It was recently announced that Allen Iverson will not be returning to the Philadelphia 76ers this season so that he can focus on a serious family situation involving his daughter’s health.  This got me thinking on whether or not Iverson will ever return to the NBA.  At one time, Iverson was one of the most electrifying players to ever play the game.  In his first ten years in the league (all with Philadelphia), Iverson was always near the top of the league in scoring and always had his 76er’s teams overachieving. In the 2001 season, Iverson averaged 31.1 points, 4.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 steals and brought a 76er’s team to the NBA Finals.  It was a Sixers’ team that had no business making it to the Finals.  Iverson put that team on his back and it was one of the most impressive individual playoff performances in years.

In recent years Iverson has been nowhere near the player he once was.  In the past three seasons his production has dropped significantly and his 6-0, 165-pound frame has taken a beating over his 14-year career.  It looked like all those years of putting his body on the line finally caught up with him.  This season he was averaging only 13.8 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.9 rebounds.  Those numbers were all career-lows for Iverson.  His small 34-year-old frame wasn’t holding up like it used to and he seemed mentally drained as well.  After being deemed a “superstar” and a team’s number one guy for so many years, Iverson had no interest in coming off the bench and was not afraid to let people know that.  He was becoming more of a distraction and was killing teams’ morale when he was with Denver, Detroit, Memphis, and his most recent stint with Philadelphia.

That being said, Iverson is one of the best players of his generation and is probably the best “little man” to ever play in the NBA.  He is the shortest player in NBA history to win the MVP and he has career averages of 26.7 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and has shot 43% from the field, 32% from three, and 78% from the free throw line.  In his 914 game career, he has played around 40,000 minutes (41.1 mpg) and always played hard.  He may not like to “talk about practice,” but this guy always gave his all during games.  Whether Iverson decides to retire or give the NBA another go, he is a sure Hall-of-Famer.  He has been an MVP (2001), Rookie of the Year (1997), 11-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA All-Star MVP (2001, 2005), four-time NBA Scoring Champion (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005), three-time All-NBA 1st Team (1999, 2001, 2005), three-time All-NBA 2nd Team (2000, 2002, 2003), and All-NBA Third Team (2006).

UPDATE (3/8/10):  News has now surfaced that Iverson has some serious gambling and alcohol problems.  His gambling is so bad that he has even been blacklisted from a few casinos.  His life is being called a “train wreck” by many who were close to him in the basketball world, most notably journalist Steven A. Smith who has followed Iverson’s career for years and was about as close a journalist could be to an athlete.  This is some sad news and it looks like Iverson’s playing days are over, as he needs to get his life in order before he can even think about returning to the game.

I took a look at the winners at the trade deadline a little earlier here and now here is a look at the losers in no particular order:

Chicago Bulls:  The Bulls traded John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas for Hakim Warrick, Flip Murray, Acie Law, Joe Alexander and a first round pick.  Sure the Bulls got quantity back for the two players they traded but they traded Thomas and Salmons to teams that are trying to take their playoff spot away from them.  For that reason they are a loser.

Los Angeles Clippers:  The Clippers have traded Marcus Camby, Al Thornton and Sabastian Telfair for Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and Drew Gooden.  The Clippers saved some money making these trades but they also moved the two best players in them (Camby and Thornton).

Philadelphia 76ers:  The Sixers were trying to move some money at the trade deadline but they didn’t find any takers.  They traded Royal Ivey and Primoz Brezec to the Bucks for Jodie Meeks and Francisco Elson in a trade that will help neither team.

Sacramento Kings:  The Kings traded Kevin Martin and Sergio Rodriguez  for Carl Landry, Larry Hughes and Joey Dorsey.  I don’t really have a problem with trading Martin as he and Tyreke Evans didn’t play well together.  I still don’t think they got fair value in this trade despite the fact that I like Carl Landry as a player.  Watching Sergio Rodriguez start for the Knicks will be the extra kick in the nuts to the Kings.

Washington Wizards:  The Wizars blew up the team by trading Antwan Jamison, Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Drew Gooden for Al Thornton, Quinton Ross, James Singleton, Josh Howard, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and a first round pick.  Howard has already torn his ACL and Ilgauskas wants bought out.  Sure, the Wizards have cap space for next year but who are they going to be able to entice to sign with them?

Utah Jazz:  The Utah Jazz traded starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer to the Grizzlies for a first round pick.  The trade doesn’t look as bad now that Brewer injured himself but the players on the Jazz are upset with their front office and that is never a good thing.

San Antonio Spurs:  The Spurs pretty much gave Theo Ratliff to the Bobcats to save some cash.

The Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat are teams that needed to make a trade.  Stoudemire and Wade could both walk in free agency after the season.  The Nets, Pacers, Pistons and Warriors are all losers because they should have moved some of there lousy players and saved some cash.

In no particular order I’m going to run down the winners of the trade deadline.  Here we go:

Boston Celtics:  The Celtics were looking for some help off the bench and they got it at the trade deadline adding Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry while only having to give up Eddie House, J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker.  Little Nate should be a big improvement over Eddie House off the bench the rest of the way for the Celtics.

