NetsDaily: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: The Pros and Cons of an 18-game NFL Schedule

Are the Nets Interested in AI?

Allen Iverson was unhealthy and unhappy at season's end. A back injury limited AI's minutes and Piston coach Michael Curry decided to use him as a sixth man, leading to him saying he'd rather retire than come off the bench. Now, Sam Amico of Pro Basketball News, in assessing Iverson's future, writes "word is" the Wizards and Nets have "some interest" in him. Amico called both possibilities "unlikely".

0 recs  |  Comment 58 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

No thanks! Not anymore

by Tom on Jun 3, 2009 6:16 AM EDT reply actions  

wow, the media must be bored or something.
kidding. :)

by Cliffy on Jun 3, 2009 7:14 AM EDT reply actions  

No way, just let him retire

by Andrew on Jun 3, 2009 7:31 AM EDT reply actions  

IF we signed him we would be one of the worst defensive teams. But again Kiki is our gm so he might want him like he wanted Carmelo, Camby, and Najera lol You never know. He might not cost much

by ben on Jun 3, 2009 7:35 AM EDT reply actions  

idk but if we can get a a.i for a mid level contract minimum (5 million for one year) then i would go for it. It would free up the books, and give us another trade assest in case we got a good offer for carter. I would keep my eyes on this depending on how we look after the draft

by Theblkprince on Jun 3, 2009 7:47 AM EDT reply actions  

AI + AI Lite doesn’t sound like a great passing back court to me…thanks but no thanks

by Sharj on Jun 3, 2009 8:12 AM EDT reply actions  

Yeah, ummm…..I don’t think so!

by JustinNJ on Jun 3, 2009 8:41 AM EDT reply actions  

Iverson is exactly what we need!

The trio is finally complete…VC, Devin and the Answer. Once Lawrence Frank and his staff sit down and flesh out some plays for these guys, the sky is the limit.

Iverson is also a great character guy for the team, he can teach the younger guys much about life.

by Larry Brown on Jun 3, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions  

i can see him back in philly but not here.

by jeffrey sutton on Jun 3, 2009 8:56 AM EDT reply actions  

I can see us trying to sign him if and only if we trade Carter for prospects.

by Chris2 on Jun 3, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions  

I’ve put a lot of thought into this and honestly it’s not a bad idea getting AI to play here for one year. We need to think not just as Nets fans but also as Business minded people. Regardless of how you feel about Iverson, he fills up seats in the arena and has high jersey sales.

It makes great business sense if we can get him for a reasonable amount: $8 Million? The revenue we’ll bring in ticket sales and jersey sales would more than offset the expense of signing him. Iverson is still loved by fans in Philly, I can guarantee you he’ll have a few thousand fans making the trek up the Turnpike to come and watch him play in New Jersey.

On the basketball court, pair him in the backcourt with Devin Harris and we’ll have one of the scariest and fastest backcourt tandems in league. I’m not calling them the reincarnation of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars however If the Bulls can play Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon in the backcourt together, why can’t we play Devin Harris and Allen Iverson together? Granted we’ll be severely limited defensively however we have not been defensive juggernauts in a long, long time since the Kmart days so I wouldn’t mind shifting to a high brand offensive team.

Move Carter to the small forward position, get a defensive minded, rebounding power forward and we’ll have a solid team that’s exciting, scores lots of points, draws crowds to the Meadowlands and compete for a Top 5 spot in the Eastern Conference.

Harris
Iverson
Carter
Defensive PF
Lopez

That’s a team that I want to see on the court next year.

Nets fan since the days of Kenny Anderson, Drazen Petrovich and Derrick Coleman.

Let’s Go Nets!!!

by femdig on Jun 3, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions  

Perfect guy to get. Brook Lopez should never get the ball anyway.

by Kevin on Jun 3, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions  

I don’t recall Sam Amico ever being right before.

