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Monday, July 03, 2006
Allen Iverson Rumor Roundup
OK, my head's spinning. Can't keep all these Iverson rumors straight. Can't tell if any has as much substance as diet soda. Pop. Pop. Fizz. Fizz. Oh what a relief it probably won't be when Billy King makes the move. Anyway, here's a rundown:
Chicago Bulls. With Ben Wallace likely landing in Chicago, the Bulls have some expendable talent, a need for an offensive star, and an option on swapping first-round picks with the Knicks next year. That's the buzz from fans on a lively philly.com discussion board, and it sure sounds intriguing. Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune, however, has pooh-poohed such possibilities. Asked before the draft about the chances of the Bulls dealing Ben Gordon or Luol Deng and the No. 2 pick for Iverson, Smith wrote: "No way, though the 76ers would drive him to John Paxson's house for that. I believe they'll trade him and get much less than you think he's worth. He doesn't fit the Bulls at all because he plays selfishly and doesn't practice. And he's got a huge contract and figures to be breaking down the way he plays the game." Could the Wallace signing have changed some of that? Boston Celtics. More credence, of course, has been given to Iverson heading for Boston. "The Celtics already dangled Wally Szczerbiak, but league sources confirmed Philly has no interest in him, which means he would only be of value in a three-way transaction," wrote Jackie MacMullan of the Boston Globe. She thinks the Celtics would have to part with 6-10 forward Al Jefferson, and a combination of players such as Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes or St. Joe's star Delonte West. "If you are going to make a deal," the Inquirer's Stephen A. Smith advised King in Monday's column, "try getting someone who can play with his back to the basket like a Carlos Boozer, plus a young, talented guard like Green or the Clippers' young phenom, Shaun Livingston." Golden State Warriors. "The Sixers dearly covet Warriors forward Troy Murphy, who seems to be on the trading block; a package with a couple of other Warriors might get things done," mentioned Inquirer columnist David Aldridge on Sunday. (By the way, check out Aldridge's Iverson-inspired rewriting of the Declaration of Independence.) But ex-Philly Daily News reporter Tim Kawakami, now with the San Jose Mercury News, thinks Golden State isn't that interested in A.I, though the team could make Murphy part of a three-way deal. The Denver Nuggets. MacMullan's column again: '"Boston is hardly the only suitor. Denver is in the hunt, and has bargaining chips such as Nene [who just signed to a big new deal despite missing every game but one last season] and Andre Miller and Kenyon Martin." Atlanta Hawks. One of the earliest rumored destinations. (See "A.I. stands for Available Immediately," a late May Early Word item.) The Hawks "have the desire and the pieces to make a generous offer," says hoopsworld.com's Steve Kyler, who doubts any A.I. trade will actually happen. Speculation focused on forward Al Harrington coming here, but he's a free agent, available only if the Sixers do a sign and trade, and Indianapolis may be more motivated. Furthermore, the Hawks just signed another small guard, ex-Sixer Speedy Claxton. (Doubt it's to ship him here in an A.I. deal.) Finally, the Hawks ownership has been snarled in litigation, and who knows if the front office there can pull the trigger on any deal? Memphis Grizzlies. Aldridge mentioned this possibility on NBC10's Sports Final on Sunday night, but suggested that the recent trade of Shane Battier to Houston complicates that picture. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Another name from Aldridge. Iverson can't find practice in one city ... how could it possibly work with two? For more Iverson and Sixers talk, see Sixers beat writer Joe Juliano's online Q&A Forum. He's simply says Iverson will go to the team that makes King the best offer. Well, let's hope so.
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