Playing time for publicity: Allen Iverson and Memphis have an ’understanding’ September 12 09  At the press conference, they made nice. The player received a standing ovation and was afforded a hero’s welcome with fans chanting his name. In turn, the player spoke glowingly about his new team, showering the organization with compliments. However, the devil is in the details, so look past the news that Iverson finally signed that one-year, $3.1 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Instead, realize that Iverson and owner Michael Heisley have an understanding: playing time for publicity. After a disappointing season in Detroit, Iverson needed a struggling market like Memphis to provide unlimited minutes and shots to help him re-establish his name. And the Grizzlies, who have struggled to sell tickets and generate interest since moving to the River City, needed Iverson to create a buzz. The very early returns look good. Reports from Memphis indicate the team has sold thousands of tickets since the Iverson signing was announced two days ago. And Iverson seems determined to prove critics wrong because this year is “so personal” for him. However, understandings can sour, especially when they’re driven by the owner’s desire to sell tickets and the aging star’s desire to recapture past glory. For instance, suppose Iverson has a bounce back year and the Grizzlies win 35 games instead of 28. Well, what happens in the summer of 2010? After all, Iverson only inked a one-year pact and becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. Well, Iverson will likely head elsewhere. That buzz will vanish. Young stars like Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, and O.J. Mayo will have had their development stunted. And, because of their fling with Iverson, Memphis will be further away from respectability on-court and from forging a tangible connection with the market off-court. Make no mistake about it, this is the best case scenario. Some spotlight; a few more wins, but no playoff birth in the highly competitive Western Conference. Now suppose the worst case scenario occurs. Suppose Iverson has lost a step. Suppose he dominates the ball and alienates scorers like Gay, Mayo, and veteran Zach Randolph, who, by the way, is eyeing a new contract of his own. What then? How do the Grizzlies cut the chord with Iverson and not frustrate their long-suffering fans, who specifically purchased tickets to watch the A.I. comeback show? How does Heisley survive another test to his already shaky credibility as an NBA owner? Let’s be clear: Iverson deserves better. The greatest little man in league history should finish his career playing meaningful basketball in May or June with a contender. Right now, he’s a sideshow in the NBA’s version of Siberia. As mentioned earlier, Iverson and Memphis made nice at Thursday’s press conference. Most people usually are at the beginning of an understanding. Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts on Iverson and Memphis. Follow Oly’s work on HoopsVibe and Twitter. Photo courtesy of unknown name.
Posted by
Dave
on 09.15.2009 | o sandor, I know what you mean about him being a 6th man. It probably would make sense. But it would and will never happen. It’s just not who Iverson is. He can’t not start, he’s too competitive. He’s going to Memphis, have a good, solid year, and then retire with some dignity. Rather than finishing now coming off the worst season of his career. . | Posted by
on 09.14.2009 | o sandor,just one question. why do u have to focus on his career? leave him alone and let him play and we will see what he can or what he cant do for the team. it seems that u ’haters’ know everything. and it is his career after all. let him deal with it. we dont like what others think of us, right? and whoever said that future lies in developing talent? hey silly, did ray allen developed his talent in boston? did he make anyone around him better? NO!!! it was because of how good the coach of boston was. did also anyone think that michael curry didnt know how to coach? i am not saying that iverson is a good fit for memphis. lets just stop accusing the guy of bad things. u never know what will happen. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 09.13.2009 | Hi Joseph,
Thanks for reading and commenting. And thanks for the link; I got it the first time and I’ll check it out in a bit.
You are wrong. I have been fair in my coverage on Iverson. I have consistently praised his heart, skill-set, and, quite frankly, paid him the ultimate compliment by suggesting he belongs with a contender in Boston or San Antonio competing for an NBA Title.
I have written on how unfair many NBA GMs have been to overlook him all summer and not consider what he can offer. I have been fair in suggesting that he should only share in, but is in no way fully responsible for what what occurred in Detroit.
Unfortunately, Memphis is rebuilding. Teams successfully rebuild when they play their kids and I’m not sure how Iverson will fit with Gay, Conley, Mayo, and Gasol.
