When the Sixers signed Allen Iverson on Dec. 2, team officials called it a basketball decision.
Sixers president Ed Stefanski and others said the Sixers brought Iverson out of his brief retirement because starting guard Lou Williams had fractured his jaw and was expected to miss eight weeks. Iverson was the best free agent available.
Williams returned after just 3 1/2 weeks, during which time Iverson played in only five games before he was sidelined with left knee arthritis.
Given Williams' quick recovery, could the Sixers opt to waive Iverson by next Sunday, when his veterans-minimum contract becomes guaranteed for the rest of the season?
Yes. But it probably won't happen.
"We don't need to make a decision yet, but Allen has done everything we've asked of him," Stefanski said last week.
The 34-year-old Iverson has provided the Sixers with some scoring, toughness and stability. They beat the Trail Blazers and Kings in succession on their current road trip right after Iverson came back from the knee injury.
At 34, Iverson doesn't dominate games the way he used to. But the Sixers are 3-5 with him, counting Thursday's disappointing loss to the Clippers, and 6-18 without him going into tonight's trip finale in Denver.
"Allen has given us a different dimension," Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said.
From a business standpoint, you could make a case for releasing Iverson. In addition to Williams returning early, the Sixers only experienced a one-game home attendance boost with Iverson.
There were 7,500 fewer fans at his second game at the Wachovia Center following his sold-out season debut against the Nuggets. The Sixers continue to be last in the league in percentage of home seats filled (66.3 percent) and 28th in home attendance (13,469).
Also, it'd be better for the long-term development of 19-year-old rookie Jrue Holiday to play a bigger role during the remainder of the season. If Iverson (who probably won't be back next year) stays, Holiday figures to remain a part-time contributor.
Getting a higher draft pick by finishing with a worse record, which would be more likely without Iverson, would also be more beneficial for the Sixers down the road.
But if the 9-23 Sixers still hold out hope of making the playoffs for the third straight season, they'd be better off holding onto Iverson.
Trivia question
Can you name the two Sixers to earn NBA Coach of the Year honors? (Hint: One was from before the Julius Erving era.)
Not your average spat
Perhaps Washington's NBA team shouldn't have changed its name from the Bullets to the Wizards nearly 13 years ago.
The New York Post and other media outlets have reported that Washington guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton pulled guns on each other in the team's locker room. A disputed gambling debt on the team's charter flight home from Phoenix apparently was the cause.
Federal and local authorities are said to be investigating. Should Arenas, who is owed more than $80 million over the next four seasons, be convicted of a felony, the Wizards could choose to void the remainder of Arenas' contract.
Trivia answer
Larry Brown (2000-01 season) and Dolph Schayes (1965-66).
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