Is A-I The (Heat's) Answer?

That certainly was the question Tuesday.

Had a chance to sit down with Allen Iverson for an extended interview Tuesday after his charity foundation awarded two scholarships to college-bound students from his Hampton-area hometown.

From the interview, it was easy to come to a few conclusions. Iverson, 34, wants to come to Miami and likes the idea of teaming with Dwyane Wade and playing for Pat Riley's organization. He's also willing to take a one-year contract to help push a deal through. He also accepts that his options may be limited at this stage of his career - especially after the way things went down in Detroit.

There's also another reality in play here. The Miami Heat's interest - for now - seems to be luke-warm at best, mainly because it might require the full mid-level to get Iverson, a 10-time All-Star and former league MVP who has averaged 27 points over his career.

Iverson's camp believes that if he's willing to take a one-year deal, he probably shouldn't have to accept less than the mid-level exception. Problem is, the Heat is already over the luxury tax. That means the $5.5 million Iverson might command would equate to an $11 million financial hit for the Heat.

Yes, Iverson can still get you 20 points, 5 assists and 2 steals a night. Yes, he's still a marquee attraction alongside Wade that can help fill the arena almost any night and make the Heat a national TV attraction it hasn't been since Shaq left. And yes, Iverson would likely come motivated and with his attitude in check, knowing he's on a one-year deal.

But no, he ain't worth $11 million - not if his addition alone won't make the Heat a serious title contender. Heat owner Micky Arison has been willing to pay the tax if it meant landing a starter or an impact rotation player. Iverson could be either of those things -even on an off night. So he meets the qualifications. The question is how much better would he make the Heat as the lone addition? Probably a 4th seed in the East, behind Boston, Orlando and Cleveland.

Iverson might only be the answer to the Heat's short-term needs if Pat Riley is capable of shedding another contract or two (salary) to reduce the tax hit. He's there to be had. But just how much is the Heat willing to shed to get him? Better yet, just how muc is A-I willing to give up to come?

When it comes to getting The Answer, those are the pressing questions.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports)

Comments

[JESSE]

We should get him and start him! bench sorry asss chalmers we need people with heart

[Mayor]

Wallace the mistake is not sign AI, the mistake was trade for Mark Blunt and Ricky Davis, the mistake was sign Smush Parker, mistake is sign a volleyball player(bacause is what real he is) like Joel Anthony. Sign James Jones, Yakhouba Diawara, Luther Head and Chris Quinn those are mistakes. AI is all star who will create problems to any team in the league.
If JO return this year healthy and Beasley is used at PF, Moon sign with Heat at SF and Wade and AI at guards position any thing can happen. With players like Udonis, Chalmers and Cook coming from the bench give some help to starters.
Look Magic it's not the deep team of last year. Heat can be the 3 spot at East.

[heatstroked]

is a.i. the answer?

sure. if the question is how do i make wade go away?

or, why do heat fans and heat media insist on parroting the wall-eyed piper from ft. laud who's invariably WRONG about all things heat and all things basketball almost all the time?

hint: iverson's last 3 teams -- phi, den, det -- were all demonstrably and provably better WITHOUT him.

what. does anyone "think" (i know i use the term loosely when it comes to heat fans and heat media) wade MISSED that little factoid?

i loved a.i. in philly. he was and still deserves consideration for best pound-for-pound baller. but best ballers don't necessarily make best teammates *nor* best championship pieces, especially when most of their balling consists of scoring.

even legendary, all-around ballers like oscar robertson and, more recently, kobe needed help (kareem, shaq, gasol) to get their rings.

iverson's belief that he should start is almost non-negotiable. iverson's belief that he and only he knows what's best for a.i. is similarly non-negotiable.

iverson's best shot is probably charlotte, where he'd return to the one coach who almost made him "coachable."

[Timmi]

For 1 year and you dont take him your an idiot. He would make that backcourt best in the league, be honest with yourselves....

[dsky0921]

i really don't understand what the possible downside could be to signing AI to a one year contract...if he doesn't work out, bench him. I really think he could only help us for basically all the reasons Wallace listed, and he may not be worth the full $11 million anymore but he's definitely worth the full mid-level exception. I think Arison should just suck it up and dish out the money, it's not like he doesn't make it in a couple weeks, if not less.

[dmt]

AI doesn't want to practice, he doesn't want to come off the bench; he left his team in the lurch last year during the freaking PLAYOFFS with a fake injury.

He's a skilled baller still, but he has never been about doing things other than *his* way. Not exactly the message Beasely and Chalmers need (if they ever would get the ball again, that is!)

We need Chauncey Billups, not AI.

[pugtv]

AI does not play defense. So what use will he be sitting at the end of the bench?

