An Answer To The Question: Who To Sign Now?

by kickbrass on Jul 4, 2009 8:26 AM PDT

OK, Hedo dumped us...

Now what? Well, what do we need from our Free Agent signing this year? Let's see:

- Veteran presence

- Good shooting

- Ballhandling

- Shot creation

- Playoff experience

As it turns out, there happens to be a couple of guys out there who fit the bill. One is Lamar Odom, who we probably won't be able to pry away from sunny Los Angeles. The other one is currently being ignored by most teams, his market price is incredibly low. He's been in the NBA Finals. He's averaged 20+ ppg for most of his career. Yes, he's on the downhill side of his career, but if we sign him to a 2-3 year deal we can use him as an expiring contract. Oh yeah, and he is a former MVP.

His name? Allen Iverson. Granted, there are a lot of questions marks for someone who calls himself The Answer. Will he be able to fit in the locker room? Share the court with Roy? Spot up for shots? I think if he can be had for a reasonable price, he's better than any of the other short-term free agent options out there. It would be a BOLD move by KP that would certainly ruffle a lot of feathers. AI is not a thug. The guy is a winner. Remmeber the Olympics when he was the only one who played his heart out while Larry Brown was whining about his roster? The guy is a warrior and I'd love to have him on my team.

We need to remember a few things as the free agency period winds down: first, this cap space is a ONE TIME opportunity. "Standing pat" is a BAD idea, because this is the one chance that we get to sign a player without sending anyone else out.

It's going to be a lot harder to get Kirk Hinrich now that Gordon is going to Detroit.

Devin Harris: no.

There's nobody out there who will catapult us into immediate contender status. This might be the best way to tide us over.

So that's my suggestion: Sign AI to a two-year, $14 million deal ($6m this year, $8m next) and see what happens. It might not be a great Plan A, but it's not a bad Plan B.

Got better ideas? I'd love to hear them in the comments.

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Comments

get ready for a lot of people bemoaning that idea

I see what you’re getting at, and its not a bad idea on the surface, it’s just that denver got so much better when he left, and detroit did not do well with him either. I just don’t think he has the team player type mentality we need, I can see brandon wanting the ball at the end of the game and AI not giving it up. He seems like a destroyer of teams right about now.
I think its better not to use the cap space just because we have it. I’m not sure we would be better with AI. Everyone is worried about the west getting better, but I agree with the “have we lost our minds” post that we will get better just by gaining experience.

by twggyy on Jul 4, 2009 8:35 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Yes..*clears throat BOOOOO to Iverson.

B.S. Liberal Studies OSU '06
Trade for Gerald Wallace!!

by TyboOSU on Jul 6, 2009 3:56 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh dear God, no

An aging, shoot first guard that gave up on the Pistons? No thanks. We need defense. We need a point guard that can facilitate the offense. We should use the cap space to get a long term solution.

Standing pat is a better idea than signing AI. We’ve used the term addition by subtraction when we talk about getting rid of Z-Bo. Well this is subtraction by addition. Acquiring AI will only hurt the team.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Jul 4, 2009 8:39 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Not even in his prime

Love the little mans heart, as well as his game. Loves his fam and kids. Never had majopr run ins with the law. And I agree with your post. But like Skip Bayless on 1st and 10 calls TO, team obliviator, AI is the same(dang it couldn’t think of anything cool like team obliviator). No thanks I will pass

What's the differance of 3-6 mil? oh about 20+ more losses, and the chance to watch the only star leave by the end of the season. Suck it Hedo!

by in~ur~fizace on Jul 4, 2009 8:57 AM PDT reply actions

The fact that AI is considering a deal with Memphis tells you all you need to know about his worth to a team.

If our team had a makeup similar to the 2000-2001 team that Philly had (a bunch of physical defenders who pounded the glass at both ends of the court), or if we were a bad team desperate for a star attraction to drive ticket sales, then AI would be perfect for this team.

But we’re not that team, so I don’t think we would sign him for the veteran’s minimum, much less for $14m as you proposed.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Jul 4, 2009 9:11 AM PDT reply actions

Veteran Needed

- Veteran presence

- Defense

- Rebounding

- Efficiency

- Playoff experience

Patience :)

by TheGreatDane17 on Jul 4, 2009 9:15 AM PDT reply actions

I would rather have Shawn Marion

Patience :)

by TheGreatDane17 on Jul 4, 2009 9:17 AM PDT reply actions

Kidd

We were willing to overpay Hedo why not Overpay Kidd – 3 years 30 mil worst case scenario you really screw dallas financially.

Draft Cole Aldrich 2010

by jlarose78 on Jul 4, 2009 9:21 AM PDT reply actions

I wouldn't be opposed to that

although I’d rather do 2 years obviously

by kickbrass on Jul 4, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions

we would have to overpay to get him from dallas

Draft Cole Aldrich 2010

by jlarose78 on Jul 4, 2009 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Kidd is gonna stay in Dallas.

B.S. Liberal Studies OSU '06
Trade for Gerald Wallace!!

by TyboOSU on Jul 6, 2009 3:56 AM PDT up reply actions

No thank you. I loathe the thought of Iverson shooting us out of games. He used to be amazing, but I think his prime is well passed.

by dario argento on Jul 4, 2009 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

Tashaun Prince

No to Iverson…doesn’t pass and has a bad attitude. Didn’t we have a 6 ft 9 version of that player a few years ago…Z-bo anybody?

How about Tashuan? The Pistons are reorganizing their roster for future competitiveness. They seem to want to shed expensive veteran salaries. We need a vet who can handle the rock, shoot, (and here is the clincher) PLAYS DEFENSE. Sorry, Hedo, but despite some prognosticators assertions that your D isn’t hat bad, it really is. Prince on the other hand is perfect. He costs about the same and is a year younger (we will have to make an uneven trade), but doesn’t need to have the ball in his hands as much as Hedo and, in my average opinion, does everything Hedo’s does.

by dg77 on Jul 4, 2009 10:45 AM PDT reply actions

Not for me!

You forgot David Lee, and Prince. And no offense, but Allen Iverson is 1 of the worst players ever to grace a court. Iverson has no concept of team ball. The Blazers play team ball,and A.I. would completely destroy this team. He is one of the most self centered players of all time and a locker room disaster. What about Jkidd or Nash, I would take thier old arses before I take A.I.

I still think there are some real possibilities out there. I Have Hope!

by cavejunctionblazer on Jul 4, 2009 10:51 AM PDT reply actions

Canzano, is that you?

I really think adding a guy who will fake an injury if he’s not starting after giving him a tenth the per year salary he’s earned his whole career will not be a big help to the team.

Did I mention his offensive efficiency is terrible?

by baduk on Jul 4, 2009 1:16 PM PDT reply actions