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PHILADELPHIA - Allen Iverson is talking about a comeback. And the Philadelphia 76ers are at least discussing the idea of bringing back their former franchise superstar.
A person with knowledge of the talks says the Sixers have been approached about signing the recently retired guard, and team management has held internal discussions about bringing Iverson back.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because talks have not been made public, says Iverson is among the free-agent candidates the Sixers are considering to replace injured point guard Lou Williams, who's expected to miss eight weeks after jaw surgery.
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With no apparent interest from NBA teams, Iverson announced his plan to retire this week. His statement read more like a job pitch for a playoff contender rather than a final farewell.
Iverson said he planned to retire, but also stated that "I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level."
The statement also said Iverson has tremendous love for the game and the desire to play, adding there is "a whole lot left in my tank."
He could find out how much in Philadelphia, where he spent the first 10-plus seasons of his career.
The 10-time All-Star was NBA MVP in 2001 when he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1996 draft and became a global star with his all-out play - and a major headache with his rants about practice and run-ins with former coach Larry Brown. He made "talking' about practice" part of the sports lexicon.
Fed up with losing and his relationship with former coach Maurice Cheeks irrevocably broken, Iverson wanted out in 2006 and he was traded to the Denver Nuggets. He played for Denver until early last season when he was traded to Detroit.
Brown, now coaching the Charlotte Bobcats, said it would be great to see Iverson reunited with the Sixers.
"I just want to see him back in the league. He's loved in Philly," Brown said before the Bobcats played at Washington. "He did a phenomenal job for that franchise. If you look at games now, they're not nearly as exciting. There's not as many people at the games. We need him in the league."
The 6-foot Iverson played three games this season with Memphis before taking a leave of absence to attend to personal matters. He was waived after the two sides agreed to part ways.
Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, and 76ers team president Ed Stefanski did not immediately return messages for comment.
Iverson would find a Sixers team in the same mediocre shape he left it amid squabbles with management. The Sixers have lost five straight and are 5-11 entering Sunday's game at San Antonio. The Sixers were bounced out of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs each of the past two seasons.
Iverson would immediately spark interest and ticket sales among Philadelphia's largely apathetic fan base. The Sixers are 29th in the NBA in attendance, and Iverson would spike that sagging number.
Stefanski has said he wanted to build around his nucleus of Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. Iverson, like he has in every stop, would demand the ball and could hinder team chemistry more than he could make Philly relevant.
Iverson also has made it clear he won't come off the bench. With Williams out, he would start over rookie Jrue Holiday, but it's not clear where he would fit in once Williams is healthy to return.
The New York Knicks considered signing Iverson after he cleared waivers, before deciding he would take too much playing time from younger players they are trying to develop.
One of the NBA's great scorers, Iverson entered this season with a career average of 27.1 points, which ranks fifth all time. Yet there was almost no interest in him this summer before he went to the Grizzlies on a one-year deal.
Cleveland 111, Dallas 95: Mo Williams made 7 of 7 3-point attempts, LeBron James scored 25 points with 12 assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded from a lackluster loss in Charlotte by beating the road-tested Dallas Mavericks 111-95.
Williams finished with 25 points and Anderson Varejao scored 15 - 13 in the second half - for the Cavs, who were beaten 94-87 by the Bobcats on Friday in center Shaquille O'Neal's return after missing six games with a shoulder injury. Cleveland also got a huge boost from troubled guard Delonte West.
Charlotte 92, Washington 76:
Gerald Wallace had 14 points and 14 rebounds, Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton each scored 12 points and the Charlotte Bobcats rolled over the Washington Wizards 92-76.
The win was the Bobcats' fourth straight.
-- their longest winning streak since a five-game run from Feb. 25-March 7, 2009.
The Wizards failed in their attempt to win three in a row for the first time since April 2008.
Charlotte never trailed and held Washington to 13 points in the second quarter to take a 42-32 halftime lead. The Wizards missed 14 of their 18 field goal attempts in the quarter.
The Bobcats scored seven of the first nine points in the third to take a 49-34 lead with 8:19 to play. They led by as many as 22 late in the third quarter.
Charlotte, which had six players score in double figures, continued its run of outstanding defense. The Bobcats have allowed 100 points just once this season, and the 76 points scored by the Wizards equaled their lowest output of the season.
Both teams played on Friday night and t
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