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TalkBulls Forums _ Bulls Talk _ AI Traded to the Nuggets
Posted by: truthandbasketball Dec 9 2006, 04:29 AM
Well its official....AI wants out of Philly, after watching his 44 point performance against us earlier this year and his perennial toughness and will to win that would really fit well with our team I think he could help us out alot.
I know hes not the big that everyone has in mind but he could definitely provide more stability in the scoring department. It would mean dealing some of our young guys and I'm not sure how the money aspect would work out with contracts but if it was a possibility I say yes as Ive always admired Iverson's never say die attitude. If we gave up PJ Brown, Gordon, the knicks draft pick and maybe another throw in we might be able to get him since he's already basically said he doesn't want to play another minute for the Sixers.
I don't know how realistic this would be but before the season I was saying the same about signing Ben Wallace so you never know.
I feel that the Iverson acquisition would really help the Bulls championship hopes this season.
Imagine this lineup -
C - Wallace
PF - Nocioni
SF - Deng
SG - Iverson
PG - Hinrich
We'd murder teams!!!!
Heres the full story about AI -
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2691152
Posted by: Balta1701-B Dec 9 2006, 12:53 PM
So, according to http://basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownpj01.html (not sure if they're a good resource or not), PJ Brown makes $8 million this season, and Gordon makes $3.6 million. AI is listed as making almost $17 million, which means we'd need to add in at least one more player to make the salaries more even.
And anyway, I'm not totally certain that a guy like AI would fit with the Bulls. Not because of Skiles, but because of the offense we're playing so successfully now. We're succeeding pretty well with an offense based on moving the ball around, a lot. AI seems to be more of an isolation/let him dominate type of player. I just wonder if adding him in might not subtract a lot from the work being done by the other guys.
Posted by: ChitownMan Dec 9 2006, 12:55 PM
Overall I do not think that A.I. is a good citizen and if he does not get to play the way he wants, would wind up being a huge distraciton. I would pass on him myself and work on getting another forward to balance out the defense or a forward who could help out offensively in the mold of Peja Stojakovic. I would however love to bring KG home instead.
Posted by: RememberThe90's Dec 9 2006, 02:10 PM
No.
Posted by: ZoomSlowik Dec 9 2006, 03:07 PM
Absolutely not. He's a ball-hogging guard that shoots you out of about as many games as he wins you, commits an insane number of turnovers, and has always had a very low shooting percentage. That's not even counting his defensive issues, he plays the passing lanes too much as opposed to playing the man. He's just not a good fit for our young core, and he'd probably cost us at least one valuable piece. At this point he probably does more harm than good, it'd counter-act the progress that Deng and Kirk have made.
Posted by: GreatScott82 Dec 9 2006, 05:53 PM
no thank you. This team already has a solid guard foundation with Gordon, Hinrich, Duhon and Sefelosha. If we should make a trade (something i don't think we should do) we should trade for a big man. I'm STILL hearing talks about trading for Garnett. He would give us that low post presence and he would look pretty sweet with Wallace in there as well. But i still think Minny would want our whole team for him. And with the way we are playing would you even tamper with a risk like that?? That is something you should do in a offseason. NOW if we fail to make the NBA finals this year, if i were Paxon, i would seriously consider putting together a package for Garnett. Maybe the 1st round pick from New York, Ben Gordon, and Tyrus Thomas? Thats alot to give up, but it may also mean a few championships back in Chicago. Not to mention if they re-sign Nocioni we would still have depth at the forward possiton with Garnett, Noc and Deng. Can you guys imagine
Wallace C
Garnett PF
Deng SF
Nocioni/Sefolosha SG
Hinrich PG
WOW
Posted by: Chicago Bulls Franchise Dec 9 2006, 09:23 PM
in a word yes
Posted by: spiderman Dec 9 2006, 09:47 PM
Allen Iverson's practice habits alone would make him a horrible fit for the Bulls.
No way, no how.
Posted by: RememberThe90's Dec 9 2006, 09:53 PM
I know this isn't a discussion about the sixers but:
The sooner Philly does this deal, the sooner they move closer to being a contender again.
With Iverson they will never really go anywhere. They will never be a serious contender with him, yet
he can be such a scoring threat that they will never be a bottom feader in the NBA.
