Players “All For” Bringing in Iverson

by Tommy Dee on November 19th, 2009 at 9:49 am

A person with knowledge informed me, to a man, the Knicks players are “all for” bringing in Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

“It’s not just Al (Harrington),” the source told TKB. “They are all for Iverson.”

Interesting that the team is all in agreement. Reports have mentioned a locker room that is divided based on a leadership standpoint. Multiple sources have told me that the team is split and no leader has emerged and they feel disrespected about the organization’s 2010 focus. The thinking is that Iverson, a sure Hall of Famer, could take that leadership role that seems to be split in the locker room between Harrington and David Lee, two players who may not be on the roster next year.

Granted, Iverson may not either, but the team is willing to allow him to overshadow them with the hopes of taking pressure off their own games, which they hope can lead to more wins.

Chris Duhon, for one, is a player who can benefit from Iverson, should D’Antoni put AI in the spot he was most successful in his career- off the ball opposite Eric Snow, a slow footed pick and roll spot up shooter. Iverson’s agility, which the Knicks hope he still has, allowed for Snow to be the perfect back court partner in Philly.

What will be interesting to see should Iverson end up in New York is who sits, but judging from the players, none of them seem to mind. Would the Knicks sit Duhon? Would Iverson cost Toney Douglas minutes? Nate? Larry Hughes?
  • dino of syracuse

    Yes, our fearless new leader! :

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I

  • JASONHAYES

    Im guessin either Nate or Douglas!

  • JASONHAYES

    Larry has been a contributor, can’t see him not in the rotation.

  • BiggieSmalls

    What do you expect the players to say..

    I would take more from the play ofr Hughes lat nite.. His minutes will get eaten into as a result of this publicity stunt.

    As I said Tommy — Duhon will NOT sit as a result of this. It will be Nate/Hughes/Douglas that will lose minutes if this washed up “franchise player” malcontent is brought in.

    I could stomach it if Duhon was sent packing.

    Dolan is likely looking to fall off the wagon rather than have to weigh in on this.

  • Dave the Rave

    Alan Iverson, a leader??? Leading shot taker, yes. Leading ball hog, yes. Leading undesired over-the-hill star, yes. Leading low % shooter from way back when on a team with no other offensive talent, yes. What leading did he do in Denver, Detroit and Memphis?

    Here’s a list of former all-star guards the Knix have brought in over the years, with positive (+) and negative (-) results. In most cases, they led to nothing.

    + Earl Monroe
    - Jim Barnett
    - Mike Newlin
    - Randy Smith
    - Paul Westphal
    + Latrell Sprewell
    + Alan Houston
    - Stephon Marbury
    - Penny Hardaway
    - Steve Francis
    -/+? Larry Hughes

    Iverson would screw this screwy team up a few more degrees, but if all they want to do is run and gun and put Duhon on the shelf, who cares for this season….bring on the circus — Mr. Dolan needs customers.

  • donnie walsh

    Ok but whos the odd man out in the backcourt

    You have
    A.I
    Hughes
    Douglas
    Duhon
    Nate

    If you take Duhon out, the ball may literally never be passed. Unfortunatel smart moneys on TD seeing a lot of pine. And it will be incredibly counterproductive

  • jho

    I’m getting more and more intrigued adding Iverson to this squad. It couldn’t get any worse imo, and as long as the majority of the minutes that he cuts into belongs to Duhon, it sounds good. I hope Douglas still gets 20 mins per.

  • Wheres The D

    I definitely say Nate is going to be getting to know Darko very well!!! Nate and Iverson are one in the same except Iverson is better at it. Plus I think the writing is on the wall with Nate – he is gone after this season, Toney will be here.

  • EQ1217

    A few days ago this blog suggested we “do not fear the rebuild” yet here were ready to add another 20+ shot vet a night after burying our 3 most promising young players. You can also take it to the bank that Chandler’s minutes will be going down significantly as well.

    Now this blog is ready to jump on the bandwagon of a bunch of overpaid vet’s looking to score their final payday, while the players that are actually part of the future can collect dust.

    Of course if we had actually drafted properly, I’m sure none of our young players would be buried on the bench.

