The Potential Is There For Something…I Just Don’t Know What

Far be it for me to suggest that Allen Iverson has nothing to offer a team at this moment in time. But it’d appear that a player who’s now on the downside of what one might deem an illustrious career. It would probably be in his best interest to ride off into the sunset with his head held high. And let his legacy speak for itself. Rather than him now being ridiculed as the shell of the player he once was .

A seemingly happy Allen Iverson is introduced to the Detroit media having just been acquired by the Pistons in exchange for point guard Chauncey Billups who was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for the former League MVP. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Gregory Shamus ............

Well at the end of the season Iverson became an unrestricted free agent. His tenure in Detroit proved to be a complete disappointment with the Detroit Pistons. Now very much his own man , though no longer an elite player. He now has to sit and wait for a team to show at least a modicum of interest in his talents. And for a player of Iverson’s undoubted talents, the days are long gone where’d be viewed as player that would command a king’s ransom for his services.

A smiling Allen Iverson in a Pistons' uniform. A rarity as such as his playing time was often pared due to recurring injuries and a loss of form . However on this occasion to be happy as his Pistons' team had just defeatd the Los Angeles Lakers 106-96 in a game played at the Staples Center in Los Angeles , California,. picture appears ap/photo/ Gus Ruelas ....................

These are stark and dire times economically and teams aren’t prepared to pay top dollar for marginally above average talent. Mid-level cap exemption status or not. The fall of a once great player now seems to be resonating with a number of fans across the league. The thought that we’re now seeing a player of Iverson’s caliber struggle to even find a team seems somewhat perplexing. Albeit that it may well have something to do with the player’s perceived character and his susceptibility to recurring injuries. But one thing for sure is that we all know is that as a player, in no way does Iverson lack heart ! He gives of himself and of his body, perhaps more than is actually required in the pursuit of victory.

Iverson as a Nugget playing at the team's home venue, the Pepsi Center in Denver , Colorado,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Ryan Williams ............

Amongst the peers of his generation , perhaps only the ‘The Big Man’, ‘The Diesel’, Shaquille O’Neal played with as much heart as Iverson in his heyday on the basketball court. But this is no longer a veteran’s game. Albeit that cerebral players such as Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are said to be still at their peak. And those are the players from Iverson’s generation that we tend to associate him with.

And whilst we can contend that the failed experiment of Iverson’s tenure with the Denver Nuggets , playing alongside Carmelo Anthony , Kenyon Martin , J. R. Smith and Nene’ . But yet they could still not function as a cohesive unit , much less as a team. And for Nuggets’ coach George Karl , there was no end to the nightmare , as they set out on this doomed facsimile of an experiment. The Nuggets with Iverson in tow , was a team primarily built on the premise offense. Defense it would appear was never a part of their mindset. And it was understandable when the Nuggets as an organization sought to trade Iverson to the Pistons in exchange for hometown hero, Chauncey Billups , a Denver native. And in the end we all saw who got the better of that deal .

Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers seen here participating against the New Orleans Hornets in the NBA's Summer League. pictur appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Garret W Ellwod

The Denver Nuggets would indeed ascend whereas the Detroit Pistons, though barely having made it into the playoffs. They were jettisoned from postseason play like rancid garbage being thrown into the streets of New Delhi.

As is befitting a team and a player seemingly on the demise. The Detroit Pistons and Allen Iverson are at a crossroads as to their immediate futures. For the Pistons and their GM Joe Dumars . It is now about rebuilding a team and making them once again a perennial contender. Whereas for Iverson it’s about rebuilding his reputation and at the same time prove to any team, willing to take him. That he has indeed something still to offer a team, by way of his own contributions.

Amongst the teams or said team to be interested in Allen Iverson. It’s allegedly Donald Sterling’s Los Angeles Clippers. This couldn’t be perceived as a marriage made in heaven. But it may well have to do as far as Iverson’s career ambitions may well go.

Whilst on paper the team’s roster looks great with a mixture of seasoned veterans in Baron Davis , Marcus Camby, Ricky Davis, Zach Randolph and Chris Kaman. There’s also promising sophomore Eric Gordon and this year’s number #1 draft pick Blake Griffin to complement and round out the playing staff of this team. And as much as we’ve derided the Clippers over the years for their ineptitude. It has to be said that the possible addition to Iverson on this team. And the foundations could well be laid for a successful season.

