How the NBA Will Change With Iverson in Denver

Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. So with their two leading scorers suspended for 10 and 15 games respectively, as a result of Friday’s rumble at the Garden, the Denver Nuggets found a replacement by completing a long-rumored trade with Philadelphia for All-Star guard Allen Iverson yesterday.The deal sends Iverson and reserve big man Ivan McFarlin to Denver in return for guard Andre Miller, forward Joe Smith, and two first-round draft choices. The Nuggets hope to have “the Answer” in uniform by tonight, when his new team plays host to Phoenix.Negotiations had dragged on for nearly two weeks since Iverson first demanded a trade from his only employer in 11 NBA seasons, with several clubs angling to get the former MVP. The Nuggets had the inside track from the get-go because they own two firstround picks in the 2007 draft — considered one of the strongest in years — as well as the contract of Smith, which expires after the season and thus allows Philadelphia to pare expenses.However, both the Sixers and Nuggets originally had second thoughts about including Miller in the deal — Denver because they preferred to package a less valuable player, and Philadelphia because they wanted a player with fewer years left on his contract. As a result, each side had been exploring other options. The Nuggets were feverishly trying to involve a third team, while the Sixers were hoping to lure better offers from other suitors.But several teams blanched at Philadelphia’s asking price. The Sixers wanted a good player, draft picks, and salary cap relief in the trade. In the end, they had to settle on the best amount of cap relief possible to achieve the other two goals.Meanwhile, thanks to the vagaries of the league’s salary cap, Miller almost had to be included so that Denver’s outgoing contract dollars matched the incoming dollars on Iverson’s deal. He has two years left on his contract after this one, paying him $19.4 million, but may not be in Philadelphia for long. The veteran guard is a poor fit with the rebuilding Sixers and could be dealt again to an Eastern contender before the trade deadline — which is legal as long as he isn’t packaged with another player.The two first-round picks are both lottery-protected, and that’s not likely to be an issue anyway. The draft choices belong to Denver and Dallas, respectively, and both are likely to be near the top of the standings at year-end. Nonetheless, the three first-round picks — two from the trade plus their own — will help start the Sixers on the long-overdue process of rebuilding one of the league’s most talent-starved rosters. Unloading Iverson also presents Philadelphia with a huge dollop of salary cap room in the summer of 2008 to pursue free agents.The acquisition was a major coup for the Nuggets, and a timely one. With league-leading scorer Carmelo Anthony suspended for 14 more games and Denver’s no. 2 scorer, J.R. Smith, out another nine, the Nuggets desperately needed an offense-minded guard who could pick up the slack and keep them in the hunt in the cutthroat Western Conference.When Anthony returns the Nuggets goals’ should be much higher, as this figures to be one of the most devastating offensive teams. Anthony and Iverson are the league’s top two scorers at the moment, and with several other options at their disposal — ex-Knick Marcus Camby, sharpshooter Smith, and dimunitive guard Earl Boykins, for instance — Denver will try to run-andgun its way to the championship that has thus far eluded The Answer.So the Nuggets are the big winners today, but they’re not the only ones. The Iverson trade starts a domino effect around the league that produced several other winners and losers.Let’s take a look:WINNER: CLEVELAND, MIAMI, AND DETROIT. Call them the “Flawed Contenders Club.” Each has aspirations to win the East, but all three have major weaknesses that will have to be addressed at the trade deadline. The Iverson deal just made that a whole lot easier, because Miller and Smith will both be available if the price is right — i.e., another expiring contract.Miller especially could pique the interest of the Heat, as they’d gladly offer James Posey’s expiring contact and a few other trinkets in return for a point guard with a pulse. You could include some Western teams on this list as well, but one presumes a quid pro quo between Denver and Philly that the Sixers wouldn’t trade Miller back to the West.LOSER: THE CLIPPERS. They finished second in the Iverson sweepstakes, and for their consolation prize they get … nothing! The Clippers’ unwillingness to part with guard Shaun Livingston may look foolish if he doesn’t turn into a star. Considering he’s made little or no progress on that road in his three NBA seasons, one wonders if the Clippers took a bigger risk by keeping him than by sending him to Philly as part of a package for Iverson.WINNER: VINCE CARTER. The Sixers’ loss is New Jersey’s gain. With Iverson off to the Western Conference, it means the top vote-getter among Eastern Conference guards now won’t be able to start for the East in February’s All-Star Game. Instead, the no. 3 guy on the list — Carter — is on track join Dwyane Wade for the festivities in Las Vegas.It’s a huge boon for Carter since he might not have made the team otherwise — not with the seasons Gilbert Arenas, Michael Redd, Chauncey Billups, and Joe Johnson are having. Incidentally, Iverson’s votes transfer over to the West, where he is now in a close third behind Houston’s Tracy McGrady. The runner-up may not make the squad at all, as stars such as Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Baron Davis also reside in the West.LOSER: MINNESOTA. The T’wolves lose twice on this one. First, they lose because they weren’t able to secure Iverson’s services, and he would have paired with Kevin Garnett to give this floundering franchise a ray of hope. Second, they lose on another front, because Garnett is likely to go the same route Iverson did and demand a trade in the near future. Now that his management has proven it cannot come up with the goods to get him quality help, there’s no point in holding off any longer.WINNER: CHICAGO. And because Minnesota didn’t land Iverson, not only can we forecast a Kevin Garnett Sweepstakes around the corner … we can also predict a winner. The Bulls have been stockpiling assets with this very idea in mind, as Garnett would be a perfect fit for their already fearsome lineup. The only thing that could have derailed their plan was Garnett getting a teammate like Iverson, and with it renewed belief that the T’wolves could compete. Now that the possibility has been crushed, Chicago might be the next team to celebrate a big midseason deal for a superstar.jhollinger@nysun.com

How the NBA Will Change With Iverson in Denver

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