Power Rankings: Where now, A.I.? Answer should be one of five teams

Updated Dec. 1

The 76ers are interested. The Grizzlies clearly are not.

While the NBA's other 28 clubs ponder where they stand, the question is: Which team would be the best fit for Allen Iverson's current skill level?

There is one place Allen Iverson definitely won't be happy: the bench. (Getty Images)

And, no, the University of Virginia football team cannot be the answer, either. Yes, the former prep star quarterback in the Old Dominion State suited up for just two basketball seasons at Georgetown, making him eligible to return to play another NCAA sport, but time has elapsed on his six-year college clock.

Throwing out the 76ers because I'm not big on nostalgia, here are the five teams that seem like the most logical not-quite-retirement homes for Iverson to drop his massive baggage:

Washington Wizards: This homecoming is so obvious, it's hard to believe it hasn't happened yet. The Wizards were so desperate to find a sidekick for Gilbert Arenas, they stooped to Earl Boykins' level. He's done fine, but let's face it: He's no Iverson. Never has been. Never will be.

San Antonio Spurs: This is Iverson's best shot at winning a title. And here's the best part: no coming off the bench. Even when Manu Ginobili is healthy, Gregg Popovich loves to use him in an Energizer Bunny role, filling the starting spot with the likes of Keith Bogans. In other words, there's serious room for improvement.

New Orleans Hornets: Here's all you need to know: Devin Brown in the club's starting big guard on most nights. I say big guard because you flat-out cannot call this guy a shooting guard. He's shooting 36.9 percent this season.

Golden State Warriors: If this were baseball, Iverson would be a Warrior by now. You know ... bad team rolls the dice on a has-been, hoping he catches magic in a water bottle for two months, then deals him to a contender. The way the Warriors run up and down the court, Iverson could be a 20-point-a-game scorer alongside Monta Ellis, then become a Spur at about the same time Ginobili suffers his next injury.

Los Angeles Clippers: Don't look now, but L.A.'s other team is right in the thick of the watered-down Western playoff race. The Clippers went 8-6 in November. Four more mediocre months like that and they'll start printing playoff tickets on April 1 -- and that's no joke. Iverson and Baron Davis side-by-side. Now that would be fun.

Perhaps spurred by Iverson rumors (you heard them here first), the five aforementioned teams went a combined 10-5 last week, gaining an average of two spots in this week's CBSSports.com NBA Power Rankings. Imagine what'll happen after one lands Iverson.

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Spurs · Trends	1
	Can you win an NBA title with an offense-first team? That's what Popovich is trying to do this season. And he may have a better shot than the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Suns. It would not be celebrated as such, but it would be an incredible accomplishment.
	2	Bulls · Trends	2
	The most consistent team in the league for two years running. Tom Thibodeau is the Dr. Doom of the NBA.
	3	Heat · Trends	3
	To live up to expectations, the Heat have to make such a huge jump, they need rocket fuel to get it done.
	4	Thunder · Trends	5
	The Thunder have had nothing but upside and positive feelings the past two years as they climbed into contention. They're facing their first bout of serious adversity. How they handle it determines whether this team has championship mettle.
	5	Pacers · Trends	9
	You know how hippos are made out to be sweet and silly, like big cows, but are actually extremely dangerous and can kill you with stunning brutality? The Pacers are the NBA's hippos.
	6	Lakers · Trends	6
	The Lakers winning the Pacific again would be like the Kansas Jayhawks winning their conference. They have a closet where they just toss the trophies on top of the pile. Looks like Scrooge McDuck's gold.
	7	Clippers · Trends	7
	Uh, anyone else notice that despite all the questions (defense, coaching, shooters, coaching, cohesiveness, coaching), the Clippers are really pretty good?
	8	Celtics · Trends	4
	One more ride, old-timers. One more ride.
	9	Hawks · Trends	11
	Boston and Atlanta began their playoff runs with their cores pitted against one another. It's possible they'll end them as well.
	10	Knicks · Trends	12
	The grind-it-out style of the playoffs means having Carmelo Anthony's super-ISO offense is a whole different thing.
	11	Grizzlies · Trends	8
	The Grizzlies are on the worst-looking five-game winning streak ever.
	12	Nuggets · Trends	10
	Oh, look, Denver, you found your offense under the porch! Good job! Maybe that'll teach you not to be so cavalier with it.
	13	Jazz · Trends	16
	The Jazz hope the first round's title will be "Hidden Tiger, Crouching Millsap."
	14	Mavericks · Trends	17
	I've decided the Mavericks' 2012 season is "Cabin in the Woods." It looks like your standard horror show, but there's so much more going on.
	15	Suns · Trends	13
	If this were Steve Nash's last legitimate playoff run ... #slowclap
	16	76ers · Trends	19
	"Mr. and Mrs. Sixers fans? Hi. Yes, I'm Dr. Easy Schedule. Your team is stable. It's resting comfortably. It was touch-and-go for a while, but we managed to repair the playoff eligibility. It's going to make it. ... You don't look happy?"
	17	Rockets · Trends	15
	Oh, look. The late lottery. There's a new area for the Rockets to explore. #stare
	18	Magic · Trends	14
	The Orlando Magic: The walking, talking reason for the league to enact a "you can trade your playoff spot for a lottery pick" rule.
	19	Bucks · Trends	18
	A pivotal offseason for the Bucks is set to begin. It's extremely unlikely, but imagine if this team lands a top-three pick.
	20	Timberwolves · Trends	22
	To the tune of "Total Eclipse of the Heart:" "Ru-bi-o, every now and then I get a little bit lonely and your leg still isn't healed. Ru-bi-o, every now and then I get a little bit tired of Beasley getting killed on defense ..."
	21	Trail Blazers · Trends	21
	The Blazers were 12-9 on Feb. 1. This completes today's lesson in "How quickly things can go to hell in a handcart."
	22	Kings · Trends	23
	The Kings can look back and point to legitimate growth. But the next steps are even more important. The leap from "promising young talent" to "team that doesn't make you want to gouge your eye out with a lobster fork" is a difficult process.
	23	Hornets · Trends	20
	Monty Williams and Dell Demps need to go bowling, get drunk and forget this year ever happened. Unfortunately, it's New Orleans, so finding alcohol could be a problem.
	24	Pistons · Trends	24
	Well, a young, inexperienced team like that is going to have ... what's that? Tayshaun Prince is how old? Oh, never mind, they're just bad.
	25	Raptors · Trends	25
	Dwane Casey can look back and say he changed the culture. The talent comes next, then the winning. The future is bright in Toronto.
	26	Nets · Trends	26
	I'm sure New Jersey is all choked up over losing the Nets. At least they're used to that when it comes to the Nets -- losing, that is.
	27	Cavaliers · Trends	27
	It had to get worse before it gets better. They've got their next franchise guy. Now they just have to build around him. And do it better this time.
	28	Warriors · Trends	28
	This had better have been worth it.
	29	Wizards · Trends	29
	The Wizards managed to move from pathetic joke to just pathetic by the end of the year. Progress in our time!
	30	Bobcats · Trends	30
	Now let us never speak of this again.