Iverson among NBA free agents

For the first time in his professional career, former 76ers wunderkind Allen Iverson faces an uncertain future as NBA free agency goes into full swing today.

The high-scoring Iverson, 34 and a 13-year veteran, has no apparent home. He worked for the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons in the last year of a contract that paid him about $21 million. A back injury ended Iverson's season April 3.

Detroit effectively ended its association with Iverson by sending him home as the Pistons embarked on the playoffs. Iverson played in eight games after the all-star break and balked at coming off the bench after the Pistons put Rip Hamilton back in the starting lineup.

Iverson, who played in 57 games for the Pistons and averaged 17.4 points and 4.9 assists, had missed 16 games with a groin injury beginning on Feb. 27. If he finds a team that will accommodate him, Iverson can expect a hefty pay cut.

"It's going to be interesting," said one lawyer who deals in player contracts. "The only place I can see him landing with any kind of money is Charlotte because of Larry Brown. Obviously, he won't get what he's used to."

The top players on the free agent market are swingman Ron Artest (Houston), guards Ben Gordon (Chicago) and Mike Bibby (Atlanta), and forwards Rasheed Wallace (Detroit), Lamar Odom (Lakers), and Hedu Turkoglu (Orlando).

Also on the list are such former all-stars as guards Jason Kidd (Dallas) and Grant Hill (Phoenix), and forwards Antonio McDyess (Detroit) and Shawn Marion (Toronto).

Yesterday, Carlos Boozer (Utah), Mehmet Okur (Utah), and Michael Finley (San Antonio) exercised options to remain with their teams.

A few players with local ties - Strawberry Mansion guard Ronald "Flip" Murray (Atlanta), former Villanova forward Malik Allen (Milwaukee), and former Drexel forward Malik Rose (Oklahoma City) - also are free agents.