Wilbon: Iverson and Cavs a Perfect Match
Let me start off by saying that I love Michael Wilbon on TV. I think he is smart, witty, and knows how to handle himself on camera. Besides being on the popular ESPN daily show Pardon the Interruption, Wilbon is an NBA studio analyst. How he got to this level all starts with his column he writes for the Washington Post.
His Post opinion piece this morning was quite the head-scratcher for me. The topic? Disgruntled Memphis Guard Allen Iverson; a fine topic for sure. That is until you consider the crux of the piece: Iverson should come to Cleveland and join Shaq and Lebron.. Wha. Wha. WHAT?
That’s right, an actual credible NBA analyst suggesting that AI, a sure-fire hall of fame player should bring his game and attitude to our fair city.
He needs to be on a team with players he respects enough so that he can be relatively happy to come off the bench because the rewards are so great. Iverson, frankly, needs a team that needs him, and there aren’t so many of them. He needs a team where his ability to create his own shot will help a superstar, where he can also work the end of the game as a closer, a team where his reckless abandon and pedal-to-the-metal aggression in smaller doses will be an asset, not a liability.
I’m talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Those points may be all well and good, if we were discussing the Allen Iverson of say, six years ago. But wasn’t Wilbon watching last season when AI was dealt to Detroit, played zero defense, failed to show up to the team’s facilities at all for treatment when he was injured, and raised a serious stink when he was asked to come off the bench behind All-Star Richard Hamilton?
Oh, maybe Wilbon has been living on another planet this summer when Iverson was an unrestricted free agent and only one team, the lowly Grizzlies, desperate to sell tickets, offered him a contract. There was a reason for that, Mike – Iverson is a locker room cancer who refuses to play by anyone’s rules but his own.
If AI was worth the trouble, wouldn’t a contending team, like the Cavs, Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, etc have brought him in during the summer to give him one last shot at his first ring al a Gary Payton and Karl Malone in LA? Even crazy Stephon Marbury got his shot last season with Boston. Doesn’t that speak volumes? One thing all of the aforementioned four teams have in common – they value defense (though the Spurs don’t seem to be playing any this year), and Iverson doesn’t play any.
I have more to take up with you, Wilbon. Take this comparison:
Iverson joining LeBron would be like Randy Moss leaving the Raiders (which he hated, just like Iverson hates being with the Grizzlies) to hook up with Tom Brady in New England. Even if Iverson was coming off the bench, his energy would light up the Q during home games. It’s been years since Iverson played before that kind of home crowd and had that kind of goodwill extended to him by a metropolis desperate to win. He’d be part of a championship equation.
The difference between Moss and Iverson is that Moss went to New England, which seemed to be his last chance. Moss was also still in the prime of his career and went to a team that is coached by the no-nonsense Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. Moss knew this was his last shot and if he was a bad egg in New England, his career was over. Iverson would be coming to Cleveland where the coach, Mike Brown, isn’t exactly Phil Jackson or Pat Riley or his beloved Larry Brown.
Wilbon closes his column with the following:
Iverson, now more than ever, wants to win. And there is urgency in Cleveland, where they don’t know how long they’ll have LeBron. The Cavaliers, so far, seem to be in need of a little spice, something that gives the soup a little extra kick. Wouldn’t Iverson, with all he can still do on the court on a nightly basis, be worth the risk for a team that appears to need what he has?
Great. Iverson wants to win. Well how badly does he want to win if after the first game of this season with the only team that would give him a sniff this summer, he immediately went to the media and whined about his role.”I had no problems (with the hamstring),” Iverson said afterward. “I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That’s the only thing I got a problem with.” Then he left the team for “personal reasons” and is said to be contemplating “retirement.” All this guy cares about is himself. Wouldn’t a better route be to prove he is a team guy, come off the bench, be a spark and a good teammate, then work yourself into a trade at the deadline?
Not A.I.
Is that a guy you want coming to Cleveland to mix with Lebron James, Shaq, Delonte West, and company? Sounds like a great chemistry experiment Mike! I for one will pass.