[Bill]

AI would be a great compliment to the Heat and he would help ticket sales. Like Wade & Chalmers, AI has great B-ball IQ, great at steals and is scrappy and wants to win a championship, Oh and a High Scoring future Hall of Famer. JO showed great promise at the end of late year, but we need a Real backup C. Hopefully, off season workouts will strengthen JO and the Team. Heat will be greatly improved next year. But, changes must be made to compete, since the rest of the East is improving too. Beas and Chalmers will do their thing. Check out the starting line up:

1. AI/Chalmers -(possible vet PG)
2. D-Wade/AI/Daequan
3. Beasley/Jones/DWright...we will see
4. Haslem or New PF/Beasley/Anthony
5. JO!/need help (Magloire helped)

This line up provides - Scoring, rebounding, shot blocking, defense(except AI). B-EZ held his own in ´09...even got blocks. Definitely will be great to watch. Need more toughness/size in a backup C & PF.

HEAT - please, get serious about winning. Make the moves. Too many projects and sentimental value. Lets get 1 to 3 more pieces. I like the organic approach too. But, that is only part of the solution.

[Don]

we are getting a 2.9 m check for not going over the tax last yr, to be paid july 22, released today by the NBA. So, I like the idea of iverson, even at the MLE. If they want to win, got 2 pay the tax..............

[Rich]

The Heat need to add depth to the team. Add a scorer like AI (G), a perimeter player like Matt Barnes (SF)& an inside scorer/rebounder in Drew Gooden (F/C). Then get rid of D.Wright, Chris Quinn, J Maglore. This will add depth & experience to a young team.

[dskz]

I don't know about AI... we need a 6th man and he has not been comfortable in that role.

Bringin in Bobby Jackson makes more sense for that role.

Yeah AI can play, but I just dont know if it would work chemistry-wise.

[mike]

AI and Wade can't play in the same backcourt together. They both need the rock to be effective. How do you think Wade would feel about AI, with AI hogging the ball and shooting 40%.

[ebag]

a.i. seems like a desperation move. but with d-wade threatening to leave, the heat are starting to get a little desperate...

[redbaby]

AI would be welcome in Miami. The Heat need another scorer and a veteran PG and he is it. DWade is the best player on the team and AI will take his cues from that. As Mike points out in his article, if he costs $11M due to the luxury tax, he will generate that amount and more in increased ticket sales. It will also free up the Heat to deal Wright or Cook with Big Cat and get another inside banger.

[Corey Divine]

I don't understand how all you people can say that Miami would be so much better with Iverson when every team he has been on over the past 3 years has either suffered or simply not been as big of a threat. I think that when it comes to selling tickets and entertaining the duo of a wade/iverson backcourt would be great but when it comes to winning games it would be a waste.

No intelligent GM would pay such a hefty price ($11 million) for one season so that you can appease Wade. Wade is simply playing the same card as Kobe and that is to scare Miami and make them do something to make the team better. Iverson or not we won't be able to compete with Boston or Cleveland so lets save the money and see if we can make some trades to help our already young and strong nucleus.

15 wins to 43 with 2 rookies: Just imagine what next year holds.

[fastgator]

Speculation articles are trash and nothing but a way for beat writers to meet their assignment deadline like this one.

What is gonna happen is that the Heat will do nothing until after the All-Star break, hope J.O. performs well and trade his ass for something perhaps worthwhile in the future. Same with Sleazy.

I think Wade was subtly saying get the hell rid of Beasley while you can get something for him.

[dsky0921]

Doesn't anyone realize there's a reason the Nuggets and the Pistons didn't play well with AI? Yes, he can be a problem in the locker room, but I don't think that was really the main reason for bad play from those teams. The Nuggets were a pretty good, playoff caliber team with AI, the problem was really that Melo was not ready to play team basketball and just didn't have enough focus (something that Chauncy Billups will force anyone to change). Plus the rest of the team was dysfunctional and George Karl didn't really know how to play the two together. He never really had a chance with the Pistons because they already had a starting SG who needs to start or he gets pissy. Anyone who went to Detroit after Chauncy left was not going to look like nearly the playmaker as Billups because he's just such a great point guard. The Pistons were already sliding before AI got there, his presence just through the team off balance because Stuckey wasn't ready to lead them (and probably won't be next year either). And there's no way to tell if the Pistons are truly better without AI because they didn't play better when he left the team with his back injury and now they've overhauled their team. I just wonder if Gordon is going to be able to come off the bench or if they have an awkward starting lineup with Prince at the 4 and Hamilton at the 3, or maybe they trade Rip at some point. The point is, everyone hates on AI and says he ruins teams (granted, I'm not trying to say the guy is a model basketball player, he's far from it), but you really need to break down the situation he was in with his previous teams before you say it was all his fault that those teams were garbage, it's just not true.

