By Joecooler2u

This whole season rides on whether or not Allen Iverson will be able to play or will be behind bars. Assuming that Iverson will not do any jail time the Sixers still need to make changes. I am not saying get rid of Iverson. I think that would be impossible unless you get a player like Kobe or Vince and I don't see that happening.

The Mutumbo for Dale Davis and Bonzi Wells rumor? I would say the 76ers would be lucky to get that steal. Mutumbo is a season or two from retirement and as the Celtics series showed, he is slow against some of the more athletic centers in the East. Dale Davis would bring a Theo Ratliff type player back to the Sixers and Bonzi Wells would add something the Sixers fans have been dying for every since Stackhouse left town, namely a shooter.

The Rookies? Clancy is already injured (not a good sign for the 76ers who were more banged up the last two seasons then any team I can remember). Clancy can add scoring punch off the bench but won't see much playing time being a rookie under coach Larry Brown. Look for him to get anywhere from 10-20 min, depending on how he does, a game as a backup forward. Look for John Salmons to get less playing time then Clancy since the 76ers have Snow Iverson Mckie and will soon have Buckner as guards. The other rookies will struggle to make the team. Rentzias might be a backup forward/center but won't see much time playing for Larry Brown.

The Sixers definitely need a post player. Coleman is a perimeter player. Harpring is also a perimeter player. Mutumbo fumbles the ball, turns it over or misses with the bad Kareem-type hook shot. With Wells and Davis the 76ers problems would be answered. The Blazers would get what they need as well, a body to put on Shaq. They haven't had that since Sabonis hung up his sneaks.

Eric Snow has been looking to score more the past two seasons and has been doing a good job at that when he is not injured. Same goes for Mckie who is a do-it-all player and was badly missed in the 01-02 season. Greg Buckner? I am not jumping at joy over a player who averaged 6ppg 4rpg and 1apg. His 52 percent field goal percentage though would be a welcome addition on a team who shoots as poorly as the 76ers do.

If the 76ers do not trade Mutumbo for Wells & Davis they need to make a run at a big guy like Celtic's Rodney Rogers or Raptors Keon Clark. Both big guys are athletic and can score and rebound which would help a bad shooting team like the 76ers. Rogers would add that 3-point shooting the 76ers desperately need while maintaining the 76ers defensive-minded team. He could easily average 15ppg and 10rpg on the 76ers off of missed shots by AI and open shots Iverson would give him by getting double and triple teamed.

Being a 76ers fan I hope for the best but expect the worst so I am expecting Rogers will not be coming to Philly any time soon. I expect the 76ers to lose Matt Harpring to the Bulls either by sign and trade or by the Bulls having more spending money then the 76ers do. So even though the 76ers could match any offer they might not be willing to pay too much for Harpring. I would say bring in Jazz forward and local product Donyell Marshall but he is rumored to be going to the Raptors for, guess who, Keon Clark.

If the Sixers somehow get Keon they will have a terrific post player who can guard Centers that Mutumbo can't keep up with. Keon averaged 13 ppg 8rpg and 2apg in the playoffs last season. His .542 shooting in the playoffs last year was even more impressive since the Raptor's main man Vince Carter was out.

Something needs to be done on the 76ers roster because they still lack that complimentary scorer that has been missing since Stackhouse and Tim Thomas left town. If the Sixers could pull off a miracle, such as trading Mutumbo for Davis & Wells and signing either Keon Clark or Rodney Rogers then the 76ers would be a shoe-in for a return to the Finals. Regardless of what happens Iverson will still give the 76ers a shot at a playoff run. It just depends on who the 76ers get, besides Buckner, just how far they will go in 2002-2003. The Sixers also need to have another miracle and go through the 2002-2003 season without any major injuries. I'm hoping, but I expect the worst. What can I say? I'm a 76ers fan.