But, I have been thinking about this myself. I think there is a greater likelihood than most people realize of the Nets trading DH. I think the Nets have real questions about his lack of defensive effort and the way his game exposes him to recurrent injury risk, however courageous it may be. They can’t build a championship contender, which has to pay 95 – 105 games at a high level, with a PG that doesn’t play D or who gets frequently injured. If they traded him for a good frontcourt player, I could see the Nets renting AI for a season or two and drafting a PG like Flynn to come along at the end of that time. Plus AI still sells tickets.

by mt57 on Jun 3, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions  

Nooooooo! I wouldn’t want to sign him even more if we trade VC for young guys. Do you really want a guy like that influencing your young guys? The guy who can’t bear to not start and whose recent teams play better without him. Not to mention we already have a scoring guard.

No sense whatsoever, and in no way can be possibly justified, even if he plays for the minimum

by muwu on Jun 3, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions  

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO WAY.

by Paul Erstein on Jun 3, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions  

um, yeah….cause he’d start on the nets…

NEXT!!!

by Trenton on Jun 3, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions  

Did you read this piece of BS? This is all what they say:

“Word is Washington has some interest (although that seems unlikely), as does New Jersey (even more unlikely).”

The guy who wrote this mentioned something like 8 teams in that pathetic article. This is BS.

by Andrés on Jun 3, 2009 9:32 AM EDT reply actions  

guess if you really wanted to make a 1 yr run for the championship and are getting boozer and you could get AI for a few million a year. Move VC to the 3.

DH
AI
VC
Boozer
Lopez

With a bench of Dooling, CDR, Anderson, Yi, Hayes, draft pick, Najera.

If these guys could co-exist could be a one hit wonder. Probably more likely than you think – ever been to a game when AI was on visiting team. ALways more fans wearing AI jerseys. IF Nets need to make money, AI could be the answer.

But I would not be in favor of it – just laying out the possibility of how the Nets ownership might be thinking

by Ryan243 on Jun 3, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions  

NO THANK YOU SIR I’LL PASS ON THIS ONE

by Mr. Dollar Bills on Jun 3, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions  

It actually wouldnt be such a bad thing if we had a tough-minded, hard-nosed coach and we could turn Devin back into the defensive PG he was in Dallas. It’s just too bad neither of those things will happen so there’s zero reason to get AI.

by TheMann on Jun 3, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions  

just let the wizards get him. he is a jock. he is shoots 2much. we need a good team. not 1 player.

by tu vieja on Jun 3, 2009 9:56 AM EDT reply actions  

If the wizards make that Amare trade happen and pick-up Iverson they would be pretty nasty.

by Dirt on Jun 3, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions  

ppl make it sound like he cant ball anymore…if anything its his salary id like to see em but then again does he make the baby nets better…..hm? i still ai I Dont wanna see him retire just yet

by Rob on Jun 3, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions  

This is just awful reporting. Maybe this reporter confused Iverson with a power forward. We have zero interest. This isn’t even worth discussing anymore

by austin on Jun 3, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions  

b4 this turns into an AI hatefest consider that The Answer has no reason to come to NJ anyway so it’s not like its happening…probably just a call from kiki to his former player trying to see if AI will play for free for a lottery team playing in the worst arena in the nba with 100 fans in the stands every night. AI said “F… off!!!”

by jirohkanzaki on Jun 3, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions  

If the Nets bring in AI, it would be strictly for jersey & ticket sales. He’d probably be a financially net positive investment at the mid-level exception or less.

by TheNetsFan on Jun 3, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions  

The sarcasm is a flowing here and I’m loving it. No way we take the new AI. Great character guy…hmph. Isn’t it personality first for Rod, Kiki, and coach? Thats all they talk about.

by Kenbkohl on Jun 3, 2009 11:39 AM EDT reply actions  

this just in: Kiki is calling AI and Marbury to form the sickest backcourt in the Swamp.

