NBA Rumors: Allen Iverson Would Bring Showtime Back to L.A. Lakers

The idea that the Los Angeles Lakers may be after the services of former NBA great Allen Iverson would bring the team from the nothing they have become back to the showtime Lakers we’ve come to know and love.

There isn't any risk for the Lakers if they sign Iverson. There is a possibility that A.I. still has some gas left in the tank and would provide L.A. with the scoring they desperately need off the bench.

While it’s true that the Lakers are looking for a true point guard to move the ball around the court, Iverson could be one of two free-agent signings that could bolster the depth chart where needed.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is reporting about the Lakers' possible interest in A.I. and another PG:

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Allen Iverson, who sources indicated the Lakers had some interest in as long as he was willing to go to the NBA Developmental League for a few weeks first, is not the answer. He's simply not a point guard. The Lakers are also said to be interested in former Toronto Raptors point guard Rafer Alston, who helped the Orlando Magic reach the NBA Finals in 2009.

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If I were in charge of the Lakers at this point, I would go hard after both of these players instead of dealing with the prospect of signing Gilbert Arenas to help take the point. We saw how effective he was in Orlando.

While it’s obvious that Iverson would play the point with Kobe on the bench, giving the Lakers a spark plug that could increase their 20th-ranked point totals, Alston could be the pure point that Kobe and the rest of the team needs to keep the offense moving.

As much as Derek Fisher wants to still be an elite PG in the NBA, he isn’t near the level that Los Angeles needs to win consistently. If the Lakers can limit his minutes by giving them to the duo of Iverson and Alston, the Lakers will have a backcourt good enough to make the playoffs.

I don’t see them going much farther than that with the lack of depth they have no matter who they sign.

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