeh. Melo would rather a title than the scoring title. You would hope Ai would defer but itwill vary night to night.

[MosesGuthrie]

Chemistry is overrated.

Signed : Antoine Walker and Jason Williamas, 06 nba champs.

Walker and Williams knew their roles and accepted them....that is good chemistry.

[MosesGuthrie]

yeh. Melo would rather a title than the scoring title. You would hope Ai would defer but itwill vary night to night.

For Nuggets fans, I hope so. I like Melo's game but having watched him since College, I have yet to see anything closely resembling a team first attitude.

[timvp]

Except for NBA History.

I'd have to look, but off the top of my head no duo on the same team has ever been over 28 ppg each.

Chamberlain and West. Shaq and Kobe. Bird and McHale came close I believe.

And don't forget about the Nuggets. I remember freakin' Michael Adams and Orlando Woolridge both averaging in the high 20's.

[dknights411]

Chemistry is overrated.

Signed : Antoine Walker and Jason Williamas, 06 nba champs.

http://espn.starwave.com/media/oly/2004/0815/photo/a_iverson_il.jpg

And AI and 'Melo were teammates here, too.

[Ocotillo]

On paper this looks very good for Denver. But when the chemistry question is raised, consider..........

1. How will AI like playing for George Karl?

2. How will Melo like seeing the ball a lot less?

3. Is Denver an AI kinda of town?

[Mr. Body]

Would JR Smith be the odd man out? Seems Denver needs some playmaking, though I suppose Smith is worth more than Beno Udrih as this point.

[timvp]

Chemistry is overrated.

Signed : Antoine Walker and Jason Williamas, 06 nba champs.

:lol

Good point.

[ducks]

exactly. Its the same with any teams. Everyone is happy when they r winning but things get ugly when they r losing
:fro

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

^^^ :lol not so much

Melo and LBJ barely got off the bench

[MosesGuthrie]

And don't forget about the Nuggets. I remember freakin' Michael Adams and Orlando Woolridge both averaging in the high 20's.

yup...

Woolridge 25.1
Adams 26.5

[Spurminator]

I can't find a Nuggets team that had two players at 28+, but they always had 3 or 4 high scorers.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Would JR Smith be the odd man out? Seems Denver needs some playmaking, though I suppose Smith is worth more than Beno Udrih as this point.

:nope people seem to think JR wont like this. He isnt going anywhere and he loevs it in Denver.

He doesnt need the ball that much and has been just as happy when the nuggs win and he hasnt scored much.

as ducks said, it will only get ugly if they are losing

[Spurminator]

JR is going to get a ton of open looks.

[dknights411]

^^^ :lol not so much

Melo and LBJ barely got off the bench

I added that as an aside. I mean they WERE teammates after all.

But my main point there was that chemestry is NOT overrated.

[2Cleva]

I don't see Andre Miller fitting into Sixers rebulding process. They should trade him soon. Trade Miller to lakers for some expiring contracts and the western conference will turn into a nightmare. :)

That's what I'm hoping on. Phil has mad Miller wood.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Perhaps the most important fact lost in this shuffle is that AI is on a fantasy team that I inherited after my brother kicked a guy out of a league. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... :santahat

[WalterBenitez]

SAS will see AI in town more times, is that good?

[Mr. Body]

:nope people seem to think JR wont like this. He isnt going anywhere and he loevs it in Denver.

He doesnt need the ball that much and has been just as happy when the nuggs win and he hasnt scored much.

It's not a question of what he likes, it's a question of what works for the team. Smith is not a distributor and never will be. The question is whether the old Aaron McKie/Kevin Ollie format may work better in the backcourt alongside Iverson. If you can get someone to facilitate the offense, JR is expendable. You don't need shooting at this point, you need a point guard. And don't tell me AI is your point. He gets great assists, but you don't want the ball in his hands all the time. You need someone to divide between Melo and him.

[picnroll]

There are now 7 teams in the West that are probably better than the best team in the East.

[MosesGuthrie]

Perhaps the most important fact lost in this shuffle is that AI is on a fantasy team that I inherited after my brother kicked a guy out of a league. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Nice...then there are those of us who have Melo. :depressed

I need Kobe and Timmy to step it up!

[Kamnik]

Miller is just good enough to lead them to a couple victories but not good enough to really make a playoff push.

What playoff push?

Philly went into a rebuilding mode. No single player (or even 2) they could get for Iverson could make them a conteder with the crappy team they have now.

As long as they carry Webber's contract they will be rebuilding imo (so at least 2 years); those draft picks and an expiring contract come in nicely.



Billy King is a bad GM but this trade is probably the best or close to the best he could get.

Philly is the one that was desperate-not the rest of the league.

[ShoogarBear]

2001 Lakers. And in 2003, Kobe averaged 30 with Shaq at 27.5. Good point, however, in both 2001 and 2003 either Kobe or Shaq missed a significant number of games, making it possible for one player to get points without taking away from the other's average. (There was one year where I think the Hawks had 7-8 players all averaging in double figures, which was a record, but it was because of a lot of games missed between them all). I would be curious to know their averages in games where they both played.

There may be a similar situation this year since AI will play 14 games for Denver without Carmelo, so they may both end up with 30+ average PPG.



And when was the last time a team averaged 110 ppg with essentially two primary offensive weapons?That's not a straightforward question to research, but nothing springs to mind.

[dknights411]

There are now 7 teams in the West that are probably better than the best team in the East.

Man, the finals are gonna suck this year. :depressed

[mavsfan1000]

All I can say is I can't wait to see the Nuggets fail so I can say AI is overrated. Taking 25-30 shots a game to make your point average is pathetic.

"There is no such thing as bad chemistry" Signed Iverson and Stackhouse. :lol

[ducks]

Would JR Smith be the odd man out? Seems Denver needs some playmaking, though I suppose Smith is worth more than Beno Udrih as this point.

beno is a point guard now?
he seems to be more of a shot first point guard lately

[Bruno]

There are now 7 teams in the West that are probably better than the best team in the East.

My thought too.
It's scary.

[Mr. Body]

beno is a point guard now?
he seems to be more of a shot first point guard lately

Yes and no. AI would still carry most of the load. The Philly model was to pair him with a bigger guard who could shoot as well as distribute and handle the ball when he needed to.

