2010 Free Agent: Allen Iverson

[Bruno]

http://www.nba.com/media/act_allen_iverson.jpg
Born: Jun 7, 1975
Height: 6-0 / 1.83
Weight: 165 lbs. / 74.8 kg.
College: Georgetown, D.C.
Years Pro: 13

Info (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/allen_iverson/career_stats.html)

[spursballer21]

he wants a championship
he can shoot 3s,drive
be a good point guard
create offense
only problem
will he take a paycut

[TimDunkem]

The guy still believes he can be a first option. How is that in itself not a problem? Fuck Allen Iverson.

[AFBlue]

Spurs do not need another ball-dominant guard, especially one that is most effective in iso situations, which the Spurs rarely employ. I think it's good that he still wants to play because he still has game, but it's not a match with the Spurs.

[DesignatedT]

this guy is done

[HarlemHeat37]

Iverson could be a very good 6th man IMO..not for the Spurs, but for another team..he's still good enough that he could provide instant offense and energy for a team..obviously the problem remains his ego..

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Really iffy on him. But I admit that if the Spurs were to sign him, I wouldn't be that upset.

[MaNu4Tres]

Do we really need to go here?

[kobyz]

i think he will be in the Lakers next year.

[Cane]

I think a team that comes up short in the offseason Lebron James sweepstakes might gamble on AI as long as he is finally ready for coming off the bench.

Probably not on the Spurs radar although they've been no strangers to pursuing old headcases since Sheed was their primary target versus McDyess.

[SenorSpur]

Let's see he quit at the end of his first Sixers tenure to get himself traded. He washed out in Denver. He ruined team chemistry and refused to come off the bench in Detroit. He stopped for one game and a cup of coffee in Memphis, while refusing to come off the bench, despite agreeing to do so before he signed. Then he went back home to Philly, played a few games and then disappeared.

Why we're even debating this is a mystery to me?

[CarnacTheMagnificent]

how many teams have to cut his ass and how much chemistry does he have to ruin before the consensus here will be "no thanks"?
good lord what a terrible idea.

[baseline bum]

If it was 2001.

[tdunk21]

no allen iverson....he is a locker room cancer.....

[ChuckD]

http://old.madisonmagazine.com/summerrestaurantweek/images/fork.jpg

[tdunk21]

i can see the fakers trying to sign him.....

[Spursfanfromafar]

Then in Detroit and Memphis his coaches were god aweful. In Detroit Michael Curry benched AI, Iverson was fine with it if it helped the team. The team start losing so he asked to be moved into the starting line up. At one point both RIP Hamilton and AI came off the bench. That's Michael Curry's fault. Then AI got hurt.

Nonsense. He was pathetic in Detroit, Curry or not. And even more pathetic in Memphis, carping about playing off the bench after hurting himself in the pre-season. He cribbed in the very first game he played for Memphis and the team recovered very well after they got rid of him. Lionel Hollins was one of the better coaches last season. He made the pathetic Grizzlies play respectably and even had that headcase Zach Randolph contribute enough to be an All Star.



Overall, I think Iverson is still a good player who can contribute to a championships team. But Allen Iverson will not be in a Spurs uniform while Pop is around and AI would be the third or fourth short guard coming off the bench. The Spurs don't need that.

Iverson can contribute provided he still gets his touches even if he continues to be inefficient. In many ways, he is a coach's nightmare. Pop runs a tight ship and is comfortable only with ultimate team-men like Manu Ginobili to get creative off the leash. The Spurs are better off without Allen Me-Version.

[SenorSpur]

He left the 76ers a first time because that front office was making terrible choices hurting A.I.s chances of winning a title, it's the same reason the 76ers are the 4th most supported professional team in Philadelphia. In Denver I thought he played great, but still lost to better teams such as the Spurs. Then in Detroit and Memphis his coaches were god aweful. In Detroit Michael Curry benched AI, Iverson was fine with it if it helped the team. The team start losing so he asked to be moved into the starting line up. At one point both RIP Hamilton and AI came off the bench. That's Michael Curry's fault. Then AI got hurt.

Overall, I think Iverson is still a good player who can contribute to a championships team. But Allen Iverson will not be in a Spurs uniform while Pop is around and AI would be the third or fourth short guard coming off the bench. The Spurs don't need that.

Phila, I respect your opinion, but I can't cosign any of this. I think you're giving AI a huge pass here.

All I know is that, is by the end of his first tenure with the Sixers, the relationship had detiorated on both sides, to the point that they wanted him gone in the worst way. Let's be honest, AI has never taken leadership or practice seriously. The Detroit tenure was a complete fiasco, in part, because Iverson allegedly spent as much time in the casinos drinking, gambling and partying, than he did with the team. And I disagree with the part about him accepting the bench role there. Allegedly, he was a complete distruption to team because, allegedly, he felt he should've been afforded better treatment than being benched - and he proclaimed it to anyone who would listen. Dumars only acquired him for the salary slot and came to regret his decision very quickly. During his final tenure at Philly, when he was supposedly left the team to care for his ailing daughter, he was constantly seen frequenting the ATL nights spots, really getting his drink on.

At every other stop he's been, AI became an immediate distraction and was quick to wear out his welcome - and that wasn't because he had bad coaching. It was primarily because of his selfish, self-indulgent, tempermant - both on and off the court. And let's put the rest the notion of A.I. wanting to win a championship. Even he doesn't mention that goal anymore because he knows it's not his goal. A.I. only cares about A.I. His minutes, his shots, his money, his reputation.

Most teams are not going to want to touch a 34 year-old, future HOFer, who is a volume shooter, bogs down the offense, insists the offense revolves around him and who likely, will refuse to take the NBA minimum. And that's not even taking into account his off-the-court problems. Iverson's failures have very little to do with coaching, it's him and he has never taken responsibility for any of his failures. It's kind of like the Terrell Owens syndrome. Teams will tend to put up with a problem player, as long as his talent supercedes the problems and distractions that come with him. When that talent starts to decline, teams will be less likely to put up with the circus.

Now I do agree that he will NEVER see the light of day in a Spurs uniform. That said, he's got his share of personal demons, that have now become public. I personally don't see him being a fit anywhere.

[sefant77]

I take Jason Terry over Iverson.

That should say all.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

AI is done. I guess everyone's forgetting he's been a cancer everywhere, his last stint saw him pouting about not starting in Memphis when he wasn't the best player on the team at his position.

Pass.

[Mr Bones]

Just let him move on to the inevitable Reality TV show and be done with it. Dominique Jones would be a much better option at this point.

[Juanobili]

I'd rather have Jacque Vaughn back

[ohmwrecker]

Probably not on the Spurs radar although they've been no strangers to pursuing old headcases since Sheed was their primary target versus McDyess.

I was thinking more like Glenn Robinson, Nick Van Exel, Damon Stoudamire.

[bigfundamental21]

AI is not a good match for our team. But, he will get picked up by someone like LAL or Boston.

[ohmwrecker]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/416274-allen-iverson-ready-to-accept-reduced-role-how-many-offers-will-he-get

[coyotes_geek]

AI says he'll accept a reduced role huh? Think I've heard that one before.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

No. Just no. AI will never be a Spur and nor should he be. Apart from his toughness, he goes against everything this franchise stands for.

No.

[Marcus Bryant]

Iverson would make sense as a gamble for a club that's never won a championship and is looking for a missing piece that could vault them from also-ran status into being a serious contender. If, yes, if, he somehow came to play every night and not bring any bullshit with him he can be a factor in this league. But the chances of that are very low.