A.I. will NOTsign with the Knicks. Still an UFA. Are the C's still an option?

[CelticG1]

People are still scared that the AI will hold the Celtics hostage with his vet min contract huh? I take a low risk high reward guy %100 percent of the time because low risk= no risk. Memphis gave him a chance (with more money) and got rid of him after 5 games. Why not sign him for a much lesser contract than that, the vet min, and then we have all the control. If you think that is too much money to risk (which i still think would be ridiculous) than at least you have some what of an argument. I guess the only other semi valid argument that I've heard is that no one else has signed him yet. So if the Cavs swiped him up today everyone would be happy about it cause he's a cancer? I highly doubt that because even if he ended up being the biggest pain in the but, got in fights in practice, said that he wants to start ummmmmm they can just cut him. We would be able to cut him if we didn't like him is that right? Am I missing something? I don't care that he was an MVP is gonna be a HOF etc just like I don't care that he didn't want to play on the bench for the pistons or Memphis. I don't even like AI that much but I think he could be a pretty good option as 6th or 7th man. If he says that is fine and is willing to do that great. If he changes his mind during the season, great we cut him. I'm just so confused by this. 

[houlana]

i would like to have AI come of the bench.
it would be a low risk, high reward signing. they can cut him if he starts creating problems

[wdleehi]

i would like to have AI come of the bench.
it would be a low risk, high reward signing. they can cut him if he starts creating problems

Again?


How did all those "low risk, high reward" players work out last year? 


Did any of them make a positive difference?




No, AI is a BAD risk, low reward player.

He provides a high volume shooter off the bench that is small.  He hurts defense.  He doesn't run offenses.  He isn't a sharp shooter.

[LB3533]

Can one of the AI lovers explain this:

If AI is so great, why is it 7 months after becoming a restricted free agent and one full month into the regular season, he remains unemployed? Are the other 29 general managers in the league besides Chris Wallace just incompetent dolts that can't recognize what a prime example of an NBA player Iverson is? Do the other 29 coaches in the league besides Lionel Hollins such idiots that they aren't clamoring all over their front offices begging them to sign Iverson because he is such a joy to coach and manage?

The AI love logic flies in the face of what is actually happening in the NBA. If AI was so great and such an easy player to handle and an excellent addition to compliment a championship team, wouldn't someone have picked him up long before this? Wouldn't there be rumors all over the place of teams like Orlando and Boston and Cleveland and LA and Phoenix and Atlanta wanting to grab him up?

Please, answer me the questions in this post, please.

Every team already has their plans and strategies set.

But a lot can change throughout the course of the season and it would be a huge mistake to ignore Iverson, when he can be had dirt cheap.

Their plans weren't set during the off season when Iverson was avoided like he had the plague?

And since it would cost very little to cut the 15th player on most benches to add Iverson to a vet min contract and since Iverson is supposedly so much better than most of these players(he is), why aren't GMs jumping at the opportunity to sign him? Are they all just stupid, making a huge mistake, as you say? How can so many GMs, some like Ainge, Popovich, Dumars, Riley, Kupchak, etc that have a championship winning pedigree, all be making the same mistake?

Of course their plans were set.

Orlando traded for Vince Carter in the offseason.

Cleveland traded for Shaq.

Lakers signed Artest.

The Spurs traded for Richard Jefferson.

The Celtics signed Sheed.

Every team had their own plans and strategies.

Iverson wasn't in their plans, though every team feels Iverson is still a great player.

Even the Knicks had to sign Lee and Robinson to 1 year deals. Iverson was never on their radar.

But that is all in the past and right now the season is it's own monster. So many things can happen throughout the course of the season and it is the genius of foresight that will help stem potential disasters.

Teams that feel comfortable with their current roster, that's their prerogative.

I am saying for the Celtics sake, if we ignore trying to sign AI for dirt cheap, it will bite us in the ass.

[Finkelskyhook]

i would like to have AI come of the bench.
it would be a low risk, high reward signing. they can cut him if he starts creating problems

Again?


How did all those "low risk, high reward" players work out last year? 


Did any of them make a positive difference?




No, AI is a BAD risk, low reward player.

He provides a high volume shooter off the bench that is small.  He hurts defense.  He doesn't run offenses.  He isn't a sharp shooter.

If we're applying this zero character logic as a low risk-high reward concept, Latrine Sprewell could probably be had even cheaper.  He actually pretended to play defense throughout his distinguished career and would fill a position of need.  Not well, but would probably be less of a disruption.

The reality is that Danny spent years building a roster of character and ridding us of poor-man's Iversons.  There is no reward to bringing this selfish jerk on board...None.

[LB3533]

Here's the problem people.

Let's for a second agree to the notion that Iverson is unwilling to play off the bench for any team.

