Heat Should Listen to Wade and Sign A.I.

[mfbmike]

If the Miami Heat really do want to keep Dwyane Wade happy, they had better sign Allen Iverson quickly before he goes to Memphis or Charlotte or some other dead-end destination.

The move makes perfect sense. Just pay Iverson the $5.8 million mid-level exception for a year, and a deal will get done. Quit trying to negotiate a bargain, and just pay the tax.

Imagine the fun that a backcourt of Iverson and Wade could produce this season while the Heat retains its ability to land another big-name free agent next summer and gets serious about winning another championship.

In the meantime, they will have the most exciting backcourt in the NBA, one of those stand-back-and-wait-for-the-highlight type of duets that fans love to see.

Sorry, Mario Chalmers, but you'll have to sit down and watch for a year. You may have started all 82 games last season at point guard, but this isn't about planning for the future. It's about winning games now, about keeping Wade happy.

It's been a long time since the NBA had a starting backcourt that averaged 60 points a game, and that would get everyone's attention. No, neither one is a true point guard, and yes, they would be be a defensive liability at times, but putting Wade and Iverson together could make the Heat a traveling road show, and spark an unbelievable interest at a time when the Heat needs to sell tickets.

Iverson deserves it, too.

He is coming off the most painful season of his career, traded to Detroit, where he didn't fit, and where he insanely was asked to come off the bench. At 34, he remains the toughest little man who ever played the game, still full of pride and still good enough to score when he wants.

He has done too much for the NBA through the years to let him finish his career with one of those also-ran teams. No one wants to remember him pouting in Detroit. We want to see him go out in his typical blaze of glory, pinballling his way into the lane to hit an impossible shot.

Both Wade and the Heat management already know they can't win big this season because of their salary cap plans for next summer. They made the playoffs and lost in the first round last season, leaving Wade filled with frustration.

Wade wants to feel like a winner again and to be relevant, which is not how he felt last season when he was overused and beat up beyond belief as he tried to carry the load. Iverson would be everything he needs. And let's see opponents try to guard Iverson and Wade on opposite sides of the floor.

If they shine together, it will make it even more attractive next summer when they try and add a free agent like Chris Bosh or Dirk Nowitzki or Carlos Boozer. Iverson would be happy to tailor his game to win his first NBA title.

Even with Iverson this season, they won't be good enough to consistently beat the likes of Orlando, Cleveland or Boston. But with Iverson, Miami would be an upset possibility every night, and that's a start.

Good read regarding the A.I. to Miami situation.

Like it's been said in the article, the Heat really have nothing to lose. They should do it.

 

[SHOGUN]

Iverson and 'Melo brought in tickets for Denver, but the team floundered in the playoffs. I don't think Iverson would be enough to show Wade that the Heat are in it for a championship.

 

[mfbmike]

It's obvious the Heat aren't going to be championship contenders this year, with or without A.I. It's a matter of showing Wade that the team is willing to go out and get players that can help Wade. It's true, he got battered and bruised last season night in and night out.

At the very least, you sign A.I. Give it a chance. You have to keep your franchise player happy, expecially in his contract year. I'd cut my wrists if the Heat let Wade walk for being stingy and not wanting to give one of the best scorers to ever play the game the MLE for 1 lousy year.

 

[mfbmike]

Yeah, I also found those 2 statements to be somewhat outlandish as well. They should let AI fill a 6th man role where he can get all the shots he wants as part of the 2nd unit.

Chalmers opened up a lot of eyes in his rookie season and doesn't deserve have his starting job taken from him.

 

[Joey P]

AI should go play overseas. Until he plays PG, exclusively, he shouldn't be allowed to play on teams that want to win. He doesn't make any team better, he only wants to get his, like he is doing now, tryin to get money.

 

[jeffx]

"Iverson would be happy to tailor his game to win his first NBA title."

massive assumption...

True. Wade & AI together? How can anyone think that combo can work, as much as the Answer likes to dominate the ball.

 

[FedEx227]

It wouldn't work. Wade would have to become a primary off the ball jump shooter or Iverson would have to become a distributor, neither of which will happen.

 

[Maestro]

AI should go play overseas. Until he plays PG, exclusively, he shouldn't be allowed to play on teams that want to win. He doesn't make any team better, he only wants to get his, like he is doing now, tryin to get money.

:bosh:

 

[The Messenger]

They should let AI fill a 6th man role where he can get all the shots he wants as part of the 2nd unit.

That's the problem with the whole situation lol. If Iverson is willing to do that, then I want him on the Grizzlies. However, Iverson is stubborn so who knows.

 

[Archer]

Yeah, I also found those 2 statements to be somewhat outlandish as well. They should let AI fill a 6th man role where he can get all the shots he wants as part of the 2nd unit.

Chalmers opened up a lot of eyes in his rookie season and doesn't deserve have his starting job taken from him.

Didnt AI say he would rather retire than not start?

 

[The Messenger]

Name one star that would come off the bench and that wouldn't be stubborn

Manu Ginobili.

VICTORY IS OURS!!!

