A.I. in Denver Forever?
If the last few Nuggets games have indicated anything, it’s not only that Allen Iverson isn’t slowing down anytime soon, but the Nuggets will only go as far as he can take them.
If the thirty two-year old gets his wish, he’ll be in Denver powder blue until he’s nearly forty. From the Denver Post:
Nuggets guard Allen Iverson has interest in opting out of his current contract — then re-signing with Denver this summer for six years.
“That would be our wish,” said Iverson’s personal manager, Gary Moore.
Iverson, despite his small frame and ferocious playing style, is seemingly unaffected by age, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that he wants to play until his late 30’s.
The Nuggets would be wise to lock him up.
52 Responses to “A.I. in Denver Forever?”
Dec.12 at 4:08 pm
Nguni says:
first! i would say lock him up…why not
Dec.12 at 4:09 pm
Nguni says:
always wanted to do that, for no reason at all.
Dec.12 at 4:12 pm
Ron says:
Right now the Nuggets are AI’s team. Is his pressence hurting or helping Melo’s progress?
Dec.12 at 4:15 pm
Chukaz says:
I think that AI can play ’til he late 30’s, but I don’t see him playing the way he plays now. Let’s not forget that 32 is not that old. At age 38, he ain’t gonna be as good as he is now. I don’t think that Bron could be as good at 38 as he will be at 28.
Dec.12 at 4:19 pm
Chukaz says:
I say that AI’s pressence is f*ckin’ up Melo’s progress. On the other hand, Melo’s f*ckin’ up his own pregress by continuing to play outside.
Dec.12 at 4:23 pm
Alex says:
“At age 38, he ain’t gonna be as good as he is now. I don’t think that Bron could be as good at 38 as he will be at 28.”
Brilliant analysis Chukaz!
Dec.12 at 4:23 pm
Allenp says:
Chukaz, I say you’re an idiot. I say, I say….Let him have it.
Dec.12 at 4:25 pm
Jukai says:
I say Chukaz pressence is f*ckin’ up the intelligence level this place could possibly have.
Dec.12 at 4:26 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Man, that’s tough. Denver definitely needs AI, but what kind of extension would he want? Are we talking six years, $120 million? Six years, $80 million? He’s still a max talent right now no doubt, but four years from now? I just don’t know.
Dec.12 at 4:27 pm
Chief says:
I think he’s eventually gonna make it easier for Melo, as soon as he steps up his inside game like you said. Cause together they are more deadly. Teams have to lock up to great clutch time players. People tend to forget it takes awhile for young players to mature in the league. It hard to expect anyone to have the game that Carmelo already has at this level. If he gets tougher in the paint, Iverson and him will be one of those pairs that go down in history.
Dec.12 at 4:28 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
If he wants $20 mil per for the whole six, I’m not sure it can work. Cause they’re gonna have to max out Melo again too, and how the heck will they field a team? By 2010 it’ll be AI, Melo, Camby and the Roanoke Dazzle.
Dec.12 at 4:33 pm
Candice says:
I think they can make his contract in a way that each year he get’s less.
Dec.12 at 4:35 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
They most certainly can; it’s a question of whether he’ll take it.
Dec.12 at 4:36 pm
Toney Blare says:
I love AI and was amped about him getting to Denver, but everytime I watch that team, it seems like Melo gets the ball only by accident. 2-3 possessions go by without a play being run for him and with me yelling, “Get the f*ckin ball to Melo.” Not sayin’ AI is to blame, but I don’t think Karl coaches them well enough to balance the two, and, in the end, this should be Melo’s team for the next decade.
Dec.12 at 4:39 pm
Gumdrop says:
After staying away from the slamonline saloon for months Chukaz poked his head through the front door only to see a double barrelled shotgun pointed right back at him.
Dec.12 at 4:41 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Melo’s biggest strength–and weakness–is his much-improved outside game. He needs to be inside overpowering dudes and helping Marcus out on the boards instead of shooting jumpers.
Dec.12 at 4:42 pm
baker's dozen (12-13) says:
Obviously most people on thsi board don’t watch my belvoed Nuggs. Melo is still option #1. The two games that AI went off in last week, Melo couldn’t hit hte side of a barn! He still hit for 26 in the first game, and only 14 in the second. melo has to take his game inside (where he’s truly dangerous) in order to fulfill his full potential. Either way, once they learn to feed off each other, they’ll be truly dangerous.
Dec.12 at 4:44 pm
Captain America says:
Same script, different star athlete. Everyone says they want to die a (insert name of team here). Star athlete later changes teams if money and terms are right.
Dec.12 at 4:44 pm
Candice says:
Russ good point. I think he will, if he really want’s to stay there like he say’s he does. I wonder why MO his personal mannager is going to be more involved though?
Dec.12 at 4:45 pm
Captain America says:
I want to retire a slamonline.com poster….(I suspect W.H.E. is not happy).
Dec.12 at 4:47 pm
Candice says:
Really all Melo has to do is go the rim and pick up his rebounding as Russ said. Specifically his offensive rebounding in which is the Nuggets weakest and where he is strong.
