And People Wonder Why Professional Teams Stink?

[RDF]

In today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, the beat writer who covers the Wolves and a columnist addressed why they are a mess/who's to blame for their failures. Why everyone can see that goon that is Kevin McHale is to lame and owner Glen Taylor's role in the trash that is now T-Puppy basketball, the funniest thing is that both people writers came to the conclusion that Kevin Garnett needs someone to come in and be willing to take/make big shots because for all of his "greatness" Garnett CAN'T carry a team in 4th quarter/close a game out.

Can I just say that it's not just Garnett situation--this happens in EVERY sport and especially Professional Sports where these people get paid a lot of money to put a winning product out there--and it's pretty sad when someone who doesn't get paid can make this conclusion 8 years prior to the "experts" who know more. Why is that? Why are these people so blind that they ignore reality? Do they care about winning? I realize not all franchises do, but you'd think winning would bring in more $$ and let's face it people don't get rich by not making money.

It's just pathetic how franchises are run at this time in Pro Sports. Those hired to run teams can't see failure of their roster and don't understand athletics and what makes teams win. For years i've said that Garnett and Iverson would be a great pair because they play off each other's strength/weaknesses. With Iverson doing anything he can to get deported from Philly, I say the time is now to put the pair together--because Wolves are so desperate they think pairing KG with Marbury will be the answer to their problems--and this just would make them even more hideous and disgusting. Between Wolves/Sixer Brass, I believe we have witnessed two of the poorest run franchises in terms of how to build a team and utilize his talents/what is needed to help that player win--Iverson has had GARBAGE like Kukoc, Big Dog, Webber, and fact is he didn't do too badly when he had athletic role players like Jumaine Jones, Rodney Buford, Raja Bell around him--he only led that damn team to Finals. Garnett? Well he got to Western Conference Finals when he had players who WANTED to take the big shot and would--so what do Wolves do--surround him with guys who can't play and view Wally Szcerzbiack as a "star" to only change their minds and view Rick the Quick Davis as a star.

For all the madness that is Isaiah Thomas and Knicks, the fact is NY has nothing on Wolves/Sixers brass and it's why I view Iverson and Garnett's careers a total waste to this point--I say fire McHale, hire Pat Croce to run Wolves and align Iverson with KG and we'd see them have a shot as their careers come to an end. Why not? It can't be any worse/more miserable then what we've witnessed the majority of each's career?

[nychoya3]

It would be great for KG, AI, and the NBA for this to happen. How do the teams make the salaries work? Neither one is going to do any favors for the other. Who does Minnesota deal for AI, even if the Sixers make the decision to deal him (as they probably should?) I hope it happens. Both guys are hall of famers with a few more years at an all star level, and both guys are awesome competitors. I hope it happens.

One quarrel: You cannot compare and contrast Isiah to any other GM, RDF. I know you hate McHale, but no one holds a candle to Thomas in terms of incompetence. In fact, no one in America is worse at there job than Isiah Thomas. And that includes the people who read this board at work for eight hours a day.

[RDF]

I hate Billy King more then Isaiah--he's the biggest goon to ever be a GM--and thing with Isaiah is he's a train wreck in anything he does and that was a KNOWN commodity before Knicks hired him--so he's not as bad for that reason--you know what you are getting--problem with King is Philly thinks he knows what he's doing--in recent weeks King has admitted he had a deal on the table to get Iverson some of these guys as teammates:

1. Vince Carter
2. Tracy McGrady
3. Chris Wilcox--exactly type of player who would fit with AI
4. Corey Maggette
5. Kenyon Martin

Reason they aren't Sixers--King refused to deal Kyle Korver, John Salmons, and Chris Webber.