 

[The Messenger]

You're comparing him to the likes of Iverson? And Manu is always hurt so being on the bench is nothing to him :laugh:

Yes, I just compared Manu Ginobili to Allen Iverson....

Or did I just answer your question?:sheep:

 

[The Messenger]

I was in dismay didn't mean to put the question mark, more of a rhetorical question.
Sure Ginobli's a very solid player, but he's not even the best player on their team.

What I mean't was would Kobe, Lebron, Granger, D-Wade, any of these guys come of the bench for their respective teams so chipper? Kobe could actually afford to possibly with the lineup he'll be suiting up with

You said to name a star who doesn't mind coming off the bench. I named one. When Ginobili is healthy, he's the third best SG in the game behind Kobe and D-Wade so don't give me the "sure Ginobili's a very solid player". Jamal Crawford's a fucking solid player, Ginobili is not just very solid.

And you just compared modern day Iverson to Kobe, LeBron, Granger, and D-Wade. Iverson isn't the best player on his team anymore. There's no team right now that would implement Iverson as their franchise player or their best player. He's going to be a 4-6 guy on any team he goes to.

EDIT
Oh yeah, it wasn't a rhetorical question. The answer doesn't need to be given to a rhetorical question because everyone already knows the answer. You posed a question where you just assumed you were right, but you were wrong.

 

[LC AAU]

Thrid best SG in the game....Not sure, I guess when he's played with one of the PF's who may go down as argueably the best PF thats played the game. Ginobli is a solid, maybe great role player, but he could never, lead the Spurs to a championship without Parker or Duncan.

I'd really like for you to :stfu: and :gtfo:


kthxbai.

 

[jeffx]

All those guys play within a system. Iverson just likes to run around with his head cutoff. His only chance at sniffing a contending team is taking a role position and playing within that role.

If he doesn't want to, that's fine. Go play for a team like the Grizzlies, run around with your head cutoff doing whatever you want, and continue to lose.

The game has passed you by, Iverson.

..or come play for the Knicks.

 

[corbin]

When Ginobili is healthy, he's the third best SG in the game

I know I'm just knit picking here but I think Joe Johnson, Brandon Roy, and if you count Granger as a SG would have something to say about that.

Regardless, I agree with everything you are saying. Manu is not a solid player, he is a franchise player and I have no doubts in my mind he could lead a team. For him to even be put in the group with Roy, Johnson, Kobe, and Wade.. that alone should tell you hes not just a "solid" or "role" player.

 

[Archer]

I know I'm just knit picking here but I think Joe Johnson, Brandon Roy, and if you count Granger as a SG would have something to say about that.

Regardless, I agree with everything you are saying. Manu is not a solid player, he is a franchise player and I have no doubts in my mind he could lead a team. For him to even be put in the group with Roy, Johnson, Kobe, and Wade.. that alone should tell you what he is.

Granger is a SF , sure he can play SG very effectivly but hes best at SF

Gotta love a guy who can play SG , SF and PF

 

[The Messenger]

I know I'm just knit picking here but I think Joe Johnson, Brandon Roy, and if you count Granger as a SG would have something to say about that.

Regardless, I agree with everything you are saying. Manu is not a solid player, he is a franchise player and I have no doubts in my mind he could lead a team. For him to even be put in the group with Roy, Johnson, Kobe, and Wade.. that alone should tell you hes not just a "solid" or "role" player.

Yeah we had this discussion before about top 5 shooting guards and small forwards. For arguments sake, Granger and Durant are Small Forwards.

As far as Roy and Johnson go, I will give you Roy, but it's close and I think it's really a toss up. One, because Roy has already proven he can be a leader. He's a great scorer. I think it's very close.

As far as Joe Johnson goes, I think he's more along the lines of a chucker like a lot of people call him. I don't think he's as bad about it as Jamal Crawford and Corey Maggette, but he's one of those guys who is going to take close to 20 shots and 5 3 pointers a game. Manu to me is a guy who can live with 12 shots a game and still average around 17-20 points. On the Hawks, I think Ginobili could easily be doing what Joe Johnson is doing, if not better.

Not saying Joe is bad or anything, he's probably my 5th SG, but I think Ginobili is better.

 

[The Messenger]

John Havlicek

And... Bill Walton. That's two Hall of Famers who became 6th men.

 

[The Messenger]

Thrid best SG in the game....Not sure, I guess when he's played with one of the PF's who may go down as argueably the best PF thats played the game. Ginobli is a solid, maybe great role player, but he could never, lead the Spurs to a championship without Parker or Duncan.

I love this argument. Ginobili couldn't lead San Antonio to a championship without Parker or Duncan. Oh really? That's like saying MJ couldn't lead the Bulls to a championship without Pippen and Rodman. Or Kobe couldn't lead the Lakers to a championship without Shaq or D-Fish. Or Kevin Garnett couldn't lead the Celtics to a championship without Paul Pierce or Ray Allen. Or Chauncey Billups couldn't lead the Pistons to a championship without Rasheed Wallace or Rip Hamilton. Or Kobe couldn't lead the Lakers to a championship without Pau and Odom.

You see what I'm getting at here?