People seem to think the acquisition of Allen Iverson by the Denver Nuggets is questionable because he brings excess baggage that counters his ability on the court.
Shortly after Denver traded for A.I., polls across the sports nation showed the majority of fans were unsure if the trade was worth it. This got me thinking – what baggage are these people talking about?
Is it the baggage of a player who consistently ranks among the league leaders in scoring and All-Star votes? Maybe it’s his toughness and heart displayed on the court, which many mistake for arrogance. How about his passion for the game and his complete distaste for losing?
I’m not going to pretend I know what went on in the Philadelphia 76ers locker room throughout the course of the past season, but I find it hard to believe his off-the-court antics warranted his dismissal. He isn’t Terrell Owens; you won’t see him in the news four days a week for saying something stupid. The guy just wants to win and realized that opportunity in Philly was long gone. He stated he never asked for a trade, but one thing remains certain, the guy can flat out play. And no A.I., I’m not talking about practice.
It’s hard not to respect a guy who plays as hard as he does, and it’s even harder to believe he can’t benefit the Nuggets. His only downside over the years is his constant demand for the ball, but wouldn’t you want the ball all the time if you had that much talent and were surrounded with virtually nothing?
The days of having to score 40-points a game are over. When Carmelo Anthony returns from his suspension, the two will make one of the best duos in the NBA. Both players can score, and both surely will want to every chance they get. If the two egos can co-exist, the Nuggets have the potential to make a push deep into the playoffs.
And it’s in the playoffs that Iverson might benefit the Nuggets more than in any other way, as his experiences in the past will surely help out a relatively young Denver team. Winning consistently often entails great chemistry and if the Nuggets want to win, it’s likely going to be this group of 12 players.
After trading Joe Smith and two first-round draft picks, on top of picking up Iverson’s hefty $39.8 million contract for the next couple years, the Nuggets now have one of the highest payrolls in basketball. There is little room to add missing pieces in the off-season. A.I. must complete the puzzle. And based on his desire to win, there is little doubt in my mind he will do whatever it takes – even if that entails a last-second pass to one of his teammates.
Iverson offers baggage any team should be happy to acquire, even at its high cost. He’s the ultimate winner who plays much bigger than his 6-foot-frame would suggest. For a guy who spent the majority of his career under the reputation of a selfish player who shoots too often, he must now transform everyone’s perception of him. He must become a team player. That shouldn’t be too hard in my opinion. The guy knows what it takes to win, and for the first time in quite a while, he’s surrounded with the talent to do just that. His current situation is enough to make just about anyone want to change.
Matt Gottfried is a sophomore columnist for The Lantern. You can reach him at [email protected] with any suggestions of future trades the Cavaliers can make to get Iverson.