But Udrih is not good enough to be a starter, and he's not worth JR Smith.

[ShoogarBear]

Chamberlain and West. Shaq and Kobe. Bird and McHale came close I believe.

And don't forget about the Nuggets. I remember freakin' Michael Adams and Orlando Woolridge both averaging in the high 20's.Chamberlain and West never did it. One year West averaged 30 and Wilt 27, but he only played 12 games.

Bird and McHale never did it.

West and Baylor did it, but in a year where Baylor only played 48 games because of injury, so it's not clear what they actually did together.

Adams and Woolridge never came close. The closest the Nuggets had was with Alex English and Kik Vandeweghe (when they wer high scoring and good), but they never did it.

Shaq and Kobe are the only ones who legitimately did it, and even then igames missed due to injury may have played a role.

[ShoogarBear]

JR is going to get a ton of open looks.Too bad he won't get the ball to go along with them. :lol

[Mr. Body]

Too bad he won't get the ball to go along with them. :lol

Yeah. JR Smith won't be shooting 8 threes a game anymore. More like 2-4, i.e. every chance he gets.

[ducks]

it is funny if ai went to the spurs no one would question the chemsitry but since he is going to another team in the west their will be chemsitry issues

like I said earlier if they are winning everyone will be happy

[ChumpDumper]

I don't see Andre Miller fitting into Sixers rebulding process. They should trade him soon. Trade Miller to lakers for some expiring contracts and the western conference will turn into a nightmare. :)Excellent point about Dre. He's a bit overpaid but still very tradeable.

If Philly is smart they will let King trade Dre for another contract that expires this summer or next, then fire King before the next draft.

(and hopefully not throw millions of dollars at Sam Presti)

[ShoogarBear]

Andre Miller on the Lakers would suck.

[mavsfan1000]

it is funny if ai went to the spurs no one would question the chemsitry but since he is going to another team in the west their will be chemsitry issues

like I said earlier if they are winning everyone will be happy
I didn't want AI to come to Dallas. Devin Harris is more of a pass first point guard than AI is. Point guards shouldn't be taking 25-30 shots per game. They have to run the offense and get others involved.

[ChumpDumper]

:lol

[mavsfan1000]

:lol
:rolleyes

[ponky]

i like the nuggets for several reasons, i'm glad they got AI, i'll be rooting for them anytime they don't play the mavs...so will AI play as soon as Wednesday night against the Suns? dang, get him checked out and suited up, i'd love to see that matchup

[Spurminator]

I would be curious to know their averages in games where they both played.

Ask and ye shall receive. ;)

In the 60 games Shaq and Kobe played together in 2000-2001, these were their averages:

Shaq: 28.0
Kobe: 28.1

[JLH Fans]

If you're Billy King and the best offer you're getting is Andre Miller's bad contract and two late first rounders, you sit on Iverson until a team gets desperate.

Actually, Kevin McHale is the one who came out of this the worst. It looks like all they had to give up was Randy Foye and salary fillers to get AI. How the hell don't you make that happen?

KG and AI make the T'Wolves a very good team. Foye might be good someday ... but by that time KG will be traded or out of his prime.

U are absolutely right.
Foye+Davis+Jaric+Griffin >>Dre+Smith+2 late first round pick imo.
Now it's time to trade KG and start rebuilding :cry

[mabber]

I didn't want AI to come to Dallas. Devin Harris is more of a pass first point guard than AI is. Point guards shouldn't be taking 25-30 shots per game. They have to run the offense and get others involved.

I'd take AI in Dallas in a heartbeat if the Mavs didn't have to give up Harris or Howard to get him (which wasn't gonna happen).

[picnroll]

Can't see how the Lakers get Miller without giving up young talent and an expiring contracts. It would cost them Farmar, or Bynum or maybe Kwame. Miller would be a good add for the Lakers though.

[ChumpDumper]

:rolleyesI will always roll my eyes at "Devin Harris > AI" arguments.

[ShoogarBear]

Ask and ye shall receive. ;)

In the 60 games Shaq and Kobe played together in 2000-2001, these were their averages:

Shaq: 28.0
Kobe: 28.1Fix!

Did you do that manually? :lol

[Spurminator]

Fix!

Did you do that manually? :lol


:lol

The beauty of doing these calculations in the office is I can use Excel and it looks like actual work.

[kolko]

The Nuggets also receive forward Ivan McFarlin in the trade.

http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/trade_061219.html

[timvp]

Bird and McHale never did it.
28 and 26 on a team that won 60 games is pretty damn close to what you were looking for.


Adams and Woolridge never came close.
26 and 25 isn't close to 28 and 28?

Anyways, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that Carmelo and Iverson can average 28 points each on a team that's averaging 110-112 points per game. That's pretty much the same thing as David and Tim both averaging 22 points per game in Duncan's rookie year when the Spurs averaged 92 as a team.

[ShoogarBear]

Was Shaq's actually >= 28.0, or was it 27.98 or some bullshit? :)

[Spurminator]

Was Shaq's actually >= 28.0, or was it 27.98 or some bullshit? :)

27.96666666666...

[Spurminator]

Forget this 28 bullshit anyway. I'm calling my shot right now.

Both AI and Carmelo Anthony will average 30+ for the season.

[timvp]

Carmelo Anthony averaging 30 points per game? Who woulda thunk it? (http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52809)


:smokin

[mavsfan1000]

I will always roll my eyes at "Devin Harris > AI" arguments.
Devin Harris>AI chemistry wise in Dallas. AI is so overrated.

[picnroll]

One engative for sure is that neither Iverson nor Melo plays off the ball well. The ball won't be moving around much.

[mavsfan1000]

One engative for sure is that neither Iverson nor Melo plays off the ball well. The ball won't be moving around much.
Yep AI and Melo=stagnant offense.

[Spurminator]

I think another possible problem could be that AI is going to play with the team for 10-15 games before Melo rejoins. Which means the style could change a bit over the next month and Melo may have trouble fitting back in.

I imagine it will correct itself by Playoff time though.

[Bruno]

Can't see how the Lakers get Miller without giving up young talent and an expiring contracts. It would cost them Farmar, or Bynum or maybe Kwame. Miller would be a good add for the Lakers though.

