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.
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--Kate
They need a slasher a guy who creates. They don't have any now since Williams went down. He will only help Iggy and Young. Take on some of the double teams and let them score easier. Iggy and young are good 2nd and 3rd options. Brand and Speights when he comes back will now have easier shots as well since a big guy will have to help out. Really the problem is with Brand. He is gobbling up salary. They are stuck with him and Sammy D. They are killing the team.— sportsgenius99- Adding Iverson will do nothing but make them possibly a .500 team at best. The team is going nowhere this season with or without Iverson. However, they do have plenty to lose. He'll stunt the development of the younger players, especially the guards who would lose playing time, but also the other players like Iggy, Young, etc. who will be reduced to spectators standing around and watching Iverson chuck up shots from every spot on the floor.— JimG
- The Answers is the Answer! He has a lot prove and that makes him dangerous. Besides Snider is foaming at the mouth at the prospect of selling more seats. The 76'er are boring and Brand makes them worst. Maybe the Answer will wake up Brand. He will wake up the younger players. The Sixers have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. It is a win-win Situation for the Sixers and they know it. The Answer will provide the spark that this team is missing. Besides the Answers Road Dog, Stephen A. (What is my Name) Smith needs something to yell about. He has been silent too long!— jpelle36
- i hope they bring him back and they still stink and dalembert whines even more and iguadola becomes more of a shrinking violet than he already is and there's nothing but disharmony. stefanski has no plan. he gutted the nets before he came here and look where they are. iverson to sell tickets??? strippers can sell tickets too.— frenval
- If he could play a little then fine but he's done. This is like scrambling for that fat chick at the end of the bar during last call.— davekrieg
- datruth...you sir, know nothing about basketball. If Iverson couldn't help a Denver Nuggets team with Carmelo Anthony on it win a Championship, then he isn't helping this team do anything other than get people in the seats. In fact, he didn't even win a playoff series in Denver. NBA Championship contender?!?!?!? ...I mean, how funny is that???— Billy The Kid
- There isn't a font big enough for the NO ... if you are a true Sixers fan, you'll support the team good or bad, attend games, buy merchandise ... if you are just a wannabe, someone who only wants to jump on a bandwagon, well he still won't help. If you are an AI fan for whatever reason, then sure he will sell seats to you, but he will not help the team ... see Denver, Detroit, Memphis. To help the team Mr.Snider et al, must feel the pain and do something that will help long term.— AsValidAsYours
An old over the hill shooting guard is not the answer...next years draft will be full of talent (Imagine a backcourt with John Wall and Jrue Holiday)...bringing back A.I. will cost the Sixers the high lottery pick they desperately need- He might sell a few more tickets for a couple of games, but that's about it. Look what this guy did in Detroit and Memphis. Look how much better Denver got after they swapped Iverson for Billups. I'm not a big fan of brining him back. On the other hand, it probably can't get much worse than last night's game.— syracusenats
- Iverson is a CANCER....plain and simple. However, he may help the awful attendance #'s for home games. They are reporting 12-13k per night, but it looks like a lot less than that. zzzzzzzzz— Tar Heel 1
- i dunno about this move. this smells too much like a band-aid move, sort of desperate. what happened to developing the young talent? what's going to happen to the team chemistry with someone as volatile as AI? this is a guy who left this organization in a terrible way, was about to retire, is certainly past the prime of his career...i think there's too much downside here, but obviously if all they care about is selling tickets in the short term, then i guess they should do it— decoy
- I've always been an Iverson fan. However, given his history over the last two years, why does anyone think he is ready to assume a role that could be in any way useful to the Sixers long term situation? 1. The Sixers need to play better defense. How is AI going to help that? 2. It would only make sense for AI to start for the two months Lou is out. Will AI accept a back-up, instant offense and mentoring role after that? 3. Allen is older and maybe a step slower. He has usually been an inefficient volume shooter. He's no different now, except maybe less efficient. Is that helpful on the Sixers? 4. The Sixers need 3-point shooting. AI has never had a high 3pt %. Is there a reason to think he will suddenly get better because that is the team needs? 5. Lou and AI are both about 6'0" and don't play good defense. How could they EVER play on the court together? 6. Jrue is 6'4". He is supposed to be a good defensive player, but can he guard shooting guards, many of whom are bigger? I see no advantage to bringing AI back unless he is a totally changed person - a team player ready to do "whatever" to win. Otherwise all it would do is sell some tickets. Comcast probably doesn't need the money at the expense of developing the younger players. What is disappointing is that our so-called fans are not willing to come out and support the young players while they and the new coach struggle to get it together.— Duracorr
Iverson is loved here. The season's prospects can't get much bleaker. Bring him back for another run en route to a lottery pick next year.— Leegles- Iverson would put fans into the seats! He's a exciting ball player, the sixers need a jump start, they've become real boring.— joeace
- at the start of the season, i would've said no. but with the team 0-5 in the last 5, and the team playing uninspired, it might be fun to see AI in there. i'd start really watching the team again.— tarik255
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.
