5 Reasons Why "The Answer" is a Great Fit in Philly

Who says you can't go home again? After a nasty divorce back in 2006 between Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers, it seemed highly unlikely that Iverson would ever return back to the city of brotherly love in a 76ers jersey. However, Iverson and the 76ers have come full circle, agreeing to a one year, non-guaranteed contract on Wednesday.

How ironic that Iverson will be making his much anticipated Philly season debut on Monday night against the team he was traded to in 2006, the Denver Nuggets. Some people believe Iverson was solely brought back to Philadelphia to help a struggling franchise sell more tickets at the gate, however I beg to differ. Here are five reasons why I believe "The Answer" is a great fit for the 76ers.

Low risk, high reward move

Signing Iverson to a one year, non-guaranteed contract means the 76ers can cut ties to the controversial guard without much impact on their salary cap for the long haul just in case he decides not to mesh well with the other players on the team. I am pretty sure general manager Ed Stefanski and coach Eddie Jordan spoke candidly with Iverson about being a team player and not interrupting the team chemistry before signing him in similar fashion as the New England Patriots organization did when they acquired Randy Moss in a 2004 trade. Iverson's presence alone on the team should boost ticket sales for a franchise that has drawn less than 12,000 fans a night before his arrival. If Iverson proves he can be a good teammate without much disruption, plays reasonably well within Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense and stays healthy, he could be in line for a bigger payday with the 76ers or another team as a free agent going into the summer of 2010.

He can still score the basketball

Let's be honest here. Iverson is no longer the dynamic, explosive scorer that he once was in his younger days, but he's still a very good player with a lot of tread left on his tires. The man can still flat out play the game of basketball. The thirty-four year old shooting guard from Georgetown averaged 17 points and 5 assists a game in 54 games with the Detroit Pistons last season. Iverson averaged 12 points a game in 3 games with the Grizzlies this season. Iverson was not let go from the Nuggets, Pistons or Grizzlies because he could not score the basketball anymore, rather he could not mesh well with teammates and was at times, a liability on the defensive end. In Denver, they need a veteran leader in Chauncey Billups on the court to help some of their immature players grow up. In Detroit, Iverson took exception to being asked to come off the bench late last season, ditto for the Grizzlies. In Philadelphia, Iverson will be the starter at the point guard position, however his biggest challenge will be learning to how to get his shots off in the Princeton offense, which relies on constant motion, passing, and back-door cuts as well as keeping his other teammates involved in the game.

Iverson makes the 76ers relevant again in the city of Philadelphia and the NBA

Coming into this season, the 76ers were becoming an afterthought in the city of brotherly love and the NBA. The Phillies and Eagles were getting more front page headlines in the Philly newspapers this season because they were considered championship contending franchises by many experts in their respective sports, while the 76ers were considered a low-level playoff team at best. People weren't really expecting a lot out of the 76ers this year even though they have a talented young group of players in Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights and Lou Williams. One could make the case this was probably one of the least entertaining teams in the NBA because they lacked serious star power. That's no longer the case with the re-signing of Iverson. He will give the franchise and city some much needed electricity. People still love A.I. in Philly from his previous years with the franchise (1996-2006) and I would expect to see fans to pack the Wachovia Center wearing his infamous number 3 jersey on a nightly basis. Even if the 76ers don't make a playoff push this year, they will be a team that many fans, scouts, and experts will keep an eye on to see if Iverson has finally mature as a basketball player and his impact on the team.

Eddie Jordan knows how to coach superstar personalities

Coach Jordan is no stranger to superstar players with huge egos. Jason Kidd, a player who many would say is the ultimate coach killer in NBA grew very close to Jordan when he was an assistant on the New Jersey Nets from 1999-2003. Jordan was able to get Gilbert "Agent Zero" Arenas, a selfish player who routinely broke off plays to create his own offense to buy into the Wizard's program more times than not when he lead that team to 4 playoff appearances in six seasons as their coach. Coach Jordan will know when to praise Iverson and when he needs to be a lot more firm with him.

The 76ers needed a go to scorer/creative playmaker

With the departure of point guard Andre Miller to the Portland Trail Blazers over the summer, the 76ers have been lacking a playmaker ever since. Miller was a player that helped the 76ers push the ball in transition, which not only showcased their athleticism, but also allowed them to maximize their potential as a team. Louis Williams (out six to eight weeks with a fracture jaw) is a nice developing player (17 points, 5 assists this season), however this team needed an established player who could create his own shot when the shot clock was winding down and a guy who could penetrate into the teeth of the defense to create open shots for his teammates. Iverson is more than capable of handling both duties even though he's not a prototypical point guard. Since Jason Kapono is the only real perimeter threat on the team, Iverson will also help the Sixers in their transition game with his speed and quickness in the open court, pushing the ball for easy lay-ups for him and teammates. At the end of the game, Iverson is another player who the 76ers can draw up a play for a game-winning shot if need be.

In the end, only time will tell if Iverson maximizes his second chance with the 76ers this season, but I do know the NBA is better with him focused, determined and ready to play. As a fan of the game, I enjoy watching Iverson taking on players twice his size and playing the game all out offensively. There's no doubt, this man is a tough competitor and has the heart of a lion. It should be a lot of fun to watch along the way.