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Via wiretap (and ESPN):

The Nuggets and Pistons have agreed in principle to a trade that would send Allen Iverson to Detroit for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, sources have told ESPN.

The deal has not been finalized.


I dont know what to think about this from a Cavs perspective. As much as its nice to see Billups gone, he hasn't been particularly scary against us... at least not like Iverson is. I don't like how this looks given the way that quick guards can blow up against us, since AI is about as quick as they come. Other thoughts?

Mcdyess rapes the Cavs so I dont know. I see both good and bad from this trade.

I like the idea that they've given up a big since our advantage against them was always on the boards and this should emphasize that. That being said, Iverson always kills the Cavs.

I think this makes Det worse in general. Billups was a huge part of their attack and now they don't really have a pure PG.

In terms of matching up with us, I don't really like it. Iverson as has been said owns us. I could see him destroying Mo defensively. McDyess was another Cavs killer though so I'm glad to see him gone.

Mo wouldn't be guarding Iverson, it'd be Delonte. Not sure that'd help, but it is a fact.

The upshot to this trade is that the infusion of Iverson into the Pistons’ starting lineup will cost Detroit some wins, and likely the Central Division crown. Denver, on the other hand, is still at best, in the lower half of the Western Conference, likely meaning a first round playoff series on the road, and far less cap relief to rebuild over the offseason.

Check out this link: http://michaelglauser.wordpress.com/200 ... o-detroit/

So, I am guessing Stuckey will be Billup's replacement.. I didn't understand why I would have done that from a Pistons perspective. They gave up 2 starters for a superstar who plays no defense, ball hogs, and needs the ball to be effective. That is almost the opposite of what Billups is. Oh well, I am glad to see McDyess gone though. And hopefully, we can win the central division this year.

That Yahoo guy who said LeBron is going to Dallas or LA now says this move is about LeBron in Detroit...

There is not a shot in hell that LeBron would probably even consider the idea of playing in Detroit, much less actually putting ink on a Piston contract...

In fact, I'm willing to bet there's a better chance of LeBron giving birth than the Pistons chance of signing LeBron James...

The Yahoo guy is a ESPN want-to-be writer making something up to get someone to read his
boring column -- I usually don't. I usually refer to him via the nick name I have for writers like
him (Uranus).

Since the Piston's extended Hamilton that cap space available won't be that big in 2010.

the Pistons agreed to a three-year extension with Richard Hamilton, a team source told ESPN.com's Chad Ford.

The new contract is worth $34 million, with the first two years guaranteed. The third year is only a partial guarantee, the source told Ford.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3680959

It's an interesting move by the Pistons, but I don't really think it makes them a better team this year.
Losing Dice makes Boston a bigger mismatch in the front court for them. Yeah, AI can still score -- but his defense is not nearly as good as Billups and his offense isn't that much significantly better than Billups. I can understand them trying to reload for the future instead of a complete rebuild -- but I am not sure it will give them an edge in free agency that certain writers believe it does.

Mannix: In a word, no. The Pistons probably weren't title contenders with Billups anyway; Boston is still head and shoulders above them and Cleveland looks poised to vault past them this year. But at the core of the Pistons' success the last six seasons has been their defense, and as one Eastern coach told me Monday night, "Iverson is a defensive liability." The addition of Iverson certainly makes Detroit an interesting offensive bunch, and if Antonio McDyess pulls a Brent Barry and returns to Detroit after the Nuggets waive him, the deal becomes more palatable. But at the end of the day, the Pistons won't leapfrog the Celtics (yet) with an inexperienced Stuckey playing more minutes at the point and an aging Iverson filling in at both guard positions. It's just not enough.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/b ... oundtable/

I read that Yahoo guys article last night and literally could not stop laughing. I forwarded it to several of my friends who were Pistons fans and they all had similar reactions. That guy is a hack, pure and simple.

As for this trade. Iverson may kill us, but that still doesnt make him better than LeBron who will still kill the Pistons. Besides, as has already been said, McDyess killed the Cavs as well, so him leaving should make us all happy.