They can give them a first round pick too.
Expirings + Lakers 2007 first round pick is a quite good deal for Miller, especially when you're rebuiding.

[nkdlunch]

wow Sixers must be desperado

Andre Miller sucks so bad, it's not even funny. It's not that he just sucks, he has very bad luck everytime I watch him play

[ShoogarBear]

28 and 26 on a team that won 60 games is pretty damn close to what you were looking for.


26 and 25 isn't close to 28 and 28?
No, it isn't. The reason I said 28 was that I specifically remember a lot of the scoring averages from those years, and I knew that the Nuggets teams never did it, and I was pretty sure if they didn't do it, nobody else did it either. If Spurm had said both could average > 26, I wouldn't have said anything.


Anyways, I don't think it's unreasonable to think that Carmelo and Iverson can average 28 points each on a team that's averaging 110-112 points per game. That's pretty much the same thing as David and Tim both averaging 22 points per game in Duncan's rookie year when the Spurs averaged 92 as a team.Maybe they can, maybe they can't. But I think saying Carmelo and AI should be able to do what has only been done once before (barely) in the entire history of the NBA is not something that should be casually tossed out there like it's no big thing.

[picnroll]

They can give them a first round pick too.
Expirings + Lakers 2007 first round pick is a quite good deal for Miller, especially when you're rebuiding.
Miller's a pretty talented PG. There are a few teams, i.e., Miami, Pacers, that could use his talents. Lakers couldn't pick him up for just a likely quite low first round pick I don't think.

[ShoogarBear]

Forget this 28 bullshit anyway. I'm calling my shot right now.

Both AI and Carmelo Anthony will average 30+ for the season.But what about in games they play together?

[Spurminator]

But what about in games they play together?

30.0001 for AI and 29.95959595 for Melo.

[dg7md]

Sixers can do some damage with those first round picks. Andre Miller is an average PG, Joe Smith can still play, I think Sixers got a good deal from this trade for the long term. They don't have a superstar now though, yet.

[timvp]

30.0001 for AI and 29.95959595 for Melo.

That's not even close :madrun

[gilmor]

I think the Denver Nuggets is going to kick some Mav's pussies asses this season

[ShoogarBear]

St. Joe's could challenge for the 8th spot in the East.

[Mr. Body]

I am willing to bet that the 76ers will challenge for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference.

Read above. They don't want to. That's part of this whole deal.

If they make the playoffs, they lose their first round draft pick to GSW because it is top 15 protected.

[Cara De Dedão]

Chamberlain and West. Shaq and Kobe. Bird and McHale came close I believe.

And don't forget about the Nuggets. I remember freakin' Michael Adams and Orlando Woolridge both averaging in the high 20's.


Alex English (28.4) and Kiki Vanderweghe (26.7) '82-'83. Scoring champ and runner up... Guess for what team?

[timvp]

Alex English (28.4) and Kiki Vanderweghe (26.7) '82-'83. Scoring champ and runner up... Guess for what team?

That isn't 28 and 28 :madrun

[Cara De Dedão]

Alex English (28.4) and Kiki Vanderweghe (26.7) '82-'83. Scoring champ and runner up... Guess for what team?

And in '83-'84 the we're 3rd and 4th in scoring. Kiki (29.4) and English (26.4)

[Kamnik]

I am willing to bet that the 76ers will challenge for the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference.


i dont think they can win 20 games to get the 8th seed in the east :lol

[baseline bum]

That's scary if Cotton Camby can stay healthy. What a trade for Denver. It's not a sure thing, but what do they have to lose? They're not battling for a title without that trade, and they're not going to build around Andre Miller. If you can add a top 10 NBA player for crap, you do it. This is a great draft, but two mid 20s have a pretty low probability of being anywhere near as good as 4-5 years of Allen Iverson.

Billy King should be hung from his balls off the Liberty Bell. This trade is way worse than the freaking Barkley deal. At least Hornacek was an all-star with unlimited range. WTF does Miller do well?

[Phenomanul]

How many times will the Spurs face the Nuggets this season with both AI and Melo on the floor?

[T Park]

Damn the Sonics of the mid 90s have returned.

Shit.

Just when the Spurs were looking at "Just the Mavericks stand in their way for a ring"

This happens.


Bowen guards who? :lol

Lord, hope Ginobili starts taking some energy bars to be able to guard Melo.

[timvp]

WTF does Miller do well?

He gets paid rather well.

[T Park]

WTF does Miller do well?


Kicks ass in pie eating contests.

[baseline bum]

Bowen guards who? :lol



Bowen guards Anthony, because there's no way in hell I want to see Manu trying to keep Carmello off the block.

[timvp]

How do you not trade Randy Foye for Allen Iverson? Someone answer me that.

Foye is already 23 years old. He's an undersized shooting guard. Yeah, he might be good. Maybe. He's averaging 6, 1 and 1 while shooting 40%.

Not making that trade puts McHale even lower on the food chain than Billy King.

[Spurminator]

Miller-to-Iguodala should be good for a few highlight reels...

[Cara De Dedão]

That's scary if Cotton Camby can stay healthy. What a trade for Denver. It's not a sure thing, but what do they have to lose? They're not battling for a title without that trade, and they're not going to build around Andre Miller. If you can add a top 10 NBA player for crap, you do it. This is a great draft, but two mid 20s have a pretty low probability of being anywhere near as good as 4-5 years of Allen Iverson.

Billy King should be hung from his balls off the Liberty Bell. This trade is way worse than the freaking Barkley deal. At least Hornacek was an all-star with unlimited range. WTF does Miller do well?



Premier lob passer... Sets oops gallore.

[T Park]

because there's no way in hell I want to see Manu trying to keep Carmello off the block.

Then I guess youll see Ginobili running around goofy trying to guard AI.

[Spurminator]

Why not put Parker on AI? It's not like he could guard Smith...

[sickdsm]

If you're Billy King and the best offer you're getting is Andre Miller's bad contract and two late first rounders, you sit on Iverson until a team gets desperate.

Actually, Kevin McHale is the one who came out of this the worst. It looks like all they had to give up was Randy Foye and salary fillers to get AI. How the hell don't you make that happen?