by JohnY on Jun 3, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions  

Yeah, OK. Can we get Marbury too?

by ekG on Jun 3, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions  

Yeah, this is stupid. But the Washington thing is stupid too. Imagine AI and Gilbert Arenas in the backcourt. Nobody else on that team would ever get to shoot.

by A.S. on Jun 3, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions  

why would we even need AI? He doesn’t address our needs in the slightest.

by johnny on Jun 3, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions  

AI would fit in real good on this team… Not.

by RD on Jun 3, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions  

“ekG Says:

June 3rd, 2009 at 11:46 am
Yeah, OK. Can we get Marbury too?"

LMAO!!

Been there, done that

by Mr. Dollar Bills on Jun 3, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions  

An April Fools joke a few months late….

by PsychoNetsFan34 on Jun 3, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions  

The only positive to getting AI would be ticket sales. We already have an aging 2 guard in Vince Carter who is a much better leader and positive influence for the younger guys than AI would ever be. While a line-up including Harris, VC, AI, and Brook (plus maybe even Boozer) sounds great, we would have two many guys looking to score, even if VC is moved to the 3. It’s probably better to pass on this one, especially if AI wants to start and is going to be hogging the ball.

by KFranchise on Jun 3, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions  

If you get him you better get a tougher coach. He would eat Frank’s lunch. Don’t do it!

by OPutney on Jun 3, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions  

Sign AI. We start next year with Yi, VC, Dooling, AI and DH. It would be worth it just to see AI and Opie deal with each other. Ratner could produce a reality show called The Nets Off Court. Then you see Opie crying and AI saying practice, were talking about practice. LOL.

by libigman on Jun 3, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions  

What a surprise the majority of the brainwashed public has turned against AI! I’ll take AI any day – he is still a top flight player

by Tom Arnold on Jun 3, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions  

I would take AI too, but sadly we have a legit center that is probably going to post around 18 and 9 next season, an actual SG/SF that averaged 20-5-5 this year, and an all star PG already in the starting 5. AI can’t function with players of above average talent, having actual talent around him means he’d have to do stuff like pass and stuff

by Mr. Dollar Bills on Jun 3, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions  

Guaranteed he plays with a chip on his shoulder next year and has a big year.

by Ryan243 on Jun 3, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions  

@Tom Arnold

There’s never been a question that AI has heart and can ball, the only problem is this would then be an all offense team and we dont have a coach that can help keep him under control so the right plays are made. In Detroit his problem was that he wasnt used in the way that hes most effective which is breaking down defenses and scoring, they wanted him to be Chauncey which isnt his game. The Detroit cry babies(oops Pistons) only wanted Chauncey so you could tell from their body language they didnt even give AI a chance. I think once Billups got shipped out the rest of them came to realize their time in Detroit with that team was up. For what its worth, the ppl who say Iverson cant pass should look at his career assists…then remember he spent all but like 2 years(Denver years) of his career with no second player who could actually shoot.

by TheMann on Jun 3, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions  

I have always liked Iverson the player.

It his current state though and how the team is made up, I do not think this would work out. If this was three years ago, I would be all for it if he could come in and work with Harris, Carter, and Lopez and be that veteran player.

But Iverson’s game was never one to give up the ball once he got it.

He will contribute for a team, just needs to be one that will give him unlimited opportunities.

Merchandise sales and tickets would go up though.

by VC3FAN on Jun 3, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions  

I sorta hate to say it but if he could be had on the cheap, it could be an interesting experiment before moving to Brooklyn.