  • traps9

    As has been said, I’m pretty sure it’ll be Nate and TD’s minutes getting cut into… I don’t mind Nate, but I like TD enough to want his role to increase. As eluded to by Tommy, it could be a setup with an Eric Snow-type guard, which is Duhon but also can be Hughes. I’d expect that to be the three guard rotation for the most part. Do I agree (at all) with it? Not really. But will I like watching Iverson for this year just because? Sure will. We’re not going to the playoffs either way, so, for me – might as well be entertained lol

  • traps9

    I don’t know if “drafted properly” was truth or sarcasm, but if it was truth, I’m in agreement with you. I’m not afraid of the rebuild, myself – I just like getting to watch AI play; he’s entertaining enough to where I don’t care in this throwaway season. TETO

  • italian stallion

    Al Harrington is one of the team leaders?

    OMG, that’s about the funniest thing I ever heard!

    No wonder we are 2-9! Al is a black hole when he gets the ball and has no idea how to play the game properly. Sure, once a month he’ll have a good game like last night and win one for you and then he’ll play a major role in losing games the rest of the time. And he’s the leader. Ugggh

  • traps9

    LOL – I was wondering where I first heard the black hole stuff that cracks me up. Might not have been you but I’ll bet it was on TKB lol still funny as hell.

  • traps9

    Just for clarity, hindsight is obviously 20/20, and I won’t just go rip balls-out on DW for rookies and second year players. I hope I’m wrong; I just don’t quite see how TD or Gallo were great fits for SSOL (okay, so Gallo’s a shooter, fantastic – but if he’s trailing the play all the time, that’s supposed to be the big on the pick & roll – is Gallo gonna be rolling? I don’t think so.)… I thought athleticism first, shooting (close) second made SSOL what it was. Gallo can shoot but is slower and unable to drive effectively, and TD is a 2 who seemed to be bought to fill the future 1 spot. J-Hill could be in that Amar’e mold; maybe never as good, but the same style D’A needs. Maybe I’m wrong, though – wouldn’t be even close to the first time.

  • SilentJay

    Hughes won’t be out, he’s producing. Nate looks like the one out.
    I’m 50/50 over this whole situation. Many have been bitching (no shots) for W’s and moves being made for that. Granted, there could be much better ones, but the fact remains that this is the only one that’s been made. Publicity stunt or not, his presence just might turn out to produce a couple of more W’s than expected.The only big fear will be what happens to our younger guys that need developing. The other 50 is all for it. Since a bunch of players look like disgruntled employees, passionless without any self respect misfits, AI’s presence may just be the presence needed to shake things up. Besides, it can’t get any worse than we already are. Whatever he produces, on and off the court can turn out to be useful to this roster: it’ll shake up the vets who swear that have their spots locked and give the younguns the chance to play wih a future HOF.

  • joetheknick

    Do not agree there needs to be a loser here. Adding Iverson gives the coach another weapon. We all agreed that last year Duhon was overloaded with 37 minutes a game. Nate doesn’t need30 minutes a game. QRich is not around to get his 26 minutes a game. There are plenty of minutes at the guard position for whoever is playing good basketball. Let’s be a little positive.

  • traps9

    I think it’s Duhon/Hughes at the 1 and Iverson at the 2… Nate and TD aren’t in the same mold as those two, though TD might very well turn into that someday (and prove me wrong in thinking he might be this team’s future 2, not 1).

  • Peso

    I think bringing A.I is a good thing ONLY if DU-DU sits! Start T-Doug with A.I….

    Du-Du is a back-up pg not a starter and its now showing.

    I say put the kid in with him and let him grow as a passer slasher and SOMEONE plz bench LEE. He is not a center….Start Jordan and the 4! Mike D should do what he quotes to the media and give these kids some light already…

    Hopefully E-City is back to form from 2 yrs ago so we can finally have a real post presence until when/if he’s traded…

  • BiggieSmalls

    co sign

  • steiker9

    With the return of Curry, who actually looked like a basketball player last night,
    and the addition of AI we would actually become a much deeper team.
    We need to trade Duhon first and then either Nat or Larry Hughes for anything we can get to open time for Tdoug and AI.
    And I really hope what I saw from Curry last night was not an illusion, or that he doesn’t bust his ankle in the next game and get hurt again.

