Atlanta – This seems like a good fit because the Hawks have lots of good young talent and need a box office star. A sign-and-trade involving Al Harrington and one of their young wing players – Josh Smith, perhaps – and another player or two to make the salaries fit would seem to work. This team has been bad for a long time, and Iverson would make a huge splash in Atlanta – people might actually come to see the games – but with the Hawks' ownership group involved in ongoing legal battles, the team is severely restricted in making long-term, big-money deals.
New York – Money is no object; we know that. And Iverson would be a huge hit on Broadway. If there's one thing Knicks fans want, it's a star player who will play hard every night and excite them. But who would King want off that roster? Stephon Marbury? Steve Francis? And does Philadelphia really want to trade Iverson to a division rival? Oh, and the Knicks will most likely have Chicago's first-round choice next season, not their own, so their draft pick isn't a great asset.
Golden State – The Warriors could make a move, since they have plenty of big contracts and some desirable young talent in Troy Murphy, Monta Ellis and Jason Richardson. But if I'm the Warriors, I'm not moving Richardson. Philly would most likely have to take Baron Davis to make the deal work.
Denver – Carmelo and A.I. together? Doubtful. Not enough basketballs to go around. Besides, the Nuggets just handed out $140 million in contract extensions. But you never know. Denver doesn't appear to have much of a plan other than to pay a whole bunch of guys a whole lot of money. Maybe the Nuggets can package a few of them for Iverson.
Memphis – It's a possibility. But the Grizzlies aren't giving up Pau Gasol, and other than Mike Miller and Rudy Gay, there's not a whole lot on the roster that would appeal to King. And to make it work, the Sixers would have to take on some bad contracts.
Indianapolis – The Pacers would probably have to part with Jermaine O'Neal to get Iverson, and the rule of thumb is you don't trade big for small. And putting Iverson alongside Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley? Uh uh.
Boston – Another division rival? Still, all the rumors have Danny Ainge making a huge push for Iverson, which is why the Celtics' G.M. traded for Sebastian Telfair on draft day. (Telfair would end up a Sixer as part of the package. Of course, with the way Randy Foye and Brandon Roy have played this summer, Philly would be much more interested in either one of them than Telfair. So maybe Ainge made a mistake with the trade. But I digress.)
Boston does have some young talent to offer in Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen and Delonte West. But to make the salaries match up, Philly would have to take back either Wally Szczerbiak or Theo Ratliff. And Paul Pierce just signed a huge extension. Do the Celtics want both Pierce and Iverson in the backcourt – with only one ball between them – and a gazillion dollars committed to two players who may not complement one another?
In the end, there isn't one team that jumps out as an ideal fit for Iverson. And for Billy King, it's not easy to imagine a trade that will bring back what he's looking for.
Who knows? Maybe something will materialize and we will see A.I. in a new uniform next season. But there's also a good chance King won't find a deal he likes, and Iverson will stay in Philadelphia.
What's the old cliché – some of the best trades are the ones you don't make? That may be the case here. Iverson has been a Sixer his entire career, he wants to stay and, even though the fans in Philly aren't coming out in droves to see him, they still love A.I.
The best spot for him just might be right where he is.
New York – Money is no object; we know that. And Iverson would be a huge hit on Broadway. If there's one thing Knicks fans want, it's a star player who will play hard every night and excite them. But who would King want off that roster? Stephon Marbury? Steve Francis? And does Philadelphia really want to trade Iverson to a division rival? Oh, and the Knicks will most likely have Chicago's first-round choice next season, not their own, so their draft pick isn't a great asset.
Golden State – The Warriors could make a move, since they have plenty of big contracts and some desirable young talent in Troy Murphy, Monta Ellis and Jason Richardson. But if I'm the Warriors, I'm not moving Richardson. Philly would most likely have to take Baron Davis to make the deal work.
Denver – Carmelo and A.I. together? Doubtful. Not enough basketballs to go around. Besides, the Nuggets just handed out $140 million in contract extensions. But you never know. Denver doesn't appear to have much of a plan other than to pay a whole bunch of guys a whole lot of money. Maybe the Nuggets can package a few of them for Iverson.
Memphis – It's a possibility. But the Grizzlies aren't giving up Pau Gasol, and other than Mike Miller and Rudy Gay, there's not a whole lot on the roster that would appeal to King. And to make it work, the Sixers would have to take on some bad contracts.
Indianapolis – The Pacers would probably have to part with Jermaine O'Neal to get Iverson, and the rule of thumb is you don't trade big for small. And putting Iverson alongside Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley? Uh uh.
Boston – Another division rival? Still, all the rumors have Danny Ainge making a huge push for Iverson, which is why the Celtics' G.M. traded for Sebastian Telfair on draft day. (Telfair would end up a Sixer as part of the package. Of course, with the way Randy Foye and Brandon Roy have played this summer, Philly would be much more interested in either one of them than Telfair. So maybe Ainge made a mistake with the trade. But I digress.)
Boston does have some young talent to offer in Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen and Delonte West. But to make the salaries match up, Philly would have to take back either Wally Szczerbiak or Theo Ratliff. And Paul Pierce just signed a huge extension. Do the Celtics want both Pierce and Iverson in the backcourt – with only one ball between them – and a gazillion dollars committed to two players who may not complement one another?
In the end, there isn't one team that jumps out as an ideal fit for Iverson. And for Billy King, it's not easy to imagine a trade that will bring back what he's looking for.
Who knows? Maybe something will materialize and we will see A.I. in a new uniform next season. But there's also a good chance King won't find a deal he likes, and Iverson will stay in Philadelphia.
What's the old cliché – some of the best trades are the ones you don't make? That may be the case here. Iverson has been a Sixer his entire career, he wants to stay and, even though the fans in Philly aren't coming out in droves to see him, they still love A.I.
The best spot for him just might be right where he is.
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