Is Allen Iverson Headed to the Los Angeles Clippers?

The Los Angeles Clippers are having "very serious" talks with Allen Iverson and his agent, in trying to acquire the 10-time NBA All-Star. The Clippers are reportedly ready to offer Iverson a one-year contract, worth the midlevel exception of $5.8 million. This would be a considerable drop from Iverson's previous earnings. Iverson made $20 million last season with the Detroit Pistons. If Iverson is to join the Clippers, this would be Iverson's fourth NBA team. His previous three teams have been the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Detroit Pistons.

The Clippers have made it clear that if Iverson joins the team, he would have only a bench role, not a starting role that Iverson has experienced for almost all of his career. Coming off the bench would be something totally new for Iverson, but something he will have to adapt to.

Iverson is very likely to join the Clippers, as there are less than a handful of teams still interested in Iverson. The Miami Heat are one of those teams, but Iverson is unlikely to join them, as they are unwilling to offer more than $2 million for one season. If there is an Iverson fallout with the Clippers, the team who has the best chance to land him would be the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies seem to be the only team that would match the Clippers offer for Iverson. The Charlotte Bobcats are also in the consideration.

Iverson was the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1996 NBA Draft. In his first NBA season with Philly, Iverson led his team in points and assists, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. Iverson led the 76ers to the playoffs in the 1998 season, winning his first scoring title in the process. The 76ers beat the Orlando Magic in the first round, before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs. This would be the beginning of five straight playoff appearances for Iverson. Iverson would play his last season with Philadelphia in 2006. Iverson played for a total of 10 seasons with the 76ers, winning numerous awards and became one of the most recognizable people in basketball.

In the middle of the 2006 NBA season, Iverson would be traded to the Denver Nuggets. He started all but one game for the Nuggets that season, averaging only 24 points per game, eight points lower than his career best, but still helped the Nuggets make the playoffs. In the 2007 season, Iverson started all 82 games, and averaged 26 PPG, again helping the Nuggets make the playoffs, but again they lost in the first round. Iverson was traded to the Detroit Pistons in the 2008 season, and averaged a career-low 17 PPG. Iverson missed the end of last year's season, publicly stating that he would not play if he was moved to the bench, which he was.

Iverson has had many accomplishments in his career, including being a 10-time NBA All-Star and winning the 2001 Most Valuable Player Award, but is still looking for his first NBA Championship. Iverson's only trip to the NBA Finals was in 2001, when his Philadelphia 76ers lost to the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers in five games.