Eric Gordon of th Clippers seen here playing against the Phoenix Suns in an NBA game from last season. It's hoped that Gordon and Bake Griffin will be viewed as the conerstone of the Clippers' long term future. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Anthony Kettering .............

But much of that percieved success would be predicated on the egos of some players being left at the door. It’s bad enough having the likes of Davis and his namesake Ricky Davis on the same team . In addition you’ve also got a malcontent and an enfant terrible in Zach Randolph added into the mix. That’s as volatile and combustible a mix as anyone would want to have to undertake as a coach of this team. Nevermind then adding Iverson into such an environment. Talk about a molotov cocktail . This may well be a Krakatoa type eruption waiting to happen. And in the midst of it all all you’ll have these two young players in Gordon and Griffin having to ingratiate themselves with their more experienced teammates.

It could either bring about a recipe for disaster. Or dare I say it , complete resounding success ? What Iverson can bring to this team as its elder statesman is a wise head and hopefully a calming influence to this team. But let’s not forget we are talking about the Los Angeles Clippers. Success for them as of late has been to play the entire regular season of 82 games and then to be mistakenly recognized as members of the Los Angeles Lakers. In reality the only thing these two teams have in common is that they share the same home venue and they both play in the Western Conference. As to comparing their competitive nature. That’s like comparing a highly priced bottle of vintage jeroboam champagne to a bottle of stale vinegar. It just doesn’t equate !

NB This post can also be found within The American Sports Blog http://americansportsblog.wordpress.com ………….

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The Potential Is There For Something ……I Just Don’t Know What

Bound For Glory But There Are Those Who Are Unable To Bask In The Limelight

There’ve been great players within the NBA. And there have been players that’ve proven to be woefully inept . Despite that having played in college, they ended up failing to live up to expectation. And yet a few players in college having had a successful collegiate career , their professional career has either been raised to superstar status or beyond. Or they ended up falling into an abyss , never to be heard from again.

Having only followed the game from afar until I came to live here in the United States some seventeen years ago. My first real encounter with the game of basketball was part of a phys. ed class in high school. Well bearing in mind that basketball to an English guy was about as welcoming being poked in the eye. For many of us it was primarily either soccer, rugby or cricket. And though the sport of boxing was my first love . I slowly found myself then gravitating towards the martial arts. In particular the art form of karate.

Karl Malone and John Stockton the indomiatable duo of the Utah Jazz. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo ..........

And the years that followed as I immersed myself in the sport , becoming proficient enough to earn a Black Belt 3rd degree . I then taught unarmed combat whilst serving in the military for a number of years. Well enough about that as it’s not the focal point of this article.

As I alluded to earlier, basketball wasn’t a sport that I immediately fell in love with. But having immersed myself in the nuances of the game. And having several of my new found American friends explain many of the finer points to me. I found that this was actually a sport that I really liked. So much so that when asked to play either at the local Bally’s gym or at a park. I was up for the task. Well initially at least I thought I was ! You really don’t know the physical demands of a sport until you’ve tried the first time and then note the demands of the physical exertion required. It is either you play the game or the demands of the game takes its toll and plays you.

The unthinkable would happen as the Los Angeles Lakers would succumb to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals. That was the team that many believed had been in terms of sheer frontline talent alone would be deemed unbeatable. Alongside Malone on the team were Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The fashion in which the team was defeated would augur the retirement of Malone not long afterwards. picture appears courtesy afp/ photo/ Marshall Hines .........

I’ve always liked the play of former Utah Jazz power forward Karl Malone. A physically gifted specimen and a player who would give as good as he’d get. Malone was the type of player you had to respect because of those physical attributes. And above all his desire to win. His heyday and rightfully so , were the years spent playing in Utah. Where he formed an offensive tandem alongside point guard John Stockton . But it’d also be remiss in neglecting the contributions of Jeff Hornacek . The three as teammates led the Jazz under the coaching of Jerry Sloan to some of their most important success over the years.

Hornacek (14) and teammate Stockon (12) speak with Jerry Sloan on the sidelines during an NBA game . picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Andrew D Bernstein ..............

