Bobcats to consider free agent Iverson
June 30, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—The Charlotte Bobcats have an owner who’s losing millionsand looking to sell. They’ve struggled to move tickets, win games and becomerelevant in a town that used to adore the NBA.
Allen Iverson(notes) could change that. Pair the polarizing guard with coach LarryBrown again and they wouldn’t just be talking about games in Charlotte, they’dbe talking about practice, too.
Whether Iverson is reunited with his former adversary-turned-buddy Brown isCharlotte’s most intriguing storyline as the NBA’s free agency period opensWednesday.
Iverson is a 34-year-old free agent, far removed from his NBA MVP days andcertainly about to be paid much less than the nearly $22 million he made lastseason, when he was traded from Denver to Detroit.
Seven years after Iverson’s famous “We’re talking about practice!” rantdirected at Brown when they were in Philadelphia, the two have made up. Iversonwas spotted in Charlotte in May, when Brown said he’d have no problems coachinghim again and Iverson’s agent indicated his client would be open to playing forthe Bobcats.
Leon Rose declined further comment on Tuesday, but he’s expected to talk tothe Bobcats as the free agency negotiating period starts Wednesday.
“Even though there are things that went on during our careers, the work hedid was phenomenal,” Brown said recently. “He wants to win, he competes everynight, he plays hurt.”
Brown did question whether the Bobcats, who have never won more than 35games in a season, would be a good fit for a player seeking to win an NBA titlebefore retiring. But Rose said his client would have no qualms coming toCharlotte.
The Bobcats were the lowest-scoring team in the NBA last season, butIverson’s role here would be uncertain.
The Bobcats have depth in the backcourt. They drafted shooting guard GeraldHenderson(notes) with the 12th pick to back up Raja Bell(notes). D.J. Augustin(notes) is expected toagain back up point guard Raymond Felton(notes).
Charlotte last week gave Felton a one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer tomake him a restricted free agent and plan to sign him to a long-term deal thissummer.
“I don’t see any situation where he will not be with this team,” managingpartner Michael Jordan said. “Granted, we’ve got a lot of business decisions tomake and a lot of negotiations ahead. But I anticipate us keeping and signingRaymond Felton, without a doubt.”
Under that scenario, Iverson would likely have to take on a lesser role,something he resisted in Detroit last season.
It’s also uncertain if the two sides could agree on a contract. The Bobcats,who are over the salary cap, will probably not offer more than a midlevelexception of about $5.6 million for a free agent.
Management has been told by owner Bob Johnson, who has slashednon-basketball payroll and is exploring selling the team, not to exceed theluxury tax threshold of about $70 million.
“I don’t think it’s fair for us to get anywhere close to the luxury taxnumbers,” general manager Rod Higgins said. “We’re just trying to get to theplayoffs. We’re not there yet, so it’s going to be hard pressed for us to go toownership and say we want to go to the tax level.”
The Bobcats’ biggest need is the frontcourt. Injury-prone power forward SeanMay(notes) becomes an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday after Charlotte declined togive him a one-year qualifying offer of $3.7 million.
The Bobcats could still try to re-sign May for less, and they must addressBoris Diaw’s(notes) backup because veteran Juwan Howard(notes) is also a free agent. RasheedWallace(notes) and Antonio McDyess(notes), both of whom have played for Brown, are available.
Charlotte has big money tied up in reserve big men Nazr Mohammed(notes) ($13.2million owed over the next two seasons) and DeSagana Diop(notes) ($19.4 million overthree years), but didn’t make a draft-week trade to clear cap space to be amajor player in free agency.
But with Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta and Washington all making recent deals,the Bobcats may have a tough time becoming a playoff team in an improved EasternConference next season if they don’t make a move or two to upgrade offensively.
Notes: Johnson again declined an interview request Tuesday, two days afterthe Houston Chronicle reported former Rockets executive George Postolos made aninquiry about buying the Bobcats. Postolos declined comment in an e-mailresponse. … With the Bobcats not fielding a summer league team to save money,Henderson will play for Minnesota’s entry in Las Vegas July 10-19. Second-roundpick Derrick Brown(notes) will play for Utah in Orlando July 6-10.
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