Your Ad Here

  Wrestling Forums : WWE, TNA, ECW, E-Fed, Wrestlemania, Live Wrestling Streams » Sports Forums » North American Sports

While 76ers Talk Trade, Iverson Pens a Farewell


Register Mark Forums Read

North American Sports

NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, Golf. All the latest sports news, scores, rumors, fantasy games, and more.

Welcome to the Wrestling Clique Wrestling Forums.
Register with Wrestling Clique Wrestling Forums

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-09-2006, 01:32 PM   #1 (permalink)
Senior Monk
 
Status: Offline
Join Date: Nov 2006
My Local Time: 12:09 PM
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 106
vBookie Cash: 500
Casino Cash: $251
Rep Power: 2 The Dynasty is the European Champion

Points: 6,384, Level: 34
Points: 6,384, Level: 34 Points: 6,384, Level: 34 Points: 6,384, Level: 34
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%

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.
  Reply With Quote

Old 12-09-2006, 01:36 PM   #2 (permalink)
The No Spin Zone
 
Status: Offline
Join Date: Nov 2006
My Local Time: 12:09 PM
Location: The United States
Posts: 512
vBookie Cash: 500
Casino Cash: $250
Rep Power: 2 joeytheking23 is the European Champion

Points: 1,913, Level: 17
Points: 1,913, Level: 17 Points: 1,913, Level: 17 Points: 1,913, Level: 17
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%

hmm...him in Minnesota could make them pretty good. I wouldnt give up Foye, he is one of the best rookies in this years class imo. They do need to trade him though.
"I didn't lose my mind, I sold it on Ebay!"
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2006, 02:57 PM   #3 (permalink)
Senior Monk
 
Status: Offline
Join Date: Nov 2006
My Local Time: 12:09 PM
Location: Wilson, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 969
vBookie Cash: 500
Casino Cash: $250
Rep Power: 2 Styles™ is the European Champion

Points: 3,616, Level: 25
Points: 3,616, Level: 25 Points: 3,616, Level: 25 Points: 3,616, Level: 25
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%

I see AI going to either Minnesota or Chicago, I don't really see him going West though I think Sacramento will give a fight for him...but I don't think Ron Artest and AI will be able to get along too well...

Banner Credit goes to xWaynex
  Reply With Quote
Reply

« O'Neal eighth Bengals player arrested this year | Bolton 4-0 West Ham »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

 


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
With Iverson on His Way Out of Philly, Short-Handed 76ers Can't Handle Wizards in 113 XxRRatedxX North American Sports 0 12-09-2006 04:39 PM
Iverson goes cold as trade winds swirl in Philadelphia Johnny BlazE North American Sports 4 12-08-2006 10:20 PM
A champion's farewell? The Rated [R] Ryan UK Sports 2 05-06-2006 03:51 PM
MLB Hot Stove Talk - First blockbuster trade today Simon North American Sports 29 12-08-2005 02:27 PM



Your Ad Here
Your Ad Here

Your Ad Here

Become a Wrestling Clique Platinum Member
Wrestling


Mark Forums Read - View Staff - Top

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57