The ultimate "catch -22", Not good enough to win it all, yet not bad enough to become a bottom feader that gets the lottery picks. They need to trade him for future draft picks and some garbage vets to offset salaries. This will put them as favorites to finish with the worst record in the NBA, and give them the best shot at Greg Oden.
Posted by: CubbiesFan07 Dec 9 2006, 09:55 PM
ball hog. stay away
Posted by: ZoomSlowik Dec 9 2006, 11:44 PM
Just to add some perspective, this is from an ESPN Insider/Philadelphia Daily News article:
By all accounts, there are suitors for Iverson. Snider, again bluntly, said calls had come from "half the league." King would not reveal who those teams might be or what any of them might be offering. The closest he came, at least by published reports, was on the eve of the NBA draft in June when he tried to finalize a three-way deal with Boston and Utah in which the Sixers would have acquired the No. 7 overall pick and guard Gerald Green from the Celtics and power forward Carlos Boozer from the Jazz.
There is no way we can/would even come close to that asking price, which probably hasn't changed much. That would mean we'd basically have to START the conversation with the Knicks' pick and Tyrus Thomas.
Posted by: CubbiesFan07 Dec 10 2006, 02:19 PM
and that most definately is going to be a no
Posted by: SoxFan1 Dec 10 2006, 07:45 PM
Reports say Iverson wants to go to either Chicago or Boston. I certainly hope that he means he wants to play Center Field for the Cubs and not SG for the Bulls.
Posted by: GreatScott82 Dec 11 2006, 08:57 AM
Skiles' favorite player is Hinrich and Hinrich is his point guard. Iverson is waaay too small to play SG. This deal just doesn't make sense for the Bulls at this stage of there building puzzle. The only thing that is missing is that low-post scoring presence. That is something we have been missing since before Curry's heart thing. Unfortanately this is what will probably give us a first to second round playoff exit this year.
Posted by: steve9347 Dec 11 2006, 10:30 AM
bulls aren't going to go after AI, regardless of how much as AI might want them too...
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 11 2006, 10:38 AM
Iverson wouldn't be a good fit for us. The back court is already strong in Chicago, and if we are going to pay what it would take to bring a guy like that here, he had better be at least 6'10" not 5'10"
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 12 2006, 10:23 AM
-- Philadelphia Inquirer
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/scorecard/12/11/truth.rumors.nba/index.html?cnn=yes
Posted by: RememberThe90's Dec 12 2006, 10:32 AM
How about this:
Bulls get: Q Richardson
Knicks get: AI
Sixers get: Ben Gordon.
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 12 2006, 10:37 AM
It wouldn't work because of $$$$
Also a deal to Charlotte fell apart... It looks like MJ is trying to make a BIG splash.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6264404
The newspaper, citing an unnamed source, said the team nearly sent Iverson to Charlotte for a "package of players" on Monday afternoon.
BlogJam ...
Allen Iverson wants a trade. And Mike Kahn has come up with four likely trading partners for the 76ers. Which one do you think makes the most sense? Or should Philly hold onto its disgruntled superstar? Here's your chance to voice your opinion.
But Iverson apparently voiced his displeasure about the possibility of playing for the Bobcats, the Southeast Division's last-place team.
And the deal died.
But at least on a couple of fronts, a deal to Charlotte would have made sense.
The Bobcats, with roughly $38 million in players' salaries, are reportedly about $15 million under the salary cap of $53.1 million and could make a make a major player acquisition more easily than any other NBA team.
Charlotte has several players with short contracts — and The Philly Inquirer says that is just what the Sixers are looking for as they hope to finally get under the salary cap once Chris Webber's contract expires following the 200708 season.
Who are some of the lower-salaried players the Sixers might want in a potential Iverson deal? Guard Brevin Knight, who makes $4.4 million this season on a contract that expires in 2008; forward Melvin Ely, whose $3.3 million contract ends after this season; forward Othella Harrington (2008, $2.2 million this season); and underrated center Primoz Brezec (2008, $2.75 million this season).
Trading any or all of those players would not rattle the Bobcats' core group of guard Raymond Felton, guard Adam Morrison, forward Sean May or center Emeka Okafor.