Sorry Wilbon, but this column was a very weak, uninformed effort.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Other than overlooking the fact that Iverson is cancerous and, more importantly, completely finished, I think Wilbon is right on the money. By the way, Mike, if you’re reading this, I LOVE PTI! It’s good to know ESPN is still the go-to source for provocative, edgy sports journalism.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I took part in a poll question on the CPD website that asked would you support AI coming to Cleveland. I said no. I was in the minority. Little Baby Jesus, please help us.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
This reminds me of a time in grade school when my Dad ran upstairs to take a phone call and I was sitting there, with my paper-mache volcano, and there I was…sitting with a bunch of baking soda…and I figured, “oh hell, he won’t mind….”
November 11th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Hitchikers! Pick em up!!
With adding Shaq and AI it mirrors when LA added Malone and Payton at the end of their careers and lost to the Pistons in the finals. Granted they lost, they still got to the finals.
AI wants to win. If anything, Shaq is probably more cancerous to our team than AI would be.
Its a desperate move and clearly would only be made with Lebron’s approval (as are all transactions right?). If Lebron is down, im down.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
@ #2 – I’m also praying to Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, and the Jewish god.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Im talking PRACTICE……..PRACTICE
November 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I think the Browns should pick up Pacman Jones…
signed,
Mike Wilbon
November 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I think the Indians should take a look at Barry Bonds.
Signed,
Michael Wilbon
November 11th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
@ CB – It’s a good thing our GM is smarter than to work trades off of random internet polls.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I think the Lake Erie Monsters should sign Sean Avery.
Signed,
M.Wilbon
November 11th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I don’t think that’s really Mr. Wilbon signing those comments – his signature isn’t consistent!
/Forensic Science’d
November 11th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Thanks Chris. I was speaking more to the intelligence of our fanbase but I appreciate the insight.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I think Eddy Curry would be a perfect fit for the Cavs. As long as you keep him away from Panini’s.
signed,
Kornheiser’s co-host on PTI
November 11th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
While reading this, a question popped into my head:
Which is worse, A.I. or Larry Hughes?
…Not that I would want either one of them anywhere near the Cavaliers. There’s a reason why A.I. is now the NOT-Answer. I can’t see the team trading for him after what happened in Memphis.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
While I bristle at the notion that Iverson is washed-up, Iverson has shown that he has absolutely no willing to sublimate his ego for the good of the team and unlike our team’s other ancient prima donna, AI has not won 4 championships in his car.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I think that Mike Wilbon was wearing his Bad Idea Jeans today when he wrote this.
—”Normally I wear protection, but then I thought, “When am I gonna make it back to Haiti?”
November 11th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
This is all very disturbing. Maybe we can acquire Shawn Kemp to to spell Andy.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
GET AI TO PAIR WITH BOOZER AND STEVEN JACKSON. I SEE NO REASON THIS WOULDN’T WORK.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Swig, what exactly are you trading to Utah to get Boozer? An expiring contract? I think the appeal of that is, um, diminished somewhat by the fact that Boozer is also expiring.
Ferry: How about Z for Boozer
O’Connor: That makes no sense. Why would I do that?
Ferry: What if I throw in free passes to the Rock Hall?
November 11th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
@ CB – forgot the /sarcasm font, sorry.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
No one is pointing out the obvious comparison here (forgive me if I missed it; I skimmed). IVERSON WAS ABYSMAL IN DENVER!!!
Melo is the only player that AI has played with comparable to LBJ. They are very comparable, in fact. That was a horrendous pairing. Melo struggled and blossomed as soon as AI skipped town.
This is a silly debate though because the Davs will NEVER pick up Iverson. Ever.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
i dont know why you are all so against this.
AI would not treat the Cavs the same way he treats the Grizzlies. He would be, at best, third in command. The players here would humble him. He wants to be a part of something, and he would be quite a nasty addition. If we sign AI, it would be tough to get him into the mix, but we would have the most talented roster in the NBA.
