<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'>With about eight minutes left in a game barely anyone cared about, the 76ers illustrated as much by virtue of the lineup they had on the floor. Steven Hunter was paired on the front line with Shavlik Randolph and Matt Barnes, looking like all-stars. Meanwhile, the team's lone all-star, Allen Iverson, was on the bench laughing it up, enjoying the fruits of a 19-point lead - which simply served to prove the kind of comfort and comedic effect a night against the woeful New York Knicks can provide.You laugh at the Knicks purely to avoid crying over their ineptitude, perhaps even going so far as to ponder whether they're capable of beating UCLA or Florida. But once the game ended and levity faded away with it, and the Sixers were faced with their own precarious circumstances, one realization should have instantly kicked in:If the Sixers miss the playoffs, what makes them any better than the Knicks?Especially in this town?Truth be told, that's exactly the question most folks in this town would ask, sans New York's exorbitant payroll and a couple of wanna-be stars. And that's precisely why Billy King, the Sixers' president and general manager, should be focusing on the free-agent market and Iverson's commitment.The rest of this season should mean nothing to King - or the city of Philadelphia.King should be taking a look at Andre Iguodala in an effort to determine whether he is really aching to be a star or just someone satisfied with being a third offensive option.He should look under every rock imaginable to gauge whether some team like the SuperSonics would be interested in paying the remaining $43 million Chris Webber is owed for two seasons, specifically in exchange for stars such as Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Even if it meant packaging Iguodala and Webber to pull it off.Some type of investigation should be started to determine whether Kyle Korver will ever be able to play defense. Or if Samuel Dalembert's stubborn streak will ever end. The free-agent market should be scoured.I'm not talking about the Sixers' level of talent. I'm talking about the heart that lies within that talent.Someone in the Sixers' front office has hand-picked a bunch of patsies to play alongside Iverson."Point the finger solely at me," King said a few days ago. "I'm totally responsible for the basketball decisions that are made around here."Hogwash.In King, we're talking about a man who played college ball at Duke, who could barely dribble or pass, and made a college career out of shooting 911 shots, knowing a prayer was his only chance of making a basket.King's signature was heart and guts, a level of defensive fury and prowess that ex-Temple standout Mark Macon is more qualified to speak about than anyone.You don't have those requisite skills, that inner fire burning inside of you, then allow it to fade. That's simply not King's nature.I'm saying it right here, right now, that King deferred to someone. To whom, I'm not sure, but someone convinced him to allow a bunch of choirboys to be paired with the Rottweiler that is Iverson.If King wants Iverson to want to remain in Philadelphia, it's time he gets back to business. That means scouring the league himself.The Sixers, just 1 1/2 games ahead of Chicago for the eighth and final playoff spot, have 10 games remaining on the schedule. And every single one of them is against teams they've lost to this season, including the hapless Charlotte Bobcats.Two are against Chicago. Two more are against Atlantic-Division leading New Jersey. And two more are against Miami and Cleveland. I'm assuming there could very well be about five losses in there.If Chicago continues its own inept ways, the Sixers will get in by default and face the Detroit Pistons in the first round - which, to me, is a complete waste of time.Nobody wants to hear about Webber griping over how younger players are not focused. Nor does anyone care about Iverson's desire to start the playoffs in South Beach instead of the Motor City.If the empty seats inside the Wachovia Center don't display as much, just go into the streets and ask if there is any kind of momentum to take from this team."We will get better," King explained, in the midst of the Sixers' having lost 10 of 13 games. "We'll evaluate ourselves at the end of the season, like we always do."Why wait?Evaluate now, while the team has still convinced itself it has something to play for.Find out who's worth keeping, who's worth leaving behind.Then, as a parting shot, ask Allen Iverson: Does he want to remain a part of this?He might say no, despite yesterday's jovial mood.Source=http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/14248773.htm</div>PG: IversonSG: AllenSF: LewisCan it happen?