They came close but were it not for the Jordan years the success of the Jazz may well have been much greater. But then again during those years Jordan and the Chicago Bulls reigned supreme over the entire NBA. The fate meted out to the Jazz in the NBA Finals of 1997 and ’98 were very reminiscent of the four other times that the Bulls raised the championship trophy. Six times in all during the nineties. So if anything for Jazz there was absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

And for Malone those heartfelt years may well have been too much to bear. As prolific as he was , it was the denial of winning a championship that made his thirst for that semblance of success even more voracious. Those years that Malone may have felt were a failure was rewarded with the undying devotion shown to he and his teammates. In particular the friendship and camaraderie he shared with Stockton. It was reciprocated by the duo towards the fans who showed their appreciation as to what the fans ultimately meant to them and their careers.

Malone had that unquenchable thirst to succeed. And for him it meant the winning of an NBA championship and the adjoining ring that went with that, in signifying the event. And given the chance to join the Los Angeles Lakers , alongside such venerable stars as Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton. The notion was that this team would be deemed unbeatable and a foregone conclusion to win the NBA title in 2004. And given the fact that they also had Phil Jackson at the helm as the team’s coach. If only all dramas would follow the given script at the time.

Somehow, some way, someone had forgotten to mention that to the Detroit Pistons. The Lakers’ opponents in those eagerly awaited NBA Finals(2004). And one ought to bear in mind also that here we had a quartet of stars on this Lakers’ team that were sure fire certainties to become members of the Hall of Fame. What took place in that much heralded series ought to remind us that one ought to never underestimate the underdog. The Pistons summarily destroyed the Lakers (4-1) with an effortless display of team basketball. They showed cohesion, whereas the Lakers showed complacency and a complete lack of respect for their opponent. The disappointment was there for all see not only on the faces of the fans . But also on the Lakers’ players and in particular that of Karl Malone’s. To say he wasn’t completely disappointed would be an understatement in the very least.

Malone in the second row far right, as a member of the Original Dream Team. The US men's basketball team for the Olympic games of Barcelona in 1992, has been often described as the greatest assembly of talent put together on a basketball court for international competition. The team was coached by the legendary Chucy Daly. picture appears courtesy of afp/photo/ Anthony Rassmussen ..............

For all of the accomplishments of Malone as a player . Having won a League MVP award , an Olympic gold medal as part of the Original Dream Team in Barcelona in 1992 . The one missing adornment for the player was that of an NBA ring. He’s still viewed as perhaps the greatest player to ever play the position of power forward in the NBA . He has the respect of his peers and the fans alike. And even if at times he’s alienated some with his off the cuff remarks. There’s no denying that Karl ‘Anthony’ Malone has the admiration of the NBA fans across the globe who happen to know something about the game.

Karl Malone’s career stats :

Career points total: 36,928 Assists: 5,238 Rebounds:14,968
League MVP: 1997, 1999 All Star: 13 times All NBA First Team Selection: 11 times All NBA Second Team Selection: 2 times All NBA Third Team: 1 time selection All Defensive First Team: 3 times All Defensive Second Team: 1 selection
NBA All Rookie Team: selection in 1988
Named as one of the 50 Greatest Players of Alltime in The NBA .

Sources: Pistons Hire John Kuester

When Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars fired head coach Michael Curry, it was believed that the Pistons would look for an experienced coach after failing with a rookie in Curry. TNT analyst Doug Collins was rumored to be the Pistons first choice, but he declined even an interview. The Pistons then engaged in talks with Avery Johnson, who was out of coaching last season, but talks reportedly broke off. With very few candidates with experience still remaining on the market, the Pistons have settled on Cavaliers assistant John Kuester, according to ESPN.com:

Avery Johnson will not be the next coach of the Detroit Pistons, who are instead closing in on hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach John Kuester.

Johnson, an ESPN NBA analyst, confirmed in a SportsCenter interview Tuesday afternoon that he and the Pistons have broken off contract talks after more than two days of negotiations.

Sources close to the process told ESPN.com that the job would instead go to Kuester in a deal likely to be completed later Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Pistons’ pursuit of Johnson ended, sources said, because Detroit — having paid both Flip Saunders and recently fired Michael Curry last season and still owing an estimated $5 million to Curry over the next two seasons — was only prepared to extend a two-year offer to Johnson with a team option for a third season.

