Knicks reverse decision, decide not to sign Iverson

[nickagneta]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/sports/basketball/21iverson.html

The Knicks’ pursuit of Allen Iverson is dead.

In an abrupt reversal, Knicks officials decided late Thursday not to offer Iverson a contract, putting an end to their brief flirtation, according to a person close to the deliberations.

Although team officials were highly intrigued by Iverson, a four-time scoring champion, they finally decided that he posed too great a risk because of his long history of problems on and off the court.

The article goes on to discuss the Knicks need to continue to develop the youngsters and to see how a slimmed down Eddie Curry will look after debuting and looking really pretty good in his return the other night. Showcasing Curry and teaching young players the NBA TEAM game is probably more important right now.

Of course, they could have just told him he would have to play the same role he did in Memphis and AI stormed out of the room like a petulant child, so they decided no, this isn't going to work.

[LB3533]

I don't buy what the Knicks are selling.

Young players? What Knick young guys are even worth mentioning?

The Knicks don't care about a single player on their roster, not a one.

The notion that the Knicks want Eddy Curry playing and to develop their young guys is the biggest crock, farse I've ever heard coming from the Knicks camp.

[ssspence]

I don't buy what the Knicks are selling.

Young players? What Knick young guys are even worth mentioning?

The Knicks don't care about a single player on their roster, not a one.

The notion that the Knicks want Eddy Curry playing and to develop their young guys is the biggest crock, farse I've ever heard coming from the Knicks camp.

Have you paid any attention to the circus the Knicks have been the last 10 years? They've only just gotten through purging selfish cry-babies, they don't need to start doing it again in a meaningless season.

Then, at the end of the year when he wants to stick around and Lebron or Joe Johnson or whoever they sign DOESN'T want to play with the guy -- it's a hassle for both the player and the team? No thanks.

The decision makes 100% sense. Play Toney Douglas instead -- if he, Gallinari and Hill keep developing and forming a little mojo it will be an attraction to potential free agents.

[LB3533]

I don't buy what the Knicks are selling.

Young players? What Knick young guys are even worth mentioning?

The Knicks don't care about a single player on their roster, not a one.

The notion that the Knicks want Eddy Curry playing and to develop their young guys is the biggest crock, farse I've ever heard coming from the Knicks camp.

Have you paid any attention to the circus the Knicks have been the last 10 years? They've only just gotten through purging selfish cry-babies, they don't need to start doing it again in a meaningless season.

Then, at the end of the year when he wants to stick around and Lebron or Joe Johnson or whoever they sign DOESN'T want to play with the guy -- it's a hassle for both the player and the team? No thanks.

The decision makes 100% sense. Play Toney Douglas instead -- if he, Gallinari and Hill keep developing and forming a little mojo it will be an attraction to potential free agents.

AI is a bigger draw then those scrubs.

Joe Johnson and Lebron would never leave their current situations to play with Tony Douglas and Jordan Hill.

[nickagneta]

I don't buy what the Knicks are selling.

Young players? What Knick young guys are even worth mentioning?

The Knicks don't care about a single player on their roster, not a one.

The notion that the Knicks want Eddy Curry playing and to develop their young guys is the biggest crock, farse I've ever heard coming from the Knicks camp.

Have you paid any attention to the circus the Knicks have been the last 10 years? They've only just gotten through purging selfish cry-babies, they don't need to start doing it again in a meaningless season.

Then, at the end of the year when he wants to stick around and Lebron or Joe Johnson or whoever they sign DOESN'T want to play with the guy -- it's a hassle for both the player and the team? No thanks.

The decision makes 100% sense. Play Toney Douglas instead -- if he, Gallinari and Hill keep developing and forming a little mojo it will be an attraction to potential free agents.

AI is a bigger draw then those scrubs.

Joe Johnson and Lebron would never leave their current situations to play with Tony Douglas and Jordan Hill.

You sir, are so blinded with AI love you seem to be missing the big picture. One of the worse teams in the league think Iverson would not be good for them. perhaps they aren't going to develop the players that much. But perhaps they don't want to expose them to the attitude of one of the most selfish, egotistical cancers still left in the league.

New York doesn't need a draw. The are averaging 19,625 people to the Garden, 5th highest in the league. New York, like Boston, packs them in now matter who is on the floor in a Knicks uniform. The idea that the Knicks need Iverson to draw people in the door is a laughable thing.

[QuinielaBox]

A very wise decision by the Knickerbockers. I like what they are doing down there in New York. Developing assets and being patient for the correct deal to come along.

[wdleehi]

The Knicks need the young players to develop this season so they can go to the big FA "you are joining a growing team.  You (and this other FA) are the last key ingrediant to something special in NY"


AI will choke off all such growth.




And big picture, if even a team as messed up as the Knicks can see why AI is a bad idea, I don't see well run teams making  a run at him.

[Chris]

The Knicks need the young players to develop this season so they can go to the big FA "you are joining a growing team.  You (and this other FA) are the last key ingrediant to something special in NY"


AI will choke off all such growth.




And big picture, if even a team as messed up as the Knicks can see why AI is a bad idea, I don't see well run teams making  a run at him.