This will be up to coach Lionel Hollins to mediate. Hollins is a nice man, but, at least during his run in Vancouver, lacked the clout to sort out problems with the lowly Vancouver Grizzlies, so how will this work in Memphs with a Hall of Fame, two blue-chip prospects (g--and Mayo), and a 20-10 forward in Randolph?
My job is to be fair, not cheer-lead. I have done that with Iverson. And, believe it or not, I hope things work in Memphis, but I can’t see it. That’s all.Still, thank you for your comment.
O.Sandor . | Posted by
Joseph
on 09.13.2009 | You know what, ever since last season all youve been doing is hating on AI. dont say your not hating on him because all the articles you have been writing about him were no good. all youve been saying is how AI is not gonna be a good fit in a certain team. no wonder your just a low writer in this website. here take some notes about this guy from nba.com and maybe ask him for some classes on how to be a good writer. stop hating on the guy. thats all youve been doing since last season. jeez. http://009/news/features/vince_thomas/09/10/ai.memphis/index.html . | Posted by
Jake
on 09.13.2009 | I also agree with Oly about suiting up as a sixth man. He could easily help any top team win a championship. In today’s NBA there is absolutely no room for a player of his type. He is an extinct brand of player. In todays game you have to play as a team. I wish he would just swallow his pride and get himself a ring or two and go out in a good way. . | Posted by
Jake
on 09.13.2009 | I really dont understand how ppl can still support him, and note this is coming from someone who used to be a big Iverson fan. How can anyone believe he’ll benefit this team? You already have 3 players who dominate the ball in Mayo, g--and Randolph. How is adding arguably the most selfish player in the league going to help that. After a fantastic draft this team made some terrible moves. I dont care what publicity they needed, destroying what little team chemistry they had is a stupid move. This team had a lot going for it but the majority of the that is gone with Randolph and Iverson. I agree with Oly that I wanted Iverson to finsih somewhere good. I dont understand how any of you can support him this way, Yes they wont be good for a few yrs but this season and next are the starting point. Like I said, used to be a huge fan. Not so much, hes a HOF but his career is ending in a very sad way. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 09.13.2009 | Hi no-name
Thanks for reading and commenting.
For me, at least, this isn’t about hating on Iverson; obviously, he still has wonderful individual skills and is a world-cla-------scorer.
I just think that amazing skill-set deserves somewhere better than Memphis. He should be playing relevant ball with a contending team (see my earlier post). I also don’t think you can say that ’the haters’ should have to play him one-on-one. I know what you are saying: respect AI’s skills, but that’s not relevant, at least to me in the context of this discussion. Because I’m trying to focus on his NBA career and future and fit with Memphis.
Still thanks for commenting. Can’t knock your passion, I just think it’s misdirected ...
O.Sandor . | Posted by
on 09.13.2009 | hahaha. to all the idiots, listen!!! if u hate AI and u all say that he is finished and he is aging and he has lost a step and evertything you said against him, why dont you call him and arrange a one on one game with him... so i can bet my house and lot for me to get richer. 1-10, 1 point scoring, and u idiots have the headstart... u r already 9pts and AI is still 0. call him now.. and may the Lord be with you. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 09.13.2009 | Hi folks. Thanks for reading and commenting. Even if you disagreed, which is fine.
First of all, I’m not an Iverson hater. Far from it, in fact. I want him to succeed. I want him to stay relevant, too. For me, relevant means not playing for a struggling, dysfunctional organization like Memphis and suiting up as sixth-man for a contender like, say, Boston or San Antonio.
I believe Iverson would make a perfect sixth-man. If he was about winning, he should have called Doc Rivers and Gregg Popovich and sold himself as a top, game-changing reserve. He should have done everything to get a contract from a top club. As sixth-man, he could have been the designated second-unit scorer and game changer like Manu Ginobili has been in years past.
