Sixers, Nuggets reach agreement for Iverson

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.

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

:lmao

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

Damn, the Nuggets might have just become title contenders.

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

The gayest trade ever.

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Originally Posted by #1elliottfan

The gayest trade ever.

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

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?

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

---

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.

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

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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.

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.

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

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

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

Did anyone else pick up on this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

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.

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: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?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

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

:lmao

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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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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?

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

---

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

---

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.

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Originally Posted by ShoogarBear

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

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

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...?

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.

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.

: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,

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dimsah

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

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

Quote:

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

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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?

Quote:

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Denver's the one that got owned.

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Billy King is that you?

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by picnroll

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

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Uh, he's in the West now, so no.

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.

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.

Welcome to ballhog USA

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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)

---

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

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.

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Originally Posted by ShoogarBear

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

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Nope.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas...s/nuggets.html

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

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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).

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Originally Posted by Dirties Robbed Me

My question too. If its less than 2 more years I don't think this is a bad move. Miller will mildly help Webber.

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Only if he's going to use Miller as a walker.

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShoogarBear

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MannyIsGod

Uh, he's in the West now, so no.

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SO if he's voted in as a starter for the East? They just skip him?

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by picnroll

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

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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.

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

---

larry brown was giving king advise NICE MOVE LARRY

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShoogarBear

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

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I think ESPN said that it was.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dirties Robbed Me

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

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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.

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.

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?

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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?

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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?

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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?

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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?

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

Follow the bread crumbs.

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Originally Posted by 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.

---

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:

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.

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.

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

DUCKS.....WHY ARE YOU YELLING?

:p:

Joe Smith is still in the league?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ducks

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

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

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?

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.

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

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.

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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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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?

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: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)

what better deal could they get?

Does anyone is wondering about chemistry issue?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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?

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PM5K

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

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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?

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...

Quote:

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Does anyone is wondering about chemistry issue?

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

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

:smokin

Chemistry issues? On a George Karl team?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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See you in june! :dramaquee

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.

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...

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by elpimpo4cc

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

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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...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShoogarBear

Chemistry issues? On a George Karl team?

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Chemistry issue in a team where AI is :eyebrows

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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http://www.hhweb.com/nba2005champs/P...als2_small.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MosesGuthrie

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

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Hah. Potential chemistry issue #1.




Or #3, depending how you look at it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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: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?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by elpimpo4cc

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

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

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%.