Lakers interested with the Answer

While the Philadelphia 76ers continue to look for a destination for Allen Iverson, the Los Angeles Lakers have publicly expressed interest in the former MVP. Coach Phil Jackson has been very clear that he believes the backcourt pairing of Kobe Bryant and Iverson would indeed be a successful one.

Unfortunately the Lakers seem out of the running. They don't have the right combination of 1-2 year contracts, young talent (that they are willing to part with) and seemingly no lottery pick in the 2007 draft.

For the Lakers to acquire Iverson, they'd have to be willing to part with at least one of the following players: Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton, Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar and/or Kwame Brown. Considering the team's strong start and signals from the team, the Lakers are not willing to do so.

The remaining players carry contracts too small to add up comfortably to the $13.67 million needed to acquire Iverson. The Lakers are not willing to give up their depth to acquire a player they would love to have . . . but don't necessarily need. The Sixers only have so much roster space to take in players. They are not willing to take on lengthy, expensive contracts.

In theory, the list of movable players for Iverson would include Smush Parker, Aaron McKie, Chris Mihm, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic, Shammond Williams, Brian Cook and Maurice Evans. That's not to suggest LA would like to part with any of the players listed, especially Evans who has been one of the team's best trade acquisitions in years.

Due to a technicality, LA cannot send Aaron McKie to the Sixers as he was Philadelphia's amnesty waiver two summers ago.

Though the Lakers technically may be able to make a package that would work under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, there is essentially no chance of finding one that would be approved by both teams.

If the Lakers were willing to part with Brown or Bynum, perhaps a deal could be worked . . . but that's not a consideration at this time for the Lakers.

Simply put, the Lakers and Sixers aren't going to be able to do a two-team trade bringing Iverson to Los Angeles.

Charlotte Bobcats are under the salary cap, they are capable of taking on relatively significant contracts without having to send players out. The Bobcats are in fact willing to participate in a multi-team deal, but only if it serves their interest.

Currently the Cats have onlly two point guards on their roster: Brevin Knight and Raymond Felton. Charlotte recently signed Derek Anderson to fill in at both guard positions. Sadly the team has quickly learned that Anderson is not a point, averaging just one assist over his 18.3 mpg. Knight has been struggling on and off with injury and it's apparent that the team needs an additional point guard.

If the Lakers were able to acquire Iverson, they would no longer need the services of Smush Parker. Considering McKie cannot go to the Sixers, would the Bobcats be willing to take on both McKie and Parker? Perhaps the Lakers could enhance the offer with a cash payment of $3 million?

Assume for a moment they would. Unfortunately the Lakers still don't have a package that works for the Sixers.

The Lakers, Sixers and Bobcats just don't have the right combination of available players to put together a three-team swap landing Iverson in Los Angeles.

More importantly Philly sheds $7.7 million off the team's total salary, dropping the Sixers below the luxury tax limit which would save them another $4.2 million. The fiscal benefit in year two would be even more pronounced as Iverson's $19 million salary would be off the books. The tax savings could be closer to $10 million . . .

Possible Lineup when Allen Iverson in Lakers:
PG: Iverson\Farmar\Vujacic
SG: Bryant\Evans
SF: Walton
PF: Odom\Turiaf\Cook
C: Brown\Bynum