Allen Iverson's tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies ended the way we all expected it would -- badly. After playing just three games with the Grizz, Iverson left the team to deal with "personal issues," then worked out a buyout. By Wednesday, November 18th, he's expected to clear waivers and be free to sign with any team.
It seems clear Iverson won't pull a Latrell Sprewell and fade away while he still has some productive basketball left in his body. But where will he land? And should fantasy owners have any interest when he does?
New York:
The Knicks are the only team that has publicly admitted they'll kick the tires with Iverson. Mike D'Antoni's team has stumbled out of the gate, winning just one of their first eight games -- the worst start in franchise history.
Iverson seems like a good fit for D'Antoni-ball, and would give the Knicks a player that won't simply settle for jumpers on every trip down the court. It's not hard to imagine him supplanting Chris Duhon in the starting lineup. In fact, of all Iverson's potential destinations, New York is the one where he might have the best chance to start... and as we learned during his brief stays in Memphis and Detroit, starting matters. Not sure he'll make the Knicks better -- but he can hardly make 'em worse. He could actually put up some pretty decent fantasy numbers in orange-and-blue.
Cleveland:
The Cavs reportedly considered Iverson over the summer, but nothing materialized. More recently, Cleveland often came up as a potential destination for Stephen Jackson -- a move that both LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal reportedly endorsed. But S-Jax wound up in Charlotte instead. Does that mean the Cavs are still in the market for a perimeter presence?
Possibly. This would have seemed more likely during the first week of the season... but they've won four straight, which may remove some of the urgency to do something. And in Cleveland, Iverson would be looking at a complementary role. Would he be more willing to do that if it meant playing for a contender? Or would he hate the idea of sharing playing time with the likes of Anthony Parker and Delonte West? Speaking of West -- don't the Cavs have enough off-court problems right now?
I can see this happening, but only if Danny Ferry, LeBron, Shaq, Drew Carey, Jim Brown and Chief Wahoo himself all get together and make it incredibly clear: Allen, you are here to win a championship. If we ask you to start, you start. If we ask you to come off the bench, you come off the bench. Make like Stephon Marbury on the Celtics, and no complaining, K?
(And yes, I just used Stephon Marbury as an example of good behavior. Will wonders never cease?)
Charlotte:
In a perfect world, this is probably where Iverson should have signed over the summer... close to his Virginia roots, with a coach he knows well, on a team that really needed perimeter scoring and an identity. But if they'd signed Iverson, they might not have re-signed Raymond Felton... and the Stephen Jackson trade probably wouldn't have happened. This seems unlikely.
New Orleans:
The Hornets have been getting nothing from any perimeter player not named Chris Paul -- and now Paul is out with a bum ankle. In a basketball sense, Iverson makes some sense. But we also know the Shinn family is trying to move contracts -- they have to shed around $3 million or get hit with the dreaded luxury tax. Until that happens, I don't think they'll add so much as a popcorn vendor to the payroll.
The Field:
Iverson's obvious desire to start rules out most of the NBA -- unless a key player on a contender is seriously injured in the next week or so. I can't imagine another team trying to convince Iverson to take on a reduced role after seeing what happened with both the Grizzlies and Pistons.