WTF!
Word on the streets (multiple sources) is that Detroit and Denver have agreed in principal to a trade involving Allen Iverson to Detroit for Chauncey Billups, Anontio McDyess and Cheikh Samb (who?). I’ve read reports that both sides and people close to Iverson have confirmed this deal is being finalized as I type this.
The Nuggets and Pistons have agreed in principle on a trade that would send Allen Iverson to Detroit and Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to Denver. – ESPN.com
Other sources:
I know many people have to be scratching their heads as to why this blockbuster deal is going down. Here’s my perspective…
Detroit Side
At first glance think this is the “shake things up” move Dumars was talking about after last season. He tried to get Carmelo Anthony so I guess he is settling for the other Nuggets star in Iverson. This would also put Detroit in a good situation regarding cap space next summer. AI’s $21 million and Sheed’s nearly $14M would come off the books after this season. This move also frees up the point guard spot for Rodney Stuckey to take over next season. Looking at Detroit’s roster for 2009 these are the only impact players worth noting that will be under contract:
- Richard Hamilton (he has an early termination option)
- Tayshaun Prince
- Amir Johnson
- Jason Maxiell (just signed a 4-year extension)
- Rodney Stuckey
- Kawme Brown (has a player option)
The question I have is what impact player is Joe Dumars going to target with his new cap space? Overall the 2009 free agent class sucks. The big prize obviously being Kobe Bryant IF he uses his early termination option. But my money would be on Dumars trying to lure Carlos Boozer (player option) away from Utah this summer. If not maybe he is planning for 2010 like every GM in the NBA. But I can’t believe he is simply going forward with a youth movement.
Denver Side
This is a great, GREAT move for the Nuggets if they are trying to win now. They effectively solidified their issue at point guard and can very easily slide J.R. Smith (who has been playing pretty well) in at the shooting guard spot. They will have good depth at point as well when Chucky Atkins returns from injury.
Denver can now refocus their offensive game plan around Carmelo Anthony with the departure of A.I. I actually like the pick-and-roll with Melo and Billups better because of Chauncey’s ability to shoot the three. The Nuggets also got some much needed front court help since McDyess can play both center and power forward. That is if he decides to go to Denver and play. He apparently doesn’t want to play for any team besides Detroit and may retire or accept a buyout.
Maybe the most important thing this trade does is bring in two defensive-minded players to a team who struggles in that area.
What this Means to the Sixers
An extra sold out game. I already have tickets for the Denver game this season and know that it is sold out. So it’s easy to assume that the April 4th Detroit home game will be selling out shortly after the trade is signed off on by the league.
More important is the possibility that the player many of us Philly fans have come to love could turn around and knock us out of the post-season. How devastating would that be?
It will be interesting to see how this plays out for both teams. Does this improve Detroit’s chances or hurt them? WIll their regular season record suffer as they try to transition and mesh with A.I.? Does this make Denver a more likely playoff contender now? Does Billups have anything left at 32-years-old and visibly declining? Could they actually get out of the first round if they don’t have to play the Lakers? Lots of questions, and I know I can’t wait to see how it ends.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
For Detroit, they are moving to the future and clearing salary cap. Could this be the reason why ESPN analysts picked Cleveland to win the Central Division? But don’t underestimate Joe Dumars. But they still cannot beat Boston though if Garnett smothers Rasheed on both ends of the floor and Paul Pierce outplays Prince. They are good enough to make it to the ECF, that’s if they do not end up facing the Cavaliers. This makes their bench a bit shallow, but something great may lie ahead for Motown.
For enver, there will perhaps be “D” in Denver. Billups played college basketball in Colorado. Antonio McDyess was an all-star there, but still has something left in him. He could even take K-Mart’s spot. This could help the Nuggets make the 8th seed, if Portland falters on the road and play extensively without Oden, if the Clippers lose Baron Davis & Marcus Camby for a long period of time, and the Warriors are without Monte Ellis for a long period of time (suspension + injury). Who knows, but they would face the Lakers again!!
Stay Tuned!! If anyone has League Pass, they should tune in for the Pistons-Bobcats game for any details on the trade while the Kings-Sixers game is on commercial!
Way to be on top of it, Dannie. I heard this earlier this morning and I wanted to post the news under the Sixers topic, but I’ve been slammed at work and couldn’t get on here until now.
I was thinking the same thing as you when I heard it. The Nuggets have missed Miller since they traded him here. Getting Billups addresses that need. Also, the loss of Camby is a problem for them and McDyess helps out there.
On the Pistons’ side of things, I don’t know. It seems like odd timing, but maybe it’s just me. After Dumars’ comments following the Pistons exit from the playoffs last year, I expected him to make some big moves in the offseason. After he didn’t do any major reconfiguring then, I expected that he was going to make one final run with this group, possibly with a little tinkering along the way during the season. I did not expect a move of this degree now. I think you’re right. This move can’t be about now. It has got to be about the future (the cap space).