Remember, NBA allows multi-player trades so the salaries match when you add teams to mix/deal--so that is how it would've happened and how KG/AI union could happen. Problem is that it likely won't--but because Minnesota is too stupid to figure that Iverson is a better fit with Garnett then "Starbury". I actually see Iverson being a Knick more possible then him ending up with KG. KG as the "Sidekick" would bring home a title. Him as leading man is like trying to promote a movie with Jim Hanks instead of Tom or Ed Gandolfini instead of James as Tony Soprano. AI is perfect fit for Wolves woes and to play alongside KG and athletic supporting cast they have--he fits in with those type of players--the Trenton Hassell's, Justin Reed's, etc......those are type of guys he makes better because they get dunks off breaks, and filling lanes and if you add a spot shooter--he'll drain all day--because he's wide open. If you are Wolves you try to get Iverson and Dalembert in this deal or even Steven Hunter--some athletic shot blocker and don't care about the offense--just get some defense to go with him--then you have KG, AI, and post defender--which is all you need to be in title contention. Fill with athletes/role players and you can win.

Why wouldn't this work in Philly? Billy King would acquire Garnett and trade him for Greg Buckner, Marc Jackson, Jacque Vaughn, Eduardo Najera, and then wonder why that team can't win??

Isaiah is a mess--but Billy King is the worst thing I've seen in all of my years--because nobody notices except Philly fans and yet the Owner loves him--the Hockey loving owner who's ego forced out Croce who was best thing Philly had--and reason they were winning in early AI years.

[the_way]

I see where you are going with the AI and KG match.


I totally agree. I also always felt that they complemented each other well. I also agree with you on the Chris Wilcox and AI matchup. Wilcox is great fit for AI because he can run the floor, score, defend and block shots, is young, and athletic. He doesn't have to post-up and take up space and stunt an offense. AI is such a unique player like Jordan. He doesn't need the prototypical parts around him like most teams (see the 2001 Finals team). He needs athletic defender types that can run the floor with him. Wilcox and KG can at least do that.

Problem is, Philly is strapped. Their cap is strapped. Webber and AI take up most of the salary. Nobody wants Webber, so AI is Philly's only bargaining chip since the rest of their players suck (Igodola is okay though). Now, Minnesota has a lot of young players that they can package to trade for AI that Billy King will be dumb enough to take (McCants, Banks, Davis, Eddie Griffin etc.). Hopefully, Minnesota could keep a Trenton Hassell (I like him. He is the perfect guy to play with Iverson and KG. He doesn't have to score and he can play the 2 and be that scrappy role player). Keep Hudson too, so he can come off the bench and spot score when Iverson gets a rest. Hudson is one the best guys in the NBA that can come off the bench and light it up scoring-wise without having to get into a rhythm.

More pieces need to be filled. A KG and AI would need some solid role players that could defend and some spot up shooters. But it could definitely work with AI going to Minnesota. McHale isn't dumb enough to trade for Chris Webber (at least I think ).

Could be like a major 3-4 team player type trade thing.

[RDF]

Well, the wheels are in motion on this AI trade to Minnesota thing. Reported up here that teams are talking of AI to Minnesota in exchange for Ricky Davis, Eddie Griffin, Troy Hudson, and Marko Jaric or another player.

Please let this happen! Mainly to see AI get out of Philly--but also so I could see him play every night.

If not, at least I'm hoping AI gets traded this year. Billy King is fed up with him and that's a great thing for fans of Iverson. He is stuck in "Isaiah Thomas-lite" land as long as King is employed. That guy is lucky Thomas is such a bafoon and in same division or more light would be shed on his incompetence.

[MCIGuy]

There were a couple of columinists in Minnesota who asked for the Wolves to go after AI a couple of years back. It makes sense. But the problem with the NBA is that you can't tade for a superstar without usually giving up a superstar. Unlike baseball where you can trade away great players for minor league players whom you don't know will be any good or like the NFL where big time players leave through free agency all the time without their original teams getting any compensation, the NBA has it set up in a way that its essentially a two-star limit per team. Of course most teams only have one star at best. Wouldn't it be great if AI, KG and Paul Pierce could all be on the same team next season? That team would automatically get consideration as a favorite to win it all. But which of the teams those three guys currenly play for would give up their stars for draft picks and second tier players? It would be good for the NBA if more franchises were willing to start anew and trade away an aging star for picks when they realize the franchise isn't going to win any championships for the forseeable future.

