Now before embarking on my rant, let me point out that my colleague Jason Whetzell has warned me not to jump to conclusions on this one. He has also, understandably, advised, that it may be advantageous for me to actually read the entire interview which Iverson gave on the subject before writing my thoughts on his position. But where would the fun be in that? No, I am happy to decry Iverson's immaturity and selfishness, even without all the facts. We are looking at a team that has performed significantly better during the absence of one of the more prolific scorers in the league. True, The Answer is not what he used to be (perhaps he would be better suited with a new nickname... The Meek Suggestion?). However, he is still capable of putting up big numbers, especially in the scoring column. Indeed, he did just that in his time as a starter for the Pistons. However, the team managed to be one of the more underperforming in the league over that same period. Since his injury, the Pistons went on a spurt of beating some of the top teams in the league and remain, though inconsistent, at least competitive.
Perhaps instead of "The Answer" a name like "The Prayer" would be better suited.
So where does Iverson, in all of this, get off coming out and saying to everyone that he is unhappy with his current role and practically threatening his superiors as the entire team prepares for its playoff run? Indeed, this is the Iverson that we have all come to know and expect, no matter how many new surroundings and chances he is given along the way. And this is all coming from a person who commended the Billups for Iverson swap at the time, stating that it would certainly significantly improve both teams. That's right, I am embarrassed to say that I was sucked into believing that this was possibly the best roster for Iverson to thrive in, given that he had never really been surrounded by as talented a group and one as capable of scoring but as agreeable to deferring shots to others. The mistake I made was not seeing that Iverson's particular brand of offense does not mesh with the Pistons' offensive scheme in any way, shape or form. On a team where consistent ball movement and half court set plays are so imperative, having a player eat up the shot clock with horizontal dribbling before finally barreling towards the hoop and trying to create on his own was less than ideal.
So that contradiction in styles brings me to my next point: what does Iverson's future hold? You have to believe that he will not be wearing a Pistons uniform come next season. And the idea of him simply up and walking away from the game entirely seems farfetched, though not altogether undesirable. But what team would A) want him; and B) be capable of acquiring him by next year?
Why so pensive, Allen? We have the solution to your predicament.
The proposal I am about to make is a painful one for me, given that the team I am to suggest has a particular place in my heart. Featuring two players formerly employed by my number one team, another player who plays as gutsy a game of basketball as anyone in the league right now, and a coach who is attempting to convince us once again that old-school coaching can work given the right roster and, of course, a phenomenal coach. That's right, I am talking about the Charlotte Bobcats. It doesn't hurt that a couple of months back I declared that this team would have one of the most impressive finishes to the season. And lo and behold, the Bobcats have been routinely beating good teams (even some great ones), have been playing above .500 basketball since the All Star Break, and are making a push for the playoffs (a push that will, ultimately, prove futile since Detroit isn't actually bad enough to fall off and allow the Cats in... irony?).
I have also previously made the point that the one thing that the Bobcats truly lack which could propel them to the next level (granted, the next level for them simply means a second-tier, Eastern playoff team... but that's a hell of a lot better than what they have been historically) is a true scorer. A go to guy. Someone who, when the game is tight and the seconds are ticking away, can be handed the ball, given the floor, and let go to work. What is Allen Iverson if not this? And what coach has Iverson had the most success with in his career? More significantly, what coach has had more success in motivating Iverson to play good, team basketball? That's right, none other than the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, Larry Brown.
It is, if nothing else, an intriguing thing to consider. Is there another team out there that could potentially benefit from the addition of Iverson the way the Bobcats might? Is there another roster full of great role players more suited for him. Is there another team that plays at such a deliberate pace which allows for isolation plays on the offensive end? Is there another team that seems so close to making the leap to relevance? Surely, you cannot answer yes to all of these questions, and that is why this move seems so tantalizingly plausible.
Again, as someone who has officially drank from the "New Iverson" Kool Aid and come out thoroughly red in the face, I am saying all this thoroughly aware of the possible pitfalls. And, again, this is not a change that I necessarily want to see occur. Besides seeing a player who I don't particularly enjoy watching play for a team that I do very much enjoy watching, it would mean a number of other things. Gerald Wallace, one of the most "balls to the wall" players in the game right now, would have to take a back seat to Iverson in scoring. That is not necessarily a bad thing for the team, though, as Wallace, for all his talent, isn't really geared to be a main scoring option. He is an ideal second or third option who gets a lot of his points off hustle plays. He is also the only player in the league who wears a mouthpiece while playing but never actually puts it entirely in his mouth. Seriously. Watch a Bobcats game and tell me if you can ever spot Wallace without that mouthpiece dangling halfway out of his mouth.
I'm sorry, Gerald, but maybe if you put your mouthpiece in you wouldn't be breaking your ribs all the time.
The change would also mean Raja Bell would be relegated to spot on the bench. Again, probably not a terrible thing for him, as his age makes playing a full season with starter minutes a chore. However, the team would lack his long range marksmanship and his vocal leadership on the floor. Also, it would require letting some players go in order to free up the cap space. They'd probably have to let Raymond Felton walk, but they have the young stud D.J. Augustine to step up in his absence. And it may require a trade or two to get rid of some existing contracts for smaller ones, a task that will not be that easy to accomplish in current economic conditions. But, while the Cats don't have a huge amount of financial flexibility heading into the off season, they are in a better position than most of the league.
That's it. Just some food for thought. Like I said, if nothing ever comes out of this, I will not be disappointed. However, if Allen Iverson is really examining his options moving forward, and wants to end up somewhere where he will not only start, but could actually be performing for the greater good of an entire team, he should start dropping some hints to his agent real soon that Charlotte could be his destination of choice.
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