It’s believed that Johnson wanted no less than the security of a four-year contract, given where the retooling Pistons stand in the Eastern Conference hierarchy after a 39-43 season and the fact that Detroit is looking for its sixth coach in team president Joe Dumars’ 10 seasons running the front office. When that gap couldn’t be bridged, sources said, no formal offer was made to Johnson.

“I looked at it, I was interested in it, but I was only interested in it if we could agree on a vision for the team going forward,” Johnson said in the SportsCenter interview.

Dumars told the Detroit News: “Where we are right now as a team is kind of like where we were at the start of the Rick Carlisle era. And a $4 [million] to $5 million [per year] coach is not what we need right now. We didn’t have one of those until we were close to contending for a championship when we got Larry [Brown].”

TNT analyst Doug Collins withdrew from consideration last week after sources told ESPN.com that he was formally offered the Detroit job. Boston Celtics associate head coach Tom Thibodeau is the only other known candidate, but sources say Dumars was always planning to move quickly to Kuester if no deal with Johnson could be reached.

It’s believed that Kuester’s offensive expertise and his history with the Pistons after working in Detroit as an assistant under Brown appeal greatly to Dumars. That’s despite that fact that Kuester — who was expected to travel to Detroit to meet face-to-face with Dumars later Tuesday — has never been a head coach in the NBA.

With all of the turmoil that went on in Detroit last season, I think the only way the locker room is going to come together is with a veteran head coach. Kuester is not that guy, as he has never been a head coach in the league before. Players like Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince won’t buy whatever he is going to sell, and if I’m Dumars, I look hard to try and trade the two. They clearly have worn out their welcome in Detroit and need a change of scenery. Making them suffer with another new, inexperienced head coach just doesn’t seem fair considering all they did for the franchise.

The Pistons were not the a good offensive team last year, so if Kuester can help on that end of the court, the team may be able to improve. Still, this is a questionable hire at best.

The Dumbing Down Of A Franchise ……

The Detroit Pistons as a franchise team were the envy of a number of teams around the NBA. Their remarkable stretch of consistency over the past six years spoke for itself. And in their esteemed GM Joe Dumars they perhaps have one of the best young general managers in the entire NBA.

Pistons’ GM and Head Of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Ian McIntosh ………

And granted the Darko Milicic experiment went about as successfully as having one’s tooth pulled without the assist of having anasthesia in order to abate the pain. But herein lies a fact from 2002-08 they won 6 divisional titles, 2 conference titles, and to cap it all their third NBA championship title in 2004. There they defeated the league’s poster child in terms ostentatious success, the Los Angeles Lakers. Defeating the storied franchise 4-1 in the best of the seven games series finals . Less we forget the Phil Jackson coached team was ladened with stars and future Hall of Famers in the guise of Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Byant.

An angst ridden Allen Iverson looks up at the scoreboard after a Pistons’ loss at the Palace of Auburn Hills. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Michael Russo ………

However, this past season we saw the upheaval that can be brought when a monumental mistake can be made from a disasterous decision. Dumars thought it best to trade away his erstwhile point guard Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for former NBA scoring champion Allen Iverson.And whilst no one would doubt the heart of Iverson. It has to be be said that this isn’t the same player who captivated the hearts of many from his heydays with the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson , nowadays is more a viable candidate as a triage patient than he would be on the roster of an NBA franchise. At this juncture one would have to question the resolve of Dumars and what he might’ve been thinking at the time.

Former Mavericks’ coach Avery Johnson. He was widely considered to be the front-runner for the vacant Pistons’ head coaching position. picture appears courtesy of espn.com/nba/ Tim Arthur ………….

Now after a lackluster season where they underperformed greatly , posting a (39-43) record , barely squeaking into the playoffs. The franchise is without a coach. As Dumars fired Michael Curry, who many felt was unable to communicate with the players on the Pistons’ roster. It almost certainly didn’t help that Iverson barely played in any games , constantly befelled by recurring injuries. And to top it all when the player was told that he would benched for the remainder of the regular season. It could be viewed that the writing was on the wall . Not only for Iverson , but also for the fate awaiting Curry, himself.