How dumb do you think the free agents are?  Other than Chandler, and possibly Lee (who they will likely let walk, unless they can't get the elite free agents to sign there), are there any other young guys who would even see the rotation on an elite team?

[ssspence]

Nate Robinson is essentially Iverson but better anyway.

[wdleehi]

The Knicks need the young players to develop this season so they can go to the big FA "you are joining a growing team.  You (and this other FA) are the last key ingrediant to something special in NY"


AI will choke off all such growth.




And big picture, if even a team as messed up as the Knicks can see why AI is a bad idea, I don't see well run teams making  a run at him.

How dumb do you think the free agents are?  Other than Chandler, and possibly Lee (who they will likely let walk, unless they can't get the elite free agents to sign there), are there any other young guys who would even see the rotation on an elite team?

I didn't say it was a plan that likely was going to work...

Just their only hope.

[Chris]

Nate Robinson is essentially Iverson but better anyway.

I vehemently disagree with this.  Nate Robinson is pretty terrible.  AI may be old, and he may be a cancer, but he would be better than Nate Robinson, even if he had his left hand surgically removed, and was forced to play with a hook.

[ssspence]

Nate Robinson is essentially Iverson but better anyway.

I vehemently disagree with this.  Nate Robinson is pretty terrible.  AI may be old, and he may be a cancer, but he would be better than Nate Robinson, even if he had his left hand surgically removed, and was forced to play with a hook.

C'mon, Chris. Whether you like him or not, their games are pretty similar and Nate was far more efficient last year anyway.

I have no love for Nate, just pointing out ANOTHER reason for the Knicks to blow off AI.

[Eric_Suede]

wow and so the "puppy loving","lets develop our youngin" philosophy wins out again. So sad. Can't stand the frame of thinking. The Knicks now talking about "Developing". The knicks are a disaster and will continue to be so for years to come. The Positives outweigh the negatives like crazy. I mean you guys AI hating is absolutely uncanny. I mean REALLY GUYS? You truly believe signing AI to an already disastrous team for ONE YEAR (we're not talking long term contracts here) ONE FREAKIN YEAR! will Destroy another players development that much. REALLY? So wait, back in 04 I believe it was , when we brought Walker back (you know the Selfish,3pt chucking AW) that "Utterly destroyed" the development of Al Jefferson?
  Keep in mind Wallace was considered a cancer as well. ARGHH. I guess I truly underestimated how much AI is really hated. This is ridiculous. Maybe i'll concede a wee bit if AI were looking for a long term deal, THEN I can agree for a bit and say "ok maybe they're interested in letting young guys get playing time". I'll state 3 facts here.

#1 TONY DOUGLAS DOES NOT START! So if the Knicks had the sincere desire to "develop" Douglas and let him shine and get as much playing time as possible, He'll be getting the bulk of minutes RIGHT NOW. He's coming off the bench , playing behind Chris DUHON. CHRIS DUHON!!!! So technically couldn't a case be made that Duhon is "hindering Development"?

#2 THE KNICKS SUCK!!!! anything would help them right now. Even adding a "cancer" such as AI.

#3 There's no excitement on their roster. AI would at least sell tickets. IF it would've worked out could very well attract a desired free agent that they seem to be mortgaging their franchise on the delusion that they're going to get a big time Lebron type free agent Next year. Mark My WORDs.... WON'T HAPPEN. Cavs are going to do any & everything to keep LJ in cleveland and he'll resign. This reminds me of the time THE clippers just "knew" they had a shot at Kobe. lol

#4 OH Did I mention..THE KNICKS SUCK!!!! anything would help them right now. Even adding a "cancer" such as AI.

#5 That's what the NBDL is for. If you want guys to get a whole lot of playing time & "develop" that's where you send them.

[Eric_Suede]

Nate Robinson is essentially Iverson but better anyway.

I vehemently disagree with this.  Nate Robinson is pretty terrible.  AI may be old, and he may be a cancer, but he would be better than Nate Robinson, even if he had his left hand surgically removed, and was forced to play with a hook.

C'mon, Chris. Whether you like him or not, their games are pretty similar and Nate was far more efficient last year anyway.

I have no love for Nate, just pointing out ANOTHER reason for the Knicks to blow off AI.

All Joke and AI hating aside. Ok I get in you don't like his game and may think he's a headcase. Fine I'll give you that ssspence, but do you sincerely believe that the franchise is that fragile, or that AI is THAT destructive? That a 1 season experiment to an already disastrous team would utterly destroy and hinder the franchise. So much so to the point that any possible development or future of guys like douglas,Gallinari & Landry will be therefore null & void cause they played ONE SEASON with AI? I guess we're just at that point in the country both in sports and in politics where Climate of Fear is just overwhelming. "oh my goodness, we sign AI our team will be destroyed forever" .

 Wow, this is truly amazing to me. Just feel bad for the guy. I really do , Hatred for this guy has just gone too far. Hell Michael "I haven't played in 3 years and I was in prison for 2 years" Vick is getting more love and respect than this guy. Yes he's had attitude issues but Man is it that bad, REALLY?

[LB3533]

Anyone defending the Knicks is not in their right frame of mind.

The Knicks' decision not to offer AI a contract is not substantial evidence for anything.