Who would you rather take a chance on? 

Shaq, Allen Iverson, or T-Mac?  Would you want your team to bring in Terrell Owens? 

Former great players are the hardest to gauge late in their careers.  Are they willing to sacrafice?  Are they willing to admit they are not what they once were and take on a role?

In the case of the the four guys I mentioned who are looking for work, they all have something in common: They all have burned bridges.  They all are considered risks beyond what their talent brings to the table.  There is a reason they are all free agents and have all played on multiple teams. 

Bringing in a former all-star who is late in his career does work sometimes.  The Miami Heat won a title with Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton willing to accept lesser roles for the shot at winning.  Ron Artest helped the Lakers this past season.  The Pistons and the Celtics both took chances on Rasheed Wallace.  New England famously reached out for Corey Dillon and Randy Moss. 

So, as you can see, it can work.  And it's always tempting.  You know the player had the talent.  You just don't know how much is left, and if that player is willing to fit in, or do they want to do it their way. 

I think Shaq is probably the safest bet of that bunch.  I thought he did well in fitting in while in Cleveland.  He recognized it was LeBron's team, and accepted a supporting cast role.  Compared to stiffs like Darko and Amir Johnson, I'd take a chance on the Big Fella for half the price.  Atlanta, Denver, and San Antonio seem like the most likely landing spots because they offer similar things: Chance to win, a starting center spot and decent minutes, and for at least the Nuggets and Spurs, an established team leader and coach. 

Iverson and T-Mac are tricky.  I think T-Mac would be willing to take a bench role and could provide quite the weapon off the bench, but he has the greater injury concerns.  Iverson has the bigger heart and less injury concern, but like we saw in Memphis, seems more unwilling to sit back and watch and fit in.  He still thinks of himself as the man which is a problem.  The Bulls and Celtics seem like destinations that make sense for either, especially T-Mac.  I am not sure Iverson will ever play in the NBA again, but Charlotte and New York would be my best guesses.

Terrell Owens spoke recently about loving an opportunity to play in New England with Brady and Moss.  He said he can take a lesser role (like LeBron in Miami) if it gives him a shot at winning.  I think that is a team that could make it work.  I do think there is a little something left in the tank.  I think he can make his 50 catches count more with a great team.  I'd like to say Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, Houston, and San Diego are possibilities, but not sure those teams have the clout to control TO.  Perhaps Pittsburgh could make it work, but that does seem like an odd couple.  Besides, TO is a good guy off the field, Big Ben isn't. 

In the end, I'd rather try to calm a fool, than resurect a corpse.  Teams that are close, should take chances.  It worked for the Pistons (Sheed), Lakers (Artest), Bulls (Rodman) because talent is hard to come by.  The great coaches make it work.