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Allen Iverson anyone? By John Nguyen
07.4.2009 - Updated on 07.4.2009
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Psst.
I heard Allen Iverson is a free agent.
Yet barely anyone is saying anything. When Charlie Villanueva, Ben Gordon, and Marcin Gortat are getting more press than Allen Iverson, something must be wrong, right? Iverson was a top 3 scorer a few years ago, right? Isn’t he a former MVP as well? What happened here? No one seemingly wants The Answer Allen Iverson. Was this all a surprise? In this case, life is like an old girlfriend. You already know what you’re going to get. You take her back, but there is no excitement anymore. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just as time marches on, some things fall apart.
And so did Allen Iverson. I still think he’s better than Ben Gordon even at this time in his career. He can still be had for cheap (well, cheaper than half of this year’s free agent class by today’s economic climate). All general managers in the league should not have to worry about building a team around him since that’s already been done and no one should be worried about his ego since he’s no longer a “franchise” player. So what to do with this kind of player?
The Chicago Bulls should not look into him since the Ben Gordon era is done; no more undersized backcourt. Derrick Rose is the franchise point guard and there is not enough height to go around. The Knicks, Miami, and Atlanta can go after him if they want. Realistically, where does he fit? He does not really fit anywhere. Even our workaholic writer Oly Sandor has run out of options for him. Can Iverson just accept being another starter or sixth man? It’s sad to see Iverson being looked down upon even when we know he can still ball.
Should he just retire and fade away now?
The kid who came in with the “thug” image. The little guy who can score as much as the greats did. The little man who led the Philadelphia Sixers to the Finals. He’s the player who made the hesitation crossover a staple of today’s street ball, but that can also be called “palming.” The Answer has officially entered “father time” just like Jason Kidd, Shaq, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady. Can LeBron James use a player like him? Sure he can. Then again, there are so many basketballs to pass around.
I’m just not sure where he fits. As proposed over and over, he should accept a bench role. We, as fans, should know that Iverson will not let his ego do such a thing. With complete confidence, he’s still capable of scoring 18+ points per night. Despite that, would any coach let him run point or be an undersized shooting guard once again? Allen Iverson is one of the most prolific scorers ever and it’s a shame that the new generation of fans missed him at his peak during his Sixer days. It was just tough building a team around him.
I hate to see him go out like this where barely anyone wants him in the twilight of his career.
[image:http://www.flickr.com/photos/vedia/20483354/] |
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Posted by
greg
on 07.11.2009 | man i think ai is still the man and should not be forced to come off the bench. just think about it why would a former mvp and future hall of famer be made to be the 3rd or 4th option he needs the to be allen iverson of old where he scores and can take over the game where he is most effective. Miami would be a good fit because they need someone to take some of the offence pressure off of wade and be an experienced point guard and maybe help coach mario chalmers since he is still young and inexperienced. miami for sure and it will keep wade around too  . | Posted by
melo boy
on 07.10.2009 | iverson sucks! its best for him to retire! no one wants him! and why would he sign with dallas?? or the grizzlys?? he’s a ballhog . | Posted by
The Answer
on 07.10.2009 | A.I. should sign with Dallas, he could take the mid level execption and join a team that has not really played to their full potential since choking in the 2006 finals. J Kidd and A.I. in the backcourt with The Matrix and Josh Howard at forwads and Dirk at centre. It makes perfect sense and it is one of the few places where he woulnd’t have to accept coming off the bench. Rick Carslie could manage him and Allen Iverson is still the 2nd or 3rd option on offense. If Dallas sign AI they should book a championship parade right now. . | Posted by
Oscar Duarte
on 07.8.2009 | I don’t what any body says. Allen Iverson is still one of the best in the NBA, regardless of his age. He still has a killer crossover, he can still get in the paint and score. I don’t care what team he goes to, I will still support him all the way and hope that he will soon get the championship title that he deserves. . | Posted by
Budda
on 07.6.2009 | AI still can do the do regardless of his age. He brought so much to the game that it would not have been a Lebron,Wade,Chris Paul,etc. To push him to the side like his has no substance would be ridiculous. The man may be getting up there in age but he is who he is period. I know he got a big ego but who don’t? Send him where ever you want to and I’m following him. That’s my man till the end and I’m riding with him until the wheels fall off. Shaq,LeBron and Iverson is a guarantee championship no doubt. so my Daddy ain’t washed up yet hell no never. So all you haters can get the bird.. . | Posted by
noob
