If I was Billy King...

Realzing that I'm only 4 letters away and roughly 8 shades lighter than the other guy (pictured left), and sitting in the stands frustrated on more nights than I care to remember (or even when I can't remember thanks to Ashton's and Courvoisier), I decided instead of just complaining about things, I'll plan my attack. So when attendance dips so low that they have Be our new General Manager promotion(I know the Sammie Dalembert bobblearm give-away was "great success") I'll be prepared.

The number 1 thing that completly bothers me about this franchise I grew up loving is how they have no sense of direction. As soon as they peaked in 2001 reaching the NBA Finals, it's been a downward spiral. That team, at that time, reached it's potential. For Christ sake, do you realize Eric Snow, Aaron McKee, and Todd MacCulloch (who can now be seen at sixers games pushing 4 bills wearing a sportcoat, tie, and sandals), all played prodominant roles for an NBA FINALS TEAM?!?! The pick up of Mutombo mid-way through that year was the Sixers way of pushing all in. There was no youth, no future. They had a window of 2 years max to win a title, and it faded to 1 of the better Laker teams of all time. A coach in Larry Brown and a superstar in Allen Iverson who would not only clash heads, but bring out the best in each other.

But after watching Kobe and Shaq pour champangene on each other, and watch Mark Madsen have a seizure, I mean dance, I stood by a team who's best days were all in the past. To borrow a line from Rick Pitino "Dr. J isn't coming out of that tunnel, Charles Barkley isn't coming out of that tunnel, Moses Malone isn't walking out...", you get the picture. I've watched behind rose colored glasses the most unique, and often misunderstood superstar of my generation. One of the top 20 players to pick up a basketball has faded away into an abyss of losing. While he leaves his heart, his blood, and his pain on the floor every night, taking the breath away of those who watch his fearlessness, and go on scoring binges like Lindsay Lohan in Tony Montana's house, it's time to part ways.





I've been at the then First Union Center when you dropped 30 in a half, and after a couple buckets in a row, the whole place just "knew". Each shot we gasped, as you could feel the air being sucked up in the whole room. Roar with pride when it splashes knwowing we are witnessing something great. Something bigger than us.

So while this may be a break up of sorts, the time has come. It's for the best, and we both know it. I'm a GM now, and our best days are behind us. You'll forever be loved by a city that knew you gave it everything you had. You want to win, you deserve to win. My plan is for the future, so while you are posting career best numbers in fg%, assists, and even scoring, it's in yours and our best interest to make you leave this game that you love a champion.

So enough with the Swann Song, heres the plan kids, take notes....

• Trade AI, not after this year, not at the All Star break, NOW.


• Acquire as many draft picks for the 2007 draft as humanly possible. This has the potential to be one of the better draft classes in the last 10-15 years, with as many as a dozen prospects grading out to future All-Stars. So while some of you may not be familiar with names such as Greg Oden, Kevin Durrant, Joakim Noah, Brandan Wright, Julian Wright, Tiago Splitte, etc. You will. They are all potential franchise players, not starters, not good. Great. Guys you build around. Stockpile picks, trade them, get as many pieces to this puzzle as possible.


• Treat the fans, the ones who are here NOW like family. Do whatever you have to so they can see my vision. Bring excitment back into the organization.


• Fire Mo Cheeks. From most accounts a genuinely nice guy. Him helping that girl sing the national anthem will be a part of the nba's legacy for years to come, but the fact remains, he's not that great of a asketball coach. We are indebted to Mo for helping bring Phill's last championship, and we will be forever grateful. Your jersey will look at us with nostalgia for years to come. But it's time to move on....
• Free payroll, some how some way. Do you know we are still on the hook for over 13 million for Aaron McKie and Todd Mac? Yes, the same guys who were a part of the team 5 years ago! The guys who have scored as many points for the sixers this year than I have! Thankfully, Todd drops after this year, but we, as an organization will be paying Aaron McKie $7,000,000 next year. Ummmm, ouch.

Now this isn't a problem that can be solved in a year. it took a long time to get into this mess, but it CAN be fixed. How do we make all this a reality you say? Well some are easier than others. Getting rid of a coach is relatively easy, the rest, not so much. Only a select few teams would even WANT Iverson, so do your best to talk to Chicago (who also has 2 draft picks in the 1st round next year), the Clippers, Atlanta. His salary is decent compared to other big names out there (do you know Webber makes 2.5mil more than AI this year? So we figure out a way to get young, and let AI go after a title.

2007 - Our total salary goes down roughly 26mil for next year, so you think we go after free agents you say? WRONG! Let other teams spend like all hell next year. Take our shiny new draft pick toys, and play with them for a year. Work out the kinks, and see how we did. Figure out strenghts and weaknesses.

2008 - The albatross that has become Chris Webber has finally been free! We bottom out to roughly 35 million in TOTAL salary. Wow. We now has more young talent in the league, and lookie lookie here at THIS Free Agent class... Why hello Mr. Duncan, let me introduce you to young Greg Oden. Mr. Marion, welcome to Philly, have you met Iggy? Mr. Arenas, JUST the point guard I've been looking for. The list goes on and on, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand. it's just nutty.

2009 - Make the run. Start our new dynasty.

So that's it. It took Alexander the Great decades to build his world empire, I have a 3 year plan. It's all about patience. Something the Sixers have lacked for quite some time. There is no "this year", it's what does this do to me 3, 4, 5 years down the road. No more Clarance Weatherspoons, Dikembe Mutombo's, Chris Webber's.

Dare to dream south philly. dare to dream........

Update: almost as SOON as I post this... this link comes across the internet http://www.the700level.com/2006/12/report_iverson_.html