Allen Iverson has been in negotiations with the Memphis Grizzlies since the start of the free agent period, but Monday was the first time the two sides have met in person to discuss the possibility of Iverson joining the Grizzlies. A.I. met with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, coach Lionel Hollins, and GM Chris Wallace. It is believed that the Grizzlies offered Iverson a one year, 3.5 million dollar deal but Iverson has not accepted the contract as of yet. If Iverson does end up joining the Grizzlies, he will be joining a young team with lots of young talent. Memphis already has Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol, and added Zach Randolph this off-season. A.I. has a reputation for being a selfish player who needs to dominate the ball in order to be effective, which is not exactly the type of player you want as a role model for a young team. Even though Iverson is past his prime, he still draws a crowd and sells tickets, which is something the Memphis organization needs desperately. The Memphis fan base is not very large and adding a player like Allen Iverson is sure to increase ticket sales. The Grizzlies seem to be the only team actively pursuing Iverson and a deal with him looks to be imminent. If Iverson does sign with Memphis, as most people expect, then the Grizzlies will be an intriguing team this year.
Update: Iverson has agreed to a one-year deal worth 3.5 million dollars plus incentives. Iverson will join the free agent class of 2010 featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh meaning he will most likely be waiting until this time next summer before signing another contract.
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