Chris Webber and Allen Iverson had more in common than the Philadelphia 76ers expected.

They showed up late to the home finale, caused trouble together, were fined together, and disrespected the fans and management together. The duo inspired a memorably profane rant from team president Billy King, had to apologize for their tardiness and looked disinterested watching the finale in street clothes.

Webber and Iverson sure made headlines at season's end -- just not for getting the Sixers in the playoffs.

The summer fun has not yet truly begun for Iverson and Webber, who can expect to hear their names connected to countless trade rumors as the floundering Sixers decide what path to take after a 38-44 record under coach Maurice Cheeks.

76ers could face uncertain future without Iverson or Webber

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
April 20, 2006

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Chris Webber and Allen Iverson had more in common than the Philadelphia 76ers expected.

They showed up late to the home finale, caused trouble together, were fined together, and disrespected the fans and management together. The duo inspired a memorably profane rant from team president Billy King, had to apologize for their tardiness and looked disinterested watching the finale in street clothes.

Webber and Iverson sure made headlines at season's end -- just not for getting the Sixers in the playoffs.

"I gave people ammunition to be able to start a whole bunch of stuff before the summer comes," Iverson said. "Every summer is this way. I just feel bad that I let that happen."

The summer fun has not yet truly begun for Iverson and Webber, who can expect to hear their names connected to countless trade rumors as the floundering Sixers decide what path to take after a 38-44 record under coach Maurice Cheeks.

"We're going to do whatever it takes to get us back on track," King said.

Certainly this will be a pivotal offseason for King, the embattled president who has yet to prove he can make the smart decisions needed to turn the Sixers back into contenders. King has promised major changes on a defense-deficient roster that saw its touted young nucleus take big steps back.

With a lottery pick in the NBA draft, King could go with a rebuilding effort, trade Iverson or Webber (with their contracts and age, it's hard to imagine both will be gone) for young talent and more picks and start over.

Or he could decide to go for it all and try to contend by putting veteran, defensive-minded players around Webber and Iverson and give the veterans one last shot at a championship ring.

"Maybe we are not as good as I projected," King said. "I know we add to some veterans for the experience factor. We've got to revamp our approach and become more defensive oriented."

The Sixers allowed 101.3 points a game this season -- only five teams were worse -- and they frequently collapsed late in games. Only five more wins could have given them a fifth or sixth seed in the playoffs.

The tone was set way back on opening night when they blew a seven-point lead with 1:10 left and lost to Milwaukee in overtime. Against Indiana last month questionable play calling and poor defense led to a loss in the final seconds.

Cheeks said this week that 94-93 loss to the Pacers was the one the Sixers could never recover from, and he was right. The Sixers lost 16 of their final 24 games.

"We scored a lot this year, but we didn't defend anyone," Iverson said. "When defending's not important, you're going to lose basketball games."

Iverson showed no sign of decline at 30, enjoying one of the best seasons of his 10-year career. He finished second behind Kobe Bryant in the scoring race with a 33.0 ppg average, shot 43 percent and averaged 7.6 assists -- all better numbers than when he led Philadelphia to the NBA Finals.

Iverson had some offensive help from Webber, considered a bust in his half season with the Sixers before showing some surprising durability (75 games) on one bad leg. Though his lack of mobility made him a defensive liability, he averaged 20.2 points and showed he could coexist with Iverson.

"I just want to come back a little more healthier and be ready to play," Webber said.

Samuel Dalembert and Kyle Korver -- signed to long-term deals last summer -- regressed this season. Dalembert was in-and-out of the lineup because of injury and inconsistency, and was still complaining after two seasons as the starter that the coaches haven't made him better.

Korver played in every game, but he pouted after losing his starting spot and his 3-point numbers dipped, though he wasn't asked to shoot as much beyond the arc this season. He's also one of the Sixers worst defenders.

Willie Green's future is uncertain after missing most of the season with a knee injury, and John Salmons and Kevin Ollie are not the backcourt answers off the bench. Free agents Lee Nailon and Steven Hunter were disappointments.

Andre Iguodala remains a mystery. Is he nothing more than a showstopping dunker or a promising player who can develop a mid-range game and become a legitimate scoring threat?

Cheeks will return next season, even though 43 wins and a playoff berth got Jim O'Brien fired after one season.

Though Iverson and Webber humiliated Cheeks in the home finale by showing up late and making him find out from the media his stars had not yet arrived, the players seemed to like him. Without a veteran assistant to bounce ideas off, his strategy was often puzzling and he could not lead the Sixers out of their second-half slide.

King refused to blame Cheeks.

"I think, in retrospect, I probably should have added a few more veteran pieces to help him," King said. "I'll take full responsibility that I don't think I gave him the right pieces to be successful this year."