Austin Daye taken in the first round by the Detroit Pistons. Daye is seen here on stage at the Wamu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY,. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Ivan Kusmanov ..........

Iverson for his part wasn’t at all happy with the situation , as he voiced his disapproval and discontent. But adding insult to injury was the way with the Pistons were cast aside by the LeBron James’ led Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs. That series if anything was indicative of how woefully inept this Pistons’ team had become. And it may well have been the watershed moment for Dumars. He’ll now to have to disassemble the roster and try to find the integral pieces that will once again make the Pistons a perennial contender.

Curry now formerly of the Detroit Pistons seen here coaching the team in a regular season game against the Charlotte Bobcats. picture appears courtesy of the charlotteobserver.com/sports/

In the midst of this all Dumars still has to fill the vacancy as to the Pistons’ coaching position. The person thought to to be most likely candidate was former Dallas Mavericks’ coach Avery Johnson . But as may well have been the custom the two were either not of the same mindset . Or merely from the fact that a renumeration package couldn’t be reached. The interview process obviously didn’t go all that well. Either way it leaves Dumars with the unenviable task of trying to lure a top line coach to take over the vacant position.

Chauncey Billiups (1) seen here with then teammate Richard Hamilton during a regular season game for the Detroit Pistons. picture appears courtesy of guardian.uk.co/sports/basketball/ Tony Stephenson …………

And the second candidate on Dumars’ wish list is said to to be Cavaliers’ assistant coach John Kuester. There’s also talk that the Boston Celtics’ assistant Tom Thibodeau could also be in the mix for the vacant position. Thibodeau is the primary architect of the Celtics’ much vaulted defense. At this juncture however , it can only be viewed as mere speculation.

Whatever the future may well now hold for the Detroit Pistons. It has to be said that insult was most definitely added to injury with regard to two particular maneuvers made by Joe Dumars. The first was taking Darko Milic and making him a first round draft pick. When in his stead he could have chosen Carmelo Anthony. And quite obviously the other was the trading away of Billups to the Nuggets in exchange for Iverson. While we can all agree that Dumars was the primary architect behind the franchise’s resurgence and the capturing of an NBA title . It has to be said that he’s also been behind the dumbing down of the franchise.

Former Pistons’ first round draft pick Darko Milicic seen here in a rare moment when he was actually in a Pistons’ uniform and playing well ? picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Craig McIntyre ………..

In part much of this may well have been from the fact like everyone else around him. Dumars felt it was good to try and keep up with the Joneses. But the failures have manifested themselves in such a way. That it is very hard to view the direction that the franchise now must take. Albeit that the teams now in the Eastern Conference such as the Orlando Magic, Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have gotten better . As the Pistons have regressed and entrenched themselves in mediocrity.

As a fan of the NBA , I would hope to see the franchise rise again. As its history has proven what it is capable doing. Teams such as the Pistons with their renowned history sometimes have to be beset by real adversity if they’re to learn from their mistakes. Let’s just hope that stubborn pride won’t stand in the way of Dumars as he seeks to rebuild the franchise once again.

Offseason Report: The Remaining Free Agents

The 2009 Offseason has started to heat up with the contract agreements of Ron Artest with the Lakers, Hedo Turkoglu with the Raptors, and Trevor Ariza with the Rockets, and Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva with the Pistons, but there are still many top-level free agents available that could mean the difference between a championship and disappointing June for many teams.  For example, the Lakers are no guarantee to repeat if they aren’t able to re-sign Lamar Odom, and the Celtics will be low on big men and wins if they can’t sign Glen Davis or Rasheed Wallace.

Among the biggest names still available are Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Paul Millsap, Jason Kidd, and Mike Bibby, though it is reported that Bibby with reach an agreement to return to the Hawks soon.  Jason Kidd has recieved interest from the New York Knicks and his team last season, the Dallas Mavericks.  Most likely he will reach a deal soon, or go to the Lakers or Cavaliers for the veteran minimum for a chance to win a ring.  After a disastrous 08-09 season, Allen Iverson is looking for a team that will take him.  Last season, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups, the team instantly got worse and barely made the playoffs while the Nuggets instantly got better and become championship contenders.  Iverson has been reported to be interested in the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats, two lottery teams that aren’t anywhere close to championship contention.

