Knicks must weigh Iverson's pluses, baggage
Photo credit: Getty Images | Allen Iverson would bring some baggage to the Knicks -- something the organization is worried about after the Stephon Marbury fiasco.
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The Knicks' No. 3 jersey remains without a nameplate for another day, as the disturbing memory of its previous owner -- Stephon Marbury -- is haunting enough for the franchise to place extra consideration into signing another lightning rod in Allen Iverson.
The 34-year-old veteran cleared waivers Thursday night to officially become a free agent after a three-game stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. No team put a bid on Iverson, nor did any make immediate offers to sign him, which suggests that the Knicks need not make a hasty decision.
"We're not there yet,'' coach Mike D'Antoni said after Thursday's practice at the MSG Training Center. "We're just trying to evaluate where we are with our team and sit down with everyone and make a decision.''
Although multiple sources expect a deal to happen within the next couple of days, the level of desperation dipped a bit after Wednesday's 110-103 win over the Pacers in Indiana.
Knicks president Donnie Walsh said Garden chairman James Dolan has "not yet'' been involved in the process, but added, "In every NBA franchise, before you make a move, you talk to the owner.''
When Dolan hired Walsh, he gave him full autonomy over the Knicks, who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday.
D'Antoni and Walsh, who want to speak at length with Iverson before any contract is signed, have publicly cited the positive impact adding a player of Iverson's caliber would make for the team, but what has only been broached behind closed doors is the other side of the equation. It was only a year ago that the franchise dealt with Marbury, who after being benched, refused to play and then publicly criticized D'Antoni.
Iverson left Memphis after he spoke out about coach Lionel Hollins' decision to use him as a reserve. The same situation happened in Detroit last season, when Michael Curry moved Iverson to the bench. Iverson has built a reputation on being outspoken, defiant and regularly clashing with coaches. He even had several public battles with Larry Brown, whom he holds in very high regard.
And Brown, who on Wednesday spoke with Walsh about Iverson, said the Knicks won't have any problems as long as they understand there are a different set of rules that go along with having him on your team.
"In order to bring Allen in, you have to realize this is a kid who's so competitive - that's what's made him great,'' Brown said on Philadelphia sports radio Thursday. "And if you think you're going to manage his minutes and he's going to be satisfied with that, it's not going to happen.''
So aside from pacifying a frustrated fan base and a boisterous media, the majority of which seems to support bringing Iverson to New York, does adding him in somewhat of a mercenary role make that much of a difference?
Said Walsh: "We're looking at every aspect."
Newsday's Barbara Barker contributed to this story.
