End of an AIra

Career Accomplishments:

- All Rookie Team (1997)

- Rookie of the Year (1997)

- Most Valuable Player (2001)

- All Star (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)

- All Star Game Most Valuable Player (2001, 2005)

- All NBA First Team (1999, 2001, 2005)

- All NBA Second Team (2000, 2002, 2003)

- All NBA Third Team (2005)

- Scoring Champion (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005)

- NBA Finals Appearance (2001)

- Hall of Fame (????)

Unfortunately, Allen Iverson’s decorated career in Philadelphia has come to an end. On Tuesday, AI was traded to the Denver Nuggets along with rookie Ivan Mcfarlin for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first round draft picks. Although Iverson is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and still a premier player in league, the Sixers were in a bad situation and couldn’t get very much in return. Considering what Billy King has done to this team in the past, the deal the Sixers got was pretty good. Miller, even with a pretty hefty contract will be able to contribute for the duration of it. He’s a “true” Point Guard who can help out the development of Iguodala, Carney and Green on the offensive end because he’s a great distributor. He can find teammates all around him and sees the court pretty well. Joe Smith will play here for the remainder of the season, not do much and he’ll be gone. The money coming off the books is what’s important about him.

The two first round draft picks are key. For one, this is a deep draft. The Sixers can sit on those two picks, which are almost sure to be in the late 20’s. They could add solid depth by going that route, but what I think would be better is use those picks and our early second rounder to trade back up into the lottery. It’s more important to get another better player in addition to our high lottery pick than to get a few decent players. The Sixers are building a decent core with Iggy and Carney, and if they continue to develop, they could lead the scoring. The Sixers need a serious low post presence and someone that can get the ball to our athletes. With additional cap room, the bench could be built through free agency and picks in future drafts, and all of a sudden, the Sixers have a basketball team again.

Unfortunately, Billy King is still in the fold, and none of those things will happen if he remains in a position of power. He has completely destroyed the team and ruined one of basketball’s greatest careers. His unfortunate ability to sign average players to mega contracts tied up the cap and prevented the team from getting any better. His complete mismanagement of the salary cap, trading away expiring contracts and contributing players combined with Larry Brown’s draft pick trading fetish prevented this team from ever retooling and making another run at the finals. Although King has a decent track record when it comes to the draft, he cannot be trusted with the task of rebuilding the team. If this upcoming draft is screwed up, it’ll set the team back ten more years.

But as bad as he is, my intention for this wasn’t to rip up Billy King. This is to talk about Allen Iverson and everything he’s done for this team and city. He’s had his share of controversies, sure. Off the court, Iverson always created a stir and gave his detractors something to complain about. From his never released rap album to a couple brief run ins with the law, AI was always in the news, whether he was playing basketball at the time or not. He had a tough life growing up and took advantage of a second chance given to him by Georgetown. For two seasons, Iverson proved he deserved that chance by not getting in trouble and turning in two great years on the court. When he broke into the league with Philadelphia he was often criticized for his selfishness, and the perception that he was a ball hog stuck with him the rest of his career, which is pretty unfortunate.

Iverson was always the best player on his team. From the second he was drafted to when he was traded, no one ever came close. The Sixers (with the obvious exception of the finals team) completely failed at building a team around their superstar. The numerous attempts to find a second scorer from Stackhouse to Hughes to Van Horn never worked. In 2001, the perfect team was built around him. There was a PG who could get the ball to AI (Snow,) three forwards that could play good defense and rebound (Lynch, Hill and eventually Mutumbo,) and a decent sixth man that could come off the bench and score points in McKie. Larry Brown lost a number of draft picks to get these players (and to acquire others in the future) and it was impossible for the team to bring in new players and get to the finals again. Since a lot of players that contributed to the finals run were aging, the Sixers couldn’t hang onto them and expect anything positive from them, so a revolving door of players began. Five years after the trip to the finals and it took a trade to Denver for AI to play with another All Star.

If someone were to make a tape to show young athletes how to play the game, it could easily substitute as an Allen Iverson highlight reel. Even though he was always the smallest player on the court, he played like he was the biggest. He showed incredible heart and passion for basketball, and always left it all out on the floor, every game. No exceptions. Winning games was important to him, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to get the W. His reckless style of play led to a number of bumps and bruises along the way, but that was his game. If there was something he could do to improve the team, he would do it. He doesn’t mind throwing his body around against huge players or hitting the floor if it means getting the bucket and taking a foul shot.

Iverson gave everything to the city and team. He brought everyone together for one of the best seasons Philadelphia has had in a while, and led a team of average players to the playoffs numerous other times. He personified Philadelphia. There wasn’t anyone who worked harder than him, and he really brought that blue collar effort to the floor every night. Combine that with his great playing ability, and you get a special basketball player that we won’t see again for a while. The Sixers blew it. They had one of the greatest of all time, and they couldn’t build a team around him and make things work. So all I have to say is this: Good luck AI. We’re always going to have 2001, “practice,” the crossover and Jordan, and every shot you’ve made. Win a championship or two. Come back in a few years when things are better and the team can support you and win another. Retire as a 76er, just like you always wanted to do. Until then, I’ll gladly put on my Nuggets jersey and support you.