A big question
December 15, 2006 | 12:00am
Its an end of an era.
And maybe thats a good thing.
Allen Iverson has informed Philadelphia 76ers GM Billy King that he wants to be traded. Finally, a great player who deserves a ring but doesnt have one will move out of the prolonged mediocrity of Philadelphia and try his luck winning that elusive championship with another team.
Lets face it, the Sixers arent going anywhere in the next two to three years and are going to waste whats left of Allen Iversons prime (if they havent wasted it already). After playing with another failed sidekick experiment (Chris Webber) and a couple of overpaid role players (Sam Dalembert, Kyle Korver, Kevin Ollie), AI gets a chance to play for a contender. Or, at the very least, he can turn a team on the cusp into a bona fide contender like Rasheed Wallace transformed the Detroit Pistons. Well, hopefully.
This trade might be Iversons last shot to win a title as superstar. So if for any reason it doesnt pan out and he ends up past his prime and still ring-less, he has to opt for the Gary Payton Method attach himself to the most dominant player in the game (in Paytons case, Shaq) and ride his coattails to a title. I dont think AI wants to be remembered that way. Hes too much of a competitor.
The tricky part is that there arent many good teams with enough assets and cap room to take on Iversons contract. Philadelphia would surely want some combination of young talent, expiring contracts and draft picks in return for a superstar of AIs caliber.
Stephen A. Smith of ESPN and the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that those teams that are viable trade partners with the Sixers for Iverson are Dallas, Boston, Golden State, Memphis, Minnesota and Sacramento. Teams like Atlanta, who have a surplus of young players, also make sense. Word also has it that Iverson was about to be shipped to the Charlotte Bobcats before AI vetoed it. Its pretty obvious AI doesnt want to end up in a team that isnt even thinking playoffs.
The team that makes the most sense to me is the Boston Celtics. They can package a couple of their young players, though theyve said that they are reluctant to part with both pivot Al Jefferson and swingman Gerald Green. They can still ship a combination of Delonte West, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen and Kedrick Perkins. Add in the contract of Theo Ratliff, who might retire, or Wally Szcerbiak and maybe a draft pick and I think it could work. It would be allowable money-wise, since Ratliffs or Szcerbiaks contract is big enough facilitate it. It makes sense for the Celts because theyve wanted AI to team up with Paul Pierce since the off-season, believing it would catapult them into contention. The Sixers in return, get a couple of promising young players, draft picks, and maybe Ratliffs contract that may be bought out or covered by insurance since he is unlikely to play again.
Another team that could make it out with Iverson is the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have a lot of big contracts and young talent that make the trade for AI very plausible. They could very well send either Jason Richardson or Baron Davis and they would still look pretty good. The popular trade scenario involves J-Rich along with either Troy Murphy or Mike Dunleavy for Iverson. This would make Don Nelsons small-ball team even smaller, and maybe more lethal.
Allen Iverson will probably land in a team like the Celtics or Warriors teams that are deep, talented and on the verge of being a legitimate force but are young and inexperienced. AI would turn a team like that into a force to be reckoned with. Does Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson sound exciting? How about Baron Davis and Iverson? Kevin Garnett and AI?
Where will Allen Iverson get his shot at a title? "The Answer" will have to wait.
And maybe thats a good thing.
Allen Iverson has informed Philadelphia 76ers GM Billy King that he wants to be traded. Finally, a great player who deserves a ring but doesnt have one will move out of the prolonged mediocrity of Philadelphia and try his luck winning that elusive championship with another team.
Lets face it, the Sixers arent going anywhere in the next two to three years and are going to waste whats left of Allen Iversons prime (if they havent wasted it already). After playing with another failed sidekick experiment (Chris Webber) and a couple of overpaid role players (Sam Dalembert, Kyle Korver, Kevin Ollie), AI gets a chance to play for a contender. Or, at the very least, he can turn a team on the cusp into a bona fide contender like Rasheed Wallace transformed the Detroit Pistons. Well, hopefully.
This trade might be Iversons last shot to win a title as superstar. So if for any reason it doesnt pan out and he ends up past his prime and still ring-less, he has to opt for the Gary Payton Method attach himself to the most dominant player in the game (in Paytons case, Shaq) and ride his coattails to a title. I dont think AI wants to be remembered that way. Hes too much of a competitor.
The tricky part is that there arent many good teams with enough assets and cap room to take on Iversons contract. Philadelphia would surely want some combination of young talent, expiring contracts and draft picks in return for a superstar of AIs caliber.
Stephen A. Smith of ESPN and the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that those teams that are viable trade partners with the Sixers for Iverson are Dallas, Boston, Golden State, Memphis, Minnesota and Sacramento. Teams like Atlanta, who have a surplus of young players, also make sense. Word also has it that Iverson was about to be shipped to the Charlotte Bobcats before AI vetoed it. Its pretty obvious AI doesnt want to end up in a team that isnt even thinking playoffs.
The team that makes the most sense to me is the Boston Celtics. They can package a couple of their young players, though theyve said that they are reluctant to part with both pivot Al Jefferson and swingman Gerald Green. They can still ship a combination of Delonte West, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen and Kedrick Perkins. Add in the contract of Theo Ratliff, who might retire, or Wally Szcerbiak and maybe a draft pick and I think it could work. It would be allowable money-wise, since Ratliffs or Szcerbiaks contract is big enough facilitate it. It makes sense for the Celts because theyve wanted AI to team up with Paul Pierce since the off-season, believing it would catapult them into contention. The Sixers in return, get a couple of promising young players, draft picks, and maybe Ratliffs contract that may be bought out or covered by insurance since he is unlikely to play again.
Another team that could make it out with Iverson is the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have a lot of big contracts and young talent that make the trade for AI very plausible. They could very well send either Jason Richardson or Baron Davis and they would still look pretty good. The popular trade scenario involves J-Rich along with either Troy Murphy or Mike Dunleavy for Iverson. This would make Don Nelsons small-ball team even smaller, and maybe more lethal.
Allen Iverson will probably land in a team like the Celtics or Warriors teams that are deep, talented and on the verge of being a legitimate force but are young and inexperienced. AI would turn a team like that into a force to be reckoned with. Does Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson sound exciting? How about Baron Davis and Iverson? Kevin Garnett and AI?
Where will Allen Iverson get his shot at a title? "The Answer" will have to wait.
BrandSpace Articles
<
>