A four-time scoring champ leading Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo offense? It looked like a match made in heaven on paper, but the Knicks have apparently decided the intangibles surrounding Allen Iverson -- including ugly exits with two teams in the span of seven months -- outweighed the potential gains. According to Howard Beck of the New York Times, the Knicks went back and forth on the issue, with a team source suggesting Thursday afternoon there was a 90 percent chance the team would offer a contract. Ultimately, however, the team's brain trust decided that "Iverson posed too great a risk" -- a damning indictment if there ever was one, considering the 2-7 Knicks are currently on pace for a 15-win season.
If not with the Knicks, where will Iverson land? Not the Heat, according to Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald, who reports that the team has denied reports out of New York suggesting they were in pursuit of A.I.
What about the Bobcats? Despite Larry Brown's affection for his former player, that doesn't seem likely either, especially after Charlotte filled their need for a scoring playmaker with the recent acquisition of Stephen Jackson. Brown has admitted to placing calls around the league on behalf of Iverson but nevertheless sounds reluctant to bring him aboard his own team given the focus on developing his young backcourt.
"Here's what happened -- when he thought about coming with me, he said, 'Coach, I don't care if I start, you just give me an opportunity to start,' " Brown said in a recent radio interview. "And I said that's fair. I hope I do that with all my players. But I told him that if he came with me, I have two guards sitting there and they would be unhappy, and I didn't think that was fair."
So what's next? Barring the unexpected, Iverson will likely be forced to spend at least the next several weeks waiting in limbo, either waiting for injuries to create a starting opportunity or a contender to make a compelling enough offer for Iverson to swallow his pride and come off the bench.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Did Tawanna tell you that?!
I'm kind of pissed off that the Knicks didn't pick up Allen. I was getting ready to buy me tickets to Knick games the moment they annouced he was joing the squad. What a**holes
WOW I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BASKETBALL SEASON IS OVER FOR ME-YOU REALLY SUCK KNICKS. IT'S ON TO HOCKEY GO RANGERS. I WAS A FAN FOR 35YRS-THIS IS A JOKE-WHY WOULD ANYONE GO TO A KNICK GAME ?
The real question is: Why are you silly Knicks fans getting upset that this NO-CLASS LOSER isn't going to be on your team??
Are the Knicks going to win 12 games instead of 15? I think he would have been worth a shot or at least he would make this season halfway interesting
Blame it all on Dolan. The hire the wrong people to run the organization.
Donnie walsh had a long career at Indiana, but what happened once Reggie Miller got old? He also hired Isiah Thomas as coach of Indiana, and we want him now to rebuild the Knicks? So far his draft choices show basically nothing and the Italian stud has a bad back at age 19.
D'antoni had talent in Phoenix, which made him look good. The Knicks have no offense other than chucking 3's and they play no defense.
Laslty, the heart and soul has been taken away from the Garden. The Garden used to have an intimidating home court advantage, now they shoot towels into the seats. What a shame.
D
I been a Knick fan for 45 years . It has been a very painful experience watching this team turn into the fall of Rome. Walsh was left with such a mess that some other team may get the #1 pick of the draft that would of belonged to the Knicks next year.
Iverson had a great career but the negatives he brings at this stage just isn't worth the trouble. We already have enough head cases in New York. What the Knicks really need to do is play Gallinari , Chandler , Douglas and Hill as much as possible to see if they are going to be ready when next year starts.
They need to be battle tested and ready. Iverson and Robinson will be gone next year. Lee may also be out but I hope they keep him. Let these guys go out and spend the rest of the year banging away at James , Wade and Bosh and show them they are going to be a tough team to play with or without them.
Once they earn the respect of the rest of the league maybe then some one will actually want to come and be a part of the Knicks.Until then its all BS.
PLAY THE KIDS !!!
I could not agree more with you. This team now make me sick. Remember, Dave B, Reed, Pearl,Walt, and all the other guys, that played their hearts out every night.
Now, these guys just come to get paid.
The end, see ya friend
Why would anyone want a troublemaker ?
It reminds me when teachers would trade thugs.
Then , a principal said "you have him/her, you keep him/her. That stopped the silly game of
"I'll give you Thug A for anyone etc. etc.
Iverson is bad news. Stay away. He has enough $.
http://www.djulienmusic.com/2009/11/22/allen-iverson/
My thoughts on the Iverson situation.