Potential trade still topic for discussion
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff | December 12, 2006
NEW YORK -- With Sixers general manager Billy King eager to trade Allen Iverson, a deal could be done by the time the Celtics play Philadelphia tomorrow night at the Wachovia Center. According to a league source, the Celtics remain on the list of teams in contention for Iverson's services, along with Golden State, Minnesota, Indiana, Chicago, Denver, Charlotte, Sacramento, Dallas, and the Clippers. According to another league source, Golden State is the front-runner, offering a package that would include guard Baron Davis and a couple of young players.
Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts Boston is also near the top with a deal that could send Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Sebastian Telfair, and Theo Ratliff to Philadelphia, but King may be wary of trading Iverson within the Atlantic Division.
Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and owner Wyc Grousbeck attended last night's game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden but were not scheduled to go with the team to Philadelphia. Neither Ainge nor Grousbeck would comment on their level of involvement in the trade talks, but coach Doc Rivers and the players found the subject difficult to ignore.
"I find myself looking at the TV every day wondering where he's going to end up," said Paul Pierce. "When you have a player of that caliber, everybody is kind of anticipating the move."
"So far, there's been 35 teams linked to him in a 30-team league," said Rivers. "I heard North Carolina was interested. You read it every day, and every day there's a new favorite."
Though there is a natural rivalry between the Celtics and Sixers, and him and Iverson, Pierce said it would not be weird to have Iverson next to him on the floor. But he did think his good friend Davis would not be a fit in Philadelphia.
"He would be upset if that happened," said Pierce. "Going to Philadelphia? He's a California guy all the way."
Ratliff, who played with Iverson in Philadelphia, wondered whether Iverson and Pierce could coexist productively.
"[Iverson] is going to be who he is," said Ratliff. "Everyone knows how he plays. I have no idea if they can coexist or not. [Iverson] is a great teammate. He's always going to lay his heart out there on the line. That's what you want as a player."
Ratliff also said he was not surprised that Iverson requested a trade.
"He's been a guy who's been in trouble since he's been there," said Ratliff. "There's always been trade talk about moving him throughout the years I was there. It's just a part of the process. You're a little bit more expendable now that you're older. You don't have as much upside as you had when you were 25."
Painful decisions
Ratliff acknowledged that he could miss the rest of the regular season with lower-back soreness due to a bulging disk, especially if it requires surgery. But even if that happens, he said he was not ready to call it a career. Ratliff expects to make a decision on surgery by the end of the month.
Ratliff will remain in New York until Sunday to make daily visits to Dr. Andrew Fischer, a doctor of physiatry who specializes in rehabilitative medicine. Ratliff received trigger-point injections yesterday. If the week of treatment does not result in improvement, Ratliff will get opinions from other specialists.
"It's gotten worse since the last time I played," said Ratliff. "Hopefully, it doesn't have to come to [surgery]. I want to avoid it at all costs. I'm not a big fan of that, if I don't have to have it."
Ainge said he would confer with Ratliff and the team's medical staff within a week to discuss a course of action.
Hopeful steps
Szczerbiak (sprained left ankle) is optimistic that he could return tomorrow against the Sixers, though he thought he would be back a week ago. He will have a better idea after practice this afternoon. "I did some stuff in shootaround [yesterday morning], just some court work, some running," said Szczerbiak. "It's still pretty sore. It's still pretty swollen. So, we're just going to have to keep working at it. But it was nice to get back on the floor and do some running, some cutting, get my wind back."
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...for_discussion
I saw on Cold Pizza this morning that the Warriors were willing to trade anyone on their roster except B Diddy and Monta Ellis. And the T Wolves are offering Foye, Davis, and Eddie Griffin. It looks to me like the Boston trade would work the best. Oh yeah, and the Mavs were offering Stack, Croshere and Deven Harris
Then they are stupid. Baron Davis > Iverson.
How could you compare the often injured Davis to Iverson?
Davis couldn't even hold Iversons jock.....
I agree, Baron has tons of talent, but cant ever stay on the floor. I will take the proven player that stays healthy anyday
Nellie is absolutely insane.
I'm surprised anyone would give Philly that much. They absolutely have to trade him at this point. At the moment they are paying him 17M to not show up for work. What's their leverage?? At least Davis is a capable star replacment, when he's healthy, and AI goes far far away.
This probably won't happen, but I want to see AI traded for Starbury. Their salaries are the same, and think of the bad blood and tension when they basically swap houses and meet each other constantly in the Atlantic div. Priceless.
Their leverage is all the other teams that want to do business with them. I don't know how Davis and AI would co-exist in the same backcourt. It would be an interesting experiment, and Nellie is the right offensive coach to pull it off. Hopefully for the Warriors, they wouldn't think about giving up Monta Ellis or Biedrins.
AI averages 30, yes that's a THREE, points a game and seven assists. Granted he touches the ball in 95% of the possessions, but no one can argue with his production.
He may have off-court issues (practice, meetings, events, etc.), but when he's on the court he gives his all....you cannot say the same for Marbury (who once took only 3 shots in 30 minutes to prove a point at the expense of his team losing).
For a team like the Spurs it doesn't make any sense. But if you're a team that needs a jolt of scoring and you have the means to make the trade, he's as good as anyone in the league.
You also have to remember that to certain decision-makers, flashy guys matter more irregardless of whether they do the "small things."
I think the Warriors need a jolt of defense. Though a healthy JRich, Iverson, and Baron Davis would put up a good dose of points.
Yes, but if they will get AI, Baron Davis will go to Phily.
So it will be just Richardson & Iverson combination, and that is worse than BD & J-Rich combination in my opinion.
Maybe. There have been reports of matches that don't include Davis. Warriors have enough big contracts and young talent to make a swap without him.Yes, but if they will get AI, Baron Davis will go to Phily.
So it will be just Richardson & Iverson combination, and that is worse than BD & J-Rich combination in my opinion.
Then they could trade Ellis and Barnes for Iverson, or Dunleavy and Pietrus.
Ellis has been said to be off limits.
I still have a feeling Sac walks away with this one. Bibby and a disgruntled Webber would be reunited, , ship back Thomas to Philly while they're at it.
Baron Davis is good, but he absolutely cant run in this high octane Warriors offense.. Iverson's fast and perfect alongside Ellis and Richardson
Why would the 6ers trade for a guy who has averaged less than 50 games per season since he's been in GS?
Why would 6ers trade for a guy who's about a mentally fragile as a 4 year old girl (Bibby)?
Everyone has their negatives (they wouldn't be on the trade block if they didn't), but the 76ers aren't going to get a 30pt, 7 ast guy in return no matter what.
I'm not saying GS is the answer, but you certainly can't discount them.
Where do you get this from?
Bibby isnt fragile at all, and like I said on Cold Pizza this morning the Warriors said that B Diddy and Monta Ellis are untouchable, everyone else is up for grabs. Maybe Nellie is having dreams of Baron and AI in the same backcourt
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