Wednesday Latest Iverson Rumors

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Price For A.I., Too High
Dec 13 - The news of the Kings' withdrawal from the Allen Iverson derby seemed to be a reflection of some grumbling from NBA executives inquiring into the availability of the all-star guard. One front-office type said some calls to his colleagues had led to a conclusion that GM Billy King's asking price for Iverson was too high.

A source indicated last night that Denver was willing to part with center Nene as part of a package for Iverson and that George Karl had expressed no problems with coaching Iverson. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

# "The price is way too high," an Eastern Conference source said. "The house is on the market, and they're asking for way too much."

From Dallas came a distant suggestion that the Mavericks might be willing to discuss the expiring contracts of Austin Croshere and Jerry Stackhouse.

"Not going to happen," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said in an e-mail response. -- Philadelphia Daily News

Around the NBA ...

# Sixers GM Billy King told another Eastern Conference executive last night that he has "two deals on the table, ready to go."

One of the deals King was strongly considering is with Golden State, for point guard Baron Davis, center Andris Biedrins and a third unidentified player. In addition to Iverson, the Warriors would get backup center Steven Hunter. While a source close to one of the players involved called the deal "done," the Sixers remain quiet about where they will be sending Iverson. -- New York Daily News

# Bernie Bickerstaff said he never was close to a deal to acquire Iverson. Rather, he said, he offered the team's abundance of cap room as a potential aid to Sixers President Billy King.

"Our situation with Billy King," Bickerstaff said, "would be acting as a facilitator if that works to help us." -- Charlotte Observer

# Two sources close to the Kings said there were two deals that had been discussed.

The first, according to one source, would have sent Kings point guard Mike Bibby and forward Kenny Thomas to Philadelphia and brought Iverson to Sacramento. The obstacle, however, may have been third-year Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin, whom the 76ers also coveted but whom the Kings were, according to the source, unwilling to give up.

The other deal, according to the second source, would have sent Bibby and Thomas to the Los Angeles Clippers, who would have dealt third-year point guard Shaun Livingston and veteran small forward Corey Maggette to Philadelphia. The 76ers, in turn, would have sent Iverson to Sacramento. -- Sacramento Bee

# With the asking price for Allen Iverson too high, the Celtics' interest in the former NBA MVP may have cooled, according to league sources. Boston knows what Philadelphia wants, but is reluctant to put certain players, and possibly draft picks, on the table.

Other NBA teams also think the Sixers are looking for too much in exchange for Iverson, said league sources. As a result, Billy King may need more time than he originally hoped to complete a deal.

The favorites yesterday came out of the Western Conference, namely the Warriors and Timberwolves. -- Boston Globe

# The Clippers are among the teams the Philadelphia 76ers have contacted about Allen Iverson, proposing a multiplayer trade that would include Corey Maggette to bring the disgruntled star guard to Los Angeles, multiple team sources said Tuesday night.

It appears unlikely, however, that the Clippers would complete a deal for Iverson unless the 76ers softened their demand that Shaun Livingston be part of the trade.

The Clippers have told the 76ers that Elton Brand, Chris Kaman and Livingston are not available. -- Los Angeles Times

# A late comer on the scene was Denver, with an offer that reportedly included Nene, J.R. Smith and Eduardo Najera.

According to a league source, the Celtics were willing to part with an equally broad range of players, though Gerald Green was said to be one of the team's few untouchable players.

But as Al Jefferson [stats], one of the C's rumored to be involved, said Monday night in New York, "There's a reason they call them rumors." -- Boston Herald

# The Nuggets are still running in the race for Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, according to NBA sources.

The Nuggets, Indiana, Boston, Minnesota and Golden State are talking to the Sixers about Iverson, according to sources. Denver had conversations Tuesday with Sixers officials.

To make a deal work, the Nuggets would likely trade forward- center Nene and possibly two other players with expiring contracts, along with their two first-round picks in 2007, to Philadelphia. Marcus Camby would not be part of any deal. -- Denver Post

# The Warriors were officially mum on any developments on the Iverson front, outside of Golden State executive vice president Chris Mullin allowing that a backcourt of Baron Davis and Iverson could, in his estimation, co-exist.

