Why Iverson makes sense LONG-TERM
by beelove on Nov 18, 2009 11:08 AM EST
8 comments
(Nobody likes thinking, but sometimes you gotta to do it, for the sake of your team! So instead of bulimically regurgitating the same cliches about "inhibiting players development" and "short-term excitement" I've made the ultimate sacrifice -- because I know you Knicks execs are reading!)
1) Tossing players into games does not equal player development. Force guys into the wrong roles, push them before they're ready, expose them to a lifeless, nihilistic environment where they have no chance to win, and it can corrupt players. Look at Chandler and Duhon, who get worse every game.
2) Let me don my evil banker's hat for a moment. Players are assets which appreciate and depreciate in value. Losing depreciates the entire roster/portfolio. We're looking to barter almost everything we have, but the more we lose, the less each piece is worth. A few wins will make everyone worth more.
3) Companies buy distressed assets, fix them up, then resell them at a higher price. The knicks should assume this philosophy because we have no pick next year, and nothing of value at present to trade. We have to garbage pick and refurbish.
With 1-3 in mind, signing Iverson makes sense, not just to sell tix now, but to rebuild for the future. If AI plays well, all players will look better, and be worth more -- AND, we can trade a renovated AI to a contender at the Feb trade deadline and get a pick or prospect. And I'd actually go for a 2 yr contract so that if he does have a renaissance, we have one more worm on the hook in the waters of 2010.
Will he play well? I don't know -- if not, waive him and we're back where we started. No harm done.
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Well he played for Georgetown
So by law he has to play for the Knicks at some point, right? :)
I like the idea of signing him and using him as possible trade bait to a contender in a few months…But wouldn’t go 2 years
Uh.
This would all make some sense if it was another problem player and not Allen Iverson. The guy is a 5’11, pure-scoring, two-guard who plays a style of both offense and defense that is predicated on the two steps that he’s lost over the years. The only way we could recoup on him as an asset, would be to get him a new pair of legs, reverse the aging process, trade for circa 2001 Aaron McKie, Mutumbo, George Lynch and Eric Snow, and poison the Celtics’, Cavs’, Hawks’, and Magic’s drinking water.
Even if he, as an asset, rebounded to his highest peak, he’d still be a 35 year year old who plays the most athletically demanding position in the lig, yet does not cater and must be catered to. A rebuilding team would want to go younger and a contending team would want a player who fit more seamlessly. Pardon the pun, but no matter which way you shake it, Iverson isn’t the answer.
"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy
by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Nov 18, 2009 11:52 AM EST reply actions
pass
I think Iverson is good to have this year. But HE isn’t interested in rebuilding either. Iverson is on the downside of his career and he wants a championship. He is no longer a cornerstone as much as an additional piece. Let him come and rejuvenate this team and show other teams he still holds value. Come next year, NY will be expecting to bring in a FA who will demand a lot of touches each game. When that happens, Iversons role will be very much reduced and it will be trouble for both sides.
by Chris Child's Fist on Nov 18, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions
Wait....
getting him for the rest of this year is questionable. He aint really gonna help, but just might get the Garden to sell out every night and get ESPN to talk about the Knicks for a week or 2.
WOW.
…but sign him long term? WTF?
HELL no. HELLZ no. HELL MFin no.
Everyone in the league knows what he is. He’s a cancer. He might, just might, still be able to score 19+ points a game.
Holy shit.
Who cares, he does nothing else for the team.
He’d be a waste of signing past 2 weeks this season, and it would be very Isiah Thomas of the Knicks to sign Iverson to an extension should they happen to get him.
Very Isiah Thomas. You want to go through that session of cancer again? We doin the chemo now…you wanna relapse?
"It ain't over till its over"---
Iverson makes sense for the rest of the season...
Beyond that, I think he has proven with his stints in Detroit and Memphis (can that be considered a stint?) that he cannot handle playing within a system and understanding his role.
For the year, Duhon and Chandler just aren’t cutting it, so a motivated Iverson, who has something to prove after Memphis, could work well until the trading deadline or the rest of the season a la Denver. For more than that, its a waste— killing cap space and a roster spot for a position that the Knicks desperately want to and need to improve next season.
I still have a feeling that the Knicks, supposing that Curry can stay healthy, will trade him and (most likely) Hughes to Houston for McGrady’s expiring deal, supposing McGrady cannot stay relatively healthy and/or help the Rockets. Given Yao’s uncertain future and Curry’s new upside, plus some cap space for Houston, it is something to consider.
Throwing in Iverson here in a trade might work (assuming he understands his role). Conversely, McGrady and Iverson on the same court will give MSG enough buzz to go into free agency. Either way, for the remainder of the season, Iverson could make sense. Beyond that, its just dumb.
interesting point about McGrady
I dont want him either, but I can see that trigger pulled. You are right that Iverson makes sense too.
But, he played a good role in Denver. They did well, but shit, I don’t know how they got Detroit to swap Billups. I would have done that in a second too. Iverson cannot handle playing in a system where he isnt told his role. Both Detroit and Memphis told him at the beginning that he would start. Obviously, neither team started him and that deception pissed him off (as it would anyone else). Also, when you establish that sort of shady communication at the beginning of your relationship, I think its pretty safe to say said relationship will not last.
by Chris Child's Fist on Nov 19, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
Absolutely
It was stupid on their part to “promise” him a starting job, relent, expect him to be OK with it and expect his diminished role to not affect the team. Iverson does have something to prove, especially to those teams that have wronged him.
If Iverson can be the Iverson of Denver, it can’t hurt. Give him the starters job from the jump, Duhon isn’t getting it done. The season is supposed to be a wash anyways.
I’d be even more excited if the Knicks pulled off a Denver-like Iverson-Billups trade for McGrady. Neither has to be brought back in for next season, but it would bring a buzz that has been lacking for a long time and might even allow a superstar free agent to be to see the attention two older superstars get in NY. Food for thought— either/both scenarios can’t hurt.
Iverson?
I think he can definitely play the PG position much better than Duhon in my view. He has a lot of energy and he and hughes in the back court would be a re-unification of the Philly backcourt. They know each other -both are quick and can be defensive disruptors.
It boggles my mind that people think Nash can play till 40 but not Iverson? He is still an awesome player and he can be useful to a teams development – practicing against a hall of famer is never a bad thing.
If Curry gets healthy and is actually back to his efficient self 12 pts/5 rebounds in 20 minutes- thats enough -especially at crunch time -when you NEED to have the option of feeding it to the post. Iverson has never had the opportunity to play with a classic post big guy.
Thats what this team needs -balance. D’Antoni’s foolish hit 3 and keep shooting 3s is idiotic and can nt work at the HIGHEST LEVEL. It may work in the NCAA but the athletes in the NBA -are far too superior -for you to think -pick n roll + 3 pters = championship.
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