  • DatNewYorker

    I HOPE IT IS DUHON SITTING ON THE BENCH. WE WILL NOT MISS THIS GUY. WE NEED A FINISHER. I WILL TAKE ALLEN “PRACTICE?” IVERSON OVER DUHON ANY DAY. I DID NOT WANT HIM IN THE SUMMER BUT WITH A HORRIBLE START WE CLEARLY NEED A CHANGE, IVERSON CAN HELP WITH SCORING AND STEALS AND DRAWING FOULS. BUT DRAWING FOULS IS THE BIGGEST NEED. I LIKE HIM AND HUGHES IN THE BACKCOURT. HUGHES CAN RUN THE POINT. HUGHES HAS BEEN A BETTER PG THAN DUHON. BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT DUHON WILL BE PLAYING. MIKE D HAS MADE BAD CHOICES ALL YEAR IN HIS STARTING LINE UP. I DONT EXPECT HIM TO ALL OF A SUDDEN MAKE SENSE. THE JEFFRIES EXPERIMENT AND WILSON CHANDLER AT PF ALSO HE ALREADY HAS DAVID LEE PLAYING CENTER. WILSON CHANDLER IS CONFUSED BECAUSE HE IS PLAYING SG ONE NIGHT AND PF THE NEXT AND SF EVERY NOW AND THEN. ALLEN IVERSON IS NOT THE BEST PLAYER FOR THE TEAM BUT I THINK HE WILL SELL SEATS AND MAKE US RESPECTABLE IMMEDIATELY. HE IS THE ONLY PLAYER ON THE TEAM THAT HAS THE SKILLS TO RUN HIS OFFENSIVE SYSTEM. THE ONLY WAY IT HURTS IF THEY DONT DEVELOP TONY D.

  • blackwood

    True hindsight is 20/20 how about talent evaluation and ability to fill P.O.N’s!?! Get donnie new glasses or get him a Mullen who wont go in to the draft with a high pick looking for the next “Bob Cousy” LMAOOO

  • nyknicksfan

    What about a line up of AI,Douglas,Gallo,Chandler,Dlee (rather have hill at center or darko or curry when ready and hill or harrington at PF but i think coach wants him coming off the bench)

  • BiggieSmalls

    this relationship can end only one way.. the same way it ended for A.I. everywhere..

    B.A.D.

  • DatNewYorker

    Last night Curry was in an altercation with one of the Pacer players. Now, that is sadly the only time I have seen some fire and fight in this team all year. If I’m on a team that’s 1-9, I will be fighting every night. The players we have are very soft. I was surprised to see that from Curry because he was always a very soft player. I was upset that Mike D (D for dummy) did not play him enough.

  • http://myspace.com/willhanza Will H

    Larry Hughes could definitely be the starting PG on this team. That probably says more about the sad state of the Knicks than Hughes. But, Hughes actually can play defense and would average 7-8 assists per night.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    the heat are going after IVERSON hard

    let’s see if the knicks lose again..

  • pleasepleaseplease

    The key to this not ending in an even more disatrous disaster than it already is: Getting rid of Harrington, Duhon and maybe Robinson a s a p.

    Iverson / Douglas
    Hughes / Douglas / Landry
    Gallinari / Chandler
    Lee / Hill / Jeffries
    Curry / Milicic / Hill

    Probably worth 25 wins, which is more than I expect from the current lineup.

  • Bob

    if the heat get iverson ,the knicks win

  • blackwood

    Will…I agree!! Huges is a very good passer if you drill it in his head that he is the point and needs to keep the ball moving im telling you he will be better then Duhon. I am not going to pile on Duhon because people where expecting to much from what is an above average PG. Point is EC commands a double team A.I. commands almost a double team at that point guys like Huges, A.H. and Lee and more importantly Hill can feast on being open. That at least should allow us to put forward a respectable showing this season.

