It's official: Iverson staying with Nuggets
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Photo by The Rocky
Nuggets guard Allen Iverson gets a high five from teammate Marcus Camby, right, in a game last season.
Are you glad Allen Iverson will return for another season with the Nuggets?
Allen Iverson regularly has said he wants to finish his career in Denver.
It hasn't been just talk.
With Friday the deadline for Iverson to opt out of the final year of his contract, the star guard decided not to do so and will return to the Nuggets next season for $20.84 million. The move first was reported by the Rocky Mountain News after Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, confirmed his client's intentions in a phone interview.
"Things have gone well for him (in Denver)," Rose said of Iverson, traded from Philadelphia in December 2006. "He's looking forward to taking the team (further)."
Iverson's decision wasn't a surprise. But his personal manager, Gary Moore, had told the Rocky on May 30 that Iverson's camp had discussions with the Nuggets about Iverson possibly opting out and signing a multiyear deal.
But a source said Friday the Nuggets, deep into the luxury tax, never ended up making a formal offer for Iverson to sign such a multiyear deal.
Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien declined comment.
An NBA official confirmed Friday the Nuggets still could sign Iverson, 33, to a contract extension by June 30, 2009. If no deal is reached by then, Iverson would become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2009.
It appears unlikely the Nuggets would do anything this summer with Iverson's contract. The Nuggets have eight players with guaranteed contracts next season totaling more than $78 million.
Considering the Nuggets want to re-sign restricted free- agent guard J.R. Smith and must carry at least 13 players on the roster, they're staring at a payroll approaching $90 million, which would be about $20 million in excess of the luxury-tax threshold.
For now, though, Nuggets players are happy to have Iverson back.
"Man, that's a great thing for Denver," said guard Chucky Atkins, speaking Friday, a day after center Marcus Camby said he expected Iverson to return and was hoping he would. "We need him back. I've been waiting a year to play with him."
Atkins missed much of last season because of a groin strain and sports hernia. He has vowed to be the starter at point guard next season, with Iverson opening at shooting guard.
"I think we have a leadership issue," Atkins said. "I think I can talk to guys (the team's stars) and command their respect because I hang out with all those guys.
"I can speak to those guys a way Anthony Carter (a free agent after taking over as starting point guard last season when Atkins got hurt) couldn't because Anthony Carter doesn't really hang out with Kenyon (Martin) and (Carmelo Anthony) and A.I. . . . I can possibly push buttons that (Carter) wasn't able to (last season), because when you're injured, you can only tell a guy so much."
The move Friday clears the way for Atkins to try to push Iverson's buttons next season.
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June 20, 2008
2:47 p.m.
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steel writes:
Put me on the "Doesn't Care" list.
June 20, 2008
2:53 p.m.
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nmbronco1 writes:
AI is cool, but Nuggets, listen up! DON'T TRADE CARMELO ANTHONY!!!!
June 20, 2008
3:04 p.m.
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ercooker writes:
get rid of carmelo. he's worthless
June 20, 2008
3:05 p.m.
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kmeissner writes:
Nice! You won't be disappointed, AI! Now if they can keep Melo they'll be ok. Don't trade Camby unless you know Nene can step up!
June 20, 2008
3:13 p.m.
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shoulder2shoulder writes:
gee i wonder why he didn't opp out??? Nobody else would pay him anything close to 20mill per year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 20, 2008
3:16 p.m.
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Big_D writes:
The Nuggets lost to the team that was barely beat by the world champs. The Nuggets had worse calls against them than the Celtics but the calls were pretty bad on the LA side of the series if you watched it. If you are thinking of trading Camby I doubt you even follow basketball. Denver needs to petition the rules committee about the star calls and keep the team.
June 20, 2008
3:37 p.m.
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Hambone writes:
Big_D, you have to be kidding. The nuggets were awful and played no defense. They would have lost to any team in the West, not just the Lakers. This team needs a serious enema!
June 20, 2008
3:44 p.m.
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Big_D writes:
Hambone I take it you are a Lakers fan. Everyone else could see the bad calls even against the Celtics. I LOVE that the Celtics won even with the Kobe calls. So do think he will ever get a ring after Shaq? They called everything his way this playoff and he STILL is a loser.
June 20, 2008
3:50 p.m.
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MGD writes:
I think this means that AI wants to keep open the possiblity of going back to Philly after this season. Unless the Nuggets are really close to contending (not likely) then after this season AI walks away and signs with Philly.
That way the team he would be going to would not have to trade good players for him, he would return to his city and will have made his attempt at a title.
June 20, 2008
3:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
jjonseof writes:
Keep'em all then get a new exciting point guard and definitely a new coach. What has Karl done as a head coach anywhere he has been...kicks butt in the regular season only to be embarrassed (including the Nuggets/Sonics shocker) in the playoffs. Simply put he gets out-coached. They also need to hire a defensive minded assistant coach like Boston had this year that will institute some freakin discipline and structure on defense.
The luxury tax may be a concern to keep them all but Kronke can afford them all..hell he is married to a Walton (Walmart fortune).
P.S. - ercooker.....players (Melo) that score on average 25 to 26 ppg are not worthless but YOU are! He may have some maturity issues and some growing up to do but it sounds to me like YOU to as well!
June 20, 2008
3:51 p.m.
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CyberHostage writes:
It's good to have AI back, as it makes the Nuggets a flashy and fun regular season team. But they will continue to go nowhere in the playoffs without defense. Letting Camby go for any reason would be a huge mistake, as he accounts for the majority of the defense that we do have. And Nene has been a disappointment (injuries and inconsistency) so far, so let's not look for him to fill Camby's shoes anytime soon.
