ESPN reports:
The Pistons and the Denver Nuggets have finalized a trade that sends guard Allen Iverson to Detroit in exchange for Pistons mainstays Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.
Young center Cheikh Samb, selected by the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pistons with the 51st overall pick in the 2006 draft, will also be going to Denver in the deal.
My view:
It's a bold move by Joe Dumars. He vowed to make changes after their defeat to the Celtics in the 2008 Playoffs, and he just walked the talk.
OK, the deal would bring in a bona fide superstar, which the team has been lacking since don't know when. But that's just an excuse. The main reason for the deal is, by dealing away Billups, they are getting rid of his 4-year $50 million contract. Iverson's contract (and Rasheed Wallace's too) will expire this year, which will bring them heavily under the cap next summer. They may choose to upgrade its roster next summer, or try their luck to hit the jackpot in the mega free agency in 2010, which features LBJ, Wade, Bosh, etc.
Dumars' plan is to gradually rebuild this team by developing PG Rodney Stuckey, PF Amir Johnson and PF Jason Maxiell. And if they could get one or two superstar in '09 or '10 free agency, they will once again rule the East.
However, there are considerable risks.
First trading away Billups, their starting PG, for a undersized SG may have a detrimental effect on team chemistry, not to mention that Iverson is a ball hog while this team's forte is their teamwork. And how would Iverson react to the deal remains unknown, especially knowing that he will almost certainly won't be staying in Detroit after this season. Did I mention that Iverson has been a problem child in the past? What would the team featuring Iverson and 'Sheed be? I'm just curious.
Secondly, Iverson has never been a good PG, and probably never will be. I understand that Dumars has great faith in sophomore PG Rodney Stuckey, but is he up to the challenge? No matter how talented he is, as a sophomore, he represents considerable risk. It is never a sure thing that he could be developed into a legitimate PG.
Iverson will provide some scoring to the team, but I'm expecting a step back for the Pistons this season after the trade. Whether the deal can pay out in the long run, it depends on (1) the development of the young core of Stuckey, Amir Johnson and Maxiell; and (2) the luck of nabbing any superstar free agents in '09 and '10.
As for the Nuggets, I genuinely consider them as the clear winner of this deal.
First is addressing need. They have enough scoring in JR Smith and 'Melo Anthony, and they need a legit PG to run the offense and to share the ball. Billups fits in admirably. Hey, they don't have to start Anthony Carter at PG, isn't that great?
Secondly, Billups arguably is a better player. Iverson no doubt is a superstar and a great great talent. But if you were a GM or a coach, would you rather have Billups or Iverson at your team? Yes, you got it.
Thirdly, by trading away Iverson, they can free up the offense for J.R. Smith (which was recently re-signed) and their franchise player, Carmelo Anthony.
Although the deal makes sense basketball-wise for the Nuggets, it does not fit their cost-saving mode. They traded away Camby almost for free in order to dump salary, now they are taking up the 4-year contract of Billups? Alright, Billups is earning less money than Iverson this season, but Iverson's contract will end this season. I had expected them to let Iverson play out his contract and walk in the past.
With a tight budget and by not addressing their need in the frontcourt (K-Mart and Nene do not look like they can play anything more than 70 games a season), I don't see the upgrade from Iverson to Billups can push them to become one of the best teams in the West. So why not stick to the original rebuilding plan and let the team go to lottery for a couple of years?
Maybe what the Nuggets need is just to squeeze into the playoffs, get a few more games played in Denver so that they can earn a little bit more ticket sales.
The Pistons and the Denver Nuggets have finalized a trade that sends guard Allen Iverson to Detroit in exchange for Pistons mainstays Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.
Young center Cheikh Samb, selected by the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pistons with the 51st overall pick in the 2006 draft, will also be going to Denver in the deal.
My view:
It's a bold move by Joe Dumars. He vowed to make changes after their defeat to the Celtics in the 2008 Playoffs, and he just walked the talk.
OK, the deal would bring in a bona fide superstar, which the team has been lacking since don't know when. But that's just an excuse. The main reason for the deal is, by dealing away Billups, they are getting rid of his 4-year $50 million contract. Iverson's contract (and Rasheed Wallace's too) will expire this year, which will bring them heavily under the cap next summer. They may choose to upgrade its roster next summer, or try their luck to hit the jackpot in the mega free agency in 2010, which features LBJ, Wade, Bosh, etc.
Dumars' plan is to gradually rebuild this team by developing PG Rodney Stuckey, PF Amir Johnson and PF Jason Maxiell. And if they could get one or two superstar in '09 or '10 free agency, they will once again rule the East.
However, there are considerable risks.
First trading away Billups, their starting PG, for a undersized SG may have a detrimental effect on team chemistry, not to mention that Iverson is a ball hog while this team's forte is their teamwork. And how would Iverson react to the deal remains unknown, especially knowing that he will almost certainly won't be staying in Detroit after this season. Did I mention that Iverson has been a problem child in the past? What would the team featuring Iverson and 'Sheed be? I'm just curious.
Secondly, Iverson has never been a good PG, and probably never will be. I understand that Dumars has great faith in sophomore PG Rodney Stuckey, but is he up to the challenge? No matter how talented he is, as a sophomore, he represents considerable risk. It is never a sure thing that he could be developed into a legitimate PG.
Iverson will provide some scoring to the team, but I'm expecting a step back for the Pistons this season after the trade. Whether the deal can pay out in the long run, it depends on (1) the development of the young core of Stuckey, Amir Johnson and Maxiell; and (2) the luck of nabbing any superstar free agents in '09 and '10.
As for the Nuggets, I genuinely consider them as the clear winner of this deal.
First is addressing need. They have enough scoring in JR Smith and 'Melo Anthony, and they need a legit PG to run the offense and to share the ball. Billups fits in admirably. Hey, they don't have to start Anthony Carter at PG, isn't that great?
Secondly, Billups arguably is a better player. Iverson no doubt is a superstar and a great great talent. But if you were a GM or a coach, would you rather have Billups or Iverson at your team? Yes, you got it.
Thirdly, by trading away Iverson, they can free up the offense for J.R. Smith (which was recently re-signed) and their franchise player, Carmelo Anthony.
Although the deal makes sense basketball-wise for the Nuggets, it does not fit their cost-saving mode. They traded away Camby almost for free in order to dump salary, now they are taking up the 4-year contract of Billups? Alright, Billups is earning less money than Iverson this season, but Iverson's contract will end this season. I had expected them to let Iverson play out his contract and walk in the past.
With a tight budget and by not addressing their need in the frontcourt (K-Mart and Nene do not look like they can play anything more than 70 games a season), I don't see the upgrade from Iverson to Billups can push them to become one of the best teams in the West. So why not stick to the original rebuilding plan and let the team go to lottery for a couple of years?
Maybe what the Nuggets need is just to squeeze into the playoffs, get a few more games played in Denver so that they can earn a little bit more ticket sales.
No comments:
Post a Comment