Iverson is the closest thing the NBA has to a running back. Every forty seconds he's running headlong into a crowd of guys who are much larger and stronger than he is, and getting knocked on his ####. NFL running backs last until they're about 31 years old, so for Iverson (who's smallish and diminutive for any position in either sport) to have put up 33 points per game in his 31st year is awe-inspiring. I have a great deal of respect for the guy, despite my problems with his personality (which should be obvious).

All that said, they need to trade him. This guy could collapse (literally) at any moment. Even the toughest SOB's will be caught by their accumulating injuries eventually (Steve McNair). And even barring that, the odds of Iverson keeping pace with his own history are very low. Almost all NBA players start to degrade at this age, and Iverson's half as large and twice as reckless as any of them. His trade value is going to start plummeting soon, and Billy King needs to cash in right now, while he can still get some premium talent in return.

But even if we ignore the injuries and the age, I don't understand what the 76er's think they can do with him. Just because they made their way through a mediocre Eastern Conference and lost to the Lakers (handily) in the Finals, does that mean that Iverson is a championship-caliber player? I don't think so. And that was years ago ... with Larry Brown and a much better supporting cast. Now they have an overpaid center, fifteen 6'7" swingmen (why did they trade for Bobby Jones?), and a coach whose greatest accomplishment is helping a nervous teenager sing the National Anthem.

Iverson in his prime couldn't take this team past the second round.

- He doesn't practice, which is not a trait common to championship winners. John Elway, Michael Jordan, etc. .... these guys were ferocious competitors and workers all the time.

- He's six feet tall, which is about one foot less than the ideal height of a title-winning-leader. This results in poorer shooting percentage, more volatility, worse defending (in spite of the steals numbers), etc. To compare, Shaq can dominate for a whole game (in his prime, anyway). Guys like Iverson can dominate for short stretches of time, but you couldn't rely on him to take over a game 7. Shaq can just bull people over, Iverson has to rely upon opposing centers not blocking his tear-drops, has to rely upon opposing point guards not protecting the ball, has to rely upon his spine not breaking in half the next time he collides with Reggie Evans, etc. He can do it, but he just needs a bit more luck on his side than someone larger.

- He believed that Mo Cheeks would be the ideal coach for that team ... in and of itself, that pathetic display of judgment disqualifies him from being a good team leader.

If the news that Iverson is staying in Philadelphia is true, then Billy King has just done more to cement his reputation ... unless the rest of the league has smartened up and realized that it would be a terrible idea to make this trade.

Unless ... I don't know what his contract situation is ... if it expires next year, I'd be fully supportive of the Sonics throwing whatever-it-takes at the Sixers to get Iverson. It would clear up cap space, and would give us some star power for this next season, in which we'll need as much support from the populace as possible. Just brainstorming  ...