Dec.12 at 4:50 pm
Captain America says:
Candice, I concur with you and Russ. Melo really impressed with Team USA.
Dec.12 at 4:52 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
2006: “If I leave Philadelphia, it’s not because I want to leave. If I get traded, then I get traded. This is where I want to be. I haven’t changed at all. I’m still in love with the place. I want to be here.”
2003: “I always wanted to be a Sixer. I always wanted to finish my career as a Sixer.”
2002″ “I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we’re in here talking about practice. Not a game; we’re talking about practice. How silly is that? I know I’m supposed to be there. I know I’m supposed to lead by example. I know that. I know it’s important, but we’re talking about practice. … How the hell can I make my teammates better by practicing? They are supposed to be used to playing with me anyway. So my game is going to deteriorate if I don’t practice with those guys?”
Dec.12 at 4:53 pm
Candice says:
I just don’t want Melo to turn into another Vince and somewhat T-mac.Smomeone who fall’s in love with their jumpshot and doesn’t take it to the rim as he should. Just get to the ft line which helps with your jumpshot.
Dec.12 at 4:55 pm
Candice says:
Russ I believe he want’s to stay in Denver. It did take 10 years to get him out of Philly. I think BK made him the scapegoat and in turned got fired himself.
Dec.12 at 4:56 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Another 2003: “When you look at the list - Charles Barkley, Dr. J., Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, Mo Cheeks - I have a chance to be here longer than those guys. I have a chance to really be a household name in Philadelphia. That was my whole plan. Once I got drafted, I told myself I didn’t want to do that to little kids. I didn’t want them to see me in a Sixers uniform one year and see me in another uniform in another city the next year. It just means a lot to me that I could be in a Sixers uniform for the rest of my career.”
Dec.12 at 4:57 pm
TADOne says:
AI would definitely need to scale back his game if he wants to play into his late 30’s, but he wouldn’t be effective that way.
Dec.12 at 5:02 pm
Tenorca says:
Every year we hear AI’s breaking down and then he plays 48 minutes at altitude. Without any hyperbole, I think he can play till he’s 40, still crossing up whatever sad-ass Tyron Lue wannabe is covering him.
Dec.12 at 5:04 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
If he comes back to sea level he could play ’til he’s 60.
Dec.12 at 5:11 pm
TADOne says:
Oh, I’m definitely not saying AI is breaking down, but playing the way he does now at age 38? Ask Mike about that.
Dec.12 at 5:35 pm
Galo says:
AI is ridiculous. He’s 32, and he’s averaging like 25-7.5-2.5, and only because ‘Melo is doing most of the scoring (he propably could average 30+ easily). I think when he’s like 38 he’ll be still scoring 20+ easily (if he goes the assist path, that is–a 38 AI could probably drop 28 every night and not feel old, if he wasn’t holding himself back), and probably still be faster than most dudes. Still driving, still falling, still hurting. Hall Of Fame. PS: Btw, I’d pay good money to see a 45 year old AI at a pickup game, crossing guys in their 20s like they’re MJ.
The guy is simply unbelievable.
Dec.12 at 5:51 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Ike Turner died.
Dec.12 at 6:01 pm
TADOne says:
I just heard that to, Ryan.
Dec.12 at 6:41 pm
Bryan says:
I can’t imagine the NBA without Allen Iverson…that thought makes me very very sad.
Dec.12 at 6:48 pm
yo says:
ai is garbage..if hes so good..then he should be able to lead a team that has MELO, CAMBY, MARTIN, pretty much his whole team is good. Just cuz he scores a lot doesnt mean ANYTHING you need to win
Dec.12 at 6:54 pm
The Cool says:
He will still be scoring more than 25 ppg when he is 50. no lie dude is that cold and I have learned never to doubt A.I. and Chuckaz when the hell did you come back? play wit it.
Dec.12 at 7:05 pm
Sam Mitchell's Conscience says:
What does “play wit it” mean?
Dec.12 at 7:17 pm
baker's dozen (12-13) says:
if you don’t know by now…you never will…
Dec.12 at 7:39 pm
Timmyd says:
Bakers Dozen said: “Obviously most people on thsi board don’t watch my belvoed Nuggs. Melo is still option #1. The two games that AI went off in last week, Melo couldn’t hit hte side of a barn! He still hit for 26 in the first game, and only 14 in the second. melo has to take his game inside (where he’s truly dangerous) in order to fulfill his full potential. Either way, once they learn to feed off each other, they’ll be truly dangerous”. ^^Bakers Dozen, I have been watching the games and from the last few games it looks to me that those were the beggining of Iverson taking over this team (he’s not the type of player to sit back and wait). Which isn’t a bad thing considering that that is one of the reasons why they brought A.I to DENVER in the first place, for LEADERSHIP. Iverson is actually leading the team in scoring right now. I love MELO, but he’s NOT a LEADER. A leader is more then just scoring points. And this team does not have the luxury of time to sit around and wait for him to become one. I have said from day one when they traded for Iverson that if all DENVER needed was a 2nd scoring option to MELO, then they could have just went and got any average NBA cat that can shoot the ball well. You don’t make a MAJOR trade for a player that holds 3rd ppg average in NBA history to be the 2nd option, that is one of the silliest things I have ever heard of. I think that is where DENVER messed up at first. If MELO could have done it on his own, there would have been no need to trade for a player of IVERSONS caliber. This team is entirely too versitile to have a set offense. They have two 30 ppg scorers that demand a double team (plus even more talent around them). They should just go with whoever is HOT that night and the other one can back them up. Thats what the SUNS, WARRIORS and CELTICS do…they go with whoever is HOT. I also think people tend to forget that COACH KARL was playing A.I at the PG position because both of the teams PG’S were injured. Now that AC is back, IVERSON will be playing in the right position at the SG (which is where they have been wanting to play him anyway). So the scoring is not going to stop, thats what they brought him there to do…SCORE. Like others are saying, MELO needs to start taking the ball to the rim instead of just settling on JUMPSHOTS if he wants to take his game to the NEXT level, he’d be so DOMINATE. But if all MELO cares about is trying to be the leading scorer and STATS, then this team is going to be in a lot of trouble, he should just let the game come to him. But this team is going to go as far as A.I takes them.
