Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 9:00 am  |  208 responses

Clippers Want Allen Iverson, Too

by Marcel Mutoni

When the offseason began, it looked as thought no one wanted the services of one Allen Iverson. But all of that seems to have changed of late, as the number of teams fighting to acquire the former MVP has now reached four.

According to the LA Times, the Los Angeles Clippers are the latest squad to throw their hat into the A.I. lottery. And they’re reportedly “very serious” about this:

Talks between the Clippers and the free-agent guard have been characterized as “very serious,” according a source close to Iverson who was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.

The Clippers declined to comment. They have long been intrigued by Iverson, having come close to acquiring him in the past. The process has moved far enough along that they have spoken to Camby about Iverson since they were close as teammates in Denver. Baron Davis is said to be on board with adding Iverson.

With Miami apparently unwilling to offer more than $2 million next season, the 34-year old A.I. has his eye on the Clippers’ mid-level exception. How he would fit in on the Clips – or if he’d even be willing to come off their bench – is anyone’s guess.

Incidentally, Blake Griffin dominated in his quasi-NBA debut (27 points on 11-15 shooting). Call me skeptical, but one can’t help but get the feeling that should the Iverson deal come to fruition, Blake won’t see many stat lines like the one last night too many times during his rookie season.

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  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Rodney K., AI is mostly a shooting guard. Oh and find me a point guard that’s 2nd all time scoring in the playoffs not named Allen Iverson? Thanks.

  • Rusty

    B diddy and AI on the same team, imagine if they started trying to one up each other, some ankles might get broke.

  • http://slamonline Negetivekreep

    Damn, AI needs to Make like (Kobe 08′) and facilitate, for his legacy’s sake. Even if this is his last season.

  • http://wordonthestreetsmag.com Rodney K

    AI is someone you want to root for, but the reality is he’s not a an elite player! He’s career speaks for that!

    And if he goes to Los Angeles then we have to give Donald Sterling the “Automatic Fail” award for having a diamond in Blake Griffin and a decent mix with B-Davis, Eric Gordon and Thornton and ruining the whole dish by adding someone who voluntarilly decided not to be the 3rd guard in a Detroit line-up. But he’s going to sit behind Baron and Eric Gordon? I don’t know how or why he’s doing it, but he gets the “Automatic Fail” for that!

  • gus kasimis

    allen iverson is what was wrong with the nba for many years hes 5’10 he takes bad shots shoots 40 percent and then scores 30 to 40 points and espn makes it a big deal especially when he gets 3 steals in the game they fail always to mention his poor sportmanship how he doesnt pass the ball to the open man especially on the post and how he guards no one on the court did you watch the pistons play the celtics this year rondo was blowing by AI ON EVERY POSSESION HE MADE HIM LOOK REAL PAST HIS PRIME HES NOT THE SAME IVERSON HES NOT THE FASTEST GUY IN THE LEAGUE ANYMORE PEOPLE GOT INTO HIS GAME BECAUSE HES 5’10 160 AND HE DRIVES THE BALL TO THE BASKET AND TAKES THE HITS WELL NOW ITS OVER FIR HIM HE CANT TAKE IT TO THE CUP ANYMORE HES GOTTEN ABUSED! HE WILL NOT EQUATE TO ONE MORE WIN THIS YEAR MAYBEE YOU MIGHT LOSE A COUPLE MORE GAMES BECAUSE OF HIS BAD SHOTS!

  • http://www.broy7.com nate the great

    ok i semi agree with nick/rodney, since they are the same person.
    but a.i. is a living legend, and did great things in his career. that man is made of heart and dedication.. unless its dedication to practice.
    but what nick says make since. he shoots a low percentage, and scores 30 points.
    he isnt a great teammate, and kinda does ruin the teams he goes too.
    but idk iv always liked him.

  • http://slamonline Blaze

    I think its tough to root against AI. He has changed the culture of the league, at first he was called a thug amongst other things. But after a few years of staying away from trouble and playing his a$$ off, he has become not only accepted but also liked by the average fan, and parents of young fans. I wish him success, but dont think he’ll get his ring unless he plays more like a pure point. (pass the effing ball sometimes).

  • Tuomas

    I’d frame the first sentence of Spammy’s 2.09 comment… in the purely hypothetical situation that he was relevant at some point. Way to negate everything you ever said on this site, bro. As for the single most asinine comment ever on this site, however, I’ll still go with Rico saying MJ wasn’t better than Vince.

  • Tuomas

    Also, AllenP, I don’t know what to say if you’ve sometimes taken even one of Spammy’s comments seriously. What the F, I’m a Detroit fan but he still makes me want to defend AI.

