For the second season in a row, Orlando Magic all-star starting point guard Jameer Nelson will miss extensive time with an injury.

After being sidelined with a shoulder injury for most of the second half of the regular season and a large part of the 2009 playoffs, Nelson this season will be out 4-6 weeks after suffering a knee injury Monday in the Magic's six-point win over Charlotte.

Last season, Orlando went out and dealt for Rafer Alston, who played solid ball in Nelson's absence. Nelson's injury this season again leaves Orlando with little depth at the point. Jason "White Chocolate" Williams will be Orlando's starting point guard. He'll be backed up by 35-year-old, career backup Anthony Johnson. That's not good when you're starting point guard looks like he just got done doing a 4-year bid. It's even worse when his backup looks like one of the frequent guests on the Howard Stern Show.

There's an option out there for Orlando, though. He's got a lot of mileage on his odometer. He's a bit of a malcontent (that's an understatement). But he's also one of the best scorers in league history, along with being one of the toughest players in league history.

Orlando should take a good long look at signing newly-cut Allen Iverson. Iverson and the Memphis Grizzlies parted ways Monday after the man with the sixth-highest scoring average in league history (27 ppg) played 3 games with Memphis. Reports surfaced that Iverson wasn't happy with his role with the Grizzlies, as he was set to play backup to third-year guard Mike Conley.

His unhappiness is his own fault, as Iverson in the last two seasons has refused to realize he's on his last legs. At his size (6-feet tall, a buck 165 soaking wet), it's a wonder he's been able to play at a high level for so long. But you'd figure that at this point in his career, Iverson would be interested in one of two things: mentoring a young guard and/or winning a title.

He wasn't going to win a title in Memphis, or anywhere for that matter because no other team would touch Iverson knowing his Type-A personality. All summer long, I thought he would suck it up and come off the bench for a San Antonio, Cleveland or L.A. Lakers. Iverson doesn't want that. He wants to be the guy he was in Philly who took 35 shots a game. He's not that guy anymore.

Iverson could work in Orlando, though.

You can get him for the veteran's minimum ($1.8 million). He would basically serve as a stopgap until Nelson returns from his injury, which could sideline Nelson for 14-22 games. You could cut bait with Iverson once Nelson comes back. Or Magic GM Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy could make him an offer.

You know how when someone first gets a job, they have a 90-day probationary period? That'd be what AI gets until Nelson gets back into game shape. If he acts right, keep him on. There's a strong possibility that won't happen, but it's worth a shot. It also helps that it wouldn't cost Orlando that much.

Upon the signing, Magic brass could propose an offer to Iverson. Tell him he's the starter until Nelson gets back. Tell him he'll get his looks, but he needs to understand this isn't Philly circa 2000 and that he can't jack up 30 shots a night. Then tell him he has a spot on the roster once Nelson returns, but that he'll get 20-25 minutes a night backing up both Nelson and shooting guard Vince Carter. If he decides to embrace his sixth man role, he would be able to channel a younger Iverson because he would be the best player in that second unit.

Lastly, and this SHOULD be what seals the deal, explain to him the team has designs on winning a title and that they'd love for him to be a part of that as long as he understands his role. If Iverson doesn't like that, he's done. If he doesn't want a role on what would easily be the best team he's been a part of, he's done.

And it'll be on him. Nobody else. All that would do is prove everybody right about his "Me-First" outlook. Hopefully Iverson doesn't want that to be his legacy.