Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky: Allen Iverson to the Clippers? It’s a conversation starter.

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Allen Iverson could go to the Clippers? Andy and I kicked around the idea this morning via instant message.

Brian: I guess the excitement of the No. 1 pick wasn’t enough for the Clippers. Word is that the red, white and blue are interested in bringing in Allen Iverson for a one-year deal worth $5.8 million. But, at least according to Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com, only after they ‘look him in the eye’ and make sure he’s cool with coming off the bench. I guess Mike Dunleavy’s gonna size him up?

Andrew: Well, as long as they look him in the eye.

Brian: Side eye?

Andrew: What if Iverson’s wearing sunglasses? Do they ask him to remove them?

Brian: Are they reflective, or the kind you can see through? That matters. Sometimes sunglasses are more a fashion choice. But those old-school cop glasses have got to go.

Andrew: Does an eye patch throw a wrench into the work?

Brian: Which eye?

Andrew: AI’s left eye is the truthful one. The right eye is a liar.

Brian: Let MD Sr. [Mike Dunleavy] know.

Andrew: I have text messages from AI where he says he’s great with coming off the bench.

Brian: So obviously this is a situation with pros and cons. On the one hand, I don’t think AI is washed up by any means. If he’s willing to play off the bench, he’d give the Clippers a powerful and explosive three-guard rotation with Baron Davis and Eric Gordon. Potentially explosive, at least.

Wait, I think I just teed you up....

Andrew: Insert ‘what kinda explosions we talking?’ joke here ______.

He absolutely MUST be cool with a sixth-man role (and if so, you have to wonder why it chapped him so much in Detroit). Otherwise, this can’t possibly work. It potentially stunts Gordon’s growth, which would be stupid, and frankly, if BD [Baron Davis] and AI are on the court a decent chunk, the other three dudes will quite literally never touch the ball. Can you even picture AI and Baron on the court together for extended minutes?

Brian: Sure. I can picture a lot of things. Like lots of dribbling and shots, but lots of points and aggressive play too.

Andrew: I don’t know if Iverson’s quite as good anymore where he can dominate the ball like in the past. And therein lies the problem.

Brian: Well, the good news is when he’s not dominating the ball, Baron will be.

Andrew: I’d be all over this if Baron wasn’t there. But seriously, can those two play together? Has either one of them played a single sequence off ball his entire career?

Brian: Three. Combined.

Andrew:But at least neither has a strong personality.

Brian: Right. They blend right into the wallpaper.

Andrew: I realize the two could score a ton, but I question how efficiently. And if they could do it in a way that doesn’t prompt Dunleavy to rip out what’s left of his hair. Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman will get a LOT of rebounding practice.

Brian: Valuable rebounding practice. It would be a juggling act, no question. Gordon would probably be a better balance for both of them. But aside from Mike Taylor (who looks like a find in the second round of last year’s draft, but is hardly a known quantity), the Clips have NOBODY backing up those guys. AI is certainly an improvement in talent. The scenario isn’t all doom-and-gloom.

Andrew: Without question. And if he’s honestly OK with that role, this makes more sense. I just wonder why all of a sudden he’s cool with it, but wasn’t when he could have made a real statement on himself as a player and teammate back in Detroit. Not to mention bettered his position in a contract year. Maybe he took it personally because Kwame Brown was sometimes a starter? Then it became personal?

Brian: Maybe the near complete and total lack of interest in him this summer has driven the point home? Looking at hard time in Memphis tends to bring clarity.

Andrew: You could be onto something. The summer providing a reality check.

Brian: If they can stay healthy enough, the Clippers really do have a chance to sneak into the playoffs in a Western Conference losing some strength at the back end of the top eight. AI could help get them there, if things work. He’s certainly better than anyone else they’re likely to get on the open market. From a talent standpoint, at least.

Andrew: I guess my reservation is that in order to get the ‘most’ from AI, there could be the temptation to play him more. And since there’s no way Davis, AI and Gordon can play together, you’re possibly left with Gordon taking a potential backward step and Davis/AI on the court and, if I had to guess, not really jelling.

Or AI and Gordon play a lot, and Davis becomes a moody ‘franchise’ player that’s difficult to move.

Brian: Both Baron and AI would have to get more comfortable playing off the ball, and there would be questions about outside shooting. It’s not perfect, but if you- and by ‘you,’ I mean MD Sr.- can strike the right balance, the Clippers benefit. I actually think BD would like having Iverson on the team.

Ironically, I don’t think Coach Dunleavy would, but we’ve seen GM Dunleavy screw his other half before.

Andrew: By the way, I have a theory about Mike Dunleavy the GM’s recent itch bring in players that are a seemingly awful fit for Mike Dunleavy the coach. Davises Baron and Ricky. The J.Will flirtation. AI. Tim Thomas. Zach Randolph. I wonder if, living in L.A., MD has grown jealous of having to hear 24/7 about Phil Jackson being able to ‘handle’ all these egos and difficult personalities. Maybe MD finally snapped and was like, ‘Two can play at this game!’

Brian: It’s possible. Is JR Rider still available?

Andrew: Seriously. What’s Derrick Coleman (left) up to these days? Remember back in 2006 when, save Corey Maggette, Dunleavy had a bunch of guys that were considered easier to coach and get on the same page? That team won a lot.

Brian: Fit matters, but so does talent. And without Z-Bo (kudos again to Dunleavy for moving him) the Clippers could actually use a little more scoring.

