The Chicago Bulls Should Pursue Allen Iverson

I know, Allen Iverson's retiring from the NBA. Or at least that's what he says.

The fact is that Iverson is leaving the game on someone else's terms. He's one of the greatest guards of his, or any, generation, and the game is forcing him out. After 14 years, there's nowhere for the former MVP and scoring champ to go.

Really?

In my mind, there's a perfect situation for Iverson, where he could contribute in a way that makes him happy enough to stay around and that also benefits the team. Iverson's a perfect fit for the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls are young and have issues scoring the basketball. They've scored over 100 points only once, and have been held under 90 five times already this year. Their roster is filled with skinny tweeners whose defense can only take a team so far. For the Bulls, it will probably be the Draft Lottery next summer.

One specific problem the Bulls are facing is their bench.

This past summer they let Ben Gordon, their uber-sixth man, walk away as a free agent (he landed in Detroit). Gordon was lights out off the bench, and when he came in, it appeared he had the option to shoot the second he got his hands on the ball.

But the Bulls didn't want to commit long term—or the substantial dollars for which Gordon was asking—to a player his size and who plays such little defense. With the legendary 2010 Free Agent Class coming, nobody wanted to spend money for longer than one season.

When Gordon left, the calculated risk the Bulls were taking was that someone, somewhere on their bench, would pick up his scoring. That risk has fallen flat. Nobody's scoring off the Bulls bench.

In fact, the Bulls head to Thanksgiving with only four players averaging double-digits in points per game this year. Luol Deng is currently the team's leading scorer at only 17.5 points per night, a number that represents a bad year for Iverson.

Iverson could join a team that has such luminaries as Jannero Pargo and Lindsay Hunter on the payroll, a team whose leading scorer off the bench is Kirk Hinrich at barely over eight points per game.

Why wouldn't the Bulls at least pick up the phone?

Iverson could join a team that's played with Gordon rarely passing the ball for years. The role isn't new, and the chemistry wouldn't completely change. By letting Iverson play freely and shoot at will, he would likely be more comfortable coming off the bench.

There's something else to consider when thinking about the Bulls adding Iverson: dollars. The Bulls don't run the United Center any more.

The Blackhawks are the trendy team in Chicago now. They're the organization selling out games and jerseys and hats and sweatshirts.

Bringing in a player with Iverson's resume would give the Bulls marketing they lack in their own building. While the Bulls struggle to stay in the middle of the pack in their division, the Blackhawks are adding one of the best scoring wingmen in hockey to a team that's already considered one of, if not the best in the entire NHL.

I'm not saying the Bulls need to sign Iverson to compete with Marian Hossa and the Hawks, but their marketing department wouldn't mind a boost in headlines.

The one major issue with this idea is something the Bulls will be dealing with until they make a change in coaching. Iverson might kill Vinny Del Negro.

But then again, anyone who has ever used a timeout appropriately might be in front of Iverson in the line to handle that issue.

Del Negro is an amateur trying to coach a young, talented team in the arena Michael Jordan built. His questionable use of players, timeouts, and play selection might drive one of the most passionate players of this generation crazy.

But that would be worth it.

These Bulls have enough talent, and energy, to compete. They just don't have the scoring. The last time I checked, Iverson's name was synonymous with putting points on the board.

This should be a no-brainer rental for the Bulls.