Lakers Rumors: Allen Iverson Not Worth Low-Risk Gamble

Allen Iverson is willing to come back and play in the NBA—just like how Terrell Owens and Randy Moss want to come back to the NFL.

Former stars don’t know when to hang up the shoes (or cleats), and it’s tough to watch them squirm just waiting for the phone to ring.

The Los Angeles Lakers were the only time Iverson heard his phone go off, because that’s how desperate they are to shore up their guard woes.

Iverson, who has recently been in the news for reportedly being bankrupt, has softened his demands that he won’t play in the NBDL, according to a source speaking with Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine:

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"Allen only wants to play if there's a possibility that it leads to the NBA," the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "That's the only way he would go to one of these lower leagues. He wants to get back to the NBA and leave the game on his terms.

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And that’s why the Lakers need to avoid him like the plague. “Leave the game on his terms” is one of the most frightening phrases a team could ever hear when contemplating an older player.

Clearly, A.I. will be playing to show his haters that he can still average 15 points a night on 15 shot attempts. I’m sure he can, but that is not what the Lakers need.

Originally, he refused a stint in the D-League, but things change when the phone continues to stay silent.

The Lakers need a player that is pass-first and willing to go long stretches without hoisting up a shot. Iverson is a volume shooter who still thinks he is an alpha dog. With Kobe Bryant around, that’s not going to fly. What happens if Iverson can't get out of the D-League? Will he be able to handle it?

If Iverson doesn’t reach an agreement with a team by the Feb. 25 All-Star game, he will likely throw in the towel, according to the source. Right now, the Lakers are the only team to draw any serious interest to him.

There’s a reason for that.

Iverson, who has averaged 26.7 PPG in his career, will go down as one of the greatest scorers of all-time when we look back in history. His legacy is safe. What he’s doing now is clinging to the past and trying to squeeze a few bucks out of it.

Don’t fall for the trap, LA. Don’t be his platform in an attempt to tell everybody they are wrong. Sure, the contract would be dirt cheap and they could cut him at a moment’s notice, but at his age (36) and lost speed, he’s not worth it for the Lakers.

Ramon Sessions, on the other hand…