Andrew: But do you think this is a good move when it comes to creating a foundation? Theoretically, isn’t that what is supposedly being created with Griffin, Gordon, Al Thornton With Davis the ‘guide’ of sorts... I guess? This feels like a potentially big headache for one season in the playoffs. Particularly with AI trying to ‘prove he can still play.’ Unless that means ‘play within a system,’ I could see this potentially preventing them from growing into what they have.

Brian: BTW, they could use efficient scoring, which isn’t exactly AI’s strength these days unless he’s shooting well, but I digress (after undercutting my own point)...

But you’re right. If it doesn’t work, you’ve basically wasted a year (or half of one, if things go off the rails and Iverson has to be cut mid-season) that could have been used to get those guys on the same page. On the other hand, if Iverson helps them get to or at least compete for a playoff spot, that has great value too. The organization needs some success again.

Plus, one would think that with all their cap room for next year, they’ll be bringing in more talent to integrate next season as well. More players are going to be added to this mix one way or another.

Andrew: Does the ‘relevancy’ thing factor in? How much does/should that matter?

Brian: In LA, it matters a lot. The Clippers rarely give fans and the national media reasons to pay attention. They get swallowed up by the Lakers. Hell, our own paper has usually moved on to bigger and better (and purple-er and gold-er) things by the All Star break. This, along with Griffin (who isn’t impacted by the move in terms of PT) gives people more reasons to watch the LAC in a down economy. They can’t make moves to hurt the franchise, but I really do think being relevant matters.

Maybe they should sign Michael Vick? People would watch that.

Andrew: He can’t bring less to the table than Ricky Davis did last season. Bottom line, I liked the AI thing a lot more when it was for Maggette and Shaun Livingston back in 2007.

Brian: Well, that was a no-brainer. They should have pulled the trigger, but you can’t go back in time.

Andrew: Not without Christopher Lloyd.

Brian: Right.

Andrew: I wouldn’t say adding Iverson would be a ‘terrible’ call, but I’m not wild about it. Ironically, to some degree, that it’s such a short-term commitment sours me. That the ‘risk-to-reward’ ratio, admittedly high, takes place inside such a vacuum.

Brian: Well, they’d be insane to go longer and eat into their 2010 cap space. Basically what you’re saying is that even if it works and the Clips make the playoffs, what’s the point because they won’t bring Iverson back anyway?

Andrew:Basically. How much can the Clips really gain from this? Shouldn’t they be more concerned with nurturing a product? They’re stuck with Baron for the next four years (or at least until his contract becomes palatable enough to move). I’d be more interested in finding a way to make him work than adding AI.

Brian: That’s fair.BTW, just saw a great comment on ClipperBlog regarding the signing. From ‘Pedro’- ‘Great on paper…but yes, terrible. B Diddy, Iverson, Ricky Davis…this sounds like an AND 1 mix tape.’

Andrew: The comedy that could be mined from AI and Ricky Davis in the same backcourt and playing for contracts might be too rich to pass up.

Brian: From our standpoint, it’s a great move. But MD Sr. has been giving gifts to the media for a while now. It’s time he does something nice for himself.

Andrew: Wait, I just read an ESPN report that the Bulls just bought out Tim Thomas. Does that in any way alter this plan?

Brian: Ooooooooh. It might.

Andrew: I say shoot the works and bring in both.

Brian: That’s a plan. I have to say, I’m far more lukewarm now on the move than I was before.

Andrew: I’m very persuasive.

Brian: These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.

It would certainly make a splash and it certainly could make them better. But like we talked about... so what? Maybe a lesser name could have a similar impact? They do need more help in the backcourt.
Is AI worth it? They’re back on a good direction after losing Randolph’s contract. Patience could be a better idea. Plus, things never work out entirely as well as hoped, do they? Not for the Clippers, at least.

Andrew: It’s like that line in the Last Boy Scout, when Bruce Willis tells Damon Wayans the things you can count on. ‘The sky is blue, water is wet, women have secrets.’ Add to that... the Clips can’t do anything right.

Brian: Iverson’s probably just trying to squeeze a better deal out of the Grizzlies, anyway. Although having him around will help when, inevitably, everyone gets injured. That’s probably, what, mid-November?

Andrew: Iverson get moved into the starting lineup, get his 35 shots a game and is happy. Fans come to watch. Donald Sterling makes his precious money. Everyone wins while losing.

Looking over FA’s for guys who can score a bit...

Hakim Warrick
Marquis Daniels
Matt Barnes

Brian: I like Barnes. How about Von Wafer? Tailor-made for the bench. Comes off it now, would come off it with the Clippers.

Andrew: That’s perfect!You get all the bad habits of AI, but at half the price. Here’s your... wait for it... Answer! Why the hell aren’t you and I the Clips co-GM’s?

Brian: I don’t know. We should ask. I wouldn’t have traded for Zach Randolph, for one.

Andrew: I wouldn’t have locked up Tim Thomas after Vlad Radmanovic’s defection a couple years ago, either.

Brian: See? We can do this. So in the end, you’re not bringing in AI, right?

Andrew: No. And it sucks, because I’m a big AI fan.

Brian: And you (and Pedro) spoiled some of my fun on it, too. In hindsight, I wonder if I thought it was a decent idea, or just something I just wanted to see. From a curiosity standpoint.

I just wonder where AI fits anymore. It is a little sad, you’re right.

Andrew: I know. It kinda kills me to say it. But I don’t think he makes a ton of sense in this particular situation.

Brian: Oh well. I’m sure they’ll try to bring him back again in a couple years if it doesn’t work this time.

Andrew: With Tim Thomas, of course.

--Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky

(Photos: Allen Iverson, AP. Derrick Coleman, NBA Hoops.