Charlotte Bobcats:  The Bobcats needed some muscle and defense around the basket and they got it with Tyrus Thomas and Theo Ratliff.  They did give up a first round pick but little else as Flip Murray and Acie Law were bench fodder for them this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers:  The Cavaliers wanted to improve at power forward and that they did when they acquired Antwan Jamison and Sebastian Telfair for a first round pick and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.  The Wizards are talking about buying out Ilgauskas which could clear the way for the Cavs to bring him back after thirty days.

Dallas Mavericks:  The Mavericks were huge winners at the deadline as they acquired Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson from the Wizards without giving up a starting player moving Josh Howard, Quinton Ross, James Singleton and Drew Gooden.

Houston Rockets:  The Rockets were also huge winners at the trade deadline as they brought in Kevin Martin, Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, Hilton Armstrong, the right to swap first round picks in 2011 with the Knicks and they also got the Knicks’ first round pick in 2012.  The Rockets moved Tracy McGrady, Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey in this huge trade.

Memphis Grizzlies:  I know that hindsight is 20/20 and Ronnie Brewer is hurt right now.  But, giving up a first round pick for Brewer would have been a great move for the Grizzlies who needed help off the bench.

Milwaukee Bucks:  The Bucks made two trades and they netted John Salmons, Primoz Brezec and Royal Ivey in exchange for Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander, Francisco Elson and Jodie Meeks.  Salmons has already moved into the starting lineup for the Bucks while weakening the Bulls who are right in front of them in the standings.

Minnesota Timberwolves:  The Timberwolves acquired Darko Milicic from the Knicks for Brian Cardinal.  This was the right price to take a gamble on Milicic who is still young.

New York Knicks:  The Knicks not only cleared cap space for next season but they appear to have made themselves a little better for the rest of this year.  Tracy McGrady and Sergio Rodriguez are already in the starting lineup for the Knicks while Eddie House is giving them a boost off the bench.  Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens came over in the Nate Robinson trade and they are still young so the jury is out on them.  Brian Cardinal was released the day after the Knicks traded Darko Milicic to the T-Wolves.  The Knicks moved Darko Milicic, Nate Robinson, Marcus Landry, Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries in the trades they made and they likely won’t miss any of them.  But, they also gave the Rockets the chance to swap positions in the first round in the 2011 NBA Draft and they also traded them a 2012 first round pick.  It will be interesting to see who the Knicks are able to entice to the Big Apple during the summer.

Portland Trailblazers:  The Trailblazers acquired Marcus Camby from the Clippers for Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and some cash.  Camby is just what the Blazers needed as he will give them defense and rebounding around the basket.

The Thunder, Hornets, Nuggets, Magic, Lakers, Hawks and Raptors resisted making any trades but I still count them all as winnners because they really didn’t need to make a deal.

28-year old shooting guard Dwyane Wade loves playing in Miami and who wouldn’t as it’s a beautiful city with great weather.  But, that just doesn’t seem to be enough for D-Wade who wants to win another championship.  Despite trying hard to trade for Amare Stoudemire the Heat got turned down by the Suns.  So once again the Heat have not brought in any help for D-Wade and it’s starting to wear on his patience.  They needed to do something to keep him happy because you saw last night what the team would be like without him when they lost at home to the Timberwolves.  Wade has played in 55 games (all starts) this season and he is averaging 35.7 minutes, 26.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game.  In his 7 years with the Heat, Wade has played in 449 games (441 starts) in his career with them and he is averaging 37.6 minutes, 25.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  There will be a lot of teams after D-Wade in free agency so the Heat will have to work hard to keep him, because without him they would be a lousy team in 2010-11 and beyond.

The NBA trade deadline has come to an end and there was a lot of action this year, with 41 players packing their bags and putting on some new uniforms.  Most of the rumors on guys that would likely get traded really panned out, unlike most trade rumors that usually go on in the NBA.  The only big trade rumor that didn’t pan out was Amar’e Stoudemire being dealt away from the Phoenix Suns.  The headliner of this year’s moves was Antawn Jamison being dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal also involving the Wizards and Clippers.  It looks like the Cavs finally got LeBron James his “Scottie Pippen.” Well, here are the moves that were made in this year’s NBA trade deadline.  You can click on the links to get the details of each trade.

Washington Wizards get Al Thornton and more in Jamison deal. 

Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks make a seven player deal.

Los Angeles Clippers get Drew Gooden in Jamison deal. 

Portland Trailblazers get Marcus Camby from the Los Angeles Clippers.

Los Angeles Clippers get Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw in Camby deal.

Minnesota Timberwolves acquire Darko Milicic.

Tracy McGrady going to the New York Knicks

Kevin Martin going to the Houston Rockets

Carl Landry acquired by the Sacramento Kings.

Boston Celtics get Nate Robinson from New York Knicks.

New York Knicks get Eddie House, JR Giddens, & Bill Walker in Robinson deal.

Dominic McGuire aqcuired by Kings from the Washington Wizards.

Chicago Bulls send John Salmons to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Chicago Bulls deal Tyrus Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats.

Milwaukee Bucks give up Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander for Salmons.

Chicago Bulls get Flip Murray, Acie Law, and a draft pick for Thomas.

Memphis Grizzlies acquire Ronnie Brewer.

Jodie Meeks traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Milwaukee Bucks get Jodie Meeks & Primoz Brezec for Royal Ivey.

Charlotte Bobcats get Theo Ratliff from the San Antonio Spurs.