  • http://adfji.com Jukai

    Since I like to play Devil’s Advocate, Teddy is as ill-qualified to speak about Iverson as Nikos is. I believe Teddy said Iverson was twice the player Stockton was.

  • Randy Brown

    Iverson deserves to play out the rest of his career gunning on a mediocre team. it’s the way he’ll be remembered, as a scorer, not a winner

  • flash

    hes lucky a team still wants him, after that bull ish he pulled on detroit

  • breeze

    i agree with randy brown….hes not a winner …hes mr buckets /cancer/slash ill cry /slash stackhouse ill still beat you down..

  • Tuomas

    Whoa Jukai, that’s deep too.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I’m going to take my own advice.

  • tavoris

    Allenp…u even suprised me by going down that road. It is starting to be clear that one poster has like 5 aliases that he posts under.

  • L

    AI would be a great fit as a bull or as a heat alongside D.Wade. Hope he doesn’t end up in some useless teams like the griz or the clips. The guy deserves better or he should retire..L

  • Me

    I was watching the 2008 all-star game yesterday and as of that moment Iverson was leading the league in minutes played. Tell me how he can lead the league in minutes and he shouldn’t be a starter in the league only a year later… please.

  • http://slamonline Blaze

    Be cool if he and Stackhouse went back to Philly. If he has his jersey retired he will be most remembered as a Sixer, and they still have a lot of love for him there.

  • http://adfji.com Jukai

    tavoris: you JUST figured that out? The dude admits that all five of those guys are him.

  • David Curran

    wat does every1 has against him… slam have him down as the 39th greatest player of all time.. I know hes past his prime but come on, he shud just retire

  • http://www.anwilson.blogspot.com rainman10

    I’ve wondered how Iverson having been able to maintain such a high scoring and assist average for his career and still gettin hated on way too much. His skill set and accomplishments at his size compare only to Zeke, and #11 had some nice, nice teammates during his time in Detroit. People have some short #%^!#$ !@%$#@1 memories. Dudes need to go watch some Iverson from his MVP and eastern conference championship seasons. Okay he lacks maybe the biggest thing a superstar should possess: making his teammates better. Screw the haters. aint nobody need ‘em anyway.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ KOSTAS KOUFOS

    @Rodney K….:my sincere apologies for saying that we are the same guy…i never thought that guys(tavoris,Jukai,etc) would be that dumb to actually believe this. I’ve never used a nickname that is not a greek player (ok, except Maria kallas, nadia, and Muresan…) although i cannot prove it(doesn’t matter anyway)…i am just writing this for you to continue post here. Sorry again.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Jukai, you need to stop exaggerating fool. I never said Allen Iverson was twice the player Stockton is. In my opinion though, he’s better. Stop exaggerating.
    That’s not a farfetched opinion, dude. That doesn’t matter much, though, because they were VERY different.
    Now Greek Dude saying JR freaking Smith is better than Allen Iverson. That’s ridiculous. Just like Rodney K. saying he was never an “elite player.”

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    @ rainman10: Okay, but how the heck do you make Aaron McKie and Tyrone Hill better than what they actually ARE?

  • http://wordonthestreetsmag.com Rodney K

    lol For future reference, I am me lol I’m not anyone else!

  • http://deleted David Curran

    Iverson is not better than Stockon was, I like him but no way hes better!

  • tavoris

    Jukai…I really didn’t pay attention until the other day…

  • http://adfji.com Jukai

    David: We know dude. We know. Don’t bother.

  • http://adfji.com Jukai

    Teddy: A spade is a spade man. To me, saying Iverson is better than Stockton is like saying JR is better than Iverson. It’s that ridiculous to me.

  • https://slamonline.com Allenp

    Yeah, I’m an Iverson fan and I wouldn’t put him over Stockton.
    On indivdiual talent, sure, but the game is about more than individual talent. Stockton was a master.
    Payton > Stockton though. Lol.

  • http://jakeandamir.com Tealish

    @Jukai: I don’t think Iverson is better than Stockton, but that is not the most outrageous statement where you can, in the right mind, compare it to the JR Smith comment. Iverson could do a lot of things Stockton could not. And of course, the reverse is also true. They are HOFers with entirely different styles and skillsets and so it’s difficult to compare. I’m going with short shorts myself, but if someone were to argue in Ivy’s favor, I wouldn’t lose my shit.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    ^^^ Exactly what I was saying, except I’m in favor of Iverson. Seriously though, Jukai is the master of exaggeration. JR Smith isn’t even an All-Star yet.

  • George B

    I am forming a team in Rwanda. Can somebody give me his agent’s number?

