Where is Allen Iverson going???

[shadowgrin]

Plus, with him alongside Larry Brown, we get to see more chances of AI ranting about practice again.

[George7]

I believe that the reunion with Larry Brown is the best option for him as he know Brown well from Phila.
AI can fit easily in staring 5,maybe PGAI,SG Bell,SF Wallace,PF Diaw(?) ,C Chandler
A pretty strong squad IMO

[Alpha_]

Iverson is going to be a Bobcat soon....

[benji]

I believe that the reunion with Larry Brown is the best option for him as he know Brown well from Phila.
AI can fit easily in staring 5,maybe PGAI,SG Bell,SF Wallace,PF Diaw(?) ,C Chandler
A pretty strong squad IMO

I could see it work if Augustin was the starter with Felton and Iverson off the bench. Otherwise I'm...

And while on I'm on that point:

Allen Iverson had a career season in 2007-08. Don't be surprised to see one last return to form as he pushes for his final contract.

He was also 32 in 2007-08. The secondary fluke rule applied to that since he botched age 28. He won't be getting another big contract, right now he's applying for a sixth man role on a contender. No team is going to give him big money, his best option is coming off the bench for a contender. Something he rejected in Detroit but could've turned into a payday this offseason as the powers tried to one-up each other. He botched it because he didn't foresee it. Anyone who thinks teams aren't asking Joe D before they talk to Iverson is living in la-la land. The Magic dusted off a decrepit Jason Williams before they even considered Iverson.

[Lamrock]

Allen Iverson's 34. I thought he was 32 now... Whoops.

[George7]

Iverson said that he moving to another team cause he wants first team role.If he's 6th man in charlotte...that's definetely not the thing he wants.
But good AI is still better than Felton and Agustine for 1 year at least

[NovU]

But good AI is still better than Felton and Agustine for 1 year at least

Well, that's the thing here. AI is better for now, but those guys are young and have room to grow while AI is only going to risk those guys' development progress and the team chemistry. I agree with Benji that he should have been OK with lessor roles. Now that most NBA teams don't have enough salary to offer but also not willing to take on those risks.

[Martti.]

I think it'll be Felton (If he gets a deal) and Bell starting with Augustin and AI coming off the bench. I doubt AI and Raja will start together when Felton and Augustin, who Brown really likes are there.

[benji]

You guys need to realize that the Pistons said to Iverson "come off the bench, pad your stats so you can get something with a good team next year" and he decided instead to give up and declare that he would retire if he couldn't start, rather than come off the bench at 32+ mpg. Are the Bobcats going to ruin their season by bringing in Iverson? Of course, it's Larry Brown and Michael Jordan, both of whom have shown that when your option is nice young talent or washed up veterans who won't do anything you always go with the latter.

Iverson's had one great talent, his ability to create shots. Everything else has been unspectacular outside of the world of NBA Live where speed and crap makes up for actual basketball. Now he's 34. The Bobcats are stupid if they bring Iverson in, Felton is a phenomenal defensive player who for some reason keeps getting massive starter minutes despite being the Wal-Mart brand Mike Bibby on offense. DJ Augustin should supplant him simply due to the fact that he can make shots with Felton as a third guard to both him and Bell. The Bobcats need to look at the NBDL for pieces to add to their best case eighth seed team, not guys on the way out of the league.

[Andrew]

Anyone who thinks teams aren't asking Joe D before they talk to Iverson is living in la-la land.

The speculation is that they haven't been talking to Dumars though, since they presumably know the score and are looking elsewhere as a result.

[NovU]

One more thing I don't understand is why you guys would want Iverson in teams like Charlotte or Memphis. The teams have no chance at all and if they fail as expected, AI's going to be once again, blamed. IMO he might be able to start, but he'll be playing for absolutely nothing, only to lose. AI's never going to be happy that way. The best scenario would have been him with the true contenders like Benji suggested and I think AI himself realized that little too late.

[Andrew]

But if starting and having free reign to shoot is what he desires, he's not going to get that on many (if any) of the contenders.

[Andrew]

Despite the initial denial, the Grizzlies have now confirmed that they've made a formal offer to Iverson so perhaps they'll be his destination after all.

