Cavs Board

The question has to be asked. In the past weeks/months, the Cavs have been linked to trade rumors of all sorts regarding players on teams that may be looking to trim payroll. We’ve seen reports of interest in Mo Williams, Vince Carter, Michael Redd, and J.R. Smith. With Denver’s trade of Marcus Camby in what was seen by many as a trade born solely out of a desire to slash payroll, could Allen Iverson and his $22 million expiring contract fall into that same category?

On the surface, the same questions arise regarding a potential Allen Iverson deal as any other trade rumor that has been reported…. Why would the Nuggets move a player of Iverson’s skills for largely expiring contracts?

The Nuggets have already made one move solely for salary cap purposes. There is a precedent that’s been set. Was the Camby move the tip of rebuilding iceberg, or was his deal the sole remedy to a bloated payroll?

At $22 million per season, Allen Iverson is due to make nearly three times the amount Camby will this season ($8 million). If the Nuggets are to consider moving Iverson’s contract, they’d need to find a team who could send them at least 75% of $22 million (roughly $16.5 million). But if they could find a team who could do that (and the Cavs are one) Denver could use an Iverson trade to shave an additional $4-5.5 million off their payroll.

And so come the names the Cavs could throw out there. Wally Szczerbiak would undoubtedly have to be a part of any deal made due to his $13 million expiring deal. But who else would the Nuggets desire? Would they make a move simply to save cash, in which case Damon Jones or Joe Smith’s expiring deals would both shave dollars of this year’s payroll but also retain flexibility, or would they gamble on targeting Varejao with Szczerbiak in hopes of retaining the young big man as the one “value” piece in a deal that otherwise would simply be swapping expiring contracts. It would certainly lessen the sting of losing Camby, and Varejao’s agent Fegan has had good dealings with the Nuggets in the past, at least from his perspective (he landed Nene his ridiculous $10 million per season deal).

Understand, I’m dealing simply in a hypothetical rooted in an assumption which could very well be false, and that is that the Nuggets could still be looking to shave more payroll. If the money isn’t an issue to Kroenke, there is no way imaginable that Denver would move an expiring Iverson deal for Szczerbiak and Jones’ expiring deals. But I’m not the only blogger thinking more on the possibilities of an Iverson move. Denver Stiffs broke down three of the likeliest destinations:

Iverson to Chicago for Kirk Hinrich, Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha and Cedric Simmons
Why Chicago Would Do This: To part ways with Hinrich’s four-year, $36.5 million contract, paving the way for rookie point guard Derrick Rose.
Why Denver Would Do This: Hinrich could be the pass-first, decent-shooting point guard the Nuggets have long needed.
Why Chicago Wouldn’t Do This: Do the Bulls want to give up four players for Iverson in addition to risking impeding Rose’s progress?
Why Denver Wouldn’t Do This: At about $9 million per year, Hinrich’s salary might be too rich for the Nuggets’ blood.
Likelihood: 10%

Iverson to Cleveland for Wally Szczerbiak and Damon Jones
Why Cleveland Would Do This: They’re paying Szcerbiak and Jones a combined $17.4 million for one more season anyway (damn those guys have good agents!), so they might as well get Iverson for one year and go for a real NBA Finals push alongside LeBron James.
Why Denver Would This: To save $4.6 million in salary.
Why Cleveland Wouldn’t Do This: I don’t see a downside for the Cavs. If they could pair Iverson with James for one season, you’re looking at a Finals contender in the East.
Why Denver Wouldn’t Do This: The Nuggets would rather keep the few season ticket holders they have left than trade Iverson just to save $4.6 million.
Likelihood: 10%

Iverson to Detroit for Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess
Why Detroit Would Do This: GM Joe Dumars is fed up with the Pistons inability to return to the NBA Finals and wants to capitalize on a still-weak Eastern Conference for one more Finals run. Also, Dumars might be so impressed with Rodney Stuckey that he’d be willing to part with Chauncey Billups and his three-year, $36 million contract (which was evident by Dumars’ willingness to move Billups along with Tayshaun Prince for Anthony earlier this summer). Also, if Iverson panned out in Detroit, Dumars could re-sign him for less than what Billups would make.
Why Denver Would Do This: Beyond being a Denver native and a former Nugget, Billups would solve the Nuggets point guard, outside shooting and defense problems all at once (as stated in our Ex-Nuggets vs. Current Nuggets analysis back in June). It wouldn’t hurt to bring McDyess back for one more go-around in Denver, too. Plus, the Nuggets would save $4 million in salary next season.
Why Detroit Wouldn’t Do This: Dumars has never expressed any interest in Iverson. When he made inquiries to acquire Anthony from Denver for Billups, rumors were that the Nuggets countered with Iverson for Billups and Dumars turned them down.
Why Denver Wouldn’t Do This: If the Nuggets are truly in a cost-cutting mode, they may not want to commit to Billups’ salary, even though its fairly reasonable for a perennial All-Star and former NBA Finals MVP.
Likelihood: 5%

So dream about that folks. Allen Iverson as a Cavalier! Of course it’s probably just that…. a dream.