This is according to Allen Iverson’s Twitter account. 

“God chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career.  I feel they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them to accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them.”

The former young gun is now a seasoned veteran who would be supplying potential leadership for Memphis.

So much for the potential reunion with Larry Brown.  A.I. looks to have agreed to a one-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies (as reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal) worth approximately $3.5 million and additional possible incentives.

The motivation for this move by the Grizzlies seems to be fairly straight-forward – they need all the help they can get bringing people into the FedEx Forum.  Allen Iverson means more interested fans and more ticket sales.

Of course, this is only a short term ‘answer’ to a problem that will take a while to fix.  If I were Memphis, I’d be more concerned with the development of a winning franchise.  Fans always come out to support winning teams, even if they don’t have the greatest superstar attractions (prominent examples are the Pistons and Spurs teams from earlier in the decade).

Having Iverson hanging around for a year (and demanding a decent amount of minutes) will only stunt the progress of the Grizzlies future backcourt.  It remains to be seen how Lionel Hollins plans to pair up his guards, but any combination involving A.I. will put either Michael Conley or O.J. Mayo on the pine.  If the plan is to make the Grizzlies into winners, Conley and Mayo need as much time on the floor together as possible.

And no, Memphis wouldn’t dare talk playoffs – even with the addition of the dangerously streaky scorer. 

But as the team’s two best SG’s, O.J. and A.I. will be tussling for P.T. – putting the Grizzlies in the NBA’s basement A.S.A.P.