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Outie?

Allen Iverson, after being released by the lowly Memphis Grizzlies and unable to find work, has announced that he's retiring.

Now, it's hard to make the argument that a guy who as recently at last season averaged 17.4 points per game and who just two seasons ago put up 26.4 per contest has nothing left to offer an NBA team. Which is why, despite his retirement, everyone, including the struggling Sixers, are debating bringing ol' No. 3 into the fold. And, of course, at issue is what kind of role Iverson should be playing and what role he will play. No young, developing team wants to make AI the number one option. A contending team could use a guy with AI's instant scoring ability as a super sixth man, but that doesn't seem to be the kind of gig AI wants or even knows how to play.

The Daily News' John Smallwood has an interesting take on Iverson over on philly.com, which looks at what's possible for his future, and what we may have been cheated out of in the past (and has a really bad-ass pre-cornrows rookie shot of Allen).

Iverson can clearly still play in the league. But can he accept a bit role on a contender, or will he go quietly into that good night on the assumption that if he's not "the guy" he's not gonna play?

Of course, Larry Brown has chimed in and urged Iverson to reconsider, and we all know how Iverson feels about what Larry Brown wants.

Should the Sixers take a flyer on him?