NBA notebook: Memphis owner hopes Iverson comes back

Memphis owner Michael Heisley says he is not sure what Allen Iverson's future plans are, though he hopes Iverson returns to the Grizzlies soon.

Heisley granted the 10-time All-Star permission Saturday for an indefinite leave to deal with a personal matter. The Commercial Appeal newspaper reported Monday that Iverson is contemplating retirement.

"I'm not in Allen's head. I don't know what he's thinking," Heisley told The Associated Press on Monday.

"I know he went back to take care of a personal problem. Whether he does something else, I don't know. I'm hoping he comes back. I think he could still play for us, somebody else, what have you. In my opinion, there's two, three years of outstanding play that could come out of Allen Iverson."

Leon Rose, Iverson's agent, did not immediately return a message left at his office Monday.

However, Heisley said the 34-year-old Iverson is struggling playing at what the guard feels is less than his previous best.

Iverson, who signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal in September, missed the preseason with a partially torn left hamstring. He made his Grizzlies' debut on the road a week ago in California, playing in three games at Sacramento, Golden State and in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

MARTIN HAS SURGERY: Sacramento Kings leading scorer Kevin Martin underwent surgery on his injured left wrist.

The team says Martin had the procedure to repair a hairline fracture in his left wrist on Monday at the UC Davis Medical Center. Martin was to be released from the hospital later in the day.

Martin is expected to miss at least eight weeks with the injury.

TITLE MOST IMPORTANT FOR JAMES: LeBron James wants to be clear: Championships are more important than cash.

Not that the cash isn't nice.

James on Monday clarified a remark he made last week in which the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar said getting a maximum contract next summer isn't that important to him.

"Let's get this clear: I said the max contract doesn't mean more than winning," James said. "I didn't say, 'I don't need a max contract' or 'I'm not going to get a max contract.' All I'm saying is that winning is more important to me than money at the end of the day."

JAMES BREAKS HAND: Washington Wizards backup guard Mike James is expected to miss up to five weeks with a broken bone in his left hand.

The injury was diagnosed Monday, two days after James was hurt in practice. He did not play in Washington's 102-90 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.