Is that a good trade ? Who gets the advantage. Denver will be improved and should make the playoffs. The Pistons team concept is being threatened. Will Iverson fit in?
Really fascinating trade! I do think this helps Detroit, although I don’t know if they want Iverson to run the show or if they just want his salary temporarily, while they keep grooming Stuckey. But I’m not sure what the goal is.
It helps Detroit in 2008-2009 in terms of winning, and beyond in terms of roster composition. Never doubt the genius of Joe Dumars.
Detroit stresses team. They just traded a big cog in their team To expect them to just fit in a new player and go on with business as usual is asking a lot. Iverson is a go to guy who can score in the crunch.
ESPN says Detroit will have cap room to get 2 max free agents next year. The team could change a lot. Dumars may be thinking of next year and the year after.
I think that this is a very good move for both teams. AI is in the final year of a huge albatross contract and the Pistons will be free of that next season, allowing them to retool if this move doesn’t work out. In the meantime it could give the team an excellent offensive spark that they’ve lacked as of late. On the off chance AI fits in nicely and he’s able to boost the team’s scoring while they rest of the squad can keep it’s defensive standards up it makes them a title contender right now. In any case, it was clear that Billups was slipping and that they had a replacement for him in Stuckey. Getting rid of him and the final 2 years of his deal was savvy.
For the Nugget’s it’s also a good move, though it could be an expensive one. They weren’t going anywhere with the AI-Melo tandem and the clubhouse was a mess with those guys in there. Bringing in a steady, professional guy like Billup who can play the point in the traditional sense could really allow Melo to blossom. If hes able to make this team his own and move the ball around to the scorers the Nuggets could become more consistent offensively, if a little less dynamic. Defensively he’ll be a big upgrade, especially in the West against the likes of Deron Williams and Chris Paul.
I like it, it’ll be interesting to watch. Here’s hoping that AI implodes off the court in the D!
“Retool”? The young Pistons kicked some ass last year coming off the bench. I wish the Pistons didn’t have to give up Cheikh Samb, though.
Dumars made the deal so they could afford to sign big name free agents next year and get in on the LeBron/D-Wade lottery. 'Sheed almost certainly won’t be back. Sounds like a retooling to me.
But it’s not necessarily “retooling” when the tools are there, getting PT, and what not, is it?
I still think that 'Sheed is going to be there. He’s an enigma to say the least, but he can be one of the most unstoppable players.
Iverson is signed for 1 year. Billips was ,I think 3 years. If Iverson is just passing through next year will be interesting. The Pistons have cleared a bunch of cap room. They can sign two max players next year. Lebron is possible. Bosch has been mentioned.
Yet they have not given up on this year. With Iverson they could have a very good chance to go far. Stuckey may be the key. They think he could be a star.
It is possible that Iverson goes next year. Then if they do not get a couple big names the trade will be a flop. It appears to be about cap room as much as Iverson. But for it all to work they have to talk 2 stars into coming here.
Apparently Chauncey won’t have his physical in time for Iverson to play tonight.
What’s the deal with McDyess, though? It sounds like the Nuggets are going to buy him out. Is there some advantage to the Nuggets to trade for him and then immediately buy him out? Or is him going to Denver part of what Detroit got?
He was probably included in the deal for cap purposes. IIRC, if a team is over the cap then they can’t take on significantly more salary in a trade. As Detroit and Denver were almost certainly over the cap(nearly every team is), the trade would have to be structured so that approximately even salaries went in both directions.
Rumor is McDyess was supposed to come back to Detroit. Everybody but Detroit can sign him if Denver cuts him. After 30 days the Pistons can too. But Detroit radio says the Celtics are going after him .
Iverson’s first game is tonight, starting shortly on FSN in the Detroit area. ESPN is also going to show his Detroit debut, but I’m not sure if it will be the whole game.
The Pistons have a higher waiver priority than the Celtics.
Quick clip from Iverson’s first Pistons press conference, with Dumars
Heh. That’s precious. I’ve wanted Iverson in a Pistons uniform for a minute now.
Pistons were 4-0. Brought in Iverson. Now 4-2
I think Iverson catches a lot of flak in NBA crowds that isn’t exactly warranted. He shoots a lot because he’s always been better at it than everyone else on his teams. His career FG% is respectable, and would be in the top 20 or so at his position almost every year. He is definitely not a defensive liability, his career average in steals is over 2 a game. He’s selfish? Dude has averaged over 7 assists per game for the last five years in a row. People just don’t like his hair and his tattoos.
Any time you can get a player of Iverson’s caliber and NOT mortgage your future for it, it’s a no brainer move. You do it even if sometimes it mortgages your future. This is the NBA here. Chemistry isn’t as important as everyone claims. Joe Dumars is a genius. His team is more dangerous, and he has MORE flexibility for the coming years. I love it.
It will take a while to work him in. It is all about playoffs any way. McDeyess may be back by then. He can not sign with us for 30 days. That will give him fresh legs for the playoffs.
Dumars is set for next season with cap room. That may have been the point any way. he gets a name thjat may do well here. If Iverson moves on he has cap room to go after 2 superstars. It is all good.