[NovU]

So 34 years old 10 time all star might be heading to 24-58 team in competitive Western Conference. Is he going to be the same Iverson he has been or let Mayo develop the way he's supposed to. Iguodala was able to flourish as a main guy on the team and I do somewhat think that's what Mayo needs at the moment. I'm sure this isn't the way Iverson wants to end his career, trying to make a playoff from 24-58 team. I don't even think they can especially in Western Conference. I know the deal isn't finalized, but it seems to me Iverson is going there for Grizzlies to sell Jerseys.

[Lamrock]

Grizzlies jerseys are the ugliest in the league. I doubt he ends up in Memphis though.

[Valor]

Grizzlies jerseys are the ugliest in the league. I doubt he ends up in Memphis though.

worse then the Thunder's ones? i donno about that

[Marek]

OMG, Iverson to GRIZZLIES? I hope this is true

[benji]

Me too, I can't wait to see a team set back the development of its multiple young players with potential to see just how many players can jack up shots without ever passing to each other.

What they really need to do is bring back Antoine Walker and bring in Michael Olowokandi. Then they can get Marbury too.

Olowokandi-Randolph-Walker-Iverson-Marbury. That's a dream lineup.

If I was Chris Wallace, I'd try to convince Heisley to do it just for science.

[Andrew]

Grizzlies jerseys are the ugliest in the league. I doubt he ends up in Memphis though.

worse then the Thunder's ones? i donno about that

I don't mind the Grizzlies' current jerseys, except that they look a little too similar to the Mavericks and Jazz. I'd give the edge to the Thunder as well.

[brimstone_tya]

He'll contribute for sure, no matter what team signs him.
Chemistry and team success, those remain to be seen.

[Andrew]

"Free agent guard Allen Iverson finally is about to live up to his moniker. Iverson — known as The Answer — is expected to give the Grizzlies an answer Friday on whether he'll accept their one-year offer, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, informed the Grizzlies earlier this week that a decision would come before the weekend. Iverson, 34, is a free agent for the first time in his 13-year career, and has expressed interest in playing for Charlotte and Memphis in recent weeks. More than a week has passed since the Grizzlies offered Iverson a contract using money the team has left under the salary cap. The Griz can pay Iverson at least $3.5 million or about $4.4 million should they renounce their rights to Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro(notes). The latter figure wouldn't be much less than the $5 million Memphis was willing to pay Iverson at the start of the free-agent period. The Griz are also prepared to add incentives to the deal."

Source

[NovU]

Well... close to 5 million plus incentives doesn't sound too bad to me, but this somewhat signifies how low AI's value has fallen regardless of his achievements so far in his career. AI also will get desired starting role plus playing time, so I guess this was what he wanted.

There's a few concerns though about this deal if it happens. First of all, he's 34 and is landed on a team where he has zero percent of winning a championship. I remember him being extremely unhappy in his late years at Philladelphia because the team was doing bad. At least he was getting paid well there and getting loved by all fans. It almost seems he wants to go back to that situation where he dictates the ball usage but on a losing team. Secondly, he only played like a super star at SG, and failed more in PG position. Mayo is already there at number 2 so that means they will need to an adjustment, which I think is going to be extremely tough for both guys. Third is the team chemistry. Gasol, Randolph, Gay, Mayo, Iverson, etc... honestly I don't think there will enough D or enough ball movements or shots to go around. I just don't see them becoming a contender, let alone playoff team. Here comes 30-52 season.

[Andrew]

I wouldn't say he failed at the point guard position, he was playing the point in Philadelphia and Denver while putting up good numbers on some squads that were moderately successful. He wasn't suited to the point guard role in Detroit though, if given reign to play his game in a starting role he should at least put up decent numbers though not necessarily very efficiently.

[Lamrock]

Signed a deal with Memphis!

[Martti.]

Damn, I hoped he was going to the Cats.

C - Gasol/Thabeet
PF - Randolph/Arthur
SF - Gay
SG - Mayo
PG - Iverson/Conley

It's not much, but I think they'll beat last years 24 wins.