GREENBURGH, N.Y. — -Allen Iverson may clear waivers at 6 o’clock Thursday night, but don’t expect him to be wearing a Knicks jersey five minutes later.
Knicks president Donnie Walsh has spoken to a “few people” about Iverson, including Charlotte coach Larry Brown, who coached Iverson in Philadelphia, but the Knicks have still not decided whether or not to pursue the 10-time All-Star if he does clear waivers.
“I’m still not decided and I don’t think we are decided,” Walsh said Thursday after practice.
Asked if he had a timeframe on when he would like to have a decision made, Walsh said, “Not really.”
That means there’s a chance nothing could happen Thursday night?
“Yes,” Walsh said.
Iverson, 34, and the Memphis Grizzlies parted ways Monday and the Knicks are investigating whether or not to add him to their roster. The Daily News also reported that the Miami Heat were interested in adding Iverson.
New York has an open roster spot and could offer Iverson the $1.3 million veteran’s minimum. Walsh said he wouldn’t spend his mid-level exception on him.
Iverson signed a one-year, $3.1 million deal with Memphis before the season but played only three games before leaving for what were termed personal reasons. Iverson appeared not to be happy coming off the bench.
Walsh said he had not yet spoken to Iverson, but head coach Mike D’Antoni would like to before adding Iverson to the roster.
“I think that would be good, yeah,” D’Antoni said. “Usually before you do that, you have personal contact with a player and make sure that everybody’s on board and excited and ready to go.”
D’Antoni said the addition of Iverson for a one-year rental type situation would be consistent with the team’s long-term plans, which include freeing up salary cap space for a run at LeBron James and other free agents next summer.
“It’s always a fluid situation and it’s fluid right now and we’re just trying to determine what is the best for the organization and these players,” D’Antoni said. “If there’s more cons than pros, then we probably won’t do it.”
He added: “He’s a heck of a basketball player and we know that. That’s what I want to comment on for now. We’ll try to figure out what’s best for the Knicks.”
Walsh said he and D’Antoni will make the decision and then present it to team owner Jim Dolan for approval. Walsh said Dolan had not expressed any reservations thusfar based on Iverson’s past.
“They haven’t because I haven’t put it forth,” Walsh said. “In every NBA franchise, before you make any kind of a move you talk to the owner.”
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D’Antoni said he was encouraged by the performance of Eddy Curry, who had 10 points in 11 minutes in his first game this season.
“Real encouraged,” he said. “For two or three things. One, after a year and half or two years without playing, I think that’s great. You see it helps us with our second unit, it gives a focus of where the ball should go. And I think that he can only get better from here.”
If Curry can return and play meaningful minutes at the center spot, it would allow David Lee to move to the four.
“That definitely could happen,” D’Antoni said.
(Photo courtesy AP)
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