Bobcats Searching for the Answer?
To the Charlotte Bobcats faithful (if such a group actually exists): be afraid. Be very afraid. The rumor mill has unrestricted free agent Allen Iverson re-uniting with Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown in Charlotte to make one more run at winning an elusive championship ring. As a result of last season’s failed Detroit experiment and Iverson’s attitude throughout, he is quickly becoming the league’s number one pariah.
Former Piston Allen Iverson needs a team, and ex-Pistons coach Larry Brown needs a scorer. Just think, they could reunite.
Seven years after his famous rant in Philadelphia during a feud with Brown over missing practice, Iverson is set to become unrestricted free agent. Brown is coaching the low-scoring Bobcats, and Iverson was recently spotted in Charlotte. It’s fueled speculation Iverson, who had a difficult season in Detroit, could be paired with Brown again. Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose, said his client would be willing to play for Brown again.
“I love Allen,” Brown said.
Source: The Detroit News
If last season proved anything about AI, its that he can completely destroy team chemistry and alter the fate of franchises. Simply compare last season’s Detroit Pistons against the Denver Nuggets. Granted, that comparison provides as much insight into the character of Chauncey Billups as it does Iverson so take it with a grain of salt.
But what does Iverson really have to offer the Bobcats?
He is a definite liability on defense but would be surrounded by defensive-oriented players (in typical Coach Brown fashion) that can help cover for AI. Last season, the Bobcats struggled to put points on the board, as they were 27th in offensive efficiency (compared to 7th in defensive efficiency). So on the surface Iverson seems to address Charlotte’s biggest deficiency. But is he the right type of scorer the Bobcats need?
Iverson is not the Answer for Charlotte. He is a 33 year old undersized shooting guard in a point guard’s body who has entered the post-prime stage of his career. He can no longer be “the man” on any team and yet is at the same time unwilling to accept any other role. To cap it all off, AI has always been a high volume, low efficiency scorer (career field goal percentage of .425), which is not ideal when paired with adeclining abilities.
So, is Iverson worth the gamble?
No. Even considering the fact that there will not be as much interest in Iverson this offseason, his chemistry-disrupting potential is way too high for a team with as much talent as Charlotte has. This summer’s free agent class has a few other options that make more sense for the Bobcats if they are looking for instant offense. Ben Gordon or Carlos Boozer are both guys that have proven that they can score over twenty points a game.
Hell, if the Bobcats are committed to signing an undersized, inefficient guard just sign Nate Robinson (career field goal percentage of .427) or Jamal Crawford (career field goal percentage of .404). At least they are younger and have better attitudes (they might even show up to every practice too).