Gerald Wallace is a player whom the Sixers might covet. But the 24-year-old guard continues to show signs of improvement on the court, and he is part of Charlotte's core group.
So is there a chance a deal might still happen?
An executive of one team told the newspaper that the Bobcats are in the driver's seat to land Iverson in a trade.
"It's Michael [Jordan]'s deal to turn down," the executive reportedly said, referring to Charlotte's new minority owner.
As for Iverson, nearly all traces of the inactive star were gone from the Wachovia Center on Monday night. His nameplate was removed, his locker was cleaned out, and the pregame lineup video featured none of his dazzling highlights.
But Iverson, still officially with the Sixers, was inactive for the third straight game and probably won't be around when Philadelphia hosts Boston on Wednesday — unless he's playing for the Celtics. King said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday that he would not comment until a deal was done.
Webber, traded to Philly from Sacramento in a blockbuster deal in 2005, said he can understand what Iverson must be going through.
"I've been in that position where I felt I helped make a franchise," Webber said. "He cares about people, he cares about Philly. I know he's hurting about having to leave."
Iverson's not hurting enough to prevent him from requesting a trade last week. Sixers' owner Snider said on Friday the All-Star guard had "probably" played his last game with Philadelphia.
"We are so used to playing with Allen, I think that we have to adjust and make plays," Kyle Korver said.
Sixers' coach Maurice Cheeks was peppered all day with questions about Iverson, but said his only focus was on the players in the locker room and snapping the team's losing streak.
"I'm not here to say how this happened, how that happened," Cheeks said. "We're just going forward with the people we have and we're trying to win games. I think our team has been pretty good through all of this."
Iverson's relationship with Cheeks had deteriorated this season, with Iverson leaving a recent practice reportedly after a blowup with his coach. He skipped a team bowling function later that night, apologized and was fined by the organization.
When the Sixers hired Cheeks in May 2005, Iverson joked he was so elated Cheeks got the job he wanted to kiss him on the mouth. The two formed a close relationship when Cheeks was an assistant coach with the Sixers.
"If you got a problem with Mo Cheeks, there must be something wrong with you," Iverson said at the time.
Cheeks said he would only look back fondly on Iverson's 10-plus seasons with the Sixers.
"I have no hard feelings about Allen, none whatsoever," Cheeks said. "He's been a phenomenal player for 11 years. There have been not many people who can stay as consistent as he has his years in the NBA."
While Cheeks said he had not talked to Iverson, third-year swingman Andre Iguodala - Philly's other A.I. — said he had a brief conversation with his soon-to-be former teammate to see how he was holding up. Iguodala joked he asked to borrow one of Iverson's chains, but didn't talk about all the swirling trade rumors.
"Any time a player who's had a great and successful career in this city, whenever it ends, it's kind of bitter," Iguodala said.
Korver said the Sixers are prepared for a season without Iverson.
"We want it to be over. We just want to move on," he said. "Obviously now Allen is probably going to be traded, or is going to be traded, so we just want to move on and not have to have long interviews after shootaround."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Posted by: Chisoxfn Dec 12 2006, 10:41 AM
I would laugh and laugh and laugh if the Knicks picked up Iverson. What a great Xmas that would be. However on the Bulls front I have negative interest in AI.
AI is an amazing player and a fun player to watch but he will never ever win a championship because he's too hard to play with. Its too hard to compliment him with other guys because Iverson needs the ball in his hands at all times and that sort of play encourages guys to sit around and watch and when your team is consistently doing that it will always stink.
Also if we are going to deal with the Knicks, I'd want to get Frye in any trade. I happen to like Richardson though but I wouldn't trade Ben for him straight up without getting a big back as well. Plus Richardson has a bad contract.
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 12 2006, 12:07 PM
The Bulls have no interest in AI, and have not been talking to Philly.... Whew.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/marty_burns/12/12/iverson.buzz/index.html?eref=si_topstories
Posted by: DrunkBomber Dec 12 2006, 12:26 PM
It seems we have exactly what they are looking for in young talent and a good draft pick but we would have to give away way too much for a guy who would only be around a couple season.s
Posted by: Tony82087 Dec 12 2006, 10:41 PM
The New York Daily News is reporting that a three-team deal involving the Bulls and Warriors may be a possibility for a trade of Allen Iverson.