No way the Sonics would trade both Allen and Lewis to the Sixers. Hell, I don't even think they would trade one of them, unless Iguodala was included in the deal. And, as a Sixers fan, I don't want Iguodala going anywhere unless you're getting Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, etc., in return.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigMo763 @ Apr 13 2006, 02:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No way the Sonics would trade both Allen and Lewis to the Sixers. Hell, I don't even think they would trade one of them, unless Iguodala was included in the deal. And, as a Sixers fan, I don't want Iguodala going anywhere unless you're getting Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, etc., in return.</div>Thats alot to ask for Iggy
Sonics are going to lose Shard, so they won't trade Ray. Iguodala isn't going anywhere, and I'm almost 100% sure the Sixers wouldn't trade him for anyone on the Sonics not named Ray Allen, and getting Webber would only disable Seattle a little more, because no free agent will want to go there and be faced with a situation where he may have to move, since there's talk that the Sonics want to go to Vegas.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HeatBasketball @ Apr 13 2006, 01:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thats alot to ask for Iggy </div>I'm not saying that is what he is worth, but with the potential this kid has, and the fact that he is a huge piece of the Sixers' future, I'm not willing to give him up unless he's packaged in a trade that brings the Sixers a player with an even brighter future.
Webber would be an interesting, but good fit for the sonics. but i don't see what Seattle could offer that would appease Philly. I don't think they need another swingman, they have Iverson, Igodala, and Korver. Maybe Rashard Lewis but i don't know.
If I were the Sixers I would do anything to try and require Chris Wilcox.The problem is Webber makes tons of money that only a superstar quality player makes.I dont think he is worth a superstar player so I dont see teams trading there star for him.They should listen to offers for Allen Iverson.
that would be a ridiculous team right there causing many defensive problems for teamsray iversonrashard
I'm not gonna look into this at all, this guy is just trying to throw something out and have it stick like all reporters do.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigMo763 @ Apr 13 2006, 12:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No way the Sonics would trade both Allen and Lewis to the Sixers. Hell, I don't even think they would trade one of them, unless Iguodala was included in the deal. And, as a Sixers fan, I don't want Iguodala going anywhere unless you're getting Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, etc., in return.</div>I don't understand the love of AI2. I think he is a very good player, but I don't see him being a #1 option, ever. He is excellent defensively and his offensive is limited. But he can't carry a team like the guys you mentioned, not even close. And I don't think he'll ever be close to that level.But Webber for Allen AND Lewis is laughable. Why would Seattle do that? They can get more than Webber in return for Allen alone.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HeatBasketball @ Apr 12 2006, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thats alot to ask for Iggy </div>Yeah, he aint dat good. Anyway, Imma assume that AI is a Sixer 4 life.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigMo763 @ Apr 13 2006, 03:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No way the Sonics would trade both Allen and Lewis to the Sixers. Hell, I don't even think they would trade one of them, unless Iguodala was included in the deal. And, as a Sixers fan, I don't want Iguodala going anywhere unless you're getting Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, etc., in return.</div>Chris Bosh for Andre Iguodala? Your joking right?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ender @ Apr 13 2006, 07:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't understand the love of AI2. I think he is a very good player, but I don't see him being a #1 option, ever. He is excellent defensively and his offensive is limited. But he can't carry a team like the guys you mentioned, not even close. And I don't think he'll ever be close to that level.But Webber for Allen AND Lewis is laughable. Why would Seattle do that? They can get more than Webber in return for Allen alone.</div>I think Iguodala is going to have a special NBA career. He has all the tools necessary to be an All-Star, now he just has to put all those tools to use. I also don't believe he will be a solid #1 option for any team, but he will be a solid second or third option, and is the single biggest piece of the Sixers' future at this point.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Apr 14 2006, 07:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Chris Bosh for Andre Iguodala? Your joking right? </div>I know it will never happen, nor was I implying that it will happen. I was just saying that to display my point that there are very few players who I would trade Iguodala for, or for whom I'd include Iguodala in a package for...And for the record, the Sonics and Sixers did discuss a trade for Ray Allen last year... and the Sonics were asking for Iguodala to be included in the package, and the Sixers immediately turned it down once they heard that.