June 20, 2008
3:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
jjonseof writes:
Keep'em all then get a new exciting point guard and definitely a new coach. What has Karl done as a head coach anywhere he has been...kicks butt in the regular season only to be embarrassed (including the Nuggets/Sonics shocker) in the playoffs. Simply put he gets out-coached. They also need to hire a defensive minded assistant coach like Boston had this year that will institute some freakin discipline and structure on defense.
The luxury tax may be a concern to keep them all but Kronke can afford them all..hell he is married to a Walton (Walmart fortune).
P.S. - ercooker.....players (Melo) that score on average 25 to 26 ppg are not worthless but YOU are! He may have some maturity issues and some growing up to do but it sounds to me like YOU need to as well!
June 20, 2008
4:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Squatch writes:
Melo for Kobe.
After that performance I can bet you Kobe wants out of LA none of his teammates showed any heart the last 3 games. Odom was out clubbing and not focused on the championship. Melo is always out clubbing and not fucused on a championship so send him to LA and bring Kobe here. Kobe & Iverson would be a deadly combo.
June 20, 2008
4:53 p.m.
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jonnyrotten writes:
AI is a great individual player just like Melo and just like JR. The problem with this team is a lack of leadership and absolutely no commitment to defense. Don't blame Karl. There isn't a coach in the league that could do anything more with this current group. A veteran point guard (someone like Andre Miller) would help and mabe a veteran or two that actuall gave a S*** about team defense. The Nuggets will never have success in the post season until they can commit to playing D.
June 20, 2008
5:22 p.m.
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MisterD writes:
Fire Karl.....He is a regular season coach, the Marty Shottenheimer of the NBA. He does not make adjustments for the playoffs as seen in Seattle, Milwaukee, and Denver. And before you start tearing this team apart remember they did win 50 games which was based on talent, not Karl's system. The Nugs just happen to be in the Western Conf. Plus there are othe coaches that culd do more with this current group...J. Sloan, P. Jackson, G. Popp, B. Scott, and the list goes on.
June 20, 2008
5:28 p.m.
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LaszloPanaflex writes:
The Nuggets will never win a playoff series with Iverson.
June 20, 2008
6:58 p.m.
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bamster writes:
If all 40 Nuggets home games sell out next year, approximately $29 of each person's ticket price will be used simply to pay the salary of Allen Iverson. This is a colossal waste of money. I don't know why anyone even goes to watch Nuggets games.
June 20, 2008
11:07 p.m.
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yeayea writes:
i dont under stand your logic, lasziopanaflex.....
iverson has won 6 playoff series in his career
the nuggets as a franchise have only won 6 series since...1983.
are you saying that they won't win a series based on iverson's track record or the nuggets track record...?
June 20, 2008
11:14 p.m.
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yeayea writes:
i dont under stand your logic, lasziopanaflex.....
iverson has won 6 playoff series in his career
the nuggets as a franchise have only won 6 series since...1979.
are you saying that they won't win a series based on iverson's track record or the nuggets track record...?
June 21, 2008
8:05 a.m.
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Littleboyblue writes:
Until the selfish cry-baby mentality departs from this locker room the Nugs will wallow in mediocrity. Where is the toughness on this team?. They should change the name to the Denver Matadors...that better describes the type of DEFENSE that is played. George used to be a fiery, kick butt, we want to humiliate you and beat you down coach...now he seems scared to coach these guys. Is A.I. planning on dribbling this season away too? Just ridiculous, pound the rock, jack a shot...same with Melo...let's just create a shot...so what somebody is open 'cause there are three people guarding me...use the advantage, man. Stop playing like a high school club team.
June 21, 2008
8:05 p.m.
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Openminded1 writes:
Ok trade Kleiza to Memphis, get Miller (3 pt shooter), trade Camby or Nene, (only for salary cap reasons), get whatever tall defensive point guard out there, and what ever else they can get..Tell JR stop acting like a child and you'll be my starting point.. tell AI that he needs to start acting like a shooting guard..than with our draft pick grab Hibbert or McGee...
June 21, 2008
11:29 p.m.
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JasonM writes:
The more I read these pages the more I start to beleive that some Nuggets fans don't know ANYTHING about basketball. Anyhow, Iverson was smart for the way he's going about this. Hopefully things will work out, but if they don't Iverson should get out while he is still at the top of his game and go to a team that is really contending.
June 22, 2008
5:48 p.m.
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cj1030lee writes:
Now AI is a tradeable asset. He has a expiring contract. That has to be a wanted commodity...
June 23, 2008
11:14 a.m.
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Vandala writes:
sure Squatch...great idea..as if that will happen. Please think of something a little more thought provoking than a "fantasy trade"..best player in the league for the most overpaid/underachieving one.
June 23, 2008
5:44 p.m.
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HE5t writes:
Nuggets have got to be some of the dumbest in the league! So you want to get rid of Karl, who ya gonna get to replace him. Cantrary to popular belief, the Denver job isn't a a "hot job". Other than George, can anyone name a big name coach we have had? In the immortal words of William Devaughn, be thankful for what you've got. Don't let the best thing to happen to is since Alex English and Doug Moe, get run outta town. What we need is a true point guard, and a denfensive stopper in the 4 spot. Keynon Martin was supposed to be that guy in the 4 spot but he isnt any good without Jason Kidd. We gotta somehow dump that contract and pick up something useful. What we really need is a real GM!
June 24, 2008
1:54 a.m.
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Openminded1 writes:
Who says you need a big name coach. Shoot we already have big name salaries, plus our players are beyond coaching. What we need is someone to yell at the refs every now & then, and a motivational speaker. A new back office or at least some better scouts could help. The Nugs always pass on players that end up successful in another organization, why is that? The Nuggets also need loyal fans. Fans that stick by their players, like they stick by their comments....Oh, and a new coach. Did I mention a new coach??????? LOL