Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

'Answer' won't be Nuggets question for long

Team to address Iverson's future soon

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published May 30, 2008 at 8:48 p.m.

Text size  
Nuggets guard Allen Iverson might opt out of a $20.84 million deal to sign a multiyear contract.

Photo by Joe Mahoney / The Rocky

Nuggets guard Allen Iverson might opt out of a $20.84 million deal to sign a multiyear contract.

More Denver Nuggets

More stories »

How long might "The Answer" stick around Denver?

The answer could be coming soon.

Gary Moore, personal manager for guard Allen Iverson, said Friday the Nuggets "seem to be very willing" to offer Iverson a multiyear contract if he were to opt out of the final year of his current deal by the June 20 deadline.

But Moore, who said he recently began talks with Denver brass about Iverson's future, declined to discuss how many years the Nuggets might be willing to give Iverson or offer monetary figures.

Iverson can opt out of a deal paying him $20.84 million next season and become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Most observers don't believe Iverson would opt out unless it was to sign a new contract with the Nuggets.

It also is not believed the Nuggets would sign Iverson to a multiyear deal unless he agreed to take less money next season.

Shortly after Denver's season ended April 28, Moore said he would have discussions with the Nuggets about Iverson, who turns 33 on June 7, possibly opting out and signing a three-year deal. But a source at the time described the Nuggets, deep into the luxury tax, as wary of committing extra dollars to Iverson.

Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien confirmed having discussions with Iverson's camp but declined further comment.

"We want to finish our career in Denver, but we have no decision on (whether Iverson will opt out)," said Moore, who added that a decision by Iverson won't be made until close to the June 20 deadline in his contract for opting out.

Moore said discussions with Nuggets officials about Iverson's future are in their early stages.

"They have gone quite well," said Moore, declining to offer specifics, other than saying the Nuggets are open to getting Iverson under contract beyond next season.

Obviously, a key factor would be what the contract numbers might be. If Iverson, in exchange for additional contract years, were to sign a new deal that paid him $5 million less next season, the Nuggets would save $10 million due to the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax.

New Jersey Nets forward Vince Carter agreed last summer to take less money for 2007-08 in exchange for additional contract years. Carter was due $16.4 million but opted out of the final year of his deal and signed a five-year contract starting at $13 million.

While Moore hasn't said Iverson would take less money next season, he has cited what Carter did as something the Iverson camp has evaluated.

ETC.: Unless Nuggets forward Bobby Jones is waived by Aug. 15, his $797,581 contract for next season becomes guaranteed. Jones could be traded by then to a team seeking to reduce its payroll. In the same position is Nuggets guard Taurean Green, whose $711,517 deal becomes guaranteed if he isn't waived by Aug. 1. Jones and Green are expected to play for the Nuggets in the Vegas Summer League, which runs from July 11-20.

Comments

  • May 31, 2008

    1:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    flybys writes:

    Allen Iverson is a Hall of Fame talent and has his devoted legion of fans in Denver but he's not a quality fit for this team and offering him a long-term deal is simply throwing another anchor around the franchise's future.

    Kenyon Martin's deal was shortsighted. Nene's was shortsighted and now the Nuggets thinking of marrying Iverson long-term too?

    Marcus Camby and Carmelo get bonanza dollars as well.

    It's not that Iverson isn't special it's the fact that he's a defensive liability at the shooting guard and not a true point. Iverson is not the problem with the Nuggets; he's simply one of the problems.

    This bunch's flavors don't meld together. Defensively, they are worse than awful. Professionally, they are seriously lacking. They lack an understanding of the requirements of playoff-winning basketball.

    Change the heads while maintaining the talent level and the Nuggets will again win come April and May and possibly June.

  • May 31, 2008

    8:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    markdemy writes:

    A.I. has been nothing short of amazing as a Nugget since he was traded here. All of the stories of him being a bad apple and a "risky acquisition" were false. He came here and has delivered as advertised.....and is one of the most talented scorers of his time.
    That said, keeping him would be a mistake for this team, at this time in their development. As furious as I was watching Carmelo's game last year, I thinking giving up on him would be short-sighted. AI needs the ball in his hands to be effective, and the Nuggets already have two scorers in JR and Carmelo. The team needs to begin to focus on role-playing support players and defenders for this team to take it to the next level.

    The Nuggets should try to deal away A.I. and Camby and build around Nene, Carmelo, JR, Kleiza. (and I guess KMart, since he is untradable with that contract)
    If they could aquire a point guard somehow (perhaps Hinrich) , then they could focus on the draft on getting another low post player who can play with his back to the basket.

    If the team could get a break, and actually have a healthy Nene....they have a chance to rebuild the team without taking too many steps backwards in the process

  • May 31, 2008

    10:06 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    urnfndbag writes:

    I heart AI, but he isn't a good fit with the Nuggets as presently constituted.

  • May 31, 2008

    11:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BMat writes:

    Keep AI, Kleiza, Najera, Smith and Nene along with some supporting cast members.

    Get rid of KMart, MarshMelo, and Camby in exchange for some fresh meat.

    What? KMart is too hard to trade? Well the Nets did it. Why can't the Nugz front ofc figure this out?

  • June 1, 2008

    7:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    GeeTee writes:

    Keep Iverson -- he is a great player and attracts fans.

    Dump Kenyon Martin at all costs and trade Carmelo Anthony -- two of the laziest players in the NBA.

    Give Kleiza more minutes and the ball more often.

    Keep Camby and get a young center for him to mentor for a year or two.

  • June 1, 2008

    7:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    markdemy writes:

    When the Nets traded KMart to the Nugs, he was about to become a free agent so the trade was more or less a way for the Nuggets to obtain his services without having to get in a bidding war with other teams. It's different for the Nuggets now because no team wants KMart with 3 years left on his contract guaranteed for $15 million per year. No team is going to pay that kind of money for half decent role player.....

    A.I. should be relatively easy to trade because he only has one year left on his deal and Nuggets could hopefully get a crop of younger players to build around what they have.

    Carmelo is loaded with faults, but I still believe, at 23, he can be turned into a ball player with the right coaching and the right players surrounding him.

  • June 1, 2008

    12:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    PurpleFox writes:

    AI may be a great individual player, but not a good team player....and a defensive liability. Trade him, please!

    Camby also needs to be traded....he's got no post game whatsoever, the Nuggets need an offensive presence at center....Camby is not much of a help on the offensive end.

  • June 1, 2008

    5:35 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    BMat writes:

    KMart picks up his paycheck wearing a ski-mask and holding a hand gun while his homeboy leaves the car running out front.

    He's just stealing money from this team.

    He's not active on the court nor in the community. And driving 100mph thru Cherry Creek doesn't count as active.

    If stammering and stuttering were blocked shots and points he'd be an all star.

  • June 6, 2008

    10:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    duboisb writes:

    Iverson is one of the best players ever to play the game. And yes, he is a team player. Look at his assists.

    If you're going trade him, trade J.R. to the same team and I will watch them and abandon the Nuggets.