KG and AI make the T'Wolves a very good team. Foye might be good someday ... but by that time KG will be traded or out of his prime.


Don't I know that........

:bang

[ShoogarBear]

That isn't 28 and 28 :madrunYou would be great if you ever decided to go work for the federal government.

28, 25, 20, what's the difference?

[Bruno]

How do you not trade Randy Foye for Allen Iverson? Someone answer me that.


According to what I've read from a guy with insider infos on another board :
Wolves have proposed a package with Randy Foye but Sixers have turned it down because :
- They didn't want to have players like Jaric, Hudson or Hassel with a bad contract. Wolves had to include a player with a bad contracts to match AI salary.
- Sixers really wanted a 07 first round pick and Minny hasn't a first round pick this year.

[Cara De Dedão]

LOL

"I didn't want to go to Minnesota, didn't want to go to Boston, didn't want to go to LA. I wanted to be in Denver with MY BOY Melo, and I'm gonna tear this s**t up."


-- A.I., Today on the phone to Rex Chapman.

From a trustworthy inside source.

[boutons_]

Allen I-verson is a greedy balla where "I" is the the most important. I think the Nuggets are better but the Karl-balla combo will be unstable.

[timvp]

According to what I've read from a guy with insider infos on another board :
Wolves have proposed a package with Randy Foye but Sixers have turned it down because :
- They didn't want to have players like Jaric, Hudson or Hassel with a bad contract. Wolves had to include a player with a bad contracts to match AI salary.
- Sixers really wanted a 07 first round pick and Minny hasn't a first round pick this year.

I find it hard to believe the T'Wolves had no player they could trade for an expiring contract and then work a three team trade. No one would take Ricky Davis, Mike James or anyone on that team for an ending contract? They could have used Craig Smith to entice a team to take a multi-year contract and trade Foye as part of a package for AI.

Then again, McHale deserves the blame either way for having that many trash players with big contracts on the same team.

[Spurminator]

I think the Nuggets are better but the Karl-balla combo will be unstable.

Karl-balla? Isn't that what Madonna's been practicing lately?


Alternate punchline phrasing: What does Jewish Mysticism have to do with Allen Iverson?

[T Park]

Why Mchale is still employed is beyond me.

Good though, one less suitor for Sam Presti.

[edwaudo]

Whose picks are those? If they're getting a extra chance or two at Oden that's the only way this makes any sense, even then though...

edit: Wait, they're projected to be in the 20s? W...T...F...?


One pick belongs to goldenState I think they will be a late lottery team.

[Bruno]

I find it hard to believe the T'Wolves had no player they could trade for an expiring contract and then work a three team trade. No one would take Ricky Davis, Mike James or anyone on that team for an ending contract? They could have used Craig Smith to entice a team to take a multi-year contract and trade Foye as part of a package for AI.


I don't know if they were ready to trade both James and Davis for Iverson or if they were ready to trade Smith too.
Maybe something could have be done with some creativity but you ask a lot to McHale.




Then again, McHale deserves the blame either way for having that many trash players with big contracts on the same team.

Agree.
When you look at Wolves roster and players' contract, it's quite pathetic.
BTW, I still haven't understood the overpayed Jaric for Cassel+first round pick trade. :spin

[Bruno]

With JR Smith suspended, iverson will play a lot with Boykins : it will be fun to watch.

[boutons_]

PHX @ DEN Wed night, will AI break the PHX 14W streak?

[ducks]

PHX @ DEN Wed night, will AI break the PHX 14W streak?
YEP :clap

[boutons_]

PHX plays tonight too, so tomorrow @DEN they are B of B2B

[ShoogarBear]

Denver beating PHX, without Melo and Smith, with AI playing his first game, and with the incredible amount of hype (no way the Suns will be sleeping) would be as big a regular season upset as you can get. The crowd will be amped, though.

[ducks]

denver built a 20 point lead in the first against the wizzards

suns have to go to MOUNTAIN HIGH AIR
and it is a back to back
SUNS ARE DUE A BAD GAME TO
SUNS if they win tonight break their record for most wins in a row(dating back when they had barkley)
so I can see them lossing tomorrow

[ChumpDumper]

Prepare to have Friday's Spurs game taken off ESPN.

[ducks]

Prepare to have Friday's Spurs game taken off ESPN.
no because it is so close

[boutons_]

Allen can have games where he shoots 3 for 40 :lol

news flash: Phoenix can have games where they play no defense :lol

[D-rob fan]

Anyone sure if Iverson is actually going to play tommorow?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Denver is possibly going to waive the physical i think.

They will try and get him for tomorrow night but im not sure

[The_Game]

even with iverson i doubt he will make a sudden impact and leas his team over Phoenix

the trade was offical like two hours ago, he needs to take his medical, fly there...i doubt he plays tomorrow

they need him to otherwise suns will win by 20+

[slayermin]

Great. The west just got tougher.

Imo, AI is an underrated playmaker when he's willing to setup his teammates.

If Denver decides to go small, they will have the fastest backcourt since we had Speedy and occasionally played him with TP. Boykins and AI would be a blur.

[The_Game]

looks like iverson will play tomorrow vs the suns

http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=1821933&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

[Horry For 3!]

C Camby
PF Nene/Najera/Evans
SF Anthony
SG Smith
PG Iverson

Damn, the Nuggets might have just become title contenders.
Najera is the starter not Nene.

[mabber]

Najera is the starter not Nene.

Temporary

[Cara De Dedão]

Nenê started the Knicks game. Expected to start against the Suns.

[ducks]

A win-win situation
A win-win situation

By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
December 19, 2006





The proverbial "trade that helps both teams" might have occurred Tuesday when the Philadelphia 76ers finally unloaded Allen Iverson and sent him to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round draft picks.

Philadelphia general manager Billy King basically accomplished all three goals he had when this process began, while the Nuggets added perhaps the fastest player in the league to an already quick, up-tempo team.

Here's what the deal means for the 76ers:

1. They pick up a good player in the deal. Miller will be the Sixers' starting point guard for the foreseeable future. Maybe King would have preferred a younger, up-and-coming star like Randy Foye or Shawn Livingston, but Miller is a very good point guard who will help Philadelphia fill the huge void left by Iverson.