Most likely, Lamar Odom, Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd, Ramon Sessions, Andre Miller, and Glen Davis will re-sign with their teams, but free agents such as Shawn Marion, Anderson Varejao, Leon Powe, Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Rasheed Wallace are looking for a new home.  Wallace has received a ton of interest from the Boston Celtics and their Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, while also getting calls from the Orlando Magic.  The Celtics have already said that they will not be re-signing Leon Powe because he is injured, so expect him to sign with a team part-way through the season once he is healthy.  Glen Davis on the other hand, did excellent for the Celtics in the postseason in place of the injured Garnett and will be demanding the mid-level exception from teams.

What About Shawn Marion?

With the news that Hedo Turkoglu has agreed to a five-year, $56 million deal with the Raptors, one of the intriguing questions becomes what happens to forward Shawn Merion.

With all of the blockbuster trades and free-agent signings, Marion has become somewhat of a forgotten man. Two years ago, his name was all the talk when it came to the 2009 free-agency class. But with poor performances in Miami and Toronto, it feels like some people forget that he is on the market.

Marion was excellent during his stint with the Suns, but I’ve always wondered whether he was a product of Mike D’Antoni’s seven-seconds-or-less system. Was he putting up 20 points per game because of his talent, or because of the system? I’m inclined to believe that it may have been a combination of both. Having said that, I still think Marion is a very good player, which is why it is somewhat surprising that no team other than the Raptors has offered him a contract.The economy may be a contributing factor, since few teams have a good amount of cap space. Still, Marion is one of the best players available. ‘

Now that the pieces to the free-agent puzzle are starting to connect, teams may start to look at Marion, who will quickly become the best available player. But will any team make a hard push for his services?

The Trail Blazers, with $9 million dollars in cap space, may be his best option. The Blazers attempted to sign Turkoglu — and reportedly had worked out an agreement with him — before he bolted for money with the Raptors. Clearly, the Blazers are in the market for a small forward. Turkoglu is the best small forward in this free-agent class, and with Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza already having agreed to deals with the Lakers and Rockets, respectively, Marion is the best option left at the postion.

While the Blazers aren’t a team that runs the ball up the court all game long, they do like to get up-and-down at times, which would fit Marion. He could also improve the team’s shooting, as Steve Blake and Brandon Roy are really Portland’s only options from the perimeter. Moreover, the move wouldn’t be a bad counter to the Lakers signing of Artest.

If Portland isn’t the destination, I really don’t know what is. If the Pistons, even after agreeing to terms with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, are reportedly looking to make more deals, and Marion would seem to be a good fit if the team plans are parting ways with Tayshaun Prince — which they very well may do.

There aren’t a ton of options available for Marion, but he may be able to find a team with that makes a good fit. If not, there’s always Europe.

Sources: Pistons’ GM Joe Dumars to meet with Avery Johnson

Avery Johnson is definitely the best choice to be the next Detroit Pistons’ head coach at this point.  There is no other coaches that are as good as him available.

ESPN: Pistons president Joe Dumars is scheduled to have his first face-to-face meeting with Avery Johnson later this weekend regarding Detroit’s coaching vacancy, according to NBA coaching sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Dumars and Johnson, after discussing the job by phone, have planned to meet Sunday at Johnson’s home in the Houston area, with Dumars intent on trying to hire his next coach before the Pistons begin summer-league play next week in Las Vegas.

After former-Pistons coach Doug Collins pulled out of consideration earlier this week, ESPN analyst Johnson was widely regarded as the leading candidate for the position, which was vacated by Tuesday’s firing of Michael Curry.

Dumars, though, told the Detroit News that it is “not a given” that Johnson will be hired as Curry’s replacement, with sources telling ESPN.com that Dumars has added Boston Celtics associate head coach Tom Thibodeau to an original list of candidates that featured Collins, Johnson and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach John Kuester.

Kuester and Thibodeau have no head-coaching experience in the NBA, which appeared to clash with Dumars’ recent declaration that he thinks it is “best to move forward with a more experienced coach.” It wasn’t immediately clear Friday night if the Pistons have requested permission from either Kuester’s or Thibodeau’s current teams to speak with them.

Johnson has declined interview requests about the Pistons’ search but said during the season that he would be more proactive in seeking jobs after completing a second season as a television analyst for ESPN. The 2008-09 season was Johnson’s first in TV after the Dallas Mavericks fired him in May 2008 in the wake of a second successive first-round playoff oust.