What has Ron Artest, a comparable personality/cancer, done in LA? He has PLAYED. Because there are people on that team he respects.
I would think its the best move we could make right now, barring any big financial obligations that would put us in jeopardy for next season to bring in another big name.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
@ Biff – all caps = sarcastic
November 11th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Get anyone definitely say at this point that Iverson is any better (at this point in his career) than Antonio Daniels? He many be better at dribbling around for 20 seconds and throwing up a prayer, but I think the Cavs could do without that and would be better off with Daniels. At least he would be okay with his role and would definitely be cheaper. Let’s not discount the fact that Wilbon (and major sportswriters in general) have been known to write crap they don’t believe for a minute in order to stir people up. If that is the case then well done sir.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
@Ryan S… wow. We’re all so against this trade because it’s an absolutely terrible idea. I know there are a lot of Iverson lovers out there because of things he used to be able to do with a basketball (at a very low field goal percentage, I might add). Iverson specifically said that he has a problem with his butt on the bench. He specifically said he had a problem being benched for Rip Hamilton in Detroit. Why in the world would you expect that to be different in Cleveland? The downside of this trade is so astronomically bigger than the upside that I can’t believe anyone would be in favor of it. Iverson is done. Say goodbye to 1998.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I dont think he is washed up, and he is alot better than what our second team has right now (nada).
Yeah he is selfish but you really think he wouldnt fall in line with shaq and Lebron in the locker room? I mean this would be his last chance at a title, and to redeem his image. I think if you sit him down(before signing him) and lay everything out, how it’s going to be, how he WILL play D, come off the bench, and do what he’s told; then let him decide and if he starts his shenanigans show him the door.
He’ll be cheap, and i really think he would get his [WFNY Edit: I don't appreciate your ruse, ma'am] together being on a team with a legit shot at winning, and players on the team that wont deal with his crap.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I think about this. I think Denver and Detroit…and there is no way. But, then I think about A.I. actually playing for something, having a reason to go out there and lay it all on the line, one more year. It would be the best team he’s ever been on. If he was ok with running the second unit, him and Shaq. Lebron and Z run the first unit. I could see it working. A.I. gets to the rim / shoots better than Parker, Boobie, Moon. Why not?
November 11th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
When he was in Denver, their team should have been called the Denver Knuckleheads. Kmart, JR smith, Melo are all peas in a pod and AI was gas on a open flame there. Way different personnel on the Cavs
November 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Alex, nice typo in paragraph 3.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@ 22 Ryan S
Um, have you been paying attention to Artest? He almost got in a brawl against the Rockets, and spent the next few days patting his own back for not swinging at someone.
He spends press conference after press conference talking about how he would never mess with Kobe, how he’s part of a team now, etc. That’s a BAD sign. With Artest, the only good thing to hear from him is silence.
Now the Lakers had to bring in an old mentor to be a good influence on him.
There are some gambles that pay off. This one made the Lakers look scary, but in the end, it’s going to kill them.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
@27… Iverson does NOT shoot better than Parker, Boobie, Moon. He’s a lifetime 31.3% 3-point shooter with a lifetime 42.5% field goal percentage. He is a 78% free throw shooter for his career. Boobie is slightly lower in field goal percentage and free throws, but a full 10% better for 3-pointers, which is fine seeing as though he’s a 3-point specialist and doesn’t shoot many 2s. Iverson jacks up a bunch of 3s at a bad clip. Parker and Moon are better percentage shooters in all categories. Much better.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Clown Baby – Honestly? I mean, I’m against AI too; because he would destroy team chemistry (not off the court, on it). But mentioning those two in the same breath is absurd. AI is a lights-out shooter still. He can generate his own shot. He can finish at the rim. He can steal the basketball. Antonio Daniels has none of these gifts. I can’t believe you asked that.
So, yes, someone can definitely say that. Me, and everyone else who follows professional basketball.
and @Alex, you mean just like Memphis did? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. There is no way he is happy coming off the bench and not playing in 4th quarters/crunch time without causing a problem. This bleeds over into practices, into timeouts and play-calling.