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2. Salary-cap relief. Smith's $6.8 million salary comes off the books after this season, and given that Miller will make an average of $10 million the next two years – compared to Iverson's $20 million average – the Sixers will in effect shave about $10 million off their cap in each of the next two seasons. And depending on their luxury tax situation (they're well over it this season), there could be millions more in savings.

3. Two extra first-round picks (to go with their own). Philadelphia will receive both Denver's pick and Dallas' first-rounder, which the Nuggets had acquired in a previous deal. The Dallas pick will most likely be in the late 20s, but the Denver pick (which apparently is marginally protected) could be interesting, depending on how well the Iverson/Nuggets marriage works out. With Carmelo Anthony out for the next 14 games due to his suspension, Denver could struggle and fall back some in the West. If the Nuggets stumble and don't make the playoffs, the 76ers could potentially have two lottery picks – their own (assuming the Sixers don't make the playoffs) and the Nuggets'. In a deep draft that potentially could include Greg Oden, Philly will have plenty of options to dramatically improve its team.

Here is what Iverson will mean to Denver:

1. He will bring a huge surge of excitement to the Pepsi Center. Iverson will give the Nuggets publicity that is unprecedented in their franchise's history. Fans will flock to see A.I. perform, arena shops will sell a ton of "Iverson" Nuggets jerseys, and there will be a buzz all over the league when Denver comes to town.

2. He'll join a team that already plays an up-tempo style. And with Iverson, that attack will now become even faster. He'll also play for a coach in George Karl who is well-equipped to handle egos and personalities. The prevailing theory around the NBA was that Iverson had to go somewhere with a strong coach who had presence. Karl definitely fits the bill.

3. He'll pair with Carmelo Anthony to form one of the most explosive duos in the league. The Melo/Iverson relationship is the key to the deal. If the two can click and share the ball, the Nuggets could potentially be very, very good. Also, A.I. gives Denver the big scorer it'll need as it attempts to tread water during the extended suspensions of Anthony and J.R. Smith.

Of course, the trade might not turn out well for the Nuggets. Iverson and Carmelo might not mesh. After all, we're talking about the league's two current leading scorers playing on the same team. Can they coexist? The fact that Melo doesn't handle the ball a lot in order to score bodes well, as does the fact that Iverson has proven to be a good distributor when he wants to be. (He averaged 7.4 assists per game last season).

Financially, Denver could be facing luxury tax hell, with the contracts of Anthony, Iverson, Marcus Camby and Nene Hilario putting the team well over the threshold. If the Nuggets don't succeed with this group, they will be hard-pressed to disentangle themselves from a salary-cap nightmare. But if it does work, they could challenge the Spurs, Suns and Mavericks for Western supremacy.

As for the Sixers, there doesn't appear to be much of a downside. This is probably the best deal King was going to get. The key for Philadelphia is to use the draft picks wisely, select the right players and begin to rebuild with an eye on shedding the contract of Chris Webber, which expires after the 2007-08 season.

Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send Steve a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

[ducks]

Rocky relationship
Rocky relationship

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
December 19, 2006




So here comes the twisted reality greeting Allen Iverson's arrival in Denver, an immediate and inevitable elevation of his public stature from a rebellious perpetual adolescent to thirtysomething sage and imparter of wisdom. Suddenly, he will be cast as the voice of been-there, done-that reason for the reeling Carmelo Anthony.

"A.I. will love it there for the next 14 games," one Eastern Conference official laughed on Tuesday afternoon.

Iverson arrives with the leverage and latitude to cut into Anthony's powerbase in Denver. The situation promises to be equal parts high drama and high comedy in the Rockies, a fascinating chemistry experiment complicated with an unmistakable twist: Because of the NBA's suspensions, it won't be Allen Iverson who must learn to fit in with Anthony, but Anthony with Iverson.

For the next 14 games, it will be Iverson controlling the ball and the shots. He'll be commanding the ooohs and ahhhs and ovations in Denver. Iverson will come to town on a mission, play with peerless purpose and temporarily turn these Nuggets into his own. The NBA's No. 2 scorer will quickly overtake Anthony to be No. 1.

And when 'Melo finally returns, everyone will be asking this unavoidable question: Whose team is this?

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For the desperate straits that the Denver Nuggets found themselves in this week, it is still startling how little they had to give up for Iverson. Joe Smith was a contract dump, Andre Miller has steadily regressed and the two first-round draft picks will probably be somewhere in the 20s. No Nene Hilario, no Marcus Camby, no J.R. Smith had to leave town. It's a coup that Denver had to sacrifice not only nothing of its core but also nothing of its future.

With the way Philadelphia 76ers general manager Billy King has mismanaged his team into irrelevance, the way he banished Iverson and bottomed out his leverage, you could see a dismal deal coming for Philadelphia. Around the league, teams were unwilling to trade their starry young prospects for Iverson. Beyond that, King still couldn't bring back a major expiring contract. Bottom line: To trade Iverson and get so little is a complete embarrassment for the 76ers. It might be the ultimate unraveling of the King regime.

As it turned out, perhaps Larry Brown's consultant's role on the trade with the Sixers was his way of paying back Nuggets coach George Karl for the disaster last Saturday night borne out of Karl trying to avenge Brown's firing by Isiah Thomas. Maybe now Brown can score himself a consultant's job in Denver, advising his North Carolina Tar Heel buddy on coaching Iverson.

To start, Iverson will be on his best behavior. Only he has never shown staying power in his life. Why would it start at 31 years old? Kenyon Martin never wanted to practice with the Nuggets (nor the Nets, to tell the truth) and that's something that was a source of trouble between him and his coach. By next season, if Martin returns, those two game-night warriors will be faking it together through practice, leaving Anthony and Smith to ask each other "So why are we bothering again?"

Karl has made compromises with his coaching style in Denver, running freer and looser with discipline, with his style, and there could be some short-term benefits with Iverson. Sooner than later, there will be issues on the floor. Anthony returns Jan. 20 at Houston, and problems could start as soon as he takes the floor with Iverson that night. That's when everyone will be asking the nagging question that will keep chasing the Nuggets: "Whose team is this?"