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ KOSTAS KOUFOS

    @George B…..:Hater…shame on you!!!! We are talking about a living legend here. 28 ppg for his career. Enough said.

  • http://wordonthestreetsmag.com Rodney K

    4:40 am est time! I couldn’t sleep. I woke thinking “Allen Iverson is not close to a hall of fame player” This disturbing me now. It stays on my mind all day. I mean, Mark Jackson, Mark Price, Tim Hardaway, I’d argue Rod Strickland are all better pg’s than A.I.! And of all those players, only Mark Jackson could be considered a slam dunk HOF’er AI needs to be lucky he’s a little dude and we all have empathy for the small guy, cause if he’s 6’3 and up, he’s Ricky Davis and no one would speak of him and his terrible ball skills! Now, I’m gonna to try to go back to sleep. But I’ll say it again, A.I. isnt a HOF’er, not as Point or Shooting guard! Not in my mind and it shouldn;t be in yours

  • http://wordonthestreetsmag.com Rodney K

    WAIT!!! @kostaskoufus called him a living legend! 28 pts per game career! It took him 22 shots to get 20 points! If that’s Kobe Bryant we’re complaining. Matter of fact, if you put AI on that Laker team that he played in the finals, they’d loose in the 2nd round! Kobe, Allen Iverson and Shaq! That would be a jump ball situation and the point guard in this case isnt loosing which means his team would loose. He’s wack! Sorry, not a fan!

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ KOSTAS KOUFOS

    @Rodney K…..:1)if you lose your sleap for A.I…well…that is no good… 2)all those for guys are much better players than A.I. ,it is almost a shame to compare them to him,…A.I. won’t make the HOF(if he ever makes it cause, who knows, there is always the slight possibility that exists a god somewhere in this universe…) as a point guard or shooting guard, he will make it as a shoe seller (and he completely deserves it….as a writter said here some months ago:”the best we’ve seen since M.J”…).

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ KOSTAS KOUFOS

    by the way: mentioning Stricland in the same sentence with Tim Hardaway would have Timmy gone mad (if you smell what i’m cooking…)

  • http://deleted hillbilly

    C’mon, Clips…everyone knows there’s no ‘I’verson in ‘team’. The sooner this no-defense-playin’ ballhog & his supersized ego are out of the league, the better.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ KOSTAS KOUFOS

    @hilbilly…..:Hater!!!!30ppg. You want more…???

  • http://deleted hillbilly

    Kostas, 30 ppg per game is a great stat. But, when you’re constantly letting guys get to the rim for easy buckets, you’re actually hurting your team more than helping it. I know Iverson has tremendous heart & passion for the game…he played hurt, etc…but, the guy’s still a one dimensional player at best.

  • rob stewart

    Is it really possible that this could be A.I.’s last season? I never really considered it but I guess it could be. When/If he retires I will officially be old.

  • Quail

    Im gonna say it one more time to get my point across….. IVERSON, GO TO MINNESOTA!!!

  • nkscouting

    Iverson early in his career was a fantastic player!! But he should have retired several years ago. He’d make a good backup for the Clippers, who need more depth in their backcourt, but he would never be satisfied with being a backup: he’s just not that coachable.

    Bad move by the Clippers!

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Hi.

  • Pardeep

    THE REAL REASON PEOPLE HATE A.I. is because of his gangster IMAGE they hate braids,tats and cornrows and gangster rap albums. HOW CAN YOU ARGUE AGAINST HIS CAREER. 24,000 points and 5,511 assits for his career. 27.1 ppg(3rd all-time).6.2 apg. 2.2 spg. 6 feet tall!!! 00-01 MVP, 10 Time All-Star, 4 Time Scoring Champion, 3 Time Steal Champion, 2 Time All-Star game MVP, Second all time in Playoff PPG with 30 ppg for playoffs. The least talented team in finals history was his and he lead them there. He has the biggest heart in the league and he played so many games hurt. The GUY IS A LEGEND. HE IS TOP 25 EVER and he is BETTER than STOCKTON WAS. STOP HATING ON HIS CULTURE. THE GUY REVULOTIONIZED the NBA. He is the most underrated legend ever. dont be ignorant.

  • Pardeep

    oh yeah plus he was the 96-97 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ KOSTAS KOUFOS

    @Pardeep…:IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!IVERSON!!!!

  • FoCo

    Holy crap….I couldn’t even read the last 1/4 of this nonsense. People need to straight get off AI’s sack. He is the League’s version of Brett Farve. Used to be great and needs to accept a smaller roll or just pack it up altogether but their egos won’t let them. (AI’s talent is undeniable but I would argue he has NEVER been a good team player. dude can’t coexist with peers.) The Answer = The Cancer at this point.

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