Friday, August 28, 2009
Waiting on the Answer
Posted by Chris Herrington on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 11:07 AM
The Allen Iverson Watch is back on for the Grizzlies, announced by Iverson himself via this Twitter post yesterday:
Well I am about to begin another workout session. Agent informed me that Memphis made us an offer on yesterday. Stay tuned.9:03 AM Aug 26th from web
This was followed up yesterday afternoon with this:
Memphis is a place that I would love to play. The Grizzlies have good young players with a great upside. I love the city of Memphis too.about 17 hours ago from webI would lead by example. I could show how important it is to work hard everyday, play the game the right way, & just like it's your last!about 17 hours ago from web
Grizzlies brass has confirmed ongoing interest in Iverson, interest that seems the be clearly emanating from the owner's box, where Georgetown alum Michael Heisley seems intrigued by Iverson's box-office potential and not particularly concerned about what his basketball people think.
The other team courting Iverson is the Charlotte Bobcats, and Charlotte writer Rick Bonnell has a great piece today on Iverson that taps the perspective of two men who have worked with Iverson and parted ways with him — former 76ers executive Billy King and Nuggets coach George Karl. The whole piece is worth a read, but here are some highlights:
“Everything is about Allen, and it can't all be about Allen at this point in his career,” King told the Observer. “He's no longer that intimidating figure who can just blow by everybody. So he's got to do other things, and I'm not sure he will.”King believes Iverson is so conditioned to a certain mindset that it's too late, at 34, for him to re-invent himself.
“(Iverson's) personality is to say, ‘I can still do this. I can take all the shots and stay out late and do everything I did in my 20s,' '' King described. “He needs to get to the foul line (to be effective) and if that doesn't work, he'll be very quick to yell at the referees for not giving him calls.”
King says Iverson no longer can drive by most everyone in the NBA. That makes him more dependent on jump shots, and King describes Iverson's jumper as “average at best.”The difference between Iverson and Bobcats managing partner Michael Jordan, King said, is that Jordan was cerebral enough late in his playing career to make it work beyond his prime — Jordan became more of a passer, rebounder and screen-setter.
“Allen never made the people around him better in the first place, because it's always about Allen,” King said.
Karl, a former North Carolina point guard, understands the challenges coaching Iverson. But he enjoyed it.“I had very few problems from A.I., in terms of him doing everything I asked him to do,” said Karl, who coached Iverson for most of two years.
“I heard all the stories, but he said he was coming to make the basketball team better. We didn't hit a homerun, but we got better.”
Comments (14)
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"I could show how important it is to work hard everyday"
I assume he means, "working hard everyday, but not in practice".
What do we have to lose by signing Iverson? If nothing else, having him on the team would generate more excitement and energy among some fans, me included.
Worst case scenario: Iverson quickly proves to be a disruptive force on the team, in which case the Grizzlies would sit him at the end of the bench or buy out his contract in mid season. In the grand scheme of things, it would be no big deal if that happens. After all, no one really expects the Grizzlies to contend for the playoffs this season in the first place. So what if having Iverson on the team directly or indirectly causes the Grizzlies to lose a few more games than they probably would have lost without him?
Best case scenario: Iverson proves that he still has game. He quickly becomes a significant contributor, whether off the bench or in the starting lineup. (Generating more and more buzz among fans.) Partly because of Iverson's contributions, the Grizzlies win significantly more games this season than last season, perhaps even enough to come reasonably close to making the playoffs.
In my opinion, it's a no-brainer. Assuming that we can't entice an up-and-coming player who is clearly better than Iverson, what do we have to lose by signing Iverson to a relatively inexpensive one-year contract?
The next Kobe or KG or D_Wade could be in high school right now thinking, if I get drafted by Memphis I'll get to play with my idol AI.
We're only talking about a one year deal. What have we got to lose? The experts have us pegged for another 60 loss season. Sign AI.
I agree with the general consensus here: what have we really got to lose? We sell some Iverson jerseys and more tickets, people start talking about the Grizzlies more (both locally and nationally) and if it doesn't work out, he'll be gone mid-year (through a buyout).
The NBA is ENTERTAINMENT and I think he's still entertaining. If you're not winning big, you might as well be interesting.
I guess AI's career 6.2 assists per game were non-team improving assists.
I agree with you guys; the game is about entertainment. I think AI will entertain and will give us something big to talk about.
The irony of this is that if he comes to Memphis, it will be all about AI. He'll be the franchise guy by default. And we're in here talking about a workout session.
Listen GrizzleGM, we're talking about a workout session. Not practice, we're talking about a workout session. Not practice. Not the practice he goes out there and dies for, and practices every time like it's his last. We're talking about a workout session. I mean, how silly is that?
And we're talking about a workout session.
You know, somewhere I read that the offer we made him was for 3.5 mil per year, but heavily incentive laiden. That isn't a bad deal.....for us. He will instantly sell jerseys and put fans in the seats and bring a buzz to the games. If he tears it up and earns the incentives in the contract, then he is worth it. If he stinks it up (attitude or otherwise) and has to be bought out or removed early, it's only 3.5 million and the merchandise sales, ticket sales and buzz created by the signing pays for itself. I think that is what Mr. Heisley has in mind; not a bad idea really.
The decision to go after Iverson and the general fan reaction make me feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
if he plays one season for the Grizzlies, then "retires" or doesn't get picked up by another team after us; then happens to make it into the hall of fame...would he be inducted as a grizzly?
just wonderin' out loud
Nonsense. I'll bet anyone that Iverson can still nail a pregnant woman with a chair from 30 feet, just like in his younger days.
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