76ers considering Iverson
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76ers considering Iverson
The 76ers are considering bringing back Allen Iverson, this according to a source with knowledge of the situation. It's not a done deal, but the team has changed its stance from 0 percent possibility as of last year to considering bringing back the team's all-star point guard from the 90's and early 2000's.
The Sixers have had Iverson on their radar this entire year, but when point guard Lou Williams injured his jaw, requiring surgery and 8 weeks sidelined, the issue became more pressing. According to the source, the team is in the process of seeing if they can make an Iverson deal work.
FoxSports.com has reported that Sixers coach Eddie Jordan might make a trip to Atlanta -- Iverson's home -- after this weekend's two-game swing to San Antonio and Dallas. That piece of information, according to the source, is advanced where the two parties are, but it is a possibility that Iverson could be a Sixer within a week. Early this coming week, Iverson is supposedly meeting with his former Georgetown coach, John Thompson, who reportedly will try talking Iverson out of the retirement he announced on Thursday.
According to the source, Iverson is only one guard on their list of potential guards they could sign. So this is in consideration, but not being hotly pursued.
The Sixers are below this season's luxury-tax threshold, so they could sign Iverson for the season without huge financial ramifications.
Iverson parted ways with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season.
There's two ways to look at this possibility: 1.) Why do this? Doesn't it set the team back? Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski has said he wants to develop his young core. He refused to trade some of those guys last year because he believed so much in the young nucleus of this team. Williams' injury looked like an opportunity for Jrue Holiday to develop. Sure, he would struggle some this year, but the kid is good. All those minutes would help the Sixers in the long run. In two months, Williams would be back and possibly starting alongside Holiday -- if the kid proved he was ready. That's a backcourt that could start for years to come.
Which brings you to the question: What's the plan for this season? At 5-11, it's still too early to say whether they'll be a playoff team or not. Clearly, if you sign Iverson, you're saying that you're worried about right now. That you want to win this season. But can you win with Iverson? How many more wins is he going to get you? And at what cost? At the cost of developing a promising rookie and exposing your young team, once again, to a player that had some issues (that's a kind way of putting it) while he was here.
But the real way to look at it right now is from a business standpoint. Iverson will sell tickets. The Memphis game was the highest attendance of the season. He will boost intrigue, relevance, profitabiltiy -- all those things. And let's be honest, the Sixers are pretty boring right now. They're injured, they likely need someone to come in and be another body, but how can that be Iverson, who will not come in and be another player on the roster, but rather expect to be the player on the roster. How will that sit with Iguodala? What will happen with Brand?
This is a confusing state for the Sixers right now, and for anyone who's been around them for the last two years. It really seemed like the Iverson chapter had been closed in this city. The support staff, the front office, the players, they'd all moved on and did not appear to have any desire to return. But a rough start to the season, a few injuries, and now it looks like the Sixers are a few days, some phone calls, and a meeting from bringing back a guy they said they'd never bring back.
*Some of this news was up first on Twitter. If you want to get quicker, faster updates, follow Deep Sixer on Twitter, click here: Deep Sixer.
--Kate
Its ok if all Iverson does is sell more tickets. Sixers are a business, not a community center youth basketball program.... and considering they dont have to worry about messing with the successful team chemistry, this is a must do.— Mark Matthews- Its ok if all Iverson does is sell more tickets. Sixers are a business, not a community center youth basketball program.... and considering they dont have to worry about messing with the successful team chemistry, this is a must do.— Mark Matthews
- I really hope 76ers are going to sign AI. I mean with him in roster they get chance to win more games and get to play-offs where they could make some noise. Adding Iverson would give big excitment to the fans and whole city and I think it would affect team in good way. And like everyone says, they've got nothing to lose. Reminds me movie with same title with Martin Lawrence.— Arturs
- If he helps them lose games and earn ping pong balls, I'm all for it.— KidCole35
- WE WANT AI..CLAP CLAP, CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP!!!!!— Guy Incognito
- Wow, maybe the Sixers will top 6,000 fans at the games.— nevets328
- BRING HIM BACK!!!!! He is one of the greatest sports figures in Philadelphia history, he doesn't deserve to go out like this. Not to mention the sixers are boring....— theo42
- This is a mistake. It's like bringing a former crack head to a house full of crack. Iverson was at his best as a player and his worst as a person in Philadelphia as a 76er. He has proven to be the same person but, not the same player. So, we get all of the bad and not the good and expect a different outcome from the team that enabled him all those years. "I'm 'pose to be the franchise player and we talkin' 'bout practise, man." Remember that?— mjpazsport
Comment removed.- it'll actually bring me out to a game this year if they sign him— jodya2
- Would AI be able to learn and fit in to Jordan's so-called Princeton offense? Doubt that, but, that being said, should they bring him back? Definitely, YES! It would be fitting to allow him to go out on his terms as a Sixer, especially given the years he was a real warrior for the team. But even more, at least that would be a reason to watch this sad excuse for a "pro" basketball team!— wheels
Iverson wont generate that much interest imo, that ship has sailed. This will be yet another in an endless string of mistakes by Sixer management. Ed Snider please just start selling tradeable commodities for expiring contracts and completely rebuild this mess.You dont need this ballhawk keeping you in competitive limbo for 3 more years. Horrible decision if this comes to fruition.— argonne- finally , people don't go if you tell them we don't don't have a chance to win , we are just developing players ?? we now have a shot , could be the best talent allen has ever had around him as a sixer , we are going to surprise some people , please make it happen , I want to be a sixer fan AGAIN !!! Mr. Synder , courtside ??? NICE !!!— tk
They need a guard. AI is available. They have to do this. Wins and losses with this team don't matter. They'll be weak with or w/o AI. With him though, they would be entertaining if nothing else- Comment removed.
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