Free Agency News Round-Up

Allen Iverson interested in joining the Memphis Grizzlies

The Oracle’s Take: Allen Iverson isn’t wanted by any of the contending teams, so going to the Grizzlies would be the best move for him and, surprisingly, the Grizzlies.  Allen Iverson wants to get paid more than the minimum, and the Grizzlies would likely give in the mid-level exception and the Memphis Grizzlies desperately need to sell more tickets, and Iverson is one of the most exciting players in the league.

 Allen Iverson is interested in playing for the Grizzlies, according to a league source.

Iverson, a free agent for the first time in his career, had minor discussions with the Heat after free agency opened on Wednesday.

Memphis had no comment on Iverson’s interest in playing for the team.

The Grizzlies are believed to be weighing the pros and cons of signing Iverson, who would likely be asked to come off the bench.

Iverson wrote about his free-agent status on his Twitter page Thursday.

“I’m a Free Agent, healthy again, and capable of signing with any team,” he wrote. “My only preference will be to play for a coach that knows what I bring to the table and that I am going to bring it every night! Someone that knows how to best utilize my skills to make our team the very best that we can be.”

Toronto Raptors offer Shawn Marion 4-year deal

The Oracle’s Take: The Raptors aren’t anywhere near contending for a championship, in fact, it would be a surprise if they were able to make the playoffs.  The shouldn’t be spending their money on 31 year-old players who’s games are based solely on athleticism.  They should save the money and start rebuilding, starting with the trade of Chris Bosh before he leaves as a free agent next season anyway.

The Raptors have offered free-agent forward Shawn Marion a four-year deal worth more than $32 million, according to the Globe and Mail.

The deal could be worth as much as $34 million, according to the report, and is longer and more lucrative than the three-year, $21 million offer Toronto was reported to have made to Marion.

Jason Kidd intends to stay in Dallas

The Oracle’s Take: I believe that the Mavericks are overpaying for Jason Kidd.  If he was younger he would be worth that money for the stats and impact that he has, but he is getting older and won’t be an elite point guard for much longer.

Jason Kidd intends to return to the Mavericks for a three-year, $24 million deal, according to HoopsWorld.

HoopsWorld cited an “informed source.”

Kidd said that he would take the holiday weekend to mull over offers from both New York and Dallas.

Barring an unforeseen development, Kidd is expected to tell the Mavericks on Monday that he will accept the offer.

New Orleans Hornets are shopping Tyson Chandler Again

The Oracle’s Take: Even with the talented nucleus of Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler, David West, and James Posey, the Hornets aren’t anywhere near competing for the championship.  The Hornets should start rebuilding around Chris Paul with better players before it is too late.  If they can get Phoenix to take Chandler for Ben Wallace like it has been rumored, or trade Chandler for an expiring contract, then they should do it.

A number of sources said last week that the Hornets are again shopping center Tyson Chandler.

New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower could work on making a trade before he offers a contract to any free agent.

In addition, the Hornets could look to move one of their veteran guards, such as Morris Peterson, Antonio Daniels or Devin Brown.

The Hornets are also interested in bringing guard Jannero Pargo, who played overseas this past season, back.

Stephon Marbury doesn’t think he will be coming back to the Celtics

The Oracle’s Take: Stephon Marbury doesn’t deserve more than the Celtics offered him, especially considering his attitude problems and lack of productivity last season.  No team with offer him more than the Celtics did.

Free agent Stephon Marbury, the former New York Knicks guard who joined the Celtics midseason, says he doesn’t foresee a return to Boston after the team offered a veteran’s-minimum deal that would’ve paid $1.3 million, according to The Boston Globe.

“Thank you Boston for allowing the world to see me play again after all that went on in N.Y.,” Marbury said in an e-mail to The Globe. “The fans treated me with open arms and that’s all anyone can ask for.”

Marbury, 32, joined the Celtics on Feb. 27 after a buyout of his $22 million Knicks contract. Marbury told the Boston newspaper that three other teams, which he wouldn’t name, were interested in signing him for next season.

Marbury averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 assists and 18 minutes in 23 games last season with the Celtics.