UPDATED: AI to sign with Grizz

[Sam Mills Fan]

http://dimemag.com/2009/08/source-allen-iverson-to-the-bobcats/

Can't believe they're actually pulling the trigger on it.

I'm guessing they'll send Felton or Bell packing and the starting lineup will be:

C Tyson Chandler

F Boris Diaw

F Gerald Wallace

G Allen Iverson

G Raymond Felton/Raja Bell

[ownermode bm]

I wouldn't count them out of trading wallace also. Im not for it but they could save alot of money and go get the pietrus dude maybe. They could even start vladimir at the three and bring in someone through trade cheaper. I think this team has alot of potential to make some noise. If augustine came in and produce like he did last year starting he could avg. close to 20 and 9. aug

iverson

wallace/vlad

diaw/vlad

chandler

[Rononoa3000]

Hooray! Better keep Felton. I'm getting a jersey.

If only they had kept Okafor or gotten something more for that trade.

[CM86]

not so fast, but probably?

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/104/story/903164.html

[Kurb]

What a disaster.

[Kevin Greene]

Bad move.

[Black]

fuging. AWESOME.

i feel like i just drank a gallon of coffer...im pumped

[Guest BradThomas]

I'd like to see them bring in Iverson simply because it gives us some national relevance and some storylines to follow through the season.

I wonder if we'll now see a sign and trade with Felton.

[tarheelblue89]

I would love bringing in A.I. but if it means the end for Felton and Wallace then no thanks.

[pantherfan49]

I wonder if we'll now see a sign and trade with Felton.

This would probably be the best thing for the franchise moving forward.

[Woodie]

I think this is one of those "I don't think it can hurt moves." After all, if we are being realistic, we were not headed to the playoffs this year anyway, even before the Okafor trade. So either this move will lead us there, or it won't...but if it doesn't we will likely still be right where we would have been without the move, which is in the lottery.

Last year, we were ok defensively, but we had no real go to scorer, and that really hurt us on many occasions. So, this team desperately needs someone that can step up in crunch time and make the big basket, and if nothing else, AI would give us that. Sure, he would be a defensive liability, but we have great help defenders in Crash and Chandler, so I think as a whole, the tradeoff would be on the plus side.

There are two other issues that his signing would likely mean. First is that Bell will probably be headed out of town...and that is not something I like since he is our best option for defending the Bryant's and Wade's. But Bell is a FA after this season, and showing signs of age catching up to him (injuries). So it may just be a worthwhile tradeoff. The other issue is the effect he will have on our locker room chemistry. I have seen some articles that talk about AI being a disruption since we are said to have one of the most cohesive locker rooms in the NBA. However, there have been times that I have felt we were too nice of a team, and didn't have that killer instinct. So perhaps AI will actually toughen these guys up a bit, who knows.

IMO, this team will almost certainly go in one of two ways...either we significantly improve our win total and make the playoffs, or we end up with our pick for another year, and get a decent lottery selection. Either way, it will be a lot more interesting with AI than without him.

[Vagrant]

I wouldn't dismiss the chances that Iverson could make this team contend for the 8th seed. With a little luck, we would have been right there last season. If we can get anything at all out of Chandler in the offensive end, because we know he brings the heat in the defensive zone, we could look pretty good with a lineup of Felton, Iverson, Crash, Diaw, and Chandler with Augustin, Henderson, Bell, and Vlad off the bench.

[LKuechly]

He only plays good in PRACTICE !

[Woodie]

Here's a link to an interesting article that was posted on Bobcatsplanet.com. It talks about how AI would fit with the Bobcats, and comparing this team to the Sixers team of 2001 that went to the finals.

http://blog.mlive.com/its-just-sports/2009/08/can_allen_iverson_lead_a_hoops.html