Grizzlies make offer to Iverson

[holv03]

Allen Iverson twittered again Wednesday, saying the Grizzlies have made him an offer -- and Memphis says it's true.

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace told ESPN.com Wednesday night that negotiations between the sides have heated up to the point where the Grizzlies have made their first formal offer.

"We're heading into the home stretch before the season, and we have had interest in Allen all summer," Wallace said. "We've been in touch on a fairly consistent basis and had dialogue with his agent, Leon Rose, since the beginning of free agency."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4425122

[SD2042]

Right now, it's a wait and see game. It would help the Grizz in terms of market to put some butts back in FEF. All depends of the offer and how will the AI chemistry help the Grizz get better.

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

Zach, Mayo, Gay and Iverson.

Terrible but I'll go wherever A.I goes, I guess.

[Downtown]

Why is that terrible? That's four pretty good players you listed.

In looking back at that tremendous 1996 draft class, I can see that contracts for the various top players are kind of scattered all over the place. They are all getting long in the tooth. AI was #1 and played very deserving of that status for a decade. Camby makes around $9mil I think and is still effective as a rebounder and shot blocker. Abdur-Rahim is gone with bad knees. Marbury did quite well for himself and just finished up with $20mil last season. Ray Allen is still hanging on with a big contract and doing well as a shooter although his game did slip last season.I've always found it interesting that Allen has never had an agent and does all his own contract negotiating. Antoine Walker is out. Those were the top six.

The other interesting players that still play are Kobe Bryant at #13, who is still at the top of his game and makes an insane amount. Steve Nash at #15 just signed a two year extention for $11mil per season so he's done very well for himelf and even though he's starting to slow down he's still among the top pointguards. So he's in for three more seasons yet. Jermaine O'neil at #17 will enjoy his last year of his $22mil deal and then should be in Iverson's shoes next summer although he's younger than the rest because he was drafted out of highschool. And good old Derek Fisher at #24 keeps rolling along for the Lakers. I'm not sure what he makes but I imagine it's around the MLE. He's done very well for himself considering where he was drafted.

So I think if Memphis gets Iverson to sign for what they're offering it's a good aquisition for them, and one that even if it doesn't turn out won't do damage to their cap situation. I think there's still alot of game left in AI.

[bgassassin]

Zach, Mayo, Gay and Iverson.

Terrible but I'll go wherever A.I goes, I guess.

I'm with other Griz fans that he's using this as a bargaining tool with Charlotte.


Plus if you look at the actual Wallace quotes, he did not say anything that confirmed an offer was made.

[Mezotarkus]

Since the Bobcats can only offer him the veteran minimum I am not sure what kind of "leverage" you think he's going to create with them.

[bgassassin]

Really? Cause what I've seen indicates otherwise. That is unless the Vet minimum he can get is higher than I think it is.

[Jammer]

I'm not a Grizzlies fan. Although, the team may finally be headed in the right direction,
even if Thabeet disappoints. Rudy Gay is a talent.

What I wonder about the Iverson situation is
Why would a team want the remnants of Allen Iverson to require the whole team adjust to Iverson, when 34 year old Allen Iverson should be adjusting the remnants of his game to the team he signs with?

Now, I am prejeudiced. I think Iverson should be coming off the bench for the Lakers, Celtics or Orlando.

But, at 5' 11.75" height without shoes, the guy has lost a step and a half. He was great in 2008, his last great year. Now, he's on a bus to being a bench player.

Iverson is famous for skipping practice, and needing 20 shots per game. How is that gonna sit with Zach and Mayo and the rest of the guys?

If you ask me, Iverson is a chemistry killer for your team. But I already said that I think he should be coming off the bench for the Lakers, Celtics or Orlando.

[boogiesdad]

It looks like Heisley is getting his way.

If only we got get the "Answer" without the "Drama"..........

[hairybyrd]

A.I. has been one of my favorite players for a long time but, I'm not sure I see the method to Heisley's madness. He is slowly crafting one of the most volatile teams in league history. The Grizz will be fun to watch either because they will be killing it softly with 140 a night or Mayo, Gay, Randolph and Iverson will be stealing the ball from one another. Who's the coach? Lionel Hollins still? Yeah, I don't know about that. A.I. is seriously an idol of mine but he didn't go to practice for Larry Brown and Michael Curry and he won't do it for whomever is running the show in Memphis.

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

Miami is reportedly out, they can't offer that 3.5M since they're over the lux tax already.

Bobcats also unlikely.

So yeah, say hello to Allen Iverson, the newest Grizzlie.

[GMCman8390]

Hold on, didn't Memphis just deny the offer?

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

Take this with a grain of salt, but someone reported that Wallace and Iverson was spotted at 31 Flavors and that it's a done deal.

[bgassassin]

So when did this supposed sighting take place?