As for Billy King if you want to realize how bad he is just look at what Ernie Grunfield does for the Wizards. Arenas, a scoring point guard like Iverson, had two big time scorers alongside him in the starting lineup last season in Jamison and Larry Hughes. All three guys (arenas, Jamison and Hughes) were acquired through trades (although Michael Jordan was responsible for one of them) which just shows you getting more then one good player at a time through free agency can be done. Then Hughes bolts Washington to go to Cleveland and the Wizards' don't get any compensation. Disaster time? If Billy King was running the show, yes. But the Wiz went out and got caron Butler. Have the Sixers under King EVER done anything like that? No. They can't even get a Donyell Marshall for goodness sakes. King's solution has always been to get one supporting "star" at a time to play alongside Iverson. Not two stars t get, or a boatlaod of talented offensive payers who could play a supporting role mind you. Just one lousy so-called star. And who have these stars been?

Tony Kukoc. Laughable.
Then he was traded for Keith van Horn which wasn't much better.
Then Keith Van Horn was tarded for Glen Robinson who contributed about as much to the Sixers as I did.
Finally he got a true star in CWebb but by that time Webber was no longer able to play under the basket.

King is simply a pathetic GM who gives out ridiculous contracts to players who don't deserve it and keeps putting his team in a hole. And his firing of Jim O'Brien last year was the last straw for me. He's incompetent and needs to go. He has, more than anyone else, wasted Iverson's career.

[Elvado]

If NBA titles were broads in Philly night clubs, King would have about 20 under his belt by now...

[RDF]

vadie said:

If NBA titles were broads in Philly night clubs, King would have about 20 under his belt by now...

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D---now that was an all timer! Still laughing at this as I type. Why am I not surprised and why do I see skanks/trolls as King's "choice". It matches his talent as a GM and the cosmetic "Beauty" of Duke's campus==which is one of the ugliest in the country.

[VelvetElvis]

Don't forget about the pride of Syracuse Derrick Coleman!

[aussiehoya]

RDF - i just think that AI is not going to be moved.

It's a bums-in-seats issue: ticket sales.

People want to watch iverson - he sells tickets all by himself. Philly will just never be able to get someone comparable to him in return. So unless they're denotating the team, I just think it won't happen.

[RDF]

Actually Aussie, the Sixers didn't have a good home attendance figure--and it's plummeted the past 3 years. They think it's due to people "being tired of AI" but fact is what about that organization speaks to the fact they are trying to win/surround him with talent? This organization hasn't been the same since Pat Croce left and they've never won as they did with him involved.

I really think King will move Iverson and I believe that what Iverson says to King and behind closed doors is different from the "I want to play my entire career in Philly" stuff we always read/hear. Wolves are going to have to make a move and they keep talking Marbury but Iverson would help them more and make more sense as long as they want to hold onto Garnett--otherwise the sentiment amongst the fans up here is trade KG because he's been the "franchise for 11 years" and that has equated to 2 playoff series wins--both in one season and he's not getting any younger so might as well dump him while he's got maximum value.

So I'm pulling for the AI/KG combo and if not, then anything to get AI out of Philly.

[hoyarooter]

Ordinarily, I would say that there is no way the AI to Minny trade goes down. But with Billy King being Sixer GM, anything is possible. RDF, you should support that trade on two fronts, because not only would it help AI, it would also assure a one way ticket for Billy King out of Philly. They think the attendance is bad now? Wait until they see what happens if King pulls the trigger on that deal. Can you spell B-A-S-E-M-E-N-T?