Iverson should join Heat, not bottom-feeders

There's a certain indignity in signing for anything less than you feel you're worth.

That goes for any profession, in any day and age.

If Allen Iverson is wondering how the current recession didn't hurt Anderson Varejao or Marcin Gortat, he needs only to consider the unfortunate reality that he's not 7-feet tall.

It doesn't help that he's coming off a disastrous stint in Detroit, complete with a supposed debilitating back injury to ward off most potentially interested teams.

As it stands, he's got three of the league's biggest perennial bottom-feeders vying for his services, and by vying, I really mean not running the other way at the prospect of his acquisition.

The L.A. Clippers are intrigued. Memphis wants him to be its sideshow freak and Charlotte wouldn't mind reuniting him with Larry Brown to help some of those hideous orange and Racing Day blue jerseys fly off the shelves.

If nothing else, Iverson can sell merchandise.

But if he wants to do more than play some bad team's Crazy Eddie for the full mid-level, Iverson should look to the one likely playoff team interested in his services, the Miami Heat.

Problem is, Miami is adamant about not offering the full mid-level of $5.7 million since it's stuck paying dollar-for-dollar for going into luxury tax territory. The Heat are looking to stay in the $3-4 million range, won't give Iverson more than a year and are unlikely to guarantee him Mario Chalmers' starting spot opposite Dwyane Wade.

Already uncomfortable with the massive pay cut heading his way, it's going to take Iverson swallowing very hard to take even less to sign with the Heat.

He needs to, though. Miami represents the best situation for Iverson if redemption is what he craves.

At this stage in his career, the 34-year-old has two options: ride into the sunset as one of the greatest scoring guards to play the game or hang around, accept a diminished role and chase a ring and one last fairly lucrative multi-year deal.

Since it doesn't seem like he's interested in retirement, this season looms as a means to an end. He's got to prove himself once again to benefit in 2010.

So, what's more impressive? Going down to Memphis and competing with O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph for shots on a team destined to lose at least 50 games or venturing to South Florida and proving he can play a second fiddle to a legitimate star like Dwyane Wade on a playoff squad?

What's going to be more reassuring to a front office, watching Iverson stay out of trouble on Beale Street or on South Beach? He's still going to make his appearances on the party circuit, but the days of him burning the candle at both ends like a young pup are waning. At this point, he's more likely to make an appearance at a party he's "hosting" then he would be spending hours making it rain in the VIP.

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