The Warriors would send power forward Troy Murphy to Chicago as part of a package of players, while the Sixers would get Ben Gordon. The Bulls reportedly don't want Iverson as they fear he and Scott Skiles would clash, which makes sense. Other Bulls mentioned going to Philly in a potential deal have been P.J. Brown and ex-Knick Michael Sweetney, each in the final year of his contract. Interestingly, Troy Murphy is not playing for the Warriors on Tuesday night, giving this rumor some extra intrigue.
Posted by: SoxFan1 Dec 12 2006, 10:53 PM
The Warriors would send power forward Troy Murphy to Chicago as part of a package of players, while the Sixers would get Ben Gordon. The Bulls reportedly don't want Iverson as they fear he and Scott Skiles would clash, which makes sense. Other Bulls mentioned going to Philly in a potential deal have been P.J. Brown and ex-Knick Michael Sweetney, each in the final year of his contract. Interestingly, Troy Murphy is not playing for the Warriors on Tuesday night, giving this rumor some extra intrigue.
Hmm, I don't know if I'd like that deal. Murphy isn't the type of guy I see the Bulls getting when having to give up Gordon. But then again, I'm not familiar with how he's played this season.
Posted by: ZoomSlowik Dec 12 2006, 11:33 PM
Troy's okay, he's a passable rebounder and a decent shooter. He's not much of a defender though, is kind of soft, and generally has a weak shooting percentage because of his reliance on the jumper (though he's been better this year so far, higher percentage with fewer attempts). His contract is also kind of nasty, it comes out to almost $10 mil a year.
He's not one of my favorite players, but he's a passable big man. I'd like to get a bit more for Gordon though, or at least someone of similar value that has a little more going for him.
I'm not really sure why they'd want Gordon/Iverson anyways, Monta Ellis is a similar player, and they also have Jason Richardson and Mikael Pietrus on the wing (I'd MUCH rather have one of those guys, and Richardson seems to be on the outs so he might be feasible). Davis and Iverson would probably be an absolute nightmare in terms of chemistry/continuity.
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 13 2006, 09:36 AM
Not that Gordon for Murphy would be a fair trade straight out, but the thing is Murphy gives Bulls something that Ben cannot, and that is a scoring big man. Murphy would be a huge shot in the arm for our front line, where as Ben won't be missed as much because of our depth in the backcourt.
Posted by: SleepyWhiteSox Dec 13 2006, 10:57 AM
He's not much of a low-post scorer though...I wouldn't want him...
I'm all for trading ben, just for something a little more worthwhile...
Posted by: DrunkBomber Dec 13 2006, 11:59 AM
Murphy for Gordon sounds like a terrible trade for us.
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 13 2006, 01:07 PM
Well according to the Daily Herald the Murphy stuff is not true.
-- Daily Herald
Posted by: TeaLeafReaderII Dec 13 2006, 02:41 PM
The way this O is clicking right now I say no... but if you asked be 2 weeks ago when they were slumping I'd say hell yes. Adding Iverson instantly makes the Bulls contenders... the only question is whether or not they already are contenders. 
Posted by: Balta1701-B Dec 15 2006, 12:30 PM
Posted by: RememberThe90's Dec 15 2006, 12:44 PM
Too bad we don't want AI.
Posted by: nocionipipe Dec 15 2006, 04:25 PM
A columnist from CBSsportsline is suggesting the rumored 3 way trade (AI to Denver, Brown and Sweetney, one or more Denver picks, possibly JR Smith to Philly, and Camby to us) might be going down in the next couple hours. If that's really all we're giving up, all I can say is wow. From the article:
League sources say the Nuggets are so hot for Iverson that they're willing to part with their top shot blocker if that's what it takes. Philadelphia could net one or both of Denver's draft picks in this June's draft, as well as the expiring deals of Brown and Michael Sweetney.