In this age, the answer is no longer, "ours," and that assuredly will never be it in Denver. The dynamic of Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets changed dramatically on Saturday night in New York. Once again, Anthony showed himself to be a flawed franchise player with that sucker punch, a grave mistake compounded with the way he swung and started running back on defense in a sight never seen in his basketball career.

It will stay with the public and the players, and it's created a vacuum for A.I. to come to Denver and make the Nuggets his own. Here comes Iverson with all that been-there, done-that wisdom for Anthony, a twisted reality that will find this suddenly anointed thirtysomething sage thrilled to play the part in public.

No, 'Melo isn't going to like fit into Iverson's game. This was Carmelo Anthony's ball, his franchise, until he gave Iverson the opening to come take it all away.


Adrian Wojnarowski is the national NBA writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send Adrian a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Billy King is a dumbass. This trade makes Isiah's work in NY look decent.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Billy King just cemented himself as the worst GM in sports with this move.


Excuse me? That list has only two names on it and both have ties to Detroit.

How do you trade a top ten talent for scraps? Philly Fan must be going ballistic right about now.

[T-Pain]

wow, welcome to the west

[Dirk Nowitzki]

A win-win situation

As for the Sixers, there doesn't appear to be much of a downside. This is probably the best deal King was going to get. The key for Philadelphia is to use the draft picks wisely, select the right players and begin to rebuild with an eye on shedding the contract of Chris Webber, which expires after the 2007-08 season. [/B]



Hey Cuban you hear that!! Webber is on the market you dumb piece of shit. The missing piece in becoming a POWERHOUSE champion is right there for you to land and you dont even fucking recognize it!! :pctoss :pctoss :madrun DAMN IT! :bang

[Texas_Ranger]

It will be funny to watch Melo and Iverson in the same team. :rollin :lol

[mavsfan1000]

Hey Cuban you hear that!! Webber is on the market you dumb piece of shit. The missing piece in becoming a POWERHOUSE champion is right there for you to land and you dont even fucking recognize it!! :pctoss :pctoss :madrun DAMN IT! :bang
Dude it is getting old about your love crush for Webber. He's not the same player he used to be and not even close.

[mountainballer]

one thing for sure.
King didn't act very smart from the beginning.
Sixers would never have made the PO this year anyhow, so there was no need to hurry or to panic.
I'm sure the Sixers could have got more, if they would have been more patient amd would have tried some more option with a third team.

they neither got a premium talent, nor a high pick back, so they are the looser of this trade, no matter how Miller will do.

but I also don't want to call this a total wrong decision. the direction was right IMO.
it was mentioned, that Miller is an asset, who will be easyer to trade again. maybe this was the major intention when aquiring him.
Miller is a bit overpayed, but not by far. he has the kind of contract many teams are willing to swallow, if they think he is the missing piece.
even if he isn't a top 5 PG this days, he would still be a significant upgrade for some teams back-court.
especially for some PO teams that might miss a final piece for becomming contenders.
namely: Cavs, Heat, Rockets, Lakers.

all those teams could return some more expiring contracts, picks (no lottery picks though) and some young talent.

Heat: they have been desperatly looking for help at PG
they could offer Posey (expiring contract at 6.4 m + D. Wright and/or their pick 2007, likely 15-18)

Lakers: Mihm+S.Williams (2 expiring contracts that combine for 6 million) + Farmer (+Lakers pick, likely 22-26- if necessary)

Houston: can't offer as much expiring contr. like the others. maybe Sura (expires 2008, 3.8 per year) + Head + Hayes + filler

Cavs: don't have a pick 2007, could offer the 2008 pick.
+ expiring contracts of Newble and Pollard (5.5 mill) + Varejao.

however, if the Sixers manage to trade Miller in such a scenario, they could have finally traded AI for 3 first rounders + a young talent (Farmer?, Vareao?, Wright?) AND have saved 40 million in salary for AI (considering the fact that they are deep in lux tax territory they save much more, likely 50-60 million)
this scenario is far from being a desaster.
remember the Orlando rebuilding scenarion when they traded t-mac. in fact they traded t-mac for only cap-space.
now they are back as a PO team and have a bright future.

[Kamnik]

As for the Sixers, there doesn't appear to be much of a downside. This is probably the best deal King was going to get. The key for Philadelphia is to use the draft picks wisely, select the right players and begin to rebuild with an eye on shedding the contract of Chris Webber, which expires after the 2007-08 season.

Steve Kerr is Yahoo! Sports' NBA analyst. Send Steve a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.


omg, steve kerr quoted me ;) :lol

[mabber]

Hey Cuban you hear that!! Webber is on the market you dumb piece of shit. The missing piece in becoming a POWERHOUSE champion is right there for you to land and you dont even fucking recognize it!! :pctoss :pctoss :madrun DAMN IT! :bang

Would be just about the worst thing the Mavs could do unless you think Webber would be happy backing up Dirk at power forward.

I don't see Webber accepting a 12-15 minute bench role and that would be the only way he could possibly fit in with the Mavs.

[Bruno]

I don't think Sixers will be able to get for Miller both a young good player and a late first round pick.
Maybe I underrate his trade value but, to me, Miller isn't worth more than expirings + a late first round pick.

[PaceMonster]

one thing for sure.
King didn't act very smart from the beginning.
Sixers would never have made the PO this year anyhow, so there was no need to hurry or to panic.
I'm sure the Sixers could have got more, if they would have been more patient amd would have tried some more option with a third team.

they neither got a premium talent, nor a high pick back, so they are the looser of this trade, no matter how Miller will do.

but I also don't want to call this a total wrong decision. the direction was right IMO.
it was mentioned, that Miller is an asset, who will be easyer to trade again. maybe this was the major intention when aquiring him.
Miller is a bit overpayed, but not by far. he has the kind of contract many teams are willing to swallow, if they think he is the missing piece.
even if he isn't a top 5 PG this days, he would still be a significant upgrade for some teams back-court.
especially for some PO teams that might miss a final piece for becomming contenders.
namely: Cavs, Heat, Rockets, Lakers.

all those teams could return some more expiring contracts, picks (no lottery picks though) and some young talent.