BTW…
Harris 6.9 APG
Iverson 5.0 APG
Carter 4.7 APG

by Dirt on Jun 3, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions  

Let’s stick with the youth movement. We don’t need another disgruntled over aged player.

by William Henry Jones on Jun 3, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions  

Most of last season during the last five minutes of games (and often much longer) the coach played Harris, Carter, Lopez, and two of Dooling, Hayes and Simmons. Even at 80% of his former productivity Iverson is better than anyone from that second group. I don’t see how anyone who supports Frank could oppose signing Iverson. Small ball could actually work if you have three or four superstar smalls.

by pinetar on Jun 3, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions  

Not even a real rumor, just practice, which is an area of AI expertise:

“If I can’t practice, I can’t practice. It is as simple as that. It ain’t about that at all. It’s easy to sum it up if you’re just talking about practice. We’re sitting here, and I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we’re talking about practice. I mean listen, we’re sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we’re talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it’s my last but we’re talking about practice man. How silly is that?

Now I know that I’m supposed to lead by example and all that but I’m not shoving that aside like it don’t mean anything. I know it’s important, I honestly do but we’re talking about practice. We’re talking about practice man. We’re talking about practice. We’re talking about practice. We’re not talking about the game. We’re talking about practice. When you come to the arena, and you see me play, you’ve seen me play right, you’ve seen me give everything I’ve got, but we’re talking about practice right now."

by jabez on Jun 3, 2009 3:28 PM EDT reply actions  

Jabez, you’re just talking about practice, man.

by mt57 on Jun 3, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions  

Honestly, I couldn’t care less if they signed AI or not. He is already played past his prime and sometimes acts like a ballhog. If he is going to end up being injured for most of next season, then having him will be a waste of money. He doesn’t have anything else to proove since he accomplished so much. It’s not that I am against them having someone good, I just don’t think that it’s the players that help the team, but rather than playing a team otherwise we will just have a bunch of showboaters on the floor.

by Tal Barzilai on Jun 3, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions  

But Iverson has cachet!

by Dirt on Jun 3, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions  

We talking about practice? Practice? Not the game, but practice?

by Simon on Jun 3, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions  

wtf? why would we need him
we have devin harris

by kingching on Jun 3, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions  

Practice????

Playoffs????

Who needs either!!

by Mr. Dollar Bills on Jun 3, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions  

WE “DO NOT” need two guys who average over 3 turnovers a game.

by biggie on Jun 3, 2009 5:15 PM EDT reply actions  

If the Nets had LB or similar harda$$ for a coach and had a rebounding PF (since there would be plenty of rebounds) I would not be opposed to signing AI for the MLE, but really only for a year or two.

by Jack Handy on Jun 3, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions  

Brilliant idea – Iverson. Brilliant.
An over the hill ball hog, gunner, attitude case, convicted felon, who gets paid a fortune. With Frank as his coach. Competing with Harris and Carter for touches.

Its beyond ridiculous.

by halwas on Jun 3, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions  

Nope, nope, nope, no, no, no, no no no no nononono NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO NOOOOO EEEEHAWWWW EEEHAWWW

by frigidevil on Jun 3, 2009 10:38 PM EDT reply actions  

No way, this only can happen if we trade VC for a frontcourt guy!

by Pedro Alves (Portugal) on Jun 4, 2009 12:41 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

NetsDaily brings together up-to-the-minute news, analysis and opinion regarding the New Jersey Nets in a comprehensive manner. Join the community and take part in the discussion.
Start posting about the Nets »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

SBNation.com Recent Stories

NEW YORK CITY NY - AUGUST 12:  Kevin Durant #5 looks on during the World Basketball Festival USAB Showcase at Radio City Music Hall on August 12 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for Nike) +4 updates

FIBA World Championships 2010: Team USA Routs Iran 88-51, Clinches Top Spot In Group B

Cleveland Cavaliers' Delonte West, right, shoot over Indiana Pacers' Jeff Foster in the first half of a NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 13, 2009.  (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) link

Celtics Sign Free Agent Delonte West

Rose +2 updates

FIBA World Championships 2010: Team USA Ekes Out 70-68 Win Over Brazil

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

Jay-nets_100_small NetsDaily

Editors

Ticketbody3_edited_small Net Income