Isiah Thomas always has admired Allen Iverson and has said the Sixer star's playing style and personality mirror his own.

But in all likelihood, Philadelphia would want expiring contracts plus draft picks in return for their best and most marketable talent.

The Sixers are likely to try to include Chris Webber in a deal with Iverson as a way to reduce their payroll and remake their roster. Philadelphia would have little interest in Marbury and Steve Francis. And even if the Knicks could put together a package that would include Channing Frye, Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson, the Sixers would not be getting an All-Star in return and would only be adding to their payroll.

Also, it can't help the Knicks that former coach Larry Brown is close to Sixers GM Billy King and could be advising him on player moves.

"Of course, the Knicks are trying to get Allen," said a source close to the situation. "But I don't think they have much of a chance."

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It's forever going to be Larry's fault.

Wait, how can Larry and King be close? Larry is supposed to be the worst person on earth who steamrolls all his employers and burns all his bridges...

Posted by SeatsBlue:

Posted by BlueSeats:

Wait, how can Larry and King be close? Larry is supposed to be the worst person on earth who steamrolls all his employers and burns all his bridges...

Didn't Larry demand to trade several players in the Sixers organization namely A.I., he even called several players on the team he coached Asses and that's the reason he left that franchise, but somehow he's an Advisor for this very franchise now.(rolling eyes)

LB stole AI's joy and rode him to the finals.

we don't have anything to offer for AI after waiving Jalen. I don't think Thomas would be allowed to add that much cash. also, I'm sure Philly would trade with us if we had expiring deals and took back Webber.

Posted by Panos:

Somebody remind me again why it was smart to waive our expirings instead of keeping them JUST IN CASE?!

If you don't, then you run the risk of Isiah trading the expirings for contracts like Kenyon Martin or Eric Dampier.

Posted by Panos:

Somebody remind me again why it was smart to waive our expirings instead of keeping them JUST IN CASE?!

One reason is our roster is already at 14, so he'd either have to cut James, Cato, Malik, Collins or Balkman just to hold onto both expirings.

Isiah knew he couldn't handle the minutes and egos for those who remained, let alone with Mo and Jalen to boot.

Plus, our roster

Posted by Panos:

Somebody remind me again why it was smart to waive our expirings instead of keeping them JUST IN CASE?!

from Dolan's perspective, keeping those expirings almost assured himself of taking on another huge contract to add to the already ridiculous cap situation... so say the Knicks still had Jalen & Mo T's expiring deals to trade for AI & CWebb (likely what it would have taken to get him), you'd be looking at taking on a huge amount of dollars over the next 3 years, & also very likely buying out Marbury or Francis to make room for Iverson on the team... factor in the luxury tax dollars & even the most optimistic Knick fan would have to recognize that would have been an unrealistic scenario.

as much as i love Allen Iverson & respect his skills, i think the Knicks are better off without taking on his contract along w/CWebb's & giving up a young player like Frye or D Lee or a 1st round pick in the process.

Posted by TMS:

Posted by Panos:

Somebody remind me again why it was smart to waive our expirings instead of keeping them JUST IN CASE?!

from Dolan's perspective, keeping those expirings almost assured himself of taking on another huge contract to add to the already ridiculous cap situation... so say the Knicks still had Jalen & Mo T's expiring deals to trade for AI & CWebb (likely what it would have taken to get him), you'd be looking at taking on a huge amount of dollars over the next 3 years, & also very likely buying out Marbury or Francis to make room for Iverson on the team... factor in the luxury tax dollars & even the most optimistic Knick fan would have to recognize that would have been an unrealistic scenario.

as much as i love Allen Iverson & respect his skills, i think the Knicks are better off without taking on his contract along w/CWebb's & giving up a young player like Frye or D Lee or a 1st round pick in the process.

Then it will just take that much longer for the Knicks to be the first NBA team with a $1,000,000,000 payroll.

[Edited by - basketballjones on 12-11-2006 11:12]

Posted by SeatsBlue:

The source said the Sixers' best-case scenario is to trade the league's leading scorer by Friday, and their former coach Larry Brown is consulting on potential deals.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_4836362

If that's the case then, AI will be playing for Denver because Larry is friends with George Karl.

It wouldn't surprise me if Larry was making decisions based on personal animus rather than for basketball reasons. That's what people with poor character do.