What does it say about Allen Iverson that the Charlotte Bobcats and Larry Brown, his former coach, preferred to take on Stephen Jackson as an overpriced role player with a bad contract for four years and $35.42 million instead of taking on a former NBA MVP and four time scoring champion for one year and $3.10 million?

I wish Iverson had never forced his way out of Philadelphia.

He played there for 11 years and took the team to the finals in 2001. It would have been nice to see him retire as a Sixer. And I’m not sure the Sixers really benefited from getting rid of him. They got Andre Miller on loan for three years, Joe Smith’s expiring contract (the resulting cap space with which they signed Elton Brand to an unconscionable and untradeable five year, $82 million contract), and two first round draft picks in 2007 that they turned into 20th pick Jason Smith and 42nd pick Derrick Byars.

So not exactly a steal of a deal for a perennial All-Star and fan favourite.

Now, I have no idea what would have happened if Philly had kept Iverson. I’m not saying they would have won a championship nor even necessarily have competed for one. But they certainly wouldn’t be any worse off than they are today – 4-6 early in a season where they have little chance of winning a game in the playoffs.

The worst part? Iverson’s contract would have expired this past summer, and the franchise would have had a young team to which to add a key piece through free agency either this summer past or this summer coming.

All that to say that I’d be an amazing GM if I was making decisions based on three years of foresight.

As for Iverson, I have no idea what he’s going to do, now. Charlotte’s obviously not an option anymore. And of this year’s contenders, who would risk their team chemistry to add him to their rotation? LA? Maybe. But Fisher does what he needs you to do. Boston? Doubt it. Cleveland? With Delonte West out maybe there’s potential there. Miami? Too much is going right to take a Shaq-sized risk. Chicago? Yeah, maybe. But probably not. Orlando? Nope. Phoenix? Nope. San Antonio? Nope. Who else?

It’s too bad.

I guess we can only wax nostalgic.

Here’s Iverson and Stephon Marbury leading the East’s comeback against the West at the 2001 NBA All-Star Game:

Then, a few months later, this was Iverson’s role in the final couple minutes of Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals (how unnecessarily smarmy is Rick Fox, not just in this video but as a person?):

And probably one of Iverson’s best crossover highlights, breaking Antonio Daniels’ ankles:

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