Dec.12 at 7:53 pm
The Cool says:
play wit it means my swagger Sam mitchell con. When I say “play wit it” I mean think about what I just said. I want you to mull over my thoughts because what I say is so freakin tight. Play wit it is a way of life for me because when you have haters, you got to tell them to play wit it cuz if they don’t, well that’s their problem.play wit it.
Dec.12 at 8:20 pm
lakers4lyf24 says:
AI is a nugget until he retires
Dec.12 at 9:08 pm
Sesa says:
It’s all up to the Nuggets. AI also wanted to finish his career as a Sixers.
Dec.12 at 10:59 pm
gdon says:
This guy can be the first 40yr old to average 40ppg.
Dec.12 at 11:25 pm
Todd D. says:
don’t get too ahead of yourselves with all this 40 and 50 yr old talk. A.I. and Melo still need help to seriously contend for a chip and I don’t see how they’ll get help if they suck up all of Denvers money.
Dec.13 at 12:46 am
Timmyd says:
Denver gave too much money to NENE, he’s always injured. And people claim that KENYON MARTINS contract was one of the worse in the LEAGUE. I wouldn’t know, considering I just started watching the NUGGETS when A.I got there….and for the folks that are saying that “A.I also wanted to finish his career in PHILLY”, that was PHILLY’S fault…if they had did their job by building the right team, they wouldn’t be in the mess they are in right now. Plus IVERSON said he never came out and just DEMANDED a trade, he said if they were not going to fix this team as to where they could win (he also didn’t want to take as many shots as they had him taking) then they might as well get rid of him because he was tired of the losing. That is different then someone just coming out and saying “TRADE ME”. ED SNIDER was the one that came on NATIONAL T.V said A.I demanded a trade (which really put the SIXERS back up against the wall and after that BILLY KING looked stressed and frustrated) and I honastly think that was his way of throwing IVERSON under the BUS because I heard he didn’t care to much for IVERSON anyway. A.I called them FAKE in one INTERVIEW. Him and K.G stayed LOYAL to their FRANCHISES for 10+ years and look where it got them. Look how they treated IVERSON on his way out. As far as i’m concerned PHILLY and the TIMBERWOLVES deserves whatever they get. Denver recognises that IVERSON is a once in a LIFETIME talent, they’ll be smart to just build around him and MELO, which I think is what they had planned on doing in the first place…HATERS are going to HATE on IVERSON regardless, even if he doesn’t ever win a CHAMPIONSHIP I would rather see him retire contending for one then to be stuck in purgatory in PHILLY wasting his great talents.
Dec.13 at 2:02 am
vmcb says:
If A.I. was smart, he’d follow the route taken by Tim Duncan and extend his contract for less money to free up some cap space.
Dec.13 at 2:59 am
will says:
denvers gonna keep fans in the seats but will never win with someone like “the answer” on their team
Dec.13 at 3:01 am
LAN says:
hopefully kenyon can get his numbers up 2 20 n 10 n nene consistantly gets doub figures n jr plays consistant n they will b very hard 2 beat even if ure phoenix or boston
Dec.13 at 7:28 am
Rob Paxon says:
LAN, I don’t think Kenyon can put up 20 with AI and Melo plus two other quality bigs. But him playing at his best is no doubt a big part of whether this team can live up to the expectations a lot of people had coming into this season (I had them 3rd in the West).
Dec.13 at 8:27 am
Dre Bladwin says:
well he didnt say he wanted to PLAY, he said he wants the cntract. even if he retires in 2 years, they would have to pay him.
Dec.13 at 1:49 pm
Kadavour says:
Iverson is pulling the “Duncan Maneuver”. As his abilities are still worth a maximum contract, he hopes to use that clout to land a long term deal worth less than the maximum. The big brass salivates at the prospect of getting A.I. for less, and A.I. is secure in knowing where he will retire.
Dec.13 at 5:16 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Rob, the Nuggets actually are currently third in the West. I know it just doesn’t feel like they have been playing at that level.
AI and Melo CAN play together. When Melo’s outside game catches up (and it will) he might be the league’s most unguardable player.