If that deal were to go through, Chicago would become the unlikely runaway winner of the Iverson sweepstakes, fortifying its own championship aspirations by essentially turning Tyson Chandler into Camby. Pretty neat trick if John Paxson can pull it off.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/9872186
Posted by: Balta1701-B Dec 18 2006, 11:43 AM
So, what impact do people think the looming long suspensions of JR Smith and Carmelo Anthony will have on any Iverson deals? Will it encourage the Nuggets to up the ante to get something done rapidly, or will a suspension for Smith slow down the 76ers enough to prevent anything?
Supposedly the NBA is willing to allow teams to deal suspended players, since forcing the teams to sit and wait on the deal would punish the 76ers despite the fact that they weren't involved in the ruckus. And on the other hand, supposedly the Nuggets have been hesitant to include Smith in any deal.
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 18 2006, 01:08 PM
Supposedly the NBA is willing to allow teams to deal suspended players, since forcing the teams to sit and wait on the deal would punish the 76ers despite the fact that they weren't involved in the ruckus. And on the other hand, supposedly the Nuggets have been hesitant to include Smith in any deal.
Trib seems to suggest it might not even be possible to trade players who are currently suspended. Also interesting stuff in here about where PJ Brown could end up going...
Anthony's suspension sure to hurt Nuggets in drive for playoffs; Iverson suitors line up
The NBA will announce significant suspensions Monday from Saturday night's Knicks-Nuggets squabble. They're likely to be led by 'Melo Yellow, the new nickname for Carmelo Anthony, who sucker-punched Knicks rookie Mardy Collins and then ran away.
The Nuggets figure to be the big loser, with lengthy suspensions likely for Anthony and J.R. Smith--now do you know why the Bulls didn't want this lunkhead? Currently seventh in the West, the Nuggets could miss out on a playoff spot.
With I-bleed-Carolina-blue Nuggets coach George Karl obviously trying to show up Isiah Thomas for firing Larry Brown by keeping his starters in at the end of a rout and watching them dunk and preen, Karl gave the equally dumb Knicks a reason to start things. But the Knicks aren't going anywhere and their starters were out of the game. Karl put his team's season on the line trying to remedy a petty grievance and could have had one of his key players injured at a meaningless time.
And the victim of everyone else's stupidity could be Allen Iverson.
The Nuggets, by most accounts, were closing in on a deal with the 76ers for Iverson. He'd be a second big-time scorer to complement Anthony and give them a chance to make a championship run. Perhaps the Nuggets become more desperate to get Iverson with Anthony out, maybe for 10 games. NBA Commissioner David Stern can suspend players up to 12 games without the matter going to arbitration.
Smith and fellow Nuggets Earl Boykins, Nene, Joe Smith and Eduardo Najera have been mentioned in the trade speculation, but Stern probably would have to approve the trade of a suspended player. So do you trade with key players suspended until perhaps mid-January and uncertainty hanging over the franchise? Or do you even bother making a deal with the possibility of missing the playoffs and your draft pick thus becoming potentially irreplaceable?
Sunday was Day 10 of Iverson held hostage, though somewhat comfortably as he continued to collect his $17.2 million annual salary. The trade speculation continued to focus on the Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the 76ers appear to have heard from several teams willing to make players available. Here's a look at the early holiday shopping list:
Bulls: P.J. Brown joined a growing list of the disenchanted that includes Corey Maggette and Troy Murphy. But don't expect Brown to be traded anytime soon. He has an expiring contract worth about $8.6 million, which is what the 76ers are looking for to cut payroll. The Bulls took a flier on getting Marcus Camby for Brown, but the Nuggets can't trade Camby with their excess of injured big men. And the Bulls have to retain Brown in case a big-time player like Kevin Garnett or Pau Gasol comes on the market. If the Timberwolves don't get Iverson and collapse, well, you never know. Brown should plan to be here until well into February.
Warriors: When the season started, Golden State was promoting Murphy for All-Star center. Now he's the odd man out, which is odd because coach Don Nelson usually prefers perimeter big men. But poor defense, a lack of speed and more than $50 million left on his contract has Murphy in limbo. Baron Davis' name came up, and you knew it wouldn't be long before Nelson tired of his act, though Davis got scared straight with the thought of going to Philadelphia. You probably could get Jason Richardson because of his knee problems and certainly Mike Dunleavy and Adonal Foyle.
