Allen Iverson: Back to "The Question"

Allen Iverson, A.I., Bubba Chuck, "The Answer," is now "The Question" in the minds of many NBA coaches, GMs, and organizations as a whole around the league. 

As a huge fan of Iverson, I've been doing my best to keep up with all of the rumors concerning where Allen will be playing next season. I've heard many teams mentioned in this whole craziness such as the Pacers, Heat, Rockets, Thunder, Knicks, 76ers, Bobcats, and obviously the Grizzlies in the past.

Before I get into which teams I think would mesh well with A.I., let me explain how I feel about this guy. He will go out and give 110 percent every second of every game, but at the same time he expects some respect in return for his efforts, which in terms of Iverson, translates to playing time. 

He has been criticized for being a selfish player, but I think in the time he spent in Denver, he proved he could play side-by-side with an All Star-caliber player in ’Melo. 

Do I think he has lost a step? Maybe. Do I think he lost an inch or two off of his vertical in the last few years? Of course. Is he the best guard in the league? Not even close. 

With all this being said, Iverson could still be in the top 25 percent of guards in the league in my opinion, no doubt. 

As to what team Mr. Iverson will fit best with, well... I don't know if anyone is sure about that.

I would rather not see my boy Bubba playing in Indiana for the Pacers, although with that addition, they could possibly contend for a No. 6 or No. 7 playoff spot in the east. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing how he would flow with Danny Granger and even the un-signed A.J Price. 

A.I. on the Heat could be fun to watch, but having two undersized guards who both play with a "score-first" mentality could be a bit counter-productive. 

As for Houston, I personally don't see that happening, but it would be nice to see A.I. play on such a strong defensive team for once. 

The Thunder seems slightly possible just from looking at the roster; because the guards they have are young, but again I don't see this happening. 

Being from Philadelphia, my heart skipped a beat when I saw that someone had mentioned them in this. Again, I don't think it's very likely, but I'd love for Iverson to come back to Philly. I'd also love to see A.I. play for Larry Brown again, but there are so many reasons why he should or shouldn't be added to all of these teams.

Being an Allen Iverson fan, I'm well aware that along with that name comes some hating. I'm not saying he is the best guard or player ever. It may just be me, but I love seeing a guy play with such heart, especially a man of his size. 

He may have never won a ring, but he won the hearts of the fans in Philadelphia, something that takes a special person to accomplish. 

I will never forget the day I saw Iverson step back on the court of the Wachovia Center wearing the powder blue Denver uniform... I still get chills just thinking about it.