As they say on Sesame Street, one of these things is not like the others.
Miami seems to be loading up for a run at the Eastern Conference title -- in the hopes of convincing Dwyane Wade to stick around after next summer. They're looking at Iverson, at Lamar Odom, at Carlos Boozer. While you might not agree that AI has a place on a team with title aspirations, the reasoning makes some sense.
The Clippers and Grizzlies, on the other hand, both feature young guards whose development would almost certainly take a step back if Iverson arrived. The Clippers have a ton of money invested in Baron Davis at the point and a very promising young two in Eric Gordon. Memphis still thinks Mike Conley Jr. will develop into a top-flight point guard, and has O.J. Mayo -- who looked like the league's best rookie for a good part of 2008-09 -- in the backcourt.
Taking minutes from Gordon or Mayo or Conley doesn't make much basketball sense. Therefore, the conventional wisdom says, it must make some business sense. Iverson might not help those teams win games, but he'd help sell tickets. Right?
Not so fast.
Dave Berri of the Wages of Wins blog pokes a few holes in that assumption, using attendance figures to show a very small increase in Denver's attendance when AI arrived... and a noticeable increase in empty seats when Iverson landed in Motown. (Hat tip - Truehoop)
The "Iverson sells tickets" idea out the window, we've left with the other prevailing assumption about the Grizzlies and Clippers: they make bad decisions.
In other news...
- Maybe the Clippers aren't that interested in Iverson after all: they filled a spot in their backcourt this week by trading for point guard Sebastian Telfair. Telfair has been a bit of a disappointment -- on and off the court -- since jumping to the NBA from Brooklyn's Lincoln High School... but he's still just 24 and could improve.
The Clippers acquired 'Bassy, along with forwards Mark Madsen and Craig Smith, sending the expiring contract of Quentin Richardson to Minnesota.
- Speaking of Q-Rich... my advice is, "don't unpack." Richardson has already been traded three times since the end of the season... first he went from New York to Memphis in the Darko Milicic trade... then from the Grizzlies to the Clippers in exchange for Zach Randolph, and finally on to Minnesota. And the St. Paul Pioneer Press is reporting he's likely to be traded yet again, as the T-Wolves continue their roster makeover.
- Two-time MVP Steve Nash will sign a two-year, $22 million extension with the Suns, much to the chagrin of Knicks fans. Nash would have been a free agent after next season, and the Knicks -- and ex-Suns coach Mike D'Antoni -- were expected to be involved in the bidding.
Does this represent a change in plans for Phoenix? The Suns appeared to be headed for rebuilding, with management, eager to shed salaries, trading Shaquille O'Neal and taking offers for Amar'e Stoudemire. But in the last few weeks they've re-signed greybeards Nash and Grant Hill, added free agent Channing Frye, and still haven't pulled the trigger on a Stoudemire deal.
That team probably isn't good enough to compete with the Lakers or Spurs or Jazz... but with the Rockets expected to take a significant step backwards, they should challenge for a playoff spot.
- The Cavs may have landed their combo forward, signing restricted free agent Jamario Moon to an offer sheet. Miami can match, but aren't expected to -- the Heat's priorities are clearing cap space for 2010 and/or adding Lamar Odom and possibly Carlos Boozer to make a run this year.
- Jarret Jack officially joined the Raptors, where he'll help stabilize the guard rotation and, possibly, help convince Chris Bosh to re-sign. Jack and Bosh played together at Georgia Tech and are reportedly close.
- Sean May will try to resurrect his once-promising career with the Kings.
- The Blazers, after missing out on Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap, could make a run at Andre Miller.
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