Allen Iverson still plays with his heart and fans (even Sixers fans) love his effort out there and perhaps this is what the Pistons need in order to fight their complacent demons. Maybe? Beating Boston though is still a tall order!! And how will this affect Rip Hamilton? And who will be their “Mr. Big Shot”?
I got a chance to do a little reading about the trade. How about this from the Denver Post:
“Denver plans to buy out McDyess’s contract so it appears he won’t actually play for the Nuggets, according to a source.”
Here is the link if you want to read the entire article. That’s curious, isn’t it? You would think the Nuggets could use the help down low.
BSKI – I did a little reading as well and word is McDyess has no interest in playing for anyone but Detroit. So the options are retire or work out a buyout. Denver definitely could use him in the front court but if they buy him out at a reduce price they clear their books of a player that would be making $6.8M this year and next season.
I went back and saw that you had that in the “Denver Side” of your post, Dannie. I must have skimmed over it. Sorry about that.
I have gone on to do even more reading about the trade. Jason Flemming from Hoopsworld seems to think it is a stroke of genius by Dumars. Here’s the link if anyone wants to read his take on why Detroit would make this move now. It is mostly about the money side of things like you said, Dannie.
On Kate Fagen’s live chat over on Philly.com, somebody said that they were listening to ESPN and heard that the Sixers made a push for Iverson. I can’t imagine this is true, but has anyone heard anything about this? Kate was shocked and said she needed to make some calls and find out.
I’m sorry, I meant ESPN radio, not ESPN. It’s also unclear whether it was the local 950 AM or a nationally syndicated ESPN show.
Jyurk – I have not heard or read that anywhere but will see what I can find. Honestly I doubt it, but it probably could work if you moved Miller, Evans and Willie Green in terms of salary. Then it would be a question of is it the right move for the Sixers now, in the future or both.
looks like a cap move to me but I will say he was shooting less and passing more this year. Guys, do you think Dumars was allowed to talk to A.I. before the deal to “feel him out”.
i am really curious to see how this works out for both sides. I have been running it through my mind all day and I can’t decide if this will help Detroit on the court or not. We all know it works really well if they did it just to shed cap in the summer, but I have a feeling JD may have made the decision to win some more games and possibly go further this year. Billups is a great shooter, defender and decision maker but the Pistons are knee deep in all of that, what they were lacking was someone who could put up 25-30 pts a night.
I think we all agree that this was great for Denver, not that AI isn’t a great player, but they are the exact opposite of the Pistons. Full of scorers and people who want to take the most shots, now they have a tested true PG to run the offense. If Mcdyess decides to play they get another back up in the front court who isn’t too shabby as well.
Can’t wait to see how it plays out. It would be great if we get to match up against Ai in the postseason, scary but great.
So why does Denver trade Camby to the Clippers for a second round pick? If they’re suddenly serious about going to the playoffs with Chauncey, why trade the defensive player of the year? Salary dunp? Nuggets seem out of whack.
On the other hand, the deal makes sense for Detroit. No way they were going to win it all with the current lineup and previous attempts at getting Melo and T-mac came up short. Low risk high reward kind of trade. Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Marion are notable free agents for 2009 that come to mind… Artest in Detroit sounds awesome. Like Dannie said, why not save up for 2010?
Oh, and Thaddeus Young is sweet. Man crush materal if you ask me.
yeah Artest does sound good for Detroit, only one problem, he and Steven jackson knocked out a third of their fans a few years ago. i dont think the city would be ready for that.
Get this– the Celtics are interested in McDyess if released!! They will certainly go after him as a way to fill the P.J Brown void!!
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1130184
This could help the Celtics even further in terms of repeating as Eastern Conference Champions and perhaps NBA Champions once again, despite the Lakers hot start and Bynum’s return– the Celtics frontcourt will still be tough and strong!!
3 strong players on D-cline. 2 GMs shakin’ ‘n bakin’. 1 wonders about trade’s import (beyond salary concerns and newsflash ripple effect). 0 chance for either club to hold trophy aloft in June, imo.
This is funny: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2008/11/04/allen-iverson-is-talking-about-practice/
Morty – I saw that this morning on ESPN I was laughing hysterically. Just shows how cool and what a good sense of humor Joe Dumars has. Gotta love A.I.
Rob – McDyess said he doesn’t want to play anywhere else but Detroit. It would be a strong move by Boston to get him but I don’t see it happening if his desire is to retire in Detroit. It would be best for the Sixers if he goes back to Detroit we really don’t want Boston getting any stronger at this point.
Yes, gotta love AI.
raro: agreed with your Thad sentiments.
True, but then there could be “Boston Max”(in this case a minimum amt)! Boston has something to offer other than money and this could really fill the PJ Brown spot.
I do agree that he better stick with Detroit though!!
… just a side note… Detroit tickeet sales went up some insane number on the announcement AI was coming… again, he puts people in the seats… and will make Detroit a team to deal with this year.
… oh yeah anyone want the rest of my sixers ticket pack… my selection didn’t include Detroit. LOL!