Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Sixers press release on A.I. trade

-Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia, Pa. - Dec. 19, 2006 - Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the Sixers have acquired guard Andre Miller, forward Joe Smith and two first round draft picks from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson and forward Ivan McFarlin.

Playing in his eighth NBA season, Miller owns career averages of 14.1 points, 7.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.40 steals per game. This season the 6-foot-2, 200-pound point guard is averaging 13.0 points, 9.1 assists (3rd in NBA), 4.5 rebounds and 1.61 steals (9th in NBA) per game while shooting 47.2 percent overall (177-248 FG). A First Team NBA All-Rookie Team selection in 1999-00, Miller enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2001-02 while playing with Cleveland when he averaged a career-best 16.5 points and a NBA-leading 10.9 assists per game. Throughout his NBA career, he has played in 309-straight regular season games and only missed three games in eight seasons. In 15 playoff games, Miller has averaged 16.0 points, 5.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Miller was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round (8th overall) in the 1998 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Utah, where he finished his career as the Utes all-time leader in steals (254) and assists (721). After three seasons with Cleveland (1999-02), Miller was traded to the L.A. Clippers along with Bryant Stith in exchange for Darius Miles and Harold Jamison on June 30, 2002, where he would play for the 2002-03 season. On Aug. 1, 2003, Miller signed with the Denver Nuggets (8/1/03) where he has played the last four seasons.

A seven-time All-NBA Team selection and 2000-01 MVP, Iverson averaged 28.1 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.33 steals in 697 games in 11 seasons with the 76ers. With 19,583 points he finishes his career in Philadelphia ranked second on the franchise scoring list and currently ranks 32nd on the NBA all-time scoring list. Iverson captured four scoring titles (2004-05, 2001-02, 2000-01, 1998-99) with the Sixers, including a career-high 31.4 points per game in 2001-02. In 15 games this season, Iverson is averaging 31.2 points (2nd in NBA), 7.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.20 steals per game while shooting 41.3 percent overall, 88.5 percent from the free throw line (19th in NBA) and 22.6 percent from long range. Iverson also leads the NBA in minutes per game (42.7 mpg).

The first overall selection in the 1996 NBA Draft, Iverson led the 76ers to the NBA Playoffs, six times including a storied run to the 2001 NBA Finals. In 62 playoff games with the Sixers, Iverson averaged 30.6 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.19 steals per game. In seven NBA All-Star Game appearances, Iverson averaged 17.3 points and 6.7 assists per game and captured two All-Star Game MVP awards (2001, 2005).

A 12-year NBA veteran, Joe Smith has averaged 12.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 762 games (565 starts) with six NBA teams: Golden State (1995-98), Philadelphia (1997-98), Minnesota (1998-00, 2001-03), Detriot (2000-01), Milwaukee (2003-06) and Denver (2006-07). Smith returns to Philadelphia for his second stint with the 76ers. During the 1997-98, Smith appeared in 30 games with Philadelphia, averaging 10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Smith enjoyed his best season in 1996-97, averaging 18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds in 80 games with the Warriors. Smith has advanced to the postseason six times, averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 playoff games.

Smith was originally drafted by the Warriors after his sophomore season at University of Maryland with the first overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft and was named to the NBA's All-Rookie First Team the following season. After two-plus seasons with the Warriors, he was traded along with Brian Shaw to Philadelphia for Clarence Weatherspoon and Jim Jackson on Feb. 17, 1998. Following a 30-game stint with the Sixers, Smith signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves as a free agent (1/22/99). On Nov. 20, 2000, Smith signed as a free agent with Detroit and prior to the 2001-02 season with the Timberwolves (7/30/01). After two seasons, Smith was traded by Minnesota along with Anthony Peeler to Milwaukee for Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson on June 27, 2003. The Nuggets acquired Smith from the Bucks in exchamge for Ruben Patterson on Aug. 10, 2006.

McFarlin signed with the Sixers as a free agent on Sept. 8, 2006, and has averaged 1.4 points and 1.0 rebounds in 11 games. A product of Oklahoma State University, McFarlin spent the 2005-07 season in France playing for JSF Nanterre where he averaged 16.4 points and 9.9 rebounds in 34 games.

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