Heat: they have been desperatly looking for help at PG
they could offer Posey (expiring contract at 6.4 m + D. Wright and/or their pick 2007, likely 15-18)

Lakers: Mihm+S.Williams (2 expiring contracts that combine for 6 million) + Farmer (+Lakers pick, likely 22-26- if necessary)

Houston: can't offer as much expiring contr. like the others. maybe Sura (expires 2008, 3.8 per year) + Head + Hayes + filler

Cavs: don't have a pick 2007, could offer the 2008 pick.
+ expiring contracts of Newble and Pollard (5.5 mill) + Varejao.

however, if the Sixers manage to trade Miller in such a scenario, they could have finally traded AI for 3 first rounders + a young talent (Farmer?, Vareao?, Wright?) AND have saved 40 million in salary for AI (considering the fact that they are deep in lux tax territory they save much more, likely 50-60 million)
this scenario is far from being a desaster.
remember the Orlando rebuilding scenarion when they traded t-mac. in fact they traded t-mac for only cap-space.
now they are back as a PO team and have a bright future.



are you crazy? Posey by himself is too much to give for Miller, then you add in one of the most promising young players in the league and a 15-18 draft pick for a fat, donut eating PG who might give you a couple of wins...you're
:dizzy

[timvp]

Dorell Wright for Andre Miller = :lmao

I wouldn't trade Wright for two Andre Millers. Wright is the best perimeter playing rebounder to come into the league since Jason Kidd.

[Mr. Body]

I don't think Sixers will be able to get for Miller both a young good player and a late first round pick.
Maybe I underrate his trade value but, to me, Miller isn't worth more than expirings + a late first round pick.

It depends on how desparate that team may be. Miami could afford to lose James Posey plus give up a (late) draft pick, but maybe you're not calling Posey a young good player anymore - it's debateable. Not sure Miami would want to trade any more draft picks, as aging as their team is.

Miller has some real value in a league lacking some good point guards. For a two year rental he's not a bad option at all.

[mountainballer]

I don't think Sixers will be able to get for Miller both a young good player and a late first round pick.
Maybe I underrate his trade value but, to me, Miller isn't worth more than expirings + a late first round pick.

I guess you are in fact underrating Miller a bit.
the teams I mentioned care for winning now, so if they think Miller is the missing piece, they will be willing to part with a late 1.round pick AND a young player.

[Bruno]

I guess you are in fact underrating Miller a bit.
the teams I mentioned care for winning now, so if they think Miller is the missing piece, they will be willing to part with a late 1.round pick AND a young player.

We will see but I don't see at all Sixers able to get a talented young like Varejao and Wright (even without a pick).
To me, Miller is quite old, his contract isn't very atractive and he isn't that good.

Future will tell.

[mountainballer]

We will see but I don't see at all Sixers able to get a talented young like Varejao and Wright (even without a pick).
To me, Miller is quite old, his contract isn't very atractive and he isn't that good.

Future will tell.

please consider that in my first post I tried to display a best-case scenario, how the Sixers might end up with a trade, that doesn't look as bad as AI for Miller+2 picks looks right now.

[baseline bum]

Is this the most unbalanced non-sign-and-trade trade since the Lakers got Kareem?

I mean, Lamar Odom and Caron Butler were two real up-and-comers (who have since become excellent players) at the time of the trade for Shaq.

Jeff Hornacek was an all-star. Not on the level of Barkley, but not a piece of crap either.

Vlade Divac was a well-above-average center, and Kobe was just some immensely talented high-school kid, before the NBA GMs were willing to take risks on high-school kids.

Andre Miller is a disappointment who everyone thought would be good years ago, but who has regressed at a ridiculous level since his 2000 season in Cleveland. Now he's fat, and a guy no GM in the league really wants. Billy King is a moron for getting suckered into this deal.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

:lol only Denver fans must truly know valued Andre is. GK didnt want to part with him but he had no choice in the end.

Dre is a warrior who never misses a game. How many point guards in the league will give u 20pts a night if u need him to, 5-6boards, 9 or more dimes and some steals?

HE could score 20ppg no problem if required but the Nuggets never relied on his offense too much.

I agree with the people saying that a winning team now in need of a point guard would be crazy not to get Dre.

[PhxDog]

Very nice trade for Denver. Like the J.R. Smith trade, in that they held out for 40 cents on the dollar and wound up getting their price.

(I'm surprised the Sixers didn't at least pick up Linas Kleiza as a throw-in, but apparently reducing costs overcame any other consideration. I think Kleiza could help Philly right now at PF, especially with Shavlik Randolph out indefinitely, and he's a good piece for the future, too.)


Denver is maybe the only second-level team whose half-court offense was bad enough for Iverson (at PG!) to be an immediate improvement, so it's a good fit on that score. I still don't think the Nuggets can be efficient enough to keep up with the top teams over a seven-game series...still, no question they're much more interesting now than they were a week ago.

[boutons_]

Danger, High Voltage

By Michael Wilbon
Wednesday, December 20, 2006; E01

What a wonderful basketball experiment the Denver Nuggets are putting together with the acquisition of Allen Iverson. How cool is this: Having the NBA's top two scorers together on one team when it isn't the all-star team? How bizarre is it to pair two players, each of whom has always taken the big shots, the last shots, all the shots that mattered?

We won't know for some time whether this lab experiment will work, what with Carmelo Anthony suspended for 15 games for throwing that punch the other night. For the next month, Iverson will only be asked to do in Denver what he did in Philly, which is to say, be the virtuoso. If the Nuggets are going to stay afloat in the beastly Western Conference for the four-plus weeks Anthony and J.R. Smith are away on suspension, they're going to need Iverson to score the way he's always scored.

Then the fun begins.

One of the two is going to have to do something he has never done in his basketball life: defer.

And Iverson is the one who's going to have to make the concession.

Pro basketball, more than any other sport, has a pecking order. Okay, once every green moon there's a team like the Detroit Pistons that doesn't have one. But the exceptions are so rare they're not worth talking about.

When Nuggets executive Rex Chapman asked after the trade, "How many times has this ever happened?" -- that the top two scorers in the league played for the same team -- he didn't know the answer was "twice." It happened in 1954-55 when Neil Johnston and Paul Arizin played for the Philadelphia Warriors and in 1982-83 when Alex English and Kiki Vandeweghe played for, of all teams, the Nuggets.