on 07.6.2009 | its hard to think for a team where ai would fit. but i think he could still play. i think he just needs to accept his role as maybe a 3rd option or something. he has gotten used to being the 1st option and i think he needs to REALLY adjust to maybe even as a 6th man if he wants title. His value also slid a lot maybe because of this MICHAEL CURRY who I think ruined the Pistons! before carter, i think he could play at orlando but carter is now there so i think he wouldnt fit. i think he would fit new orleans and play shooting guard, but he should accept that chris paul would be handling the ball a lot. maybe the cavs too but they already have a lot of guards. . | Posted by
EDC
on 07.6.2009 | Iverson had his worst season last year due to the Michael Curry screw-job!!!! Why whould the Pistons want the MVP to "backup" these players????Why Lebron and Kobe are the top now? because the whole team supports them. I mean think about his Sixers’ days? the whole team is backing up AI, not AI backing up a team! COME ON!!If a team willing to support "AI" again, I am looking a chance to see them in the finals next year!and when I was reading comments, I found one thing is true and interesting: WHICH MVP HAD COME OFF THE BENCH IN HIS CAREER??????????If a MVP come off the bench, that means the other players are MVP’s MVP . | Posted by
Mark
on 07.5.2009 | I disagree with anyone who tries to say that allen iverson is not an elite player anymore. Just because he had a worse season than he is capable of due to bad coaching, injuries and not good teammates doesnt mean he is not good anymore. How did detriot expect iverson to play with stuckey not a passing pg, and with rip hamilton another scorer that needs to be with a pure pg like steve nash or chris paul. Ai is best playing point with a physical sg like a jr smith type. Oh and by the way adveraging 17 ppg still isnt a bad season!! . | Posted by
Snika
on 07.5.2009 | He needs to be a starter wherever he is, there is NO other former MVP that has a bench role. Charlotte makes perfect sense, the coach, and most of the players are defensive minded, so he could be the offense. The Rockets need help, in their new state of shock. Memphis could’ve worked, and Minnesota could work for a couple years. The most important factor in all of this is: if AI is happy, he will play well and that team will succeed. If he is unhappy, he will powt and the team will appear to be in turmoil. . | Posted by
ant
on 07.5.2009 | I watched almost every game of A.I. since Georgetown and he continuoesly keeps getting better...I think he could fit anywhere, Curry did/does suck coaching on a NBA level, let alone a team of allstars. I don’t know what people are talking about, Iverson and Wade all the way. . | Posted by
on 07.5.2009 | i love iverson, but it is time in his career to come off the bench now. every gm will sign him if he agrees to come off the bench. hes gonna have to be like Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Bill Walton who were great palyers that sacrificed thier minutes to win a championship. AI need to do that for a championship now in hi career. or else hell be like karl malone, charles barkley ,john stockton and patrick ewing. Great palyer that don’t have rings . | Posted by
tvb17
on 07.5.2009 | i agree i want him in memphis period . | Posted by
GM FOR HIRE
on 07.5.2009 | I think allen is still a good player. Lets face it he is a scoring guard who is under sized! I think the ideal team for Iverson would either have a Shooting guard who handles the ball most of the time like Atlanta’s Joe Johnson. The kings would be a good fit for him now that they have tyreke evans who is a 6 foot 5 inch point guard! The grizzlies should really give iverson a look since they have zach Randolph now and Oj Mayo usually handles the ball! Even though it didnt work out in detroit last year im still a fan. Joe shouldnt have never Fired Coach sauders if he was going to over load the team with Scoring Vets, Flip would have handle it better! IVERSON DESERVES A CHANCE FOR YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT OF THIS SPORT!!! . | Posted by
BM10
on 07.5.2009 | i would love to see AI go to miami. Him , Wade, Beasly, and a healthy JO would be a fun team to watch . | Posted by
40inchleaper
on 07.5.2009 | AI is still great. he just needs to find a team where he fits. i wouldn’t say NY or Toronto ’cause at this point of his career, he wants to play for a contender team. the cavs is a great fit for him, however, too many backcourt players already. Miami is a potential team for him but i don’t see him playing the point. we’ll see where he lands! . | Posted by
P.C
on 07.5.2009 | I have never seen so many AI lovers on one page. But I have to agree in some parts; it is ridiculous that not one team has been mentioned to make an approach, and I do believe he is still capable of putting up around 20 a night. However, he is not in the peak of his career, he doesn’t fit in Cleveland and he is not an elite player anymore. Miami would be a nice place for him, or perhaps Minnesota, if Rubio decides to stay in Spain. . | Posted by
mike brice
on 07.5.2009 | All I can say is wait to next year still top 5 player easy americans quick to count u out but quick to jump back on band wagon mike vick and ai greatest come back players ever this season . | Posted by
rey
on 07.5.2009 | A.I still great , 3 more yrs for him,,,, michael curry ruin allen iverson career unexperienced coach. everybody knows that,, he s fit in miami or charlotte,, wait this coming season, A.i on the top players again,,,,, . | Posted by
corey
on 07.4.2009 | i know man he could start in Charlotte and have majority of the minutes. He could be the first option on offense. People dont understand who he played for last season.MICHAEL CURRY. He sucks. He doesnt know how to coach.DAH. The NBA needs to wake their butts up and realize that they could have a first ballot Hall of Famer on their team . | Posted by
CCJ
on 07.4.2009 | in timberwolves he fitted the most.. . |
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