He wants to start and play big minutes so he can reclaim his status as one of the NBA's elite.

Within that frame of mind, no team will want him, the Celtics included.

So picture this....it's January or February, Allen Iverson is bored out of his mind and has a change of heart. Now he decides he is willing to come off the bench and play a 6th man type of role for a contending team (playoff or title).

Now let's take a look at some possible teams who could utilize Iverson in that 6th man type of role.

Currently, probably no team needs to add Iverson for a 6th man slot.

But let's say hypothetically speaking.....

Cleveland: Delonte West legal and mental woes overcome him, he won't be playing again this season. AI could go to the Cavs.

Orlando: Jason Williams experiment isn't going so well, Jameer Nelson's recovery hits a snag....AI could go to Orlando.

San Antonio: Tony Parker's injury lingers. Manu can't shake his own injury bugs. Iverson could possibly go to the Spurs.

These are just some of the possible scenarios where the ignoring of Iverson can hurt the Celtics.

It is the job of the GM to have the foresight to come up with contingent plans to safeguard the goals of the team and franchise.

[Rtpas11]

for all you A.I. Haters, and not wanting him to be here etc.. I hope Rondo is working out great for yall. I imagined this Celtics vs. Magic game to start exactly the way it is, why because of Rondo. Are you seeing what i'm seeing. Jason Williams looks like he could be candidate for defensive player of the year guarding Rondo f5 5 feet away. Errghh!!!!!

[wdleehi]

for all you A.I. Haters, and not wanting him to be here etc.. I hope Rondo is working out great for yall. I imagined this Celtics vs. Magic game to start exactly the way it is, why because of Rondo. Are you seeing what i'm seeing. Jason Williams looks like he could be candidate for defensive player of the year guarding Rondo f5 5 feet away. Errghh!!!!!

Yes.  Just what the Celtics need.

A no defense volume shooter.


Oh wait, that's what they are doing now.

[rondohondo]

A.I could have certainly helped tonight against the magic. Eddie House is a very limited player, if he is not making three like tonight(1-7FG'S), he is pretty useless. Now you can say the same about A.I. , but at least he has a total offensive game where he can penatrate and finish or kick it. All eddie does is pick and roll 3's . There is a reason we have signed Sam Cassell and Marbury the last few years Eddie is VERY limited !  Daniels would be better suited to move to SF and be PP'S backup so Piecre doesn't play so many mins .

[KungPoweChicken]

The Celtics do not look good. This may be our last year for a title and, if Rondo cannot pick it up, I would be tempted to bring on the circus that is Allen Iverson.

[WeMadeIt17]

Perhaps we could use A.I. looks like Eddie is really struggling and he could be a spark we need. Who knows, i will stick to it, I think he would be a great pickup for us but if he goes anywhere else then he will be a cancer. 

[WeMadeIt17]

Also A.I. would really help this pick and roll game with the 2nd unit. I mean people would have to respect the drive and shot with him where Eddie could spot up, Daniels could cut, and Sheed could go deep or roll. I mean this could be a real good pick up. I have a real gut feeling saying he is going to end up coming to Boston, just like how we ended up waiting to get Marbury. I think its going to be something like that.

[houlana]

i would like to have AI come of the bench.
it would be a low risk, high reward signing. they can cut him if he starts creating problems

Again?


How did all those "low risk, high reward" players work out last year? 





Did any of them make a positive difference?




No, AI is a BAD risk, low reward player.

He provides a high volume shooter off the bench that is small.  He hurts defense.  He doesn't run offenses.  He isn't a sharp shooter.

ur answered my point budy. where are these guys this year? they are gone, which mean they were very low risk.
we can't even break 90 pts last night. i think his offensive punch coming form the bench will make up for his defensive deficiencies.

[Bahku]

I think we'd be just too over-loaded with THE's ... THE Truth, THE Big Ticket, THE Answer ... just doesn't seem right somehow, in the vast scheme of the basketball universe.

[wdleehi]

i would like to have AI come of the bench.
it would be a low risk, high reward signing. they can cut him if he starts creating problems

Again?


How did all those "low risk, high reward" players work out last year? 





Did any of them make a positive difference?




No, AI is a BAD risk, low reward player.

He provides a high volume shooter off the bench that is small.  He hurts defense.  He doesn't run offenses.  He isn't a sharp shooter.

ur answered my point budy. where are these guys this year? they are gone, which mean they were very low risk.
we can't even break 90 pts last night. i think his offensive punch coming form the bench will make up for his defensive deficiencies.

You mean because of players missing shots they usually make while play one of the better defenses in the game? 

AI isn't going to create better shots for those guys.  Those guys had the open shots they needed. 



In fact, he is going to hurt the flow of the offense since AI is all about AI scoring. 





Are we going to have to hear this every time the Celtics have a bad offensive night?