We suck

They summarize my thoughts pretty well:
I continue to think this is a lot more bad than good. The team is going nowhere special this season. Let’s just accept that. On the other hand, there’s no impetus to make as much money as possible right now. More money is good, but it’s not more important than other goals. The best thing this team can do right now is simply give the guys a chance to play – especially the young ones. Bringing AI in would simply give the youngsters – and the veterans – on this team more to worry about than they need to. They’d have to be concerned with him getting his shots and his minutes, and that takes the ball out of the hands of Holiday, Williams (when he returns), Speights, Smith, etc., etc. The more these young guys can acclimate to the NBA, tighten their game, improve their weak areas, the better. He would likely improve the offense a bit, and provide a bit of a box-office spike. But even if he manages to get them into the playoffs… it’ll just be another first-round exit and another mid-teens draft pick. If this team is going to suck, let it suck by itself – don’t grasp vainly at the straws of nostalgia. AI will accept nothing less than being the center of an NBA team. The Sixers could offer him that, but shouldn’t. The “basketball men” who are apparently making this decision are, I hope, smart enough to realize that.
And in response to a silly retort to the “Money isn’t most important” bit:
Even if I were kidding about the money comment, I don’t think AI would bring more than a temporary spike. They’re not going to suddenly sell out every night. They’ll get a nice big spike for the first few games as people come to “AI’S RETURN!” But after that, it will still be a mediocre-at-best basketball team that loses a lot. AI’s not what he used to be; he’ll be lucky to average 20 a game in top-notch starters (40) minutes per game, which the Sixers should not and (dear God I hope) won’t give him – and all this while taking away touches and, more importantly, minutes from the younger players who will be here past this year.

More people will come for the rest of the season despite how bad the sixers are because there are still those out there that love AI. And also, for people out there who are against AI, the last time the sixers won a playoff series guess who was on the roster…AI o my! However, even with if he joins the sixers this year I do not think they will win a playoff series, but Im just throwing out that piece of triva.

No NBA team wants him. None! And, now he maybe a 76er. We are now going from frying pan into the fire. I thought the GM/Coach were stupid, now they are proving it!

AI will demand 35-40 minutes per game, time that he should not get at this time of his career on this team. And EJ might not play Jrue in a potential Lou-AI-Jrue-(Bill-Ivey) guard situation – only recently, with Lou’s injury, has his hand been forced. When Lou comes back, I fear it would become almost exclusively AI and Lou, with Ivey playing maybe 5-10 mpg as a defensive stopper and with Jrue back to 3-5 for the rest of the season. That CAN’T be allowed to happen. They can’t even open the door to it.

Here’s a comment by “DL” from over at the700level:

Personally, I hope they don’t sign AI (I love him and all) and continue to have egg on their face until it becomes so embarrassing they actually do something and also get in the lottery. Winning 30 games doesn’t mean anything to me or this team. I’d rather not sign AI, fire Zhumov, and shoot that stupid ass rabbit. At least those are moves in a positive long-term direction.

Thanks heavens there are some smart people left in the Sixers org, who recognize that they need another Guard and Iverson is the best available.

Once he’s on the team the Sixers will have enough scoring ability to win. When Speights and Brand get back, it will soon be clear that this team is much better than most of you realize.

They have an inside game with Brand and Speights, they have outside shooters in Kapono and Young. They have slashers and penetrators and people to draw fouls inside.

What they need is to focus on defense and forcing turnovers so they can run and use their athleticism. I think Jordan’s obsession with the PO is the only thing that will hold the Sixers back.

There should be no confusion here, Defense and running when you can, PO when you have to grind it out. Practice attacking the Zone defense, and refuse to settle for outside shots and this team will get out of the 2nd round.

Happy that they had the meeting in Dallas and that upper management has signed off. Biggest concern is what happens when Lou comes back, and the Sixers brought that up in the meeting. No problem since they can always cut him once Lou comes back.

This could actually work in AI’s favor since it will make it clear to those who think he’s lost a step that he’s still an All-Star guard. When Lou comes back, AI will be looking good for teams that need help at guard.

The Lakers are really stupid for not going after him. Fisher isn’t even close to the player AI is.

Young players learn from older ones. All the tricks, what you can get away with and what you can’t. Once a young player is ready to play then AI would interfere since he’s still the better player. Williams is ready to be a starting point guard, which is why the Sixers weren’t interested then. But with Williams out they need him, since Jrue isn’t ready.

Having AI there, will help Jrue learn.

Iverson opens the floor for other players when he’s scoring. He demands so much attention that defenders loose focus. With Brand and Speights, the Sixers have people to pass to inside. Iverson will make the Sixers better, and he is more interested in finally getting a ring. It’s a good fit at the right time.