Karl Endorses A.I.
If there's any NBA player in need of some letters of recommendation right now it is unrestricted free agent Allen Iverson. Once thought of as one of the toughest and explosive players in the league Iverson is now having trouble finding a team willing to give him a multiyear contract.
Currently the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Clippers are showing interest in the "Answer", with the Clippers really intriguing Iverson because of their impressive collection of talent. Mike Dunleavy took some time to talk to Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, who coached Iverson for just over two seasons. While it was when Karl's team got rid of Iverson that they really turned the corner and became a championship caliber team, Karl sees great potential for Iverson as a Clipper as long as he's willing to accept being a reserve.
"I actually spent about a half hour with Mike Dunleavy last night, I told him: 'If you can get AI to come off the bench and buy in to being a scorer off the bench, I think it can work,'" said Karl on the Dan Patrick Show. "And, Mike - certain systems and certain styles of coaches - I think Dunleavy plays a way that AI can fit in to. If you're going to be a team oriented, ball movement offensive team, I don't think that fits, but I think Mike likes to run some isolations, he likes to run spacing sets, and I think AI could fit in there."
The biggest problem that Iverson has right now is that his failures in Detroit are fresh in everyone's mind. After switching places with Chauncey Billups the Pistons went from contenders to pretenders, barely making it to the playoffs only to be swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round. By that time Iverson was not even dressing out as an injury forced his season to end prematurely. Iverson's presence wouldn't have changed the outcome though but as Karl explains Detroit just wasn't a good fit for him.
"Detroit runs 100 plays," Karl stated. "They've been the most play oriented offensive team for six, seven years."
All throughout the regular season it was Iverson who served as the scapegoat for Detroit and their struggles. However, once the free agency period was on the horizon and Joe Dumars listened to some of the feedback regarding head coach Michael Curry he decided that it was best for the franchise to go in another direction. If Detroit had a head coach with more experience things could have gone much differently, according to Karl.
"It's the schism between personnel and coaching - I think personnel sometimes think they'll adjust, they'll make the adjustments, they'll figure it out," said Karl. "And, then you got a young coach like Michael Curry that might not have the versatility to figure it out."
Karl's statements on Iverson have to hold a lot of weight for Dunleavy especially considering the significant improvements his team made after his departure. There's definitely a lot of mutual respect between the two coaches, who actually met up because of something completely unrelated to basketball.
"He brought Iverson up; we actually met on something else, actually a business situation," Karl revealed. We're part owners in a hotel in Costa Rica that we wanted to talk about, and then we started talking about AI."
This is a critical time in Iverson's career because these final few years could really have an effect on how he is remembered. With each day that passes his appearance in the 2001 NBA Finals becomes more and more of a distant memory, clouded by the fact that he's been one of the hardest players to play with in the history of the league. Although it may be his preference to start, it's time for Iverson to accept that he's best suited to come off the bench at this point in his career. The Clippers present a great opportunity for him as long as he accepts putting the team success ahead of his own.
Click here to listen to the entire interview with Coach Karl on the Dan Patrick Show!
Lee Signing Soon?
David Lee is on the verge of getting paid after a breakout campaign in 2008-2009 in which he averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Knicks offered him a long-term contract almost immediately after the free agency period began but rather than accepting it the Lee camp has waited to see if a better offer comes around.
The Portland Trail Blazers have enough money under the cap to sign Lee to an offer sheet that the Knicks would likely be unable to match because of their desire to have cap room next offseason. There was some interest from the Blazers in Lee early on, but instead they made plays for Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap. Now that they've missed out on their top two targets though they could finally settle for Lee. Either way Knicks' team president Donnie Walsh is expecting a resolution soon.
"It probably will be next week, the way Mark (Bartlestein) talks," Walsh said to Marc Berman of the New York Post. "My feeling is one way or another. He's looking to get an offer sheet that reflects David's value. I hope he doesn't so I can get him at the value I think he's at. There's a disparity."
Lee's deal with the Knicks' is back-loaded in order to not jeopardize their dream of signing LeBron James away from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Should the Blazers really want Lee and feel like he's their missing piece all they have to do is offer a front-loaded deal similar to the one they offered Millsap. As much as the Knicks like Lee, they'd be forced not to match.
Odom Taking Over
Lamar Odom's agent, Jeff Schwartz, has played hardball with the Los Angeles Lakers and as a result team owner Jerry Buss has pulled all contract offers off the table. The Lakers presented Odom with a very reasonable three-year offer worth between $27-30 million, while there is some speculation that they also could have offered a four-year deal worth $36 million. Schwartz didn't even bother to respond to either offer though instead talking to the Miami Heat and holding out to see if Portland shows interest, which angered Buss enough cut off negotiations for the time being completely.
Schwartz may want to use Miami and Portland as leverage, but Odom is ready to get the wheels moving. Los Angeles has been his home for most of his NBA career and for the first time he has the opportunity to play with childhood friend Ron Artest. With the aspirations to be nothing other than a Laker Odom took the initiative to call Buss before Schwartz burns the bridge completely.
This information comes from CBS's Jim Hill. With Odom getting involved in the negotiations it's hard to imagine things not coming to a close soon. Odom doesn't want to go anywhere and the Lakers know that they cannot replace him. A deal should get worked out, it's just a matter of time.
NBA Chat
I'll be hosting my weekly chat at 5 pm EST today, you can get your questions in here. I was in Las Vegas last week, so summer league will be the hot topic but as always basketball questions from all levels are welcomed. If you're in need of an immediate chat fix checkout yesterday's from Anthony Macri and Travis Heath.
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