Geez.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
The thing with all this speculation that AI would be willing to come off the bench here is that it’s based on either what we think he SHOULD feel in this situation or what we WANT him to feel based on us getting more talent. He hasn’t shown he’d be willing to do that on any of his last 3 teams. There’s no evidence he’d be willing to check his ego for a shot here other than the fact that it would be a nice storyline.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
@Jack and everyone else… why do you keep saying that AI is a great shooter? His stats show that he clearly is not. If I jacked up 50 shots per game, my numbers might look pretty decent too. Look at the percentages guys, not just what you see on SportsCenter highlights. For every sweet shot that Iverson created and hit, there were two others that he clanked.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Im just having a hard trying to figure out where a legit second scoring option is going to come from. I guess tonight is the true test if shaq will work or not, but so far im not real sold on him being the answer(no pun).
November 11th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
@32
One of the most relevant points Barkley ever made was that steals are the most overrated defensive statistic. He gets steals because he gambles often to grab the ball, but if he misses that leaves him out of position. Delonte West generates steals without compromising his defense. A.I. generates steals at the expense of his defense.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
@EZ, you are right on the money with both of those comments.
@Alex, I feel your pain. Iverson most certainly is not the answer to that question. Mo Williams is a much better shooter, and I think a much better #2 option than Allen. If you want somebody who can create their own shot, Shaq is definitely that player over Allen… the big man can still get a shot any time he wants, and unlike Iverson, he makes them at a much higher percentage.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
If you’re looking for someone to dribble for 20 sec and hoist contested jumpers, just never sit LeBron. He’s perfectly capable, and since he’s not really doing anything it should still pass as a break.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
P@: maybe ‘great’ is strong. But you also can’t look at his career shooting percentage. He played for some awful teams and took a lot of bad shots late in the shot clock for those bad teams because there was no fluidity and very few quality shots generated.
But yes, part of that (and probably a large part) is that AI is a ball hog. He holds the ball. He dribbles for 20 seconds (and only Nash can create doing that) and ends up forcing the team into a bad possession. But he is UNDOUBTEDLY a great scorer–a great scorer–with a great mid-range, stop and pop game.
And he sure as hell is a better shooter than Antonio Daniels.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Oh, and P@, in his 3 games with Memphis in a limited role he was shooting 58%.
58, 58, 58
November 11th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
A lot of valid points here, including his bad attitude and diminishing skills. But another fact is that Allen Iverson can score the basketball. He has proven that everywhere he’s been, including Memphis. Not sure what we’d have to give up, but if Memphis is unloading him for next to nothing…count me in. We could use another scorer.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
So with the logic AI wants to win, wouldn’t it make sense he leave the team if they’re not going to play him? He’s clearly better than any other PG on that team and while Memphis management want to continue to nurture those kids he’s still quite able.
I say do it.
It’s not like it would make it any harder for Mike Brown to do minutes, which he’s proven he’s awful at. Bringing AI off the bench is way better than Gibson – or making West play 37 minutes in the playoffs.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I’d totally rather play West 37 minutes in the playoffs. The defensive drop-off between West and Iverson is cataclysmic.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
“score the basketball”? What does that even mean? I have to completely disagree Jack and Illmatic8. He could “score the basketball” because he was given the absurd number of chances it took to do so. You definitely can’t take a sample size of 3 games in Memphis and use that to make a point. (and I’m not trying to be a jerk here, as Jack I typically agree with your comments), but there is no statistical evidence that says Allen Iverson is a great scorer other than his points/game stat, which is a pretty worthless stat. He simply will not get enough shots with LeBron, Shaq, and Mo in the equation, and his history shows that he won’t be okay with that. Can he be a good shooter if he’s taking limited shots on open looks? I don’t know… he’s never done that before and doesn’t seem to want to do that.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I feel like most of the people who are talking about AI being a great scorer and a possible valuable piece to the equation are going by their gut because they remember AI being promoted as a star back in the late 90’s, early 00’s and because he was awesome on some SportsCenter clips (FYI, so was Isaiah Rider). I want some statistical evidence that he is and can be a better option than, say, Boobie Gibson (who is a much better 3-point shooter and one of the few 3-point threats we have on the team, and who might actually play BETTER defense than AI, if that is imaginable).
