With the fishes

By John Gottlieb

Everyone thinks it. As the Allen Iverson saga continues into what seems like a fortnight, why doesn't Billy King come up with the same conclusion everyone else has...tank the season. So the Sixers are only 5-16 and realistically still in contention in the Atlantic Division as sad as it seems, but they are also hovering at the bottom of the Association with Charlotte and Memphis, which is about to get back Pau Gasol.

Tank the season.

King, who has never been known for making the best transactions (i.e. Webber, Glenn Robinson, Kenny Thomas, etc.), is taking his sweet time digesting all of the deals for one of the best players in the league. Why?

If you are a Philly phan you want draft picks. You want expiring contracts. You don't want Baron Davis, Jamaal Tinsley or Marquis Daniels. You want any horrible contracts that expire as soon as possible.

Wait until Friday and then go get Randy Foye, Mike Jones -- whose contract expires after this season --Ricky Davis and Eddie Griffin, whose deals end after next season. Or tell Kevin McHale you're willing to take Troy Hudson off his hands, and he'll have to listen. Hudson is owed $18,909,000 over the next three seasons after this one.

Let's face it -- the Sixers aren't going anywhere. If you didn't know that then you're probably the same person that thinks the Phillies signing Adam Eaton, who has never won more than 11 games or had an ERA under 4.00, was a good move.

Tank the season.

Imagine the 76ers next season starting the 7-foot, 250-pound man-child playing for Ohio State Greg Oden. He's the real deal and the perfect guy to rebuild a classic NBA organization. Just keep him away from Chris Webber because that guy's not going anywhere.

Tank the season.

I know there is no guarantee that the Sixers will get him, even if they have the worst record, but why not take your chances? Yes, the Celtics had the worst record in the NBA in 1997, but the Spurs wound up with the No. 1 pick, Tim Duncan and three NBA titles, but why not roll the dice?

Tank the season.

Philadelphia is going to be one of the five worst teams in the Association anyway, so why not tank the season and give yourself a better chance to gain the services of a franchise cornerstone?

Tank the season.

The Sixers should consider themselves lucky. How you ask? Because if David Stern and the Players Association hadn't put an age limit for incoming players, Oden would be suiting up right now for the Toronto Raptors. At least the 76ers have a chance. News flash: Oden is not in Columbus to get an education. It's a stepping stone before he unleashes his basketball prowess upon the NBA.

Tank the season.

He's only played two games for the Buckeyes this season due to surgery to repair ligament damage in his right wrist but Oden has lived up to the hype so far in his brief collegiate career.
Last Friday in 23 minutes against Cleveland State, Oden had 16 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field, four rebounds, two assists, three blocked shots and a steal.

The week before he made his long-awaited debut versus Valparaiso and had 14 points and 10 boards in 23 minutes.

TANK THE SEASON!

King has inadvertently screwed up the team for years, now he should actually try to set the Sixers back and see what happens. Worse comes to worse they don't get him and they have a lousy season next year...would anyone be shocked?

Of course what you'd really like to do is team him up with Iverson, but that's not going to happen. Draft picks and expiring contracts are what you want. Yes, Shaun Livingston would be nice to have, but if he's is going to make the team better this season then you need to run in the other direction.

Now you can't lose the rest of your games on purpose, because that would bring the heat. Sprinkle in a win every now and then, but the magic number is between 17-20. Any more than that and the Sixers are taking themselves out of the running.

Billy King, do everyone in Philadelphia a favor and look to the future.

TANK THE SEASON!