Le Basketbawl

The “Memphis Commercial Appeal” has reported that the Memphis Grizzlies have granted Allen Iverson permission to take a leave of absence  from the team and head to his home in Atlanta in order to deal with what is being labeled as a “personal matter.”  The exit from the team concludes a week filled with controversy for the player and the Grizzlies. The veteran guard signed a one year deal this summer with Memphis for a reported $3.5 million. He missed all of the preseason and the first three games of the regular season after suffering a partial tear of his left hamstring.

Iverson was activated for the last three games and found himself coming into games off the bench something that he was quite unhappy and quite vocal about. The veteran has told media members that he considers himself a starter and coming off the bench is beneath him. Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins has been steadfast that he is not about to make any changes to his starting lineup at the present time. Grizzlies Team Owner Micheal Heisley released a statement earlier this week backing Hollins decision.

According to the report the player met with Heisley after Friday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and then again on Saturday morning. Reports were that he was to leave the team and head home Saturday afternoon. No other information has been released so the reason behind the leave of absence is open to speculation. It could be a family issue or it could be a parting with the team; there is no way to say at the this time. If it is his final time playing for Memphis would this signal the end of Iverson’s NBA career?

Could the Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace be working on a trade that would send Iverson to another team?At $3.5 million and for just one season most likely a deal could be worked out financialy; however would another NBA team want the troubled veteran at this point?

New York Vinnie has been consistently against this deal since it was first talked about in the early speculation sessions. Bottom Frickin line is this; this was a stupid Frickin idea for Iverson to play for the Memphis Grizzlies and all sides did it for all the wrong reasons. The Grizzlies did it because it was a chance for them to increase attendance; Allen Iverson does not fit into this team’s long term plans. And Iverson signed because he had no other choice and wanted to use this year to try to resurrect his NBA career. He has no loyalty to the Grizzlies or the Memphis fans.

This at this point looks like it has all the tell tale signs of ending badly. If it does unfortunately the Memphis Grizzlies and Allen Iverson have only themselves to blame for this sad episode.