But the trade winds that blew through Oakland all day only intensified with the Warriors' decision to bench forward Troy Murphy -- one popular choice as a piece of trade bait -- because of what the team described as a "sore left foot." -- Contra Costa Times

# Griz majority owner Michael Heisley said Tuesday that there is no deal in the works for Iverson.

"I would say no," Heisley said on the eve of his visit to Memphis today along with NBA commissioner David Stern. "Jerry West handles that side and I haven't heard anything from him. That would have big implications salary wise so I don't think the Grizzlies are in the hunt." -- Memphis Commercial-Appeal

# If the 76ers with Chris Webber, Andre Iguoudala, Kyle Korver, Sam Dalembert and company can't get to the playoffs with Iverson leading the way, what makes you think Iverson will get the Hawks to the playoffs?

He's a warrior without peer in terms of his size and production. And most teams would be lucky to have a guy who puts it on the line every night the way AI does. And if the on-court AI was all you had to worry about that would be great.

Unfortunately, the off-the-court AI comes with mad drama. Drama a team trying to build a solid foundation doesn't need. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

# His scoring ability with teams sizing him up and going after him has been amazing. But he's a coach killer and team destroyer because of his work habits or lack of them. You can't have your best player not practicing. Everyone watches what the best player does.

That alone is reason why the Bulls never would touch him. For the Bulls, he plays 180 degrees (360 degrees if you ask the players) from the way they play.

The Bulls rely on ball movement and player movement in addition to aggressive man defense with help. Iverson holds the ball, over dribbles and plays the lanes to try to get steals. He is the opposite of everything they believe in and preach and would take away from the development of their players.

In fact, to me there's almost no place he fits. -- Chicago Tribune

# Disgruntled 76er Allen Iverson isn't the missing piece that'll put the Pistons over the top in the East. Look at the conference's mediocrity. The Pistons can head to the Finals without a center who plays four quarters. It doesn't seem worth blowing up the nucleus to land Iverson. -- Detroit Free Press

# "No," Larry Harris immediately said when asked if there were any circumstances that might convince him to pursue a trade for Iverson.

"It would change the focus of how we want to play offensively. If you look at the positions on our team, he's a natural 2-guard. Our 2-guard is an all-star. To me, Michael Redd is the Milwaukee Bucks.

"We need to believe in Mo Williams and Michael Redd and Charlie Villanueva and Bobby Simmons and Andrew Bogut and Dan Gadzuric and know these guys are going to be our foundation. -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

# Jermaine O'Neal said Iverson will make whichever team he ends up with better.

"I'm just an employee," said O'Neal, who is a friend of Iverson. "He's small in size, but big in the heart. He can score from many places on the court. He's a problem for most defenses. ... Obviously whatever team he goes to, he's going to help. If he goes to a team that is already contending, he may be the piece that's going to put them over the top." -- Indianapolis Star

# Almost one year ago, an impact Eastern Conference player made a trade request. After sitting out a spell he was dealt. Ron Artest from the Indiana Pacers to the Kings. These days, it's Allen Iverson.

"It wasn't frustrating at all," Artest said of his sit-down period. "They were still paying me. I wanted to play, and (the Pacers) said I couldn't, and there wasn't nothing I could do about it. I went to (Los Angeles). I had fun in L.A."

And should Iverson have to wait a bit? "He might as well go to L.A.," Artest said. "Do something. Go have some fun." -- Sacramento Bee</div>

Well the 48 hours has passed, and AI is still in a Philly uniform. The Golden State deal sounds too, good to be true if you're a Philly fan. Baron Davis is a bonafide superstar (when healthy) plus you get Biedrins who's breaking out this year and is quickly become a consistent force in the paint PLUS one more player. The deal might be more balanced if that one other player is either Dunleavy, Murphy, or Foyle, so the Warriors can unload one of their ugly contracts.

The proposed Denver deal is also attractive because the 76ers get two 2007 draft picks along with Nene, JR Smith and expiring contracts. This covers all requirements and gives the 76ers some nice pieces to begin the rebuild.