Miami Should Go After Iverson

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Get him.

Figure out how to make it work later.

And don't think Pat Riley hasn't already considered X's-and-O's strategies when it comes to incorporating one Allen Iverson into the Miami Heat mix, anyway.

The prospect ? admittedly a long shot ? of having Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O'Neal and Iverson wearing the same basketball clothes is mind-boggling. Here's what other teams in the Eastern Conference, and perhaps in all of the NBA, must be thinking: Oh, damn.

Wade and O'Neal led the Heat to the NBA title last season, and now they might get Iverson as a playmate?

That sounds almost unfair.

Maybe because it would be.

Good luck coming up with a defense able to cope with Wade's acrobatics, O'Neal's strength and Iverson's speed no matter what the Heat might have to give up in the swap.

All the bad things about Iverson ? and there are many ? don't matter if Riley, Wade and O'Neal say they don't. And that's exactly what they're saying. Riley otherwise wouldn't have gone public Wednesday night in expressing his interest in acquiring Iverson from Philadelphia. Nor would Riley have gone where he has gone without first involving himself in deep discussion with Wade and O'Neal.

Wade must have assured Riley that he'd be fine with a share-the-ball approach with Iverson in the backcourt.

O'Neal must have assured Riley that he'd be able to influence Iverson behaviorally.

Riley couldn't have expected to hear anything else. He has a monumental trust in and respect for Wade and O'Neal, and is certain of his own ability to blend players' personalities in creation of a team ... even with someone as volatile as Iverson as a new element.

Iverson despises practice (the proximity of South Beach wouldn't help), has demonstrated himself to be unreliable off the court and can be arrogantly selfish in style of play on it. But he also happens to be either the best small player in hoops history, or very close to it.

And, more importantly, Iverson likely would view an alliance with Wade and O'Neal as his best chance to win his first NBA title.

Iverson in Heat duds, therefore, almost certainly would be a better teammate ? in every sense of the word ? than ever he has been with the Sixers simply because his responsibilities would be less burdensome. It's possible he could find basketball happiness.

He'd still be a dangerous commodity, in both the positive and negative sense, but Iverson, too, would make the Heat more dangerous itself. The 31-year-old Iverson, by the way, has averaged his age (31.2 points) and leads the NBA in scoring even while Philadelphia, finally weary of his moodiness, searches for a way to rid itself of him.

The Heat would be happy to take him.

It has been easy for Miami to hide behind various injuries and illnesses while stumbling to a 9-12 record. Never was the Heat going to be much interested in the forced march into April after winning last season's title, and, predictably, Miami has been a dull team to watch.

The addition of Iverson would change that.

O'Neal created a buzz upon his arrival, and Wade's ascension to greatness elevated the entire franchise in its championship run. Iverson would be an injection of new excitement the Heat could use.

It's why Miami ought to put forth a smorgasbord ? James Posey, Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, a first-round draft pick ? from which Philly could choose. If the Heat could manage to keep Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright out of the trade, swell, but not at the cost of busting the deal.</div>

Source