Celtics: Everyone is available except Paul Pierce, who had the line of the week in explaining why he'd love to play with Iverson: "I think it would work out with the two of us. I played with the biggest jacker in league history in Antoine Walker, didn't I? He was just jacking up shots. At least Iverson might go hit them at a higher clip and get to the free-throw line."
Raptors: Morris Peterson, for starters.
Hawks: They were an active pursuer last summer but haven't been heard from without enough expiring big contracts.
Pacers: Stephen Jackson, of course, and probably anyone else in the right deal.
Grizzlies: Gasol is back and admitted to a reporter it will be hard to be successful in Memphis. The Grizzlies may have the best package for Iverson with Gasol (a good second option), Eddie Jones' expiring contract and young players such as Kyle Lowery, Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick. But Jerry West's hands are tied by an ongoing ownership fiasco. With financial losses piling up, there's a good chance Gasol could be moved. West apparently went off on the team and coach Mike Fratello last week.
Kings: It's practically open warfare between Ron Artest and Mike Bibby, with Artest taking shots at Bibby about defense and suggesting he might have to defend the point guard too. Artest also said he's one of the league's dominant players and needs to shoot more. It's Shaq/Kobe II. You could get Bibby, but he makes $12.5 million. Kenny Thomas has been mentioned, as has Shareef Abdur-Rahim, one of my longtime favorites for the Bulls.
Clippers: Maggette said he and coach Mike Dunleavy "don't see eye to eye," which is no surprise; everyone knew Maggette wasn't going to tolerate coming off the bench. The 76ers would like Shaun Livingston, who has moved ahead of Sam Cassell at point guard. The Clippers are getting desperate, having fallen to last in their division, though it doesn't seem Iverson would help their faltering defense.
Suns: Hard to believe the way they've been playing, but 76ers sources said Phoenix has inquired about Iverson. The Suns want to deal Marcus Banks, and Kurt Thomas is no longer vital with Amare Stoudemire playing again at a high level.
Lakers: Phil Jackson is here Tuesday and said he wanted to take a shot, which sounded like a plea to the front office to get him a point guard. Iverson and Kobe Bryant the next Michael and Scottie? I don't think so.
Heat: Pat Riley also said he wanted in, and he likely wants Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, James Posey, Dorell Wright and Jason Williams out. Good luck.
Trail Blazers: Portland would love to move Zach Randolph, who has put up good numbers, is a legitimate post player and could do for a team that's close what Rasheed Wallace did for the Pistons--put them over the top. The Blazers would like out from under Randolph's big contract and bad behavior. He ripped the team again last week after he was fined for making an obscene gesture to fans in Indiana.
Wizards: You never hear about the Wizards, but they're stalled with the team they have and own a few expiring small contracts. Antawn Jamison goes off the books after next season, as does Philly's Chris Webber.
Timberwolves: They've been trying to peddle Ricky Davis, Trenton Hassell and Marko Jaric for expiring contracts like those of Brown, Danny Fortson and Austin Croshere. It wouldn't figure the Bulls would help; they need a Minnesota collapse to get Garnett back in play.
Nets: No one has brought it up yet, but they're suddenly among the worst in the East, looking old and indifferent. They've also finished the easy part of their schedule, and Vince Carter has an option to leave after this season. Would they deal him and try to restock with a potentially great draft ahead?
SuperSonics: It's team meltdown with coach Bob Hill attacking his players and the players doubtlessly wondering why they don't have a real NBA coach. Rashard Lewis can leave after this season and there's a good chance he'll be dealt. Earl Watson also is a possible departure along with Fortson's expiring deal.
The one and only
The first Bulls player to have his jersey retired, Jerry Sloan, got his 1,000th NBA coaching victory last week and a sure ticket to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Sloan replaced Frank Layden in 1988, and this was Layden on Sloan: "Nobody fights with Jerry because you know the price would be too high. You might come out the winner, at his age, you might even lick him, but you'd lose an eye, an arm . . . everything would be gone.
"I know you're going to think I'm kidding when I say this, but I saw Jerry Sloan fight at the Alamo, I saw him at Harpers Ferry, I saw him at Pearl Harbor. He's loyal. He's a hard worker. He's a man."
