Billy King is doing more than merely discussing trade possibilities with other NBA teams and evaluating talent in the Reebok Summer League in Boston.

For one thing, the 76ers' president/general manager had a casual, preliminary conversation last week with agent Leon Rose about the possibility of a contract extension for shooting guard Allen Iverson.

For another, King told Comcast SportsNet yesterday that reports in two New York newspapers about a prospective trade that would send center Kurt Thomas and guard Charlie Ward to the Sixers for forward Keith Van Horn were "absolutely false."

At the same time, a person familiar with the situation confirmed that agent Steve Kauffman had contacted the Sixers about the possibility of a contract extension for point guard Eric Snow.

Both Iverson and Snow have clauses that would allow them to opt out after the coming season. Iverson, scheduled to earn $13.5 million this season, would be paid $14.625 million next season in the final leg of his current deal. Snow, listed at $4.5 million this season, is scheduled to be paid $4.875 million next season and $5.25 million in 2005-06; he has an opt-out clause after each of those seasons.