News / Sports
Allen Iverson Traded to the Denver Nuggets
A day after losing the NBA’s leading scorer Carmelo Anthony for 15 games the Denver Nuggets added the league’s second highest scorer Allen Iverson to their squad.
The seven-time All-Star guard from the Philadelphia 76ers officially ended his ten seasons with the team that selected him as the number one pick in the NBA draft in 1996.
It was two weeks ago that Iverson demanded a trade as his relationship with the team and city soured. The Nuggets send Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first-round picks in 2007 in exchange for Iverson and Ivan McFarlin.
Philadelphia hopes that Miller’s team play will instill some sort of order to the chaotic style of play that has surrounded the 76ers since Iverson’s arrival. Miller is averaging 13 points and just over 9 assists this season. The veteran forward Joe Smith may find himself playing a larger role than he was given in Denver. Smith preceded Iverson as the number one pick in 1995.
As for Iverson he will be looked to as an immediate cure to the loss of Carmelo Anthony. Yesterday’s announced suspension will force the superstar to miss 15 games for his involvement in Saturday night’s brawl with the New York Knicks.
Iverson, who won the NBA’s MVP in 2001, is averaging 31.2 points per game this season and has won the scoring title four times. While those numbers are impressive, as a six foot guard they don’t really reflect the numbers of a traditional point guard.
