What Philly wants... (or "On Being a Gangsta...")

[Andy]

It's hard to know if it will add salary or not.  I suspect if you  
take on Iverson who has three years remaining at an average of 20  
million per year, you probably are adding some millions to your  
payroll.  But they just did clear some wallet space by dumping  
Lafrentz (thank you).  There's no way to know until the details are  
settled on.

I think that's right, Philly does not want Szczerbiak.  They do want  
an power forward though.  So a third team has to be involved for that  
reason too, especially as a fairly reliable buzz says, they asked for  
Jefferson and were rebuffed.  Generally in this league if you take on  
a 20 million a year salary in a situation like this for you don't  
have to give up a whole lot else.

Philly's not in a good position.  They have sent word out they're  
moving Iverson.  Now they have to move him or pay the consequences in  
a somewhat difficult interpersonal interaction during the coming season.

The price is going to go down on Iverson the longer it doesn't  
happen.  They're aren't that many shoppers for him.

The deal may well die, which might not be the worst thing.

--Andy


>
> > 1) Ainge must not be offering the house, otherwise the deal would
> > have already been done. > -Andy
> >
> Here's my .02 -
>
> 1) Wyc et al are not stupid.   They figured if they could bring in a
> major drawing card like Iverson without adding a penny to their  
> payroll,
> our team would instantly be improved. Then the fans would be
> scrambling for tickets, souvenirs, etc., with juicy additional
> playoff and TV revenue also a huge consideration.
>
> 2) Philly never really wanted Wally as the major player in any Iverson
> deal unless the pot was sweetened to the point of being ridiculous
> (Wally, Jeff, Gerald, Delonte, a draft pick).   So the two teams began
> a search for a third party to make the deal fly by giving Philly a
> major player they were happy with.
>
> 3) While all this was going on, I suspect the Iverson trade was leaked
> so that our BT could test the fan and media reaction. Judging from
> the negative feedback of fans who did not want to destroy four (or is
> it ten) years of rebuilding, I presume the deal has now reached the
> cemetery gate.
>
> Egg