Around the league
Steve Novak, a rookie from Marquette, has become the fans' favorite in Houston, something like a backup quarterback in the NFL, and got to start one game. Said coach Jeff Van Gundy: "The kid can really shoot. He can't do anything else, but since he can shoot and he's a rookie . . . whoever doesn't play, that's who we end up talking about." . . . PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) took credit when the NBA dropped its leather ball and last week wrote an open letter to NBA players mocking the paper cuts the new ball allegedly produced as a justification for going back to killing cows. This was not from the PETA of Wanatah, Ind., which proudly states it stands for People Eating Tasty Animals. . . . For those who complain about back-to-backs, the Pistons are 13-1 in the first or second of those games and 1-7 when they have at least a day of rest before a game. . . . The Suns' Eric Piatkowski said he's "a little surprised" about having played four minutes all season without a point. . . . Larry Brown is back with the 76ers, consulting in the Iverson talks. He's expected to join the front office and perhaps eventually coach again. . . . Knicks owner James Dolan endorsed Isiah Thomas at least for the rest of the season and took a shot at Brown. "I'm sorry about last season and what happened with our coach. I'm sorry we made a mistake hiring that coach."
The last word
If free agents believe the Bobcats and Michael Jordan are spending, think again. The faltering, cash-starved franchise fired nearly a dozen employees last week, including highly regarded media chief Scott Leightman, with a new baby and just before Christmas. Nice. And now back to your NBA Cares commercial.
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sasmith@tribune.com
Posted by: truthandbasketball Dec 19 2006, 03:00 PM
Supposedly the NBA is willing to allow teams to deal suspended players, since forcing the teams to sit and wait on the deal would punish the 76ers despite the fact that they weren't involved in the ruckus. And on the other hand, supposedly the Nuggets have been hesitant to include Smith in any deal.
Here's your answer....looks like hes on his way to Denver
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2702501
Posted by: TeaLeafReaderII Dec 19 2006, 03:53 PM
I'm really glad something finally happened, Iverson is too fun a player to watch to keep him off the court while he is healthyl
Posted by: Chisoxfn Dec 19 2006, 06:33 PM
Thats a pretty darn nice move by the Sixers. Andre Miller is a good guy who may be a bit overpaid but is in general a pretty darn good all around bball player and a very good passing point guard.
They also load up two draft picks and get Smith's ending contract and in addition they'll finally get to learn how to start playing as a team.
Posted by: ZoomSlowik Dec 19 2006, 08:44 PM
They also load up two draft picks and get Smith's ending contract and in addition they'll finally get to learn how to start playing as a team.
The two picks are especially huge in this draft, they could get some solid players, even though they will be later in the draft.
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 20 2006, 08:17 AM
I know they got Denvers pick, but where is the 2nd pick coming from?
Posted by: Balta1701-B Dec 20 2006, 10:45 AM
I'm pretty sure it originally started as Dallas's pick, then moved to Golden State in the Dampier deal, then moved to Denver in a multi-player deal involving Nikoloz Tskitishvili.
Posted by: ZoomSlowik Dec 20 2006, 10:49 AM
It's definitely from Dallas, though I'm not sure about the route...
Posted by: DrunkBomber Dec 20 2006, 10:51 AM
I think he might of been a much better pick up for a team like Minnesota. I can really see a guy like him and Mello bashing heads or wanting more shots. He is great though so hopefully hell be able to adapt to a new role. GLad hes out west now either way.
Posted by: soxfan101 Dec 20 2006, 03:01 PM
The guy that might benefit the most from this is JR Smith. With the amount of attention that AI and Melo will get on offense, it should give Smith a lot of good open looks...
Posted by: Balta1701-B Dec 20 2006, 04:12 PM
The other side of the coin though is that he might be constantly open but never with the ball.
Posted by: DrunkBomber Dec 20 2006, 05:52 PM
Thats what I was thinking. Hes gonna fall off the map now and never get a any shots.
Posted by: CubbiesFan07 Dec 20 2006, 07:44 PM
AI wears a headband. he'd never last
Posted by: southsider2k5 Dec 21 2006, 07:15 AM
The trade request will probably be coming soon from Smith... Not to mention the pouting, not working in practices etc...
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