West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: GangstaBoogy on December 14, 2006, 12:36:12 PM
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Three-Team Trade?
Dec 14 - A source said yesterday that the Nuggets might be trying to involve a third team, the Portland Trail Blazers, in the deal. The proposed trade would send forward Nene to the Trail Blazers, who then would ship center Jamaal Magloire to the Sixers. The Nuggets would send another player, possibly former Sixer Joe Smith, to the Sixers, and the Sixers would direct Iverson to Denver.
The source also said the Warriors might be out of the running for Iverson. -- Philadelphia Inquirer
Hypothetically speaking, Delonte West said he would welcome the chance to play for the Sixers. "I've grown to love Boston and the Boston fans, but when you have a place in the league, you wouldn't mind coming back home," said West, who is a native of Washington. "Philadelphia is like home to me. If that happened, I'd get ready to eat pretzels and cheesesteaks every day again. But, that's out of my control. Now, I'm wearing the green and white, and wearing the clover, proudly." -- Philadelphia Inquirer
Paul Pierce said he has not talked to Celtics president Danny Ainge in about two weeks, or before the 76ers proclaimed that they will trade Iverson. But Pierce said Ainge understands his position. "He understands that it can be frustrating for me at times, being on a young team and wanting to win so badly," Pierce said. "I would love to play with a great player. Anytime you get the opportunity to play with a great player, you should want that." -- Wilmington News-Journal
Around the NBA ...
Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said yesterday he had not talked with Sixers president Billy King for 48 hours. Ainge characterized the chances of a Boston-Philadelphia deal as "slim."
With no deal in sight, Iverson's stock appears to have fallen dramatically. Possible suitors now sound skittish about acquiring the talented but notoriously difficult All-Star guard.
Minnesota, Golden State, and Denver remain the front-runners, with Dallas, Indiana, Chicago, and the Clippers other possibilities. -- Boston Globe
Multiple league sources said yesterday the Celtics remain in the hunt for the soon-to-be ex-Sixers star, who has cleaned out his locker and washed his hands of the only franchise for which he has ever played. Yet Danny Ainge told the Globe's Shira Springer last night his club's chance of pulling off a deal for A.I. were "slim." -- Boston Globe
The Heat contacted the Sixers on Tuesday, a source said, to toss its hat into the Iverson ring. But given what the Heat has to trade, it's unlikely the Sixers will give serious thought to any offer. -- Miami Herald
Apparently the Heat is in the Allen Iverson sweepstakes after all. "I would be delinquent in my responsibility if I wasn't interested in Allen Iverson," Pat Riley said. "That's all I'm going to say. I'm not going to comment anymore. Just like when (center) Shaquille (O'Neal) came out, I was frothing at the mouth. So my level of interest can be gauged on that comment." -- Palm Beach Post
According to league sources, the Nuggets have quietly but steadfastly worked to close a deal for the 31-year-old star, who was put on the block last week after he demanded a trade. "We're trying to make our roster better every day. That's our job, to find ways to make the Nuggets better," Denver vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said Wednesday. "We're sitting here today with a winning record, and I'm here to say we like our team. But here's the simple deal. You look for ways to try to get better, if you can." -- Denver Post
With several players owning contracts that potentially end by 2008 and with two draft picks next year, the Nuggets could put together a package for Allen Iverson that would be attractive to the 76ers.
An NBA source said Wednesday the Nuggets are in the mix for Iverson, who asked to be traded last week. Denver had trade conversations Wednesday with the Sixers, but nothing is imminent. -- Denver Post
This much is known. The Sixers want but won't get Clippers 21-year-old point guard Shaun Livingston.
What Philadelphia can propose is a Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley offer from the Clippers for Iverson.
Contractually, the deal would work but it would leave the Clippers bare at the shooting guard position, and in position to have to pay a luxury tax next year, if Livingston is signed to an extension. -- Orange County Register
Cavs guard Eric Snow is still close to the NBA's most intriguing figure of the moment, former 76ers teammate Allen Iverson. He's been trying to reach him for days, but hasn't been able to, though their wives have spoken. "He just wants to play, I know that," Snow said. "He may be a tough person to play with -- a lot of people are. But you'll never hear someone who played with him say anything bad about him." -- Akron Beacon-Journal
Chauncey Billups said he typically keeps his hotel room TV tuned into ESPN on the road. But he's got his eyes locked to the scrolling ticker even more so now that Iverson's officially on the block.
"I think it's going to rejuvenate his mind and his soul to the game," Billups said, "just having a new situation. It's something that they probably both need." -- Detroit Free Press
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been listed among the suitors for Allen Iverson ... Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey said the speculation hasn't been a distraction for the team. "I refuse to even talk about it," Casey said. "That's not even my department." -- San Antonio Express-News