Characterizing most of the mooted trades for Allen Iverson as improbable (and funnily enough, describing a deal with the Heat similar to that advocated byDan Le Batar yesterday as the swap that “makes the most sense,”) the New York Post’s Peter Vescey reports the Sixers are being advised by one of the Answer’s old adversaries.
Sources reveal Larry Brown regularly has been in the team president’s ear since the season began. We’re talking coaching and personnel decisions, you know, stuff like whom to support, send home and secure. Yesterday I received confirmation on that information.
In the NBA piling on not only is allowed, it’s encouraged. Hardly an anonymous gambler, Iverson should be used to having odds and decks stacked against him.
“There is nothing formal at this time,” said the person who was kind enough to substantiate the story, adding Brown also has attended Sixers practices and several games. I get the distinct feeling an inscribed Next Town arrival announcement may be in the works . . . unless his dream high school coaching job suddenly becomes available.
It’s unclear whether Brown is being compensated for being King’s consigliere. Nobody was willing to give up the goods on that score. With any luck, he’s getting his. Don’t know how he could work for nothing after losing $22 million in his last negotiation.
Despite Vescey’s insistence the Nuggets are no longer a serious contender for Iverson’s services, the Denver Post’s Marc J. Spears and Mark Kislza are equally adamant that Denver is “pushing hard to complete a trade for the 31-year-old point guard as early as today.”
For Philadelphia’s purposes, the most desirable trade bait on Denver’s roster is Joe Smith, not for his 5.6 scoring average, but because the veteran big man is earning $6.8 million in the final year of his contract.
With the exception of Smith and two draft picks, however, Denver’s end of the deal remains fluid, and could include forward Eduardo Najera, according to an NBA source.
To satisfy the 76ers’ desire for as many expiring contracts as possible, league sources said Denver has held trade talks with Dallas regarding forward Austin Croshere ($7.3 million salary) and Portland for Jamaal Magloire ($8.4 million), both role players in the final year of what would be considered bad contracts except in this situation.
Frustrated by earlier attempts to pry Magloire from Portland by offering Nene, the Nuggets have heard from other less-than-benevolent potential trade partners, including Chicago. The Bulls, however, had their sights set on center Marcus Camby, whom Denver has no interest in moving.
The hefty financial weight of Nene’s new, long-term contract has diminished chances he will be included in the trade.