Now we know why we didn't get AI...

[BigMike]

Brown said the Bobcats seriously considered signing Iverson last season, but he and majority partner Michael Jordan opted against it because of how it might affect the younger guards they were trying to develop.
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/14/larry-brown-allen-iverson-deserves-better-than-finishing-career/#cntnt


I wondered about this the other day. "The cats could afford to pay AI 2 mill so why is he off to Turkey?"

Now i know...

[CatNation]

so they went out and got flip murray and larry hughes instead? :g:

[spectre]

That's hilarious!

Exactly right Cat...if we're so locked into developing young talent (Larry Brown, the great rookie talent developer!) why in the hell did we bring in Flip and Hughes?

Wonder if LB was holding a straight face when he said that.

[SWedd523]

I think it has less to do with development and more to do with AI and his "personal" issues.

[BigMike]

I think it has less to do with development and more to do with AI and his "personal" issues.

While I agree, if we can get him for what the turks are paying why wouldn't we at least try it? We are the Home for wayward players these days might as well take on the biggest one of all.
Let AI start untill he gets his first Tech of each game for gesturing and then bench him for DJ to get his minutes in. Between the news coverage and extra ticket sales the 2 mill would be a good investment i would think.

[TheBeagle]

I think it has less to do with development and more to do with AI and his "personal" issues. AI's been a boozer since probably he was a teen. That was always Larry's issue with him. The "practice" issue wasn't about practice in and of itself, it was why he wasn't attending practice or late to them: he was hungover all the damn time. I really think it bothers Larry he was never able to help AI out with his alcoholism, and has to hurt him to see his fall from grace because of the bottle.

[SWedd523]

I was actually reading Bill Simmons' take on AI in his book and didn't realize he had such a "difficult" time in the league. Sure he was looked upon negatively for his "hip-hop" attitude that the older, paler, writers didn't appreciate. But the guy really had some personal problems. I think the drinking problem has a lot to do with the strong bond LB/AI share. We know Larry loves a reclamation project and AI was sort of his Piece de Resistance AND Moby Dick (it's late and I'm using literary references--God help us all) in that he knew how great AI was/could be but he just couldn't get through to him. Now with AI falling from grace so quickly, LB wants to go back and work with him, but he knows that it's an impossible task since it failed before and he knows it's not worth it. It's a tough situation either way.

[TheBeagle]

I was actually reading Bill Simmons' take on AI in his book and didn't realize he had such a "difficult" time in the league. Sure he was looked upon negatively for his "hip-hop" attitude that the older, paler, writers didn't appreciate. But the guy really had some personal problems. I think the drinking problem has a lot to do with the strong bond LB/AI share. We know Larry loves a reclamation project and AI was sort of his Piece de Resistance AND Moby Dick (it's late and I'm using literary references--God help us all) in that he knew how great AI was/could be but he just couldn't get through to him. Now with AI falling from grace so quickly, LB wants to go back and work with him, but he knows that it's an impossible task since it failed before and he knows it's not worth it. It's a tough situation either way. And you say I need to inject some intelligence here...pshaw.