[dsky0921]

Furthermore, with AI on the Heat, I definitely see that there could be chemistry issues between Wade and AI but they also have potential to be great together. We don't have an amazing playmaking point guard like Chauncy Billups so I don't see why not bring in AI...he should at least make us as good as his Nuggets team that was pretty good in the West and would have been great in the East...he's certainly an upgrade over doing nothing.

[Dave]

AI doesn't do this AI doesn't do that, look guys AI has proven himself to be probably the greatest pound for pound player ever. It's not like Chris Paul is available. It's AI or Chalmers/Quinn, it's a no brainer.

No if we could just get rid of that coach of ours the Heat could begin to mend. What big time player wants to play for Spoelstra?

[Alan]

AI is not the question or the answer! The Heat need to know what young players on this team now can be pieces for the next 3-5 years. Play Chalmers, Beasley, Cook and Wright extensive minutes so you know what you have and what you need to complement D-Wade. Support from Udonis, JO and Moon will make this team as good as last year's and we will know which of the big name FA of 2010 we need to plug in to make us a contender. Picture Beasley, Cook & co feeding off the drive and kick out from D-Wade and LaBron!!!

[Dave]

Alan and people like you wake up LaBron James is NOT coming to Miami max contract or not. The Cavs, Pistons, Knicks and Nets all have more compelling reasons for LeBron than Miami. The Cavs are the incumbent and James is a hometown Product, New York is a Huge Market in need of a big star to revive them, the Pistons just hired the Cavs assistant who obviously knows LeBron well and the Nets have Jay Z and a new arena.

Chris Bosh as good as he is will not push us into Celtics, Lakers, Spurs territory. Stop dreaming, if anything by doing nothing Miami just got worse.

[Corey]

Dave, While I agree with you that Lebron will never be wearing a Miami jersey I think it is asinine for you to say that Bosh would not put us into the same category as the Celtics or Lakers. This past season we won 43 games with Dwade, 2 rookies, no real center, and no bench. Now if you add Bosh just to last years team I think we make it to the eastern conference finals. Now looking at the season of 2010-2011 seeing as we add bosh, a veteran pg and a true center we are in the mix to win a title again. Any team would love to have Wade and Bosh as there one-two and honestly i can't think of many duos better. I would even settle for Boozer and Wade which is also something that is very realistic.

By the way if you don't dream in sports you will never be happy.

[Corey]

Another thing Dave i also don't understand how you can say that Spp is such a bad coach when he took a team with 15 wins to 43 yeah real bad. Iverson is a joke now and is not worth the 11 mil we would have to pay him after the tax; his stats last year were the worst of his career. That's all we need to rebuild a team is a player who is on the way down.

[art v]

no. ai is overrated bunk..let him and marbury go play in a 2 on 2 tourney.

[cp12]

AI is not a point guard.

[Bill Du Bois]

Iverson is still a major star. He sacrificed his game for the sorry-ass Pistons who behind Rip Hamilton’s lockroom backstabbing refused to play when AI was on the floor. Even with Iverson sacrificing his own numbers, he average 21 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in his last seven games with the Pistons.

He would be great with Miami. Sign AI. Trade Beasley in a package for David Lee or Gerald Wallace or Josh Smith or Amare. That would bolt Miami up the ladder. Orlando is worse than last year and Cleveland is not better. Only Boston poses competition.

Start AI and he and Wade will both be in the top five scorers in the league, AI will lead the league in steals and be in the top in assists. GET THEM SOME HELP.

Teams wanting to dump salaries might also be interested in Jermaine’s expiring $23 million contract and give Miami some great players with longer contracts.

[mike]

Iverson in South Beach. That's a joke right. The guy couldn't find time to practice in Philly, Denver or Detroit do you think he will in Miami.

[Dandra Riles]

Thats bS Allen iveson hears everyones doubting him,so that will motivate him even more.he wont be hogging the ball from d-wade because this is his last chance to prove that he is a guy you would want on your team.Dwade and A.I are you serious it'll be great.If J.O comes back healthy he'll give you 15ppg 9rpg 2bpg and beasley and chalmers improve with a.i. we could be the 3 seed.but if it dont happen wade will be headed to chicago with d-rose and a real real good role player they can win some championships.Its either gonna be A.I/D-wade or D-Rose/D-wade

[Dave]

Shaq and Wade spent the 15 win season largely injured so giving credit to Spoelstra credit for the increased wins last season is what is truly asinine.

No matter how bad you think Iverson is he is still better than anything besides Wade on the Heat's roster.

You are a fool if you think the addition of Bosh gets us to the Eastern finals. Your implication is that we would be better than Cleveland or Boston, I doubt we would be better than Orlando. Miami would have no depth unless you think Chris Quinn and Mark Blount are reliable backups.