Stefanski: No decision after meeting
The 76ers met with free agent guard Allen Iverson today in Dallas.
Stefanski: No decision after meeting
UPDATED 2: Comcast-Spectacor has sent a statement from Ed Snider in which he throws his support behind Ed Stefanski. As we reported in today's Daily News, Snider was presented with the idea of re-signing Iverson on Saturday and said he would allow Stefanski and his basketball people to make the decision.
"While nothing has been decided, Ed Stefanski is the President and General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers and I support him and his basketball decisions," Snider said in the statement.
UPDATED: The Sixers just released this statement from Ed Stefanski:
"This afternoon, we met with free agent Allen Iverson in Dallas for the first formal discussion regarding a possible return to the Philadelphia 76ers. The meeting lasted approximately two hours and covered a variety of topics, all of which we would prefer to keep between the team and Allen.
The meeting was attended by Allen, his agent Leon Rose and his personal manager Gary Moore, along with 76ers Senior Vice President/Assistant General Manager Tony DiLeo, Head Coach Eddie Jordan, Assistant Coach Aaron McKie and me.
At this time, both parties remain non-committal regarding a final decision and we will continue to discuss internally whether or not to pursue this course.
We want to thank Allen, Leon and Gary for taking the time to meet with us today.
The Sixers will have no further comment at this time and further updates will be provided as they become available."
From earlier:
Eddie Jordan said Sunday that he wasn't ''over-saturated'' with talk about Allen Iverson and Iverson's possible return to the 76ers.
But the Sixers' coach might be at least somewhat saturated now, after he and president/general manager Ed Stefanski met this afternoon with Iverson for two hours somewhere in Dallas, according to two sources.
There isn't yet any word on how the meeting played out, or whether any decision has been reached, but the team has not announced that he is rejoining the team.
The Sixers play tonight in Dallas, trying to shake a six-game losing streak.
Among other things, they apparently feel they need an additional experienced guard in the absence of Lou Williams, who is out for two months with a broken jaw bone. They have been considering various options, but Iverson is, by far, the most talented and the most dramatic.
Iverson spent the first 10 seasons-plus of his career with the Sixers before being traded to Denver in December, 2006. He has since played for the Nuggets, the Detroit Pistons and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Iverson, 34, appeared in three games with the Grizzlies this season before reaching a contract settlement that allowed him to become a free agent.
Sure. He can teach the young guys all the valuable lessons a young man should learn. How to loaf at practice, how to encourage your childhood friends to treat the NBA like it's their street, how to publicly diss the coach when things don't go your way, etc. No thanks. He may fill the seats for a few games, but long term it's a down side.— Boogie- He should have never left Philly. The Sixers should have signed a big man to compliment his style of play. A guy like Shaquille, Carlos Boozer, or Jermaine Oneal would have been interesting.— sedale
- Signing A.I. will drastically improve our chances of making the playoffs. Failing to sign "The ANSWER" will improve our chances of making the lottery, but as we all know, the amount of losses don't guarantee the position you pick, it's all risk, so why not try to WIN. Iverson will cover-up so many of this teams deficiencies, on the other hand defensively we will worsen. Playing A.I. in the back-court with either Williams or Holiday makes us very small, maybe once Lou returns he can come off the bench, backing up both A.I. & Holiday, Iggy(3) Speights(4) Dalembert(5). We can then make trades and improve our team for the future all the while winning presently. Our team struggles defensively and rebounding, which points to our front-court being weak, we need to address this situation immediately! I'm constantly posting trade Young for a young big-man still on his rookie contract, preferably the Wizards McGee, I know everyone saw his ability last week when we lost to them and I'm sure he can be had. McGee will solve problems up front for years to come, while giving them Young doesn't hurt us, I think it actually improves our team. Young is a nice player, however Iggy is better suited to play the 3 as he provides BETTER D as well as rebounding, as stated these are two areas where we are extremely poor. Jordon don't seem too concerned about D and that is a major problem, so in the long run I don't think he's the right guy, he's all offense, but we have no all out scoring type player, which explains the need for A.I. Speights will become a monster(as he will in anyway) with Iverson in the line up, he will be a beast on the block and be able to play one on one, Kapono will get WIDE OPEN SHOTS when he's on the floor w/A.I., Dalembert offensive inabilities will be covered up and Iggy, all of his pouting and screaming at his team-mates will CEASE!— Anguilla Al
- heard the hold up in signing a contract is a practice clause— BHite15
- BHite15, that's HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the REAL Philly Positive Passionate PHans(FANS) where are you guys at????? How does the Young for McGee sound, I know it makes too much sense and it will make us too much of a legitimate team, so it won't happen. Kate and the rest beat writers lets proposed a trade that can actually happen and stop with all "the team is trying to make trades" post, trades that you guys know can not happen, such as moving Dalembert or Brand. Trade a piece that can ACTUALLY be TRADED!!!!!!!!— Anguilla Al
- and in even more related news, they plan to meet with Antoine Walker after the meeting with Michael Jordan for dinnder— flashgordon
- and in even more related news, they plan to meet with Antoine Walker after the meeting with Michael Jordan for dinnder— flashgordon
- Come on what do you have to lose I know things can work out for the better. Watch what he bring and the others will play better if coached right. Ed can make some big moves in the next few months to get this team going. Some big trades if need be and we off and running the sixers will be the talk of the NBA for the next few weeks. Now that it is cold out we have something to do go sixers. If you don't sign him enjoy your 75 people you get a night, by the way how do I go about those ticket ya'll donated to the boy's club I got about 20 kids in the family I can bring to a few games to kill some time and give them something to do.— JBA
- Come on what do you have to lose I know things can work out for the better. Watch what he bring and the others will play better if coached right. Ed can make some big moves in the next few months to get this team going. Some big trades if need be and we off and running the sixers will be the talk of the NBA for the next few weeks. Now that it is cold out we have something to do go sixers. If you don't sign him enjoy your 75 people you get a night, by the way how do I go about those ticket ya'll donated to the boy's club I got about 20 kids in the family I can bring to a few games to kill some time and give them something to do.— JBA
- WoW, what an amazing front-office move. Stefanski, you never cease to amaze me— GetRidofIguodola
- sign him....somebody has to score and with him shooting as much as he does, they actually might be a good offensive rebounding team!!— jthomas40
- Please, no Iverson unless we also sign Matt Geiger and "Big Dog."— 4thand10
- o boy we are going from lame to laughingstock every day this goes further— hoopdoc
AI would be an entertaining 'blast from the past' hope it happens!!! johnnyu- As a season ticket holder this team is unwatchable, harkens back to Clarence Weatherspoon days. For nothing but shear entertainment, bring AI back for a curtain call. He has to agree to play off of the bench and not cause trouble, but this may really be his last chance to play in the league, and has burned all bridges elsewhere.— dreagle
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
