"This is like an estate sale. You're crazy if you don't try to get in on it," one Western Conference executive told me this evening, saying the Bobcats are crazy if they're not heavily involved. "They (the 76ers) want three things -- a young player, a draft pick and an expiring contract, and nobody has all three. Except Chicago."

Denver remains the clubhouse leader. As reported first on CBS SportsLine.com on Wednesday afternoon, negotiations involving Marcus Camby continue, with Chicago looking to parlay P.J. Brown's large expiring contract into another of the league's top post defenders.

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.

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.

Hopes dashed in N.Y. minute
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

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.

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.

I know they got Denvers pick, but where is the 2nd pick coming from?

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...