Iverson in New York? Why Not?

Why Bobcats fans moan and groan about the possibility of Allen Iverson landing in Charlotte, the question must be posed - should the New York Knicks be considering Iverson?

For starters, it's unlikely the 76ers would trade him to a Division rival and be forced to see him several times this season. However, with the 76ers backed into a tiny corner, this scenario could almost unravel like the owner of a house who has lost his job and can't make mortgage payments. You've got to sell, and sell quick, and even though many of the offers will be of the lowball variety, you still want to get as much as you can.

And since we all know Isiah Thomas feels as if he can control and coach anyone, why wouldn't he think he can tame Iverson and Chris Webber, two veteran players with a penchant for being ornery?

Then, there's the X-Factor - the New York tabloids have been burying Thomas under an avalanche of stories about how nobody's coming to the Garden, the Knicks are boring, etc. Iverson and his league-leading 31 points per game average could remedy that, quick.

And when you look at the Atlantic standings and see the Nets unable to pull away, the Raptors wondering what's up with Chris Bosh's knee, and the Celtics and 76ers slugging it out for the basement ... could Iverson net the Knicks the division title?

The Knicks are about to get healthy - Jared Jeffries is active for the first time this season tonight - which is something the Nets can't say, not with Richard Jefferson's gimpy ankle. (How bad is the ankle? Well, if he were healthy, chances are good RJ would have been covering Paul Pierce when he sank the buzzer-beater Saturday night at the Swamp.)

If we could go radio-call in for a second, how's this package deal: Iverson and Webber's balky knees for Francis, Jerome James, Quentin Richardson, and Malik Rose? Yeah, that'd never work. It makes no sense. Which of course means Isiah will probably make it happen.