  • paulempson

    finally , something that makes sense. AI is goint help these guys. he will take pressure off Duhon , perhaps show these guys how to fight and be a very key mising link .

    with curry back and ai dishi nd ,when needed , takin over games , how can we not try this.

    he is no marbury. he doesnt talk crap to the media. look at detroitnd now memphis. he was very clear about not beingh bench player. itswell documented that detroit coach was the prolem and whymemphis signd him to ridethe pine and lose ,lose,lose……. is amazing

    i hope it happens

  • MiamiMoe

    IMHO I’m all for bringin in AI but D’Antoni showed his true colors last night and exposed his favortism over his “FUTURE DEVELOPMENT” rhetoric last night…he swore up and down yesterday while dodging the AI question that DEVELOPING Players while sticking to the 2010 plan was the strategy BUT we go down by 19 AND LEE & DUHON are STRUGGLING and Douglas & Hill get no PT…D’Antoni is playin favorites even @ the expense of the team….What’s gonna happen when him & AI butt heads or he just falls out of favor w/ AI??? CATASTROPHY OF EPIC PROPORTIONS!!!! Cuz AI is not humble enough to play his role & D’Antoni has shown POOR LEADERSHIP since he got here…AND I’M A D’ANTONI SUPPORTER!!!!! But i’m not blind and the way he handled Marbury (glad he’s gone but d’antoni handled it poorly)…& The rotation…& Substitutions…& not Developing our YOUNG FUTURE CORE…& sticking w/ Lee @ C…& Cripplin CHANDLER’S development by seemingly changing his position/role day to day, game to game, qtr to qtr…& sticking w/ stuggling Vets WHO WON’T BE HERE NEXT YR. instead of DEVLOPIN YOUR YOUNG CORE…
    I think he was the best available coach @ the time of the hire, esp when it comes to luring FA’s, BUT he’s proving that he just doesn’t have a handle on this team…
    FINALLY… Somebody tell GALLO to move w/out the F’N BALL!!!!!! people keep sayin he’s hurt OR the players don’t wanna pass him the ball and get him involved…HE’S JUST NOT OPEN!!! He plants himself at the 3 pt line and sticks his hand out…if they do get him the ball he’s so slow off th dribble that even Duhon can guard him OR he just wonders off and takes himself outta the mix…
    AM I THE ONLY ONE WATCHIN THESE GAMES????
    C’mon my knowleable Knick fans back me up these are some very credible points i’m making that i feel are clear as day.

  • BiggieSmalls

    on point.. When A.I. gets here dont expect Nate or TD to play.. There goes Nate’s trade value circling the drain.

    Walsh will end up letting him walk and the Lakers or Magic will sign him for under the mid level. Thats how real franchises stay good.

  • MiamiMoe

    The only reason i see for D’Antoni playin this ‘play the Vets @ all cost’ despite their struggles or despite the Player Development is DW & D’Antoni using this 1st half of the season, til trade deadline, as a HOOK & BAIT Showcase of these players w/ DW makin potential moves…And then develop the FUTURE YOUNG CORE THE 2ND HALF OF THE YEAR…IF NOT…then DW & D’Antoni do not have a grip on this team…
    I personally don’t think DW & MIKE D are that STUPID & INCOMPETANT…BUT…if you’ve been a Knicks fan this decade you’ve learned to expect the worst and wish for the best.

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    lmao
    your krazy BOB
    what’s that your drinking?

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    people 4get he ran alot of point when he played for the warriors

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    that’s AL for ya.

  • JLS125

    I agree. Duhon sits and put TD at the 2 with Iverson in the backcourt.

  • NoVaCaInE

    Toney Douglas will be the one on the bench. A.I.,Nate and Larry are all 2′s. Larry’s ability to facilitate (even though I believe he’s a bum) makes it possible for him to play with Nate. Starting 5 IMO PG Duhon, SG A.I. SF Chandler PF Lee C Curry. Bench Al, Nate, Hughes, Hill. Deep bench Darko, TD, Landry.

