Allen Iverson has just gone on his Twitter page to tell us that he will indeed sign with the Memphis Grizzlies. He said "God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career." Good luck.
If by "God" he means "the rest of the NBA" then he is correct. There are 30 teams in the NBA. Only two that I know of really wanted him: Memphis and Charlotte.
That's sad for a guy that will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. A guy who is one of the toughest cats to ever play in the NBA and one who didn't apologize for who he was. I could respect that. But he's burned every bridge he's come across to the point that no one wants him around.
Now he goes to Memphis where he'll back up Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo. What? Iverson couldn't back up Rip Hamilton last year in Detroit ... and he's actually won a championship! Now Iverson is going to be cool with backing up two guys that have done absolutely nothing in the League?
Which brings me to Memphis. If you were cool with being a backup ... then why go to Memphis? No offense, but the Grizzlies will be hard pressed to reach a playoff spot this season. The team has a toxic mix of Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and now Iverson. The Western Conference is loaded again. So if you were a 34-year old guard nearing the end of your career, wouldn't you try your best to win a championship?
Why not get your crap together and backup Kobe and D-Fish? Phil Jackson is the king of managing personalities. Why not be Rondo's backup in Boston? The Celtics added Stephon Crybury last year so you know they'd give you a look. How about the Cavaliers where they'll do anything to please LeBron James? Greg Popovich is secure in himself to take A.I. on his well behaved team. Why Memphis?
I cannot blame Iverson for going after the best deal possible. The $3.5M that the Grizz will be paying him next year is higher than what anyone else would give him. I understand the paper chase. I also understand that Iverson was paid $21M last season for basically disappointing everyone. I understand that he made $76M in the last four years of his contract. Do you really need that relative change over the prospect of playing for something meaningful?
A star piggybacking for a title doesn't always work. In fact, it hardly does. Charles Barkley couldn't get one in Houston. Karl Malone couldn't get one in Los Angeles. Alonzo Mourning tried to in New Jersey (and then again in Miami where he did win one as a backup). We'll see if Shaq can do it in Cleveland.
So enjoy your money, Iverson. You have been one of the best players of my age (being that we are the same age) but you will get on that list of one of the greatest players to have never won a championship.
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