Reports surfaced today that future Sixers Hall of Famer Allen Iverson intends to lace up the Reebok’s in the NBA next season.

“Allen is working out and he’s getting himself prepared to make his return,” Iverson’s personal manager/untrained flack Gary Moore is quoted as saying. “He absolutely will try and play next year.”

The last part of that is the key — “…try and play…”

There’s one major problem with Iverson’s intentions — nobody wants him. If that isn’t clear to Iverson and Moore, it’s about to become a giant piece of Swarovski they can place on top of the TV to look at during commercials on NBA games they’ll be watching next year.

Allen Iverson is pondering a return to the NBA next year. Will anyone give him a chance?

Look, I loved Iverson and appreciate everything he did for the City of Philadelphia. He gave me and countless other Sixers fans one of the best springs of our lives in 2001. We even agreed with the Sixers bringing AI back last season. They needed him to provide a spark when Lou Williams went down, and he needed them to resurrect his image after being shown the door by three teams in a little more than one calendar year.

Yet, AI did nothing to make teams want to sign him. And, it has nothing to do with his 13.8 points and four dimes per night, all major drops from his career numbers.

After basically being banned from Detroit’s locker room as the Pistons were fighting for their playoff lives because he didn’t want to come off the bench, he went all last summer practically begging for a chance to play. The Memphis Grizzlies gave him a shot, and then severed ties with the former All-Star after just three games for the same reason.

Iverson was staring retirement in the face before the Sixers desperately came calling. Hell, even the New York Knicks passed on Iverson.

AI’s return was something special and, likely, the last great moment Sixers fans and he will share. In fact, we’ll go out on a limb and say that will be his last great NBA moment, period.

After appearing in just 25 games, Iverson was finished as a Sixer due to personal problems. His daughter was very ill and nobody could figure out what was wrong with her. We’ll never question AI’s love for his family and he was where he needed to be. However, he also announced (or the Sixers announced) he was going to stay home for the year a day or two before his wife filed divorce papers.

The timing was questionable.

Iverson played just 28 games in 2009-2010 and saw his numbers drop to 13.8 points and 4.1 assists per night. Will he accept a role as a bench player for an NBA squad?

Then, Stephen A. Smith reported that AI’s close associates were very concerned for one of the top three little men in NBA history due to excessive gambling and drinking. It’s no secret, especially in Philly, that AI liked to party. Just ask Friday’s on City Line Ave., or the AC casinos.

And, that is all part of the problem. Iverson loves to party, but that — along with all the hits he’s taken driving the lane with the big men — have taken a toll on his body. Combine that with the negatives relating to gambling, and his outspoken nature when it comes to being a starter on a team and we just don’t know which team will sign him.

Remember, he sat all last summer before Memphis gave him a shot. He was ready to retire before the Sixers gave him a chance.

Who do you see stepping up to the plate for a declining 35-year old guard with AI’s baggage?

Quite frankly, we’ve suggested in the past that Westbrook should consider retirement after a sub-par year and two concussions. Those things are likely the reason everyone jumped on the “Westbrook retirement” bandwagon.

Not so fast says Daily News “Eagletarian” Les Bowen. In a logical, convincing argument, Bowen says there are two issues with all of this recent speculation — Westbrook’s knee hasn’t gotten any worse the last few years and, more importantly, BWest himself hasn’t chimed in and likely won’t.

Will Brian Westbrook be back to continue mentoring Shady McCoy?

As Bowen points out, BWest36 isn’t exactly friendly with the media. He’s not rude or ignorant, but he’s also not very forthcoming in talking to the media. During the offseason, good luck pinning him down for an interview or finding out much of anything. (Your DailyPhiladelphian just sensed a challenge — get BWest lined up to talk with us.)

In addition, Bowen says a player as competitive as Westbrook won’t give up his career without a fight. And, even in a down year, you could still see the juices flowing through Westbrook. During the playoff loss to Dallas — a game in which he had one touch — he was on the sideline trying to instill urgency and confidence in the young guys. He wanted to win as a team whether or not he played.

While it’s obvious Westbrook’s best days are behind him much the way Marshall Faulk’s were in his final two seasons, he also can contribute to an NFL team and the Eagles. Leadership is not overrated one bit. Just look at the offensive line with Jon Runyan, and the defense without Brian Dawkins.

Having said that, leadership is not worth the $7.5 million Westbrook is scheduled to make next season. He clearly will not be in Philadelphia at that price next season.

However, if he’s willing to take a pay cut, he could be back. our guess is Reid would welcome BWest back in a reduced roll to continue his mentoring efforts among his youngsters and keep his replacement as the ultimate weapon — DeSean Jackson — grounded in his developing fame.

If he doesn’t accept a reduced salary, some team will add Westbrook. His career is not over. And the reports this past weekend probably give him more motivation than every to fight his way back.

Allen Iverson, the man who filled the Wachovia Center unlike anyone in Sixer history, has left the Memphis Grizzlies to attend to “personal needs.” The team said it does not know when AI will return, terming his leave as “indefinite.”

Allen Iverson could be contemplating retirement.

The timing seems rather odd and suspicious. Earlier this week, Iverson expressed his displeasure with coming off of the bench stating that he’s never been a sixth man and he’s not about to start that at this point in his career.

According to ESPN.com, Iverson and coach Lionel Hollins talked prior to Iverson leving the team; no details of the conversation were divulged.

The latest tiff between Iverson and Memphis regarding playing time comes on the heels of Iverson essentially being kicked of the Detroit Pistons last season because he didn’t want to come off of the bench.

Since leaving Philly, Iverson’s career has taken a turn for the worse. It appears his desire to start when it may not be in the best interest of a certain team is derailing the end of his career.

The man was stuck signing with Memphis because nobody else really wanted him.

An educated guess by any NBA observer or analyst would be that Iverson has returned to Atlanta to contemplate retirement. He’s made enough money in his career and he probably just wants to play. He likely figures if he isn’t going to start, then he’s just hanging on and he doesn’t want to be that kind of player.

The guy who said he always played every game like it was his last may very well have suited up for the last time. Otherwise, this move makes absolutely no sense because you’re not going to crack a starting line-up by sitting in Atlanta when your team is playing in Los Angeles.