  • JASONHAYES

    ALL THE IVERSON HATERS QUIT IT. THE KNICKS ARE DOING BAD AND DYSFUNCTIONAL ALL BY THEMSELVES. MARBURY REALLY MADE ALL OF YOU GUYS SOFT! SCARED OF A GUY, BECAUSE HIS CONFIDENCE AND HEART, IS PERCEIVED AS SELFISH AND ARROGANT. I WANT TO SEE SOMEONE ON THAT FLOOR WHO IS GONNA BRING HIS BEST EACH NIGHT.
    WHO ON THAT CURRENT ROSTER IS DOING THAT?……..I’LL WAIT……………..EXACTLY!
    ATLEAST I KNOW SOMEONE OUT THERE WILL CARE WHEN THEY LOSE, SOMEONE WILL WANT THE BALL IN THERE HANDS IN THE CLUTCH, SOMEONE WHO WILL LEAD BY EXAMPLE ON THE COURT! I DONT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING OFF THE COURT. THESE ARE ALL GROWN MEN, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN MINDS, HOW CAN THEY BE INFLUENCED NEGATIVELY. I WANT TO SEE A GOOD SEASON, ATLEAST MAKE IT COMPETETITIVE. DAMMIT I WANT TO TRY AND MAKE PLAYOFFS! ITS TIME FOR EVERYONE ON THAT TEAM TO TAKE A BACK SEAT, THEY HAD THEIR CHANCE TO STEP UP AND LEAD AND NOBODY HAD ENOUGH HEART TO DO IT!

  • Jeff Cykiert

    I’m with biggie: If you want to bring him in as a one year experiment at the point so that we can be rid of Duhon, than why not give it a shot. let him run the offense and see if he can do it; see if the players around with him can feed off of him.

    But if you’re going to still play duhon and just have iverson be another undersized combo guard at the two, and take away minutes from douglas, and hughes (who is doing just fine), then it is pointless and a ‘publicity stunt.’

    If you bring iverson in, you start him at the 1, full time, give him the ball, and hope for some excitement for the rest of the year.

    Iverson
    Hughes
    Chandler
    Galo
    Curry

    With Nate, Douglas, Harrington, and maybe darko off the bench

    Get rid of duhon (he shouldn’t be in the league, he is a fat slow PG with no shot; how does that help us?)

    Trade Lee in a package with Jeffries.

  • Jeff Cykiert

    The problem is that it won’t work out that way: we will keep losing, iverson will get really pissed and eventually leave, and we will end up worse off than where we started. That is the reason why i’m so hesitant… it seems like he’ll be deluded into believing he can turn this team around, and when he becomes just another guy chucking up shots, and we lose 10 more straight, he will lose his mind and be out of here.

  • NoVaCaInE

    This back court didn’t work in Philly…

  • ohboy109

    Duhon won’t sit, that’s Dantoni’s bitch, but reality he’s the one you have to sit for Iverson!

  • BobbyFromBK

    Taking minutes from Duhon would be okay because he’s really a backup, Taking from Nate will be fine because he’s overrated and taking Douglas’s minutes is alright cause he’s a rook. I would start a back court of A.I. and Hughes. Based on Larry’s recent play and leadership, and also because they played together before and know each other’s game. And if Eddy C. can stay healthy…this could be a team.

  • BigTyme

    The knicks could run teams out of the building with a small three-guard line-up of AI, Douglas and Nate along with Lee and Harrington up front; of course Harrington will have to concentrate on getting a few bounds, but Douglas is a very good rebounding guard for any size….

  • BiggieSmalls

    I can appreciate the sentiment that if Iverson makes ONE PEEP Donnie send him packing.. I understand the Knicks dont have a HUGE investment in this guy and can cut bait any time.

    But will Donnie really do that?

    How does it reflect on Donnie if this thing blows up in his and MDA’s face after 25 games?

    What does Dolan think about bringing another circus into town at a time when they are trying to spin off MSG?

    Does Iverson even agree to come into an admitted one year situation where he is a hired gun?

    I just think this has no hope but to end badly. What is the upside? We win a few more games, Dolan sells his tickets and we screw the Jazz out of a LOCK top three pick? At the expense of diminshing Nate’s value and possibly hindering the development of the young uns.?

    Good Luck with that. This reeks of desperation and is not how you should smell.

  • HaS

    Could it be worse than _avi_ being a leader? Geezus.

