Allen Iverson: Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade make Miami Heat `great situation'

HAMPTON, Va. -- Dwyane Wade's public campaign for the Heat to soon add play-making help to the roster resonated up the Atlantic on Tuesday, when free agent guard Allen Iverson placed Miami atop his wish list of potential destinations.

Iverson, one of several free agents the Heat had preliminary contact with last week, said playing alongside Wade and under the leadership of team president Pat Riley would be an intriguing option.

Speaking in one of his first interviews since the end of a tumultuous one-season stay in Detroit, Iverson also said he would be open to signing a one-year deal.

''The fact that Dwyane is there and Pat Riley has something to do with personnel, it seems like a great situation,'' Iverson said after his charity foundation presented scholarships to students from his hometown. ``I just want a situation where I can win and be happy. Being that those two guys are there, man, it just seems it'll be a good deal.''

Just how willing the Heat is to make a deal with Iverson remained in question heading into Wednesday, when free agents can sign contracts.

Riley has adamantly said he doesn't plan to take on any contracts that extend beyond next summer, when Wade and other marquee players such as Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire could become unrestricted free agents.

Riley also said he wouldn't make any major roster moves this summer unless Wade were to commit to a contract extension, which he becomes eligible to sign Sunday.

The Heat has the $5.5 midlevel exception, a $4.2 million trade exception and a $2 million veteran exception it could use to bolster the roster. But the team also is over the projected luxury tax and would have to pay a dollar-for-dollar penalty.

Iverson -- or any other potential free agent -- likely would have to accept less than the full midlevel amount and closer to the veteran's exception on a one-year deal in Miami.

''Some offers are on the table and discussions are ongoing,'' agent Leon Rose said. ``That's all I can really say at this point about that.''

Wade, who has made the media rounds this week for The Summer Groove charity events, has said at every stop that he would like to see the Heat make significant upgrades before he signs a long-term deal.

Wade has experienced highs and lows in his six seasons in Miami, which won a championship in 2006 but stumbled to a league-worst 15-67 record two seasons ago after injuries to Wade and key players.

Miami rebounded to go 43-39 last season, but was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Wade said this week that Iverson was the type of dynamic scorer who could help.

''With AI, you look at a guy who is one of the best guys to ever put on an NBA jersey,'' Wade said in a radio interview Monday. ``A guy who can still score in the right offense, in the right flow. So you can never turn your nose up at a guy like Allen Iverson. I hear a lot of people that love and want to come to Miami, but it hasn't happened yet.''

Informed of Wade's comments, Iverson, a former league MVP and 10-time All-Star, said the respect between he and Wade is mutual.

''He's looking for a guy who can take some of the pressure off him and he can take some pressure off me,'' Iverson said. ``It's sort of like Denver, when me and [Carmelo Anthony] had each other's back.''

Iverson also addressed issues ranging from his rocky season in Detroit that ended with a mysterious back injury before the playoffs, the role he expects to play for his next team and his desire to reclaim a spot among the league's elite.

Miami, Memphis and Charlotte have been mentioned among teams that have varying interest in Iverson, who averaged career lows in points (17.4) and minutes (36.5) last season. He was voted an All-Star starter last season in Detroit, which traded Chauncey Billups for him.

But Iverson said the situation was never right with the Pistons, who demoted him to a reserve role, a first in his 13-year career. He left the team to treat a back injury April 3, a day after he said he would rather retire than come off the bench.

''I thought it was the right situation when I got traded, but it was a bad situation,'' Iverson said of the Pistons, who fired coach Michael Curry after one season and overhauled the roster. ``You know it's bad when they fire the coach after one year. I'm not saying it was on him. It was wrong for me.''

On Tuesday, Iverson downplayed the back injury and said he is ''totally healthy and ready to go'' for next season. But he's dealing with another pain.

''My shoulder is hurting [badly] now because of the chip I'm carrying around on it,'' he said. ``I can't wait.''

He amended his demands to start, but said being asked to play 15 or 20 minutes a game would be a waste.

With Wade entrenched at shooting guard and Mario Chalmers having started a franchiserookie-record 82 games last season, the Heat would have to creatively work Iverson into a prominent role in the rotation.

''Any coach, GM or player in the league knows what I'm about,'' said Iverson, who has a career scoring average of 27.1 points. ``With 15 or 20 minutes, I may as well stay home and play with my kids. I can help a team way more than that. I'm not saying I have to start. I want people to know you should earn that. Beat me out. Let's go to [training] camp, and may the best man win. I promise that you won't.''

Source: The Miami Herald