I wanted Iverson to finish on top playing meaningful basketball in June. Not sharing the load in Memphis with developing pieces like Rudy g—and OJ Mayo or appeasing veteran Zach Randolph. There is nothing so wrong with this choice. But as a first ballot Hall of Famer, he is deserving of far better.
I also think the Grizzlies need to think long-term. So I don’t get the choice. Their future lies with rebuilding around and playing May, Gay, Mark Gasol, and Mike Conley Jr, not signing older pieces like Iverson or Randolph. Think how Portland and, to a lesser extent, OKC has successfully rebuilt: they stripped it down to the bone and played the kids! This is what Memphis must do. And it has nothing to do with slighting Iverson.
Just my thoughts. Feel free to respond. Thanks for reading and commenting.
O. Sandor . . | Posted by
on 09.12.2009 | to the idiot that said AIs been done for years. he averaged 26 a game for the year with 7 assists in his last full year with denver. 25 the year before, and 31 the year before that. get your facts straight. he had one bad year last year because he was on detroit. which is just a horrible fit for a player like him. once he was gone they succeeded? really? you call getting swept in the first round as the 8th seed in a horrible conference succeeding. you’re not very smart then. . | Posted by
on 09.12.2009 | AI is done. He has been for years. This isn’t even about Detroit; he didn’t make anyone better in Denver. Not a chance. And they had loads of talent. Once he was gone, they succeeded. Suppose Memphis makes the playoffs, it’s only for one year. The future lies in developing talent. And I have to agree with Sami A., Iverson never makes those around him better. Ever. The future for Memphis lies in developing players, and talent like Gay, Mayo, and Conley. Not using a quick fix like Iverson. . | Posted by
Dr. E
on 09.12.2009 | Cover your bets. At first the critics were like no team would pick AI up, let alone benefit from having AI. Now he’s found a squad that’s acting like they want him, and it’s obvious the team is going to get better than what they were last year. SO the new line is, well they’ll be better but they won’t be great and the other players won’t be as good as they could have been. Face it, you just hate the guy. Why don’t you just shut up for a minute and let the season play out however it plays out. You can’t tell me you actually thought Memphis was going to be good this year or next. You can’t even say what any of these young players are going to do a couple seasons from now after their team constantly loses without making any moves. The way I see it, the best teams in the league USE the bad teams to develop talent. And then once all the risk is gone, they swoop in and offer contracts the poorer teams can’t afford in markets that are naturally more lucrative for players than a place like Memphis. Memphis is being smart because they are generating revenue and showing the young players that they at least are willing to try and win... . | Posted by
Sami A
on 09.12.2009 | lol Iverson is in his prime? Good one dan. And Iverson isn’t the type of player to make teammates better, it’s not how he is wired as a basketball player. Natural scorer. . | Posted by
Daniel
on 09.12.2009 | Ahhh....just another Iverson hater huh? Stop doubting. Iverson is in his prime, and if he has a comeback year to prove he is a top 5 player in his prime, then it may not be just be his own individual performance and stats...it’s going to be a change of style. Iverson is going to become a team player, make his team, teammates better...become more effecient, smarter, etc....his stats dont have to be 35 ppg, 8 apg, 3 spg to prove he is still in his prime...he can still do that, but he can prove it by averaging 15 ppg, 5 apg, 1 apg...worst case secnario in stats....and he could still be in his prime, ebcause he will be a leader, and he can seriously push this team to the playoffs. I’m not making any gurantee’s...but what I’m saying is stop doubting Allen Iverson . | Posted by
Suack Free
on 09.12.2009 | I see Gizz winning 45 games and they make the playoffs this year. If you think AI has lost a step than you are as silly as the idiots that were running the show in Detroit last year. That is about as smart as even considering starting Conley over AI. AI, Mayo, Gaye, Randolph and Gasol. That is as strong a starting 5 in the West Minus LA and San An.... . | Posted by
JS
on 09.12.2009 | Memphis is making the playoffs this year. They’ll take Houston’s place. . | Posted by
Judy
on 09.12.2009 | Just like the rest of the pundits - you know it all. You AI haters are really getting boring. Go AI! . |
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Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
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