  • BiggieSmalls

    They should slow it down and play

    Duhon
    Hughes
    Gallo
    Lee
    Curry

    with Duhon doing the pick and roll thing with Curry until someone bites and thinks Curry is an asset. Duhon’s shooting should even out and maybe he can be shipped somewhere for a draft pick.

    Ill bury JJ and Hill with DNP-CD for now. Let Hill develop in practice and play in the second half should we deal Curry and or Lee.

    Bring Harrington and Chandler off the bench and let Darko take up 25 minutes for Defense.

    Toney D and Nate as the reserves for 20-25 mins ..

    10 player rotation..

    This is NOT a 12 win team.. things will even out.

  • pleasepleaseplease

    “Does Iverson even agree to come into an admitted one year situation where he is a hired gun?”

    Either that or retirement. He had heavy problems finding a suitor in the summer and blew that arrangement after his first game. Iverson is really in no position to demand a long term deal.

    I tend to agree with you on the outcome though, because I’m not convinced the Knicks are really trying to trade the likes of Duhon or Harrington. So the Iverson signing would surely lead to less minutes and less shots for the rookies and Gallo. And we are going to see teh great “who can keep the ball in his hands longer” competition between A.I. and Al.

    I’m not excited.

    If there were some trade possibilities however I would much prefer to have Iverson hog the ball and take the shots than Harrington. If you are a selfish egofreak, at least be effective.

  • NoVaCaInE

    This signing is just to sell tickets and fill the empty seats. It’s obvious management can care less about this season. It’s all about 2010. For those that still believe Douglas will receive major minutes are in for a wake up call. He will be on the bench. Please but to bed starting him at the 1 or him being the future 1. He will be a 3rd guard his whole career. Walsh will look to move Nate and possibly pair him with Jeffries or Curry so Nate will play. We all saw this summer there are not many suitors for Lee so I don’t expect Lee to be traded. As for Duhon being benched, should it happen? Of course, but will it? No. A.I. will be signed and he will start with Duhon in the back court. Gallo should come off the bench. IMO he will be better served as a reserve that can feast off of the opposing teams second unit. Especially with this slop we have as a roster. Starting 5 Duhon, A.I., Chandler, Lee, Curry. Bench Nate, Hughes, Al, Hill. Deep bench TD, Darko, Landry.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Iverson is a ego maniacal narcissist.

    He still thinks he is still an all star and mvp caliber player.

  • NoVaCaInE

    This signing is to keep the Knicks relevant and distract the fans that have no clue until 2010. Also gives the media something else to write about.

  • Campbana

    Whatup Biggs. I see that your anti Alley I and all that and I can respect your position. Matter of factly most of the bloggers that are astute as yourself(i.e HAS, Bob, Blackwood) present good viewpoints for dudes like me. Do you think that Iverson is just a bad basketball player period? Mentioning his previous tenures in Memphis, Denver, and Detroit failures regarding leadership is blurry dont you think. On none of those teams was he brought in to provide leadership. Memphis wanted a bench player as did Detroit and Carmelo is the focal point in Denver or so I thought. I could be wrong. If so please correct me. Iversons best stint was when he was in Philly surrounded with limited talent which in some uncanny way best describes the current Knickeddrbocker squad. As for Alley I losing a step and being over the hill, I think he’s one year younger than Steve Nash. Yes I know he dominates the ball and all that however with the Knicks roster I think all he can do is make us better. You have always entertained me with your outlook on the Knicks and what they shoudl do as far as personnel changes and what the lineup should be. Are you that engrossed in your own perception that it makes a future HOF absolete and come second to your own great philosophies concerning the Knicks? Never any disrespect Biggs. Players have trouble on different teams for different reasons, that doesnt neccesarily take away from their skill set(i.e Artest, R. Wallace,). All I’m saying is give AI a chance and he may prove to you that not only can he make points he can validate the bums around him. And please none of that retro what we coulda shoulda stuff because its irrelevant when the paper is talking about getting AI “now”.

  • Campbana

    Isnt Steve Nash?

  • Campbana

    Everybody talking about how AI gonna affect future player develpoment. As sharp as you guys are cant you see that their development is already being retarded by the coach so what is the diffenence? Sounds like hate……