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Actually, listening to Michael Wilbon, Iverson playing with Cleveland doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. Cleveland could use the perimeter scoring help.
Iverson may want to reconsider his "practice" speech.
" Playing games ! Playing games ! We're talking about playing games !
I'm already a star; I don't need to play games; I think hard about winning everyday "
Actually, listening to Michael Wilbon, Iverson playing with Cleveland doesn't sound like a bad idea at all. Cleveland could use the perimeter scoring help.
Roundtable: Iverson's future
Four SI.com writers analyze the latest news and address hot topics from around the NBA each week. (All stats and records are through Nov. 9.)
1. With Allen Iverson's future in limbo, what is the best possible outcome for him? What do you think will happen?
Ian Thomsen: By bringing Iverson off the bench, coach Lionel Hollins is obviously trying to act in the best interests of the Grizzlies' franchise (as opposed to what is best for Iverson). It will be interesting to see if Hollins' sense of virtue is rewarded -- or condemned -- by management. I don't understand why Iverson would want to play for the Grizzlies. They're a losing team with no hope of reaching the playoffs, and his $3.1 million salary is 15 percent of what he was making last year. Iverson believes he deserves a level of respect and commitment that the league is unwilling to give him. If he isn't willing to play with a second unit and no team in the league is willing to start him, then he should retire. (And under no cir stances should he try to play in Europe. He would not be happy there at all.)
Jack McCallum: The best possible future for him is that he climbs into a time machine and sets the dial for 2001 when he lifted an otherwise junior varsity team called the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals, and even led the Sixers to a Game 1 win in Los Angeles. Except that's not exactly a future. (Unless it involves Michael J. Fox.) Iverson's actual future? That's a tough one. If there's a team out there able to persuade him he should come off the bench, he's worth signing. The coolest scenario would be for him to join Larry Brown in Charlotte, but I don't think that's going to happen. I do believe that Iverson and the Grizzlies will part ways, but the man does not really want to retire and will not do so until every option is explored.
Chris Mannix: If this really is it for Iverson in Memphis, then this really is it for Iverson. Let's remember, the line for Iverson's services in the offseason began on Beale Street and ended at the FedEx Forum; Memphis wasn't his best option; it was his only option. And if Iverson walks away after just three games, there won't be a team in the league willing to touch him. That includes the Knicks, who, despite an anemic offense and no real point guard to speak of, won't add the Iverson Show to an already circus-like season.
Arash Markazi: The best possible scenario for Iverson would be to stay out of Memphis, because that situation isn't going to change anytime soon. Just being around that team for two days in Los Angeles, I could tell that Iverson wouldn't last with the Grizzlies. I figured something would happen before the All-Star break, but I couldn't have imagined he would bolt before the end of their road trip. Iverson and Hollins will never see eye-to-eye -- that is if they ever took the time to actual have a heart-to-heart talk about Iverson's role on the team. I still think he can play and contribute, but if you're a contending team, would you really take a chance on him after you saw what happened to the Nuggets and Pistons after Denver traded him to Detroit, not to mention his most recent stint in Memphis? We may have seen the last of Iverson in the NBA.
He should absolutely play in Europe. He will get a kick out of it. He will play 48 minutes a game, barring injury/foul trouble. The trapezoid will give him MORE freedom inside, and he will sell out any crowd there for years to come. He will probably get a nice pay-day too...
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...n/?partner=RSSHeisley to Iverson: We want a decision on your future ... soon
Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley says Allen Iverson’s time is up.
Heisley told Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose, that his client must decide soon whether he’ll play or retire because the Grizzlies won’t deal with the uncertainty beyond this week.
Iverson, 34, has been away from the Grizzlies for the past 10 days on a personal leave of absence.
“I’ve treated this like Allen told me it was – a personal leave,” Heisley said. “But either he’s retiring or coming back to play. I’m not upset with Allen. We’ll be happy to accommodate Allen. If he retires, then he retires. If he wants to come back, we’ll gladly accept him back. But I have personally made it clear that there’s going to have to be a decision made. We’re expecting an answer in a couple of days.”
Heisley is disappointed that he hasn’t spoken to Iverson. He said if Iverson needs more time to deal with his personal matters, he needs to come to Memphis to request it. No one in the organization has talked to Iverson directly.
The Commercial Appeal’s attempt to reach Rose this morning was unsuccessful.
A person close to Iverson, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it is doubtful that the All-Star, former MVP and scoring champ will play again.
Iverson, who is in his 14th NBA season, has contemplated retirement since leaving the Griz. He would forfeit a one-year contract worth $3.1 million.
His discontentment with playing off the bench is a major factor in this situation.
Iverson appeared in three games, as a reserve each time, since returning from a hamstring injury. He averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 assists and 22.3 minutes, and rarely saw action near the end of games.
Iverson’s complaints ranged from not starting to what he perceived as limited playing time and a lack of communication with Griz coach Lionel Hollins.
Iverson acknowledged before leaving the Griz that he’d become a distraction.
Heisley said he’d be willing to waive Iverson or trade him in a reasonable deal if that’s the request.
Memphis can’t trade Iverson until Dec. 15.
The Griz filled an open roster spot Saturday when they signed veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley to a one-year deal. General manager Chris Wallace insisted Tinley’s signing had nothing to do with Iverson.
Stop and think about that for a minute. Can you actually picture AI hogging the ball from LBJ and pounding the rock until the shot clock hit single-digits?Can you actually picture AI coming down in transition and taking an ill-advised, quick shot, without LBJ so much as touching the ball? Not going to happen.
Again, AI IS NOT a PG. He doesn't want to run an offense or get guys in the right spots. He only wants his touches, his shots, and his points. He a team chemistry cancer. They already have one there now in the Big Cactus. There is no way in this would work in CLE.
That would be quite a feat, considering regular time in Europe is only 40 minutes.
InsideHoops
Memphis Grizzlies and Allen Iverson agree to part ways, reports the Memphis Commercial Appeal! Iverson will be waived, they report
http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=5036
The Memphis Grizzlies experiment with disgruntled guard Allen Iverson will reportedly end.
According to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the two sides have agreed to part ways. The team will waive Iverson.
It has not been reported what the terms of the agreement are and how much money Iverson will come away with.
Iverson has been unhappy coming off the Grizzlies bench, behind young guards Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo. Though, he was still regaining health as the season began, and it’s possible he might have gained a starting spot in the near future. But even coming off the bench early on was simply more than he could take.
Iverson only played three games — all losses — for the Grizzlies this season, the last being against the Sacramento Kings on November 2.
http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=5036The Memphis Grizzlies today released the following statement from General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace.
“The Grizzlies and Allen Iverson have come to a mutual agreement that because of personal matters that forced him to leave the team on November 7, Allen will step away from the game at this time, allowing him to focus on those matters.
“As a result, we will be ending our contractual agreement with Allen, which will allow both parties to move forward. We wish Allen the best.”
As long as Boston stays away from Iverson, I don't care where he goes. Last thing this team needs is another old player. Plus we have our chucker in Eddie House.
this can't be good. iverson possibly going to a contender is a game changer. i would rather have him neutralized on the grizzlies. say what you want about him but he's still one of the best two guards of the past decade.
I can't wait 'til he starts a cult on justinTV where he eats Vaseline and cries while listining to random R&B songs.
He will make every game go into overtime
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