So we're talking about the third such case in history. And I know for a fact that Vandeweghe and English were nowhere near the divas that Anthony and Iverson are.

Don't read too much into that last sentence. I think the Anthony-Iverson coupling can and will work to a great degree, because Iverson will compromise as he has never compromised before. And don't get me wrong, Iverson can still be difficult to get along with, but he wants so desperately to win. And what he found out the hard way these last few seasons in Philly is that no matter how much he scores he cannot carry a team into serious contention by himself. Iverson has been celebrated to the high heavens, but the fact is he still hasn't won . . . not in college and not in the NBA.

He's been the league's rookie of the year. He's led the NBA in scoring multiple times. He's averaged more points than anybody in league history besides Wilt and Jordan, and isn't that rarified air? Iverson has been the league MVP (2001). He has twice been voted MVP of the all-star game. He's even led a team to the NBA Finals.

But he's never won.

Not that it was his fault, but he didn't win the Olympic gold medal either.

That summer, 2004 in Athens, when the U.S. players were perceived as selfish bums, Iverson was anything but. He was overjoyed to represent his country for the first time; he talked eloquently about the privilege of being able to do so and how he didn't understand why players wouldn't want to. Iverson at 31 isn't Iverson at 20 . . . or 25. Is he going to practice like Jordan did? Ah, no. Is he going to drive George Karl crazy at times? Yes, absolutely.

But the bet here is that Iverson wants so desperately to be a part of the big action again, the playoff games in May and June that he'll find a way to coexist with Anthony, even play off of him. If this is going to work, Iverson has to realize the moment he puts on the uniform that Denver is Anthony's team, which is an important realization in the NBA.

Of course, winning is relative. Anthony and Iverson still might not win their division. Utah is better. In the conference, Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix are all better teams than Denver. But hey, Denver wasn't going to win with the roster it had either, and the acquisition of Iverson gets the Nuggets a couple of steps closer, at least.

The aforementioned Karl, who temporarily removed himself from the increased scrutiny over his petty part in creating an atmosphere that led to the brawl in New York on Saturday, sure changed the conversation in Denver, didn't he?

Anyway, Karl has always done well with shooting point guards, such as Gary Payton all those years in Seattle and Sam Cassell in Milwaukee.

Andre Miller is a nice player, but not Karl's type. It's going to take Anthony and Iverson a month of playing together, but during those final two months of the season the Nuggets should be something fabulous to watch. Remember, Anthony is averaging 31.6 points per game while Iverson is averaging 31.2. The NBA has never had teammates average 30 points, and it's up to Karl, Anthony and Iverson to make sure that's a blessing and not a curse. If all three -- and each is famously headstrong -- keep their senses about them, the Nuggets should be a nightmare to guard.

Of course, Georgetown's Iverson isn't the only man with local ties involved in this drama that took more than a week to play out. Billy King, the 76ers president, is from right here, Reston to be exact. He was charged with the unenviable task of getting back enough value in this trade to put a product on the floor that his demanding ticket holders will want to see and make the kind of deal that will allow the Sixers to assemble the pieces that will lead to contention within the next five years.

Did he get them in Miller, Maryland's Joe Smith and two No. 1 picks in the next draft?

Nobody knows.

The Sixers figure to be bad enough to figure prominently in the draft lottery. With their own pick and a little luck, they could get Ohio State's 7-foot phenom Greg Oden, who is shooting 90 percent (from the floor, not the free throw line) and has had the most impressive first four games of any freshman I've ever seen. Or maybe with the consolation prize they get Florida's 6-11 Joakim Noah. You get one of those two, the two non-lottery draft picks become a lot more important, especially because the 2007 draft looks like it's not only great at the top but uncommonly deep.

You never ever get equal value when you trade a star in the NBA. But Philly, with Iverson as its only star, was going nowhere. So King got one expiring contract (Smith's) and, hopefully for him, picks that will turn into at least one franchise player. And Denver got one of the most fascinating players in league history, a player dying to find a team with another great player and hope. The Anthony-Iverson pairing could blend beautifully or blow up. Either way, we cast our eyes west.

[ducks]

Iverson deal is a surprise
By Jason Reid, Times Staff Writer
December 20, 2006

Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round draft picks.

That's what it took for the Denver Nuggets to acquire Allen Iverson on Tuesday from the Philadelphia 76ers, and some in the Clippers organization privately expressed surprise that that's all it took.

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General Manager Elgin Baylor and Coach Mike Dunleavy declined to comment on their efforts to acquire the four-time scoring champion, but team sources said the Clippers apparently made every player available to Philadelphia except Elton Brand, Chris Kaman and Shaun Livingston.

Moreover, the Clippers were willing to trade their own first-round draft pick this season and the lottery-protected first-round pick they received in the Sam Cassell trade. Many in the front office acknowledged Corey Maggette was the centerpiece of the Clippers' final proposal, which also probably included Cuttino Mobley, Zeljko Rebraca and the draft choices.

If the Clippers get Minnesota's pick for June's draft, both could be higher than the Nuggets' two first-round picks, projected to be in the 20s.

The Clippers figured Philadelphia would come back to them before trading Iverson, sources said, because the Clippers' offer was considered better than Denver's best bid.

Philadelphia might have focused on completing a deal with the Clippers if Livingston was available, but Dunleavy wasn't interested in any proposals, including potential three-team trades, that involved the 6-foot-7, third-year point guard. And to make it work for them financially, the Clippers had to send Mobley and his $7.7-million salary to Philadelphia as part of any deal to acquire Iverson.

Cassell was among the players who expressed concern that the ongoing Iverson trade speculation had become a distraction for the team. And what's the mood in the locker room now that Iverson is playing for one of the many teams ahead of the Clippers in the Western Conference?

"We can't worry about where guys are going, what guys are doing on other teams or what might happen in the future, we just have to concentrate on getting this basketball team back to playing the way we know we can play," Cassell said. "We're not where we want to be, we know we're not playing great basketball right now, but we can fix that."

Sidelined recently because of a painful heel injury, Cassell said the Clippers must correct their problems from within.

"We have the guys here to win basketball games and get back to where we should be," he said. "There's no doubt about that in my mind."