Iverson killed possible trade to Bobcats, sources tell Philadelphia Inquirer
By David Aldridge
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(MCT)
PHILADELPHIA - For a while Monday, the 76ers were close to solving their Allen Iverson problem.
The Sixers, according to a source, were close to sending Iverson to the Charlotte Bobcats for a package of players Monday afternoon. But Iverson indicated his displeasure with being sent to the Bobcats - the league's newest team, having begun play in 2004 - and the deal died, the source said.
Iverson asked to be traded last week, and a source indicated that he didn't care where he was sent. But that apparently did not extend to the Bobcats, who are struggling to draw fans, and who would have difficulty bringing someone to Charlotte who didn't want to be there, and who would likely make that unhappiness known to the public.
With only a little more than $38 million in player salaries - forward Gerald Wallace is the team's highest-paid player, at just $5.5 million this season - Charlotte is about $15 million below the league's salary cap of $53.1 million and could make a major player acquisition easier than any team in the league.
The Bobcats also have players with short contracts, which fits the Sixers' desires. Philadelphia wants to trade Iverson for players whose deals expire either this season or after the 2007-08 season, when Chris Webber's contract ends and the Sixers expect to finally get under the salary cap.
Charlotte has a few players who fill that bill: veteran guard Brevin Knight, who makes $4.4 million this season on a contract that expires in 2008; forward Melvin Ely, whose $3.3 million contract ends after this season; forward Ot a Harrington (2008, $2.2 million this season); and underrated center Primoz Brezec (2008, $2.75 million this season).
Dealing any or all of those players would not affect the Bobcats' core group: guard Raymond Felton, guard Adam Morrison, forward Sean May or center Emeka Okafor. The 24-year-old Wallace, who has become a much-improved player in Charlotte, would be attractive to the Sixers, but he's also part of that core.
At least one team believed the Bobcats were in the driver's seat earlier Monday. "It's Michael (Jordan)'s deal to turn down," said an executive of one team that is involved in the trade discussions, referring to Charlotte's new minority owner.
It is uncertain whether the proposed trade can be resurrected.
Meanwhile, Sixers president Billy King continues to sift through other offers. He's keeping those offers extremely close to the vest. One longtime friend of King's, with an NBA team, said King "wasn't telling me a . . . thing" about which way he was thinking.
Sources indicate that Indiana, Boston and Minnesota continue to express interest in Iverson, with Denver and Sacramento also in the mix. But in some cases, King would likely have to take a player he wouldn't necessarily want in order to get rid of Iverson. The Pacers, for example, want to rid themselves of swingman Stephen Jackson, who has three years left on his deal. The Timberwolves are shopping guard Ricky Davis.
The Kings seem to be stronger players in the bidding for Iverson than one would think at first glance. A source said Sacramento was discussing a package including guard Mike Bibby and forward Kenny Thomas for Iverson. Each has connections to Webber: Bibby and Webber led the Kings to the Western Conference finals in 2002; Thomas was part of the package the Sixers traded to Sacramento for Webber in 2005.
But Thomas' contract, which King negotiated, does not expire until after the 2008-09 season.
http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archiv..._to_charlotte/
Iverson is a little crazy to turn down that deal, it would have been good for everyone, to play with Adam Morrison and Okafor.....
It's not a sure thing and it's not like playing with Kobe, and I'd imagine he's tired of being on medeocre teams, but I would have had a hard time turning that down....
Dumb, dumb, dumb. He could turn that team into an instant contender in the woeful East.
Bobcats GM denies Iverson deal was close
Charlotte Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff angrily denied a report in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, saying the Bobcats were close to a deal to acquire Allen Iverson.
“No. That’s the biggest crap I’ve ever seen,’’ Bickerstaff said of a report that Iverson killed a deal by saying he wouldn’t play for the Bobcats. (Read the Philadelphia report. )
Bickerstaff said he never was close to a deal to acquire Iverson. Rather, Bickerstaff said, he offered the team’s abundance of salary-cap room as a potential aid to Sixers chief Billy King.
“Our situation with Billy King,’’ Bickerstaff said, “would be acting as a facilitator if that works to help us.’’
In other news, Bickerstaff said center Primoz Brezec will replace forward Adam Morrison in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That will restore the group Bickerstaff originally wanted to start: Raymond Felton, Brevin Knight, Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Primoz Brezec.
Bickerstaff also wants to take some pressure off rookie Morrison, who shot 4-of-34 in his last four games.
“We want him to be comfortable – just be Adam,’’ Bickerstaff said. “He just need to relax and that will come.’’
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...ade_was_close/
The only way I pull away from this deal is if AI straight up tells me he won't report. I have no quams with dealing him, if I'm Philly, and no quams taking him in if I'm Charlotte, because the Bobcats are instantly improved with him on the floor and Okafor/May is better than gimpy Webber/Dalembert.
Man you gotta love these "sources" in the reporting. I have no idea what is true or not.
Yeah it's amazing to me that he can call all of the ing shots when the Sixers have a signed contract, not only can he demand a trade but he can pick and choose whom he goes to, that's pretty ed up, it should be about which deal is best for the Sixers...
From a business standpoint AI would put more asses in the seats, even if the team itself isn't that great, but I'd imagine in the East, as mentioned, they'd be pretty damn good....
Last edited by PM5K; 12-12-2006 at 03:34 PM.
I guess under these cir stances it's possible that they took the Bobcats involvement in the trade as a sign that they wanted AI, rather it sounds like they were willing to be a part of at least a three team deal that would get them something in return but not AI...
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