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Join Date: Nov 2006 My Local Time: 11:13 AM Location: Detroit, MI
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Rep Power: 2  | While 76ers Talk Trade, Iverson Pens a Farewell
Source: New York Times Quote:
Allen Iverson said yesterday afternoon that it was time for a change, signaling that an era spanning more than a decade in Philadelphia 76ers basketball had come to an end.
By then, the SixersÂ’ president, Billy King, had already told Iverson to stay away from the team for two days. IversonÂ’s absence at the Sixers game last night, a 94-86 loss to the Washington Wizards, only fueled speculation that King wanted to trade Iverson imminently, in a move apparently endorsed by the teamÂ’s owner, Ed Snider.
“As hard as it is to admit, a change may be the best thing for everyone,” Iverson, the controversial seven-time All-Star guard and 2001 league most valuable player, said in a statement released by his agent, Leon Rose. “I hate admitting that, because I love the guys on the team and the city of Philadelphia. I truly wanted to retire a 76er.”
So where will he go next? And what will happen to the Sixers, who dropped to 5-13? King has been furiously making telephone calls for the past three days seeking the best deal, according to several team executives, hoping to overhaul the franchise.
According to two team executives who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no deal had been finalized, Minnesota, Dallas, Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers are possible suitors for Iverson.
But Philadelphia is eager to move the disgruntled forward Chris Webber, too, and a deal packaging both would have to involve several teams.
Iverson, 31, is second in the league in scoring (31.2 points a game). Despite back spasms that affected him in the second half of the SixersÂ’ loss to Chicago on Wednesday, he does not appear to be losing his skills.
His salary this season is close to $17 million, and his contract extends through the 2008-9 season. WebberÂ’s contract is much more prohibitive, as he is due to make about $42 million over the next two years.
The Mavericks always seem to be active on the trade and free-agent front. According to one team executive, the Sixers have been interested in the Mavericks point guard Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse (a former Sixer) and Austin Croshere. But another team executive denied that the Mavericks have had discussions with the 76ers.
Iverson has indicated that a trade to Minnesota, where he would be with forward Kevin Garnett, would be attractive to him. Both are former M.V.P.Â’s who have never won a championship. The Timberwolves are said to be dangling Troy Hudson (making $6 million) and may have to include the rookie Randy Foye.
Last season, the Nuggets offered Marcus Camby and Andre Miller for Iverson, a deal that would still work financially.
The Clippers have been shopping Corey Maggette recently, according to several team executives, and would probably be reluctant to part with Shaun Livingston, their promising young point guard.
Iverson and the Sixers have always seemed to have a love-hate relationship, dating to Larry BrownÂ’s tenure as the coach, which peaked when the Sixers made the N.B.A. finals in 2001.
The SixersÂ’ current coach, Maurice Cheeks, has grown distant, clashing with Iverson this week when Iverson skipped out on practice and a fan event.
Iverson said that Sixers management told him not to come to last nightÂ’s game against the Wizards, nor go to Orlando for tonightÂ’s game. He denied that he was injured, as the team had said.
Snider told ESPN last night: “We’ll trade him. At a certain point you have to come to grips with the fact that it’s not working.”
King told reporters before last nightÂ’s game that Iverson was taking yesterday and today off because he was hurt.
“He couldn’t play in practice for the last two days, so we made the decision that he should not be with the team,” King said. “We’ll make a decision on whether he’s with the team in a few days.”
Iverson denied that he was injured.
“In my entire career, even the doctors haven’t been able to tell me not to play,” he said in his statement. “I’ve played through injury and illness. I think everyone knows how much I love being out on the court, competing and winning. That’s why it was so disheartening to be told that I couldn’t play, knowing that I was ready. It hurt even more to be told not to come at all.”
He added: “I have expressed my frustration to my teammates, however, I have continued to give 100 percent night in and night out. Apparently, it hasn’t been enough to help our team win.”
Iverson had never been this blunt about wanting to leave, even after his departure was first foreshadowed on draft night in June when the Sixers tried to trade him to Boston.
“I appreciate that in my 11 years in Philadelphia, the fans have always stood by me, supported me and gone to bat for me,” Iverson said in what could be his parting words.
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