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.
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
The Sixers have absolutely nothing to lose at this point. Low risk, moderate reward. Go for it.— Brian F.- Lou is out for 8 months?! I thought it was 8 weeks.— Zac
- He had the worst FG% for any starting shooting guard. He had more turnovers than most PG's. He won 6 scoring titles. He took more shots than any other player. Do the math. Leadership? He played ferociously but would rather attempt a low percentage shot than pass it. Good team player? No coach or team EVER wanted him, I wonder why. He was very popular player, so he got voted into 10 all star games. If he makes the Hall of Fame, basketball will lose all credibility. If the Sixer sign him it is for the sole reason to sell tickets NOT to win. This would be terrible.— Sports4Life
- YES! FINALLY SOME POTENTIAL EXCITEMENT WITH THIS TEAM! i hope this happens— cfiglarz
- This needs to happen NOW!— lacboi
- Great! Love AI and his spirit and play. Someone exciting to watch!— psuwelsh
- They have nothing to lose. It means the Wachovia Center will entertain 14,000 a night instead of 10,000.— igglegreen
- He's a selfish, uncoachable player, and he clearly hasn't changed given how he's been passed around from team to team like a hot potato. Why would the Sixers want him back? I agree with Sports4Life, if they get him back it's just to put behinds in seats and not to add anything to the team. Also, I really like being able to watch the news without having to hear about his latest off-court thug behavior.— Michael S.
- All i can say is if AI starts & gets the green light, then this team will be mosr than alright. If it do go down..We're Back in contentions of winning that NBA championship this year. This also means revenue will go up cuz me , my crew, & many fans will be back in the stands for the party nightly. Plus Stefanski won't be "Clueless" as once portrayed...& DIS "DA TRUTH"!..GOOD MOVE!— datruth
- If they do this, it is an admission that everything they have done since Stefanski has become GM has been a mistake and they simply need to boost fan interest. If that is the case, they should re-sign Iverson and Stefanski should resign the same day.— Palestra Jon
Comment removed.- As a byproduct of this story, I have to give props to LouWill for playing with a fractured jaw and not only not complaining, but also still attacking the rim. That fearlessness is a trademark of another player mentioned in this story as well.— Flock
- The Sixers are desperate!— PortCity
- Nothing to lose. Put some butts in the seats.
- Lets see...Iverson...Iguodala bricks...Iverson...Iguodala bricks...Iverson...Igoudala bricks...I go with Iverson.— hope55
Keith Pompey has been an Inquirer reporter since September 2004. He takes over the Sixers beat after covering the Temple men’s basketball team for the past three years and Temple football the past two seasons. Pompey also previously covered the Penn and Drexel men’s basketball team and Villanova football team after initially focusing on high school sports.
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh. Follow him on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers or reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
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.
