Now that Sixers owner Ed Snider has succeeded in doing what many doctors over the years have failed to accomplish, ie. keeping Allen Iverson out of the Philly lineup, speculation is swirling over where A.I. will end up.

Minnesota seem the most likely trading partner ; not only can the T-Wolves offer ‘Nova alum Randy Foye, but if they toss in Eddie Griffin’s once viewed copies of “Anal Action” and “Privates”, I’m not sure how Billy King can resist.

Though there are already denials out of Denver, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s David Aldridge considers the Nuggets a front-runner in the Iverson Derby.

With Kenyon Martin shelved for the rest of the season, Carmelo Anthony is seeking a true second scoring option. Yes, J.R. Smith has been better than advertised, but George Karl, who has coached the likes of Gary Payton and Anthony Mason over the years, won’t be intimidated by Iverson, and he is intrigued by playing his high-octane style with Iverson and Anthony flying up and down the court.

The Denver package would almost certainly include guard Andre Miller – whom the Sixers don’t especially like, but desperation makes for strange conversions – and either of two veteran forwards, Eduardo Najera or Joe Smith. To make the deal work cap-wise, Philly would have to take a body or two from the pile of Julius Hodge, DerMarr Johnson or Jamal Sampson.

While finding room for a gratuitious swipe at Ellen Degeneres in his “Knicks Knation” entry for Saturday afternoon, the New York Daily News’ Frank Isola would be shocked to see Iverson end up in Knicks uniform.

Philadelphia is not thrilled with the Knicks roster but if Isiah Thomas were willing to take back Chris Webber, maybe the Knicks would think about Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Channing Frye and a few other players to make the deal work for salary reasons.

Iverson would be the superstar to fill the building and I believe Iverson will want to prove to everyone that he still has plenty left in his tank. But if Iverson did land in New York, Thomas could never justify having Iverson, Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury on the same team. He would have to release either Francis or Marbury and I don™t think the Knicks are prepared to make that drastic of a change. Of course, Larry Brown recommended to the Knicks last spring that Marbury and Francis should be cut. They didn™t do it then and they won™t do it now.

The Journal News’ Mike Dougherty coaxed the following gem out of Stephon Marbury.

œWinning is the best cure, Marbury said. œIt™s like good deodorant. You know? Everybody wants to be around you and smell you when you™ve got good deodorant on. When you don™t have deodorant on, it™s not that fun being around that person.

When Stephon’s talk show finally hits the idiot box, I think we can only hope he’ll be writing his own material.

PG Jason Williams, the former Dookie and no. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, has signed with the NBDL’s Austin Toros. Williams, slowly working his way back into playing condition after his June ’03 motorcycle crash, will make his Toros debut next Thursday against Dakota. The Toros are off to an 0-6 start after losing a pair of road games this week to Tulsa and Arkansas.

Authorized or not, the Agent Zero Merchandising Tsunami is become more fearsome by the day.