November 11th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I’ve now seen this several places I’ve gone to; Iverson apologists that come out of the woodwork who will swear up and down that he would make a team better.
No. He won’t.
Then, they keep going “He’ll buy into things here, and it’ll work”
No. It won’t.
Stop rating a guy based upon how many times he can race to the basket and create contact. Because as has been said many times here, he’s not that gifted of a shooter, doesn’t like to pass, and doesn’t like/know how to play defense. You want someone who can ‘be a #2 like AI? Fine. We’ll let Mo Williams jack up 25 shots a night, and try to race to the basket every time he possibly can. There, problem solved.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Few 3-point threats?
Pretty much everyone on the team but Shaq and Andy put up threes.
What we lack is the threat to beat someone off the dribble and take them to the basket. Spreading the floor, AI is much more of a threat than Gibson.
Parker and AI would play pretty well together I think. Boobie would be the odd man out but alas, he is just a three point specialist.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
We should go after Sammy Sosa and his white face.
Signed,
Michael Wilbon
November 11th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I think the author need to correct his self about Iverson. I just thought Detroit was the biggest mistake of his career. Iverson was trade to a team that had a rookie head coach. How can a rookie coach; coach a veteran. That just impossible. Iverson did not slow down. Everybody just forget the year before Allen Iverson average 26 a game and putting 7 assist. I think Cleveland will be a good fit for Iverson, because he take the pressure off Lebron James. LBJ do not have no slashers on their team and at the end that will hurt them again winning a NBA championship. Allen Iverson is one player that will not just watch LBJ at the in of the game; he will help at the end. Unlike what Mo did against Orlando. I watch that whole series and it seem like whole team was just watching LBJ as if he was Jesus Christ. Iverson was one player that save the NBA when Jordan left. Now Iverson again with a rookie coach. That do not know what to do with him. Let me put something else in some of the NBA fans. I know Mike have 6 rings, but was Jordan better at 38 than Iverson at 34. Nobody say nothing about why Mike did not sit the bench. Iverson might do not have no rings, but he have an heart for the game like we never seen before. I want to see Iverson for at least 2-3 years. He brought excitement back to the game of basketball. He change game and the rule of the NBA. Yes, the rules. Him and Shaq change the rules in the NBA. I think Shaq is the most dominant big man ever and Iverson is the most dominant small man ever. This author need to pack his bags up and stop listen to the people on tv.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:03 am
AMEN ATARI!!!! AMEN!!! MEDIA PEOPLE IS DESTROYING A.I.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Mike Brown stinks. No way he can handle those personalities.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:19 am
@Atari… just about the worst rant I have ever heard with zero facts backing it up. How anybody in their right mind could call Iverson even a top-50 player historically in the NBA is beyond me. You are obviously just a fanboy. I thought this quote from Billy Madison applied very well:
“At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
November 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
allen iverson averaged 26 points a game at 45 percent shooting while in denver. ai can shoot a good percentag ewhen he,s not playing with a bunch of must around him like he had in philly all those years. when the other teams game plan was just tripple team iverson and force eric snow and the rest of the bums to beat you. and he’s currently averaging 13 points a game on 57 percent shooting with the grizzlies in vary limited minutes mostly off of pull up jumpers. a.i. can still score the ball period.
if the cavs brought him off the bench that would be huge in the playoffs when you need guys who can create there own shot because in the playoffs is when mo williams will fold as the #2 option because a one dimensional three point shooter is much easier to contain than someone who can hit pull ups and get to the line with the best of them. didn’t last years playoffs teach you guys anything!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:57 am
a.i. needss a ring baddd !!!! … lebron and iversonn …the next BIG THING !!!!!!!!!! he needs an all star player like lebron right now not carmelo.. remember back in 01 ..dont forget yall he was deadlyyy and he sure is stilll