2006 - 2007 Sixers Season Thread

[Eaglez]

I just would like the Sixers to get their payroll situation worked out with. Take on some contracts that are set to expire after this year for AI and free up some room under the cap to make some moves. I'd trade AI for flexibility in the future.

This team just needs a complete overhaul, and I really don't care if they get much talent in return for AI. Maybe get a good, young player, a draft pick and some dead salary that is set to expire after this year. That's fine. I'd rather see this team re-build with a solid, young nucleus than take on veterans who don't fit in this system and be stuck with them for years on end.

Young guys are more impressionable and are not set in their ways like veterans are. I'd rather see the Sixers suck for a couple of years but then build a young, solid team that can compete for 5-7 solid seasons.

[SD_Eagle5]

Link

Mavs, C's eye A.I.

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
December 8, 2006




The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics have emerged as the leaders to trade for disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson, league executives told Yahoo! Sports on Friday night.

According to sources, 76ers general manager Billy King has targeted Mavericks guard Devin Harris – a favorite of the executive's going back to Harris' college days at Wisconsin – as a primary piece to a potential package with Dallas.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wouldn't deny that he's engaged in trying to make a deal for Iverson but wrote in an email to Yahoo! Sports on Friday night, "We wouldn't trade Devin."

King has been telling teams that he wants a combination of expiring contracts, young players and draft picks for Iverson. Sixers owner, Ed Snider, flatly said Friday night: "We'll trade him."

Several teams in the past few days have expressed interest in the 2001 NBA MVP and four-time league scoring champion, including the Denver Nuggets – who like Boston – discussed those trade possibilities with the 76ers before last June's NBA draft.

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The Celtics have a deep roster of young players, including forward Al Jefferson and guards Delonte West, Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo, to send to Philadelphia. Also, they have the weighty veteran contract of Theo Ratliff to help balance Iverson's contract in a deal.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, with a possible package of Ricky Davis and rookie guard Randy Foye out of Villanova, is also believed to be a factor.

What had long been a tumultuous relationship between Iverson and the 76ers reached a breaking point this week.

As the New York Post initially reported on Friday, Iverson asked King for a trade on Tuesday and the G.M. soon thereafter started exploring possible deals around the league. After missing practice on Thursday and a shootaround on Friday with apparent back spasms, Iverson said he was well enough to play in Philadelphia's game against Washington on Friday night.

However, Iverson said 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks told him to stay away from the Wachovia Center and informed Iverson that he wouldn't be traveling to Orlando for a Saturday meeting with the Magic.

After getting banished for two games, Iverson issued a statement through his agent Leon Rose that sounded like he was resigned to the inevitability of a trade. More and more, it sounds like his 11-year career in Philadelphia is coming to a close.

"As hard as it is to admit, a change may be the best thing for everyone," Iverson said. "I hate admitting that because I love the guys on the team and the city of Philadelphia. I truly wanted to retire a 76er."

[The BIGSTUD]

Al Jefferson is a must because he is a big man we need to build around with Webber getting older, but the Celtics will probably be hesitant to give him up. Billy would probably end up getting Delonte, Gerald Green, Ratliff and a pick from them.

The Mavs? Howard is an absolute must, but he is their defensive stopper. Would they deal him? Howard isn't enough alone and pairing him up with a bad contract isn't good enough either. Would the Mavs do Howard and Terry for AI? Billy would probably end up getting something like Howard and Stackhouse who's contract expires I think.

[Dillen]

I wouldnt do any trades with the Mavs because they dont have anything the Sixers need. Harris can't shoot and wont ever be a great player. They moved Terry to SG for a reason, and Howard is a SG/SF. The 76ers already have 3 SG/SFs to have for a long time. Yes, Howard is better than all of them, but the 76ers are already stacked for the future at that spot.

[The BIGSTUD]

At this point Billy's best bet might be to swing a 3-way deal. I don't think Boston will want to give up Jefferson and I'm not too excited about Green because we are loaded at guard already. Maybe Billy can bait Ainge into giving up Jefferson if Boston gets something else in a 3-way though. Who knows.

[Dillen]

Sixers lost to the Magic 86-84. Ollie took the game tying attempt as time ran out and was rejected by Nelson.

[MDS]

How can an NBA team possibly play Kevin Ollie for 38 minutes?

[PhillyPhreak54]

MDS,

It's TEAM BASKETBALL now. Don't question it!

FYI - I think I'd like to see Boston because they can get an expiring contract (Theo) and Gerald Green and Al Jefferson.

[Drunkmasterflex]

MDS,

It's TEAM BASKETBALL now. Don't question it!

FYI - I think I'd like to see Boston because they can get an expiring contract (Theo) and Gerald Green and Al Jefferson.

Me too.

[Dillen]

MDS,

It's TEAM BASKETBALL now. Don't question it!

FYI - I think I'd like to see Boston because they can get an expiring contract (Theo) and Gerald Green and Al Jefferson.

Theo has 2 years left on his deal, unless the last year is an option year.

[hunt]

yes, theo has 2 years left on his deal.
i read that mj & the charlotte brass are meeting today to discuss making an offer for a1...they have $14 mill in cap room so they could actually take on a good chuck of his contract.  also, they don't have anyone on their roster with a contract longer than 2 years.
felton, filler, & 1st round pick for a1 would be perfect.

[BigEd76]

Time for Mike Sielski to chime in....

Of all that Allen Iverson has said or done during his years with the Sixers, nothing captures his career better than a single phrase from his unforgettable rant in 2002, from the most surreal news conference in Philadelphia sports history:

"How the hell can I make my team better by practice?"

If you remember nothing else about the Iverson era and the empty legacy he will leave behind once the freefalling Sixers finally trade him, remember those words. Remember that, though he "played every game like it was his last," Iverson was never willing to sacrifice his own individual satisfaction for the sake of the Sixers' success, never willing to change his practice habits or his ball-hog mentality. Remember that the franchise advanced past the second round of the playoffs just once in his decade-plus here, that the thrill and amazement over what basketball's most transcendent talent could do on the court was always offset by his petulance and the Sixers', particularly Billy King's, kowtowing to him off it.

"He literally had that franchise on their knees for 10 years," said Pat Williams, the former Sixers general manager, now a senior vice-president with the Orlando Magic. "He had them on their knees, groveling, because of who he is."

Remember that Iverson painted himself as the ultimate competitor but always regarded himself as an entertainer first, failing to understand that unselfish basketball, winning basketball, is the most alluring attraction of all.

Remember his daily battles with Larry Brown, the tumultuous half-season with Randy Ayers, his refusal to publicly defend Jim O'Brien, and the way he went from wanting to kiss Maurice Cheeks to defying him.

Above all, remember that Allen Iverson didn't think working with his teammates made a damn bit of difference, then ask yourself again how the Sixers got here. You might come up with The Answer.

[BigEd76]

Chris Sheridan (ESPN.com): AI could be traded as early as tomorrow

Minnesota is unlikely for financial reasons

Memphis can't do any trades because of the pending sale of the team

Dallas could give us Stackhouse and Croshere (f that)

New Orleans could give us Marc Jackson and Desmond Mason (ugh)

New York could do an AI/Webber for Francis/QRich/Frye/Rose deal if they wanted both

[The BIGSTUD]

The Boston Herald had a rumor of Ratliff, Jefferson, West, and Telfair for AI. I'd do that deal above all the others I've heard so far.

But I have a feeling Billy(being the awful GM that he is) would take a worse deal from the western conference just because he's afraid to face AI 3 or 4 times a year.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

It's awesome that they waited to trade him until his value is at the absolute peak.  PEAK