CLIPPERS NOW FRONTRUNNERS FOR ALAN IVERSON

Alan Iverson may be ‘the answer’ for the Los Angeles Clippers after all.  The Clippers are prepared to offer Iverson a one year deal for their full $5.8 million midlevel exemption.  While Memphis is in a position to offer more money, most observers suggest that the potential for winning with the Clippers young talent—along with their location in Los Angeles—would be the determining factor should it come down to the two teams.
 
The only issue remaining is a potentially big one—the Clippers would most likely want Iverson to come off the bench in a ‘sixth man’ role, be part of a three guard rotation with Baron Davis and Eric Gordon, or at least not be adverse to such arrangements.  There’s some concern about that after ‘A.I.’ bristled about not starting after coming back from an injury in Detroit late this season.  Adding to the concern is the Clippers’ lack of strong veteran leadership, meaning that a disgruntled Iverson could seriously undermine the development of their young stars including the #1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, Blake Griffin out of Oklahoma.

According to a number of sources close to the situation, the latest development has Iverson’s agent Leon Rose traveling to Las Vegas to broker a face-to-face meeting between his client and Clippers brass.  Los Angeles apparently wants a personal commitment from Iverson about his willingness to play within their system, even if it means not starting.  The team is hopeful that a nice paycheck, a important role on a talented young team and the allure of playing in Los Angeles will be more of a factor to Iverson than playing time, points or ‘touches’.

If not, Memphis is in a position to give him more money and essentially whatever role he wants on the team.  He’d have to be content to play on a team that’s going nowhere fast and looking to sign Iverson as a ‘quick fix’ to their interest and attendance woes within the community.  And while western Tennessee has its unique charms, they may be lost on a wealthy professional athlete with a well known fondness for ‘big city lights’.  Miami is also in the mix, and while they can offer another attractive destination in terms of nightlife and other amenities, they are only willing to pay Iverson roughly half of what he’d receive in Memphis.  Iverson would also be expected to take a subordinate status to Dwayne Wade, and that could be a combustible situation waiting to happen.

Adding to the intrigue is the waiting game surrounding the Utah Jazz’s response to Portland’s offer to restricted free agent Paul Milsap.  The Jazz would like to retain the talented young forward, which would almost certainly mean they’d want to move current starter Carlos Boozer.  Miami has been a destination of interest for Boozer, and there have been other suitors for the petulant All Star.  If the Jazz makes the shortsighted decision to let Milsap take his game to the Pacific Northwest, the Jazz will be looking to keep Boozer for at least this season.
 
The various pieces to the NBA free agent puzzle should begin to fall into place over the next few days.  The Jazz have until Friday to match Portland’s four year, $34 million offer sheet for Milsap and once that happens it will likely produce a ‘ripple effect’ through the league as other teams firm up their personnel plans for the 2009-2010 season.