So does this bring the Nuggets closer to winning a champions

[Ewingfan]

Thats the million dollar question. Forget about what you think about the trade. Some of you are happy to see A.I go. Some of you are unhappy to see Billups return. Mcdyess may not play. He wanted to stay in Detroit. I dont know who got the better of the deal but A.I has a better chance of winning a championship with Detroit. He finally gets to join a team that can match his intensity. I feel sorry for Carmelo because now he's going to be exposed. I hope Denver succeeds but the West still stacked. He gets the chance to play with the best defensive player in the east. Tayshaun Prince. Billups is an overrated defender he is going to be exposed now that he doesnt have Prince and Rasheed to help out on penetration.

[big123]

I don't think so. I think the Nuggets revert back to pre-AI or maybe a little better. Instead of letting AI expire at the end of the year, the Nuggets have basically signed Billups to a 3-year deal until he's 35-36. Billups is a good player, but his talents shined with the Pistons system and very good team around him. It will be interesting to see how well Billups performs as he gets older and in a different system. Billups will probably be a better fit for the Nuggets than AI, but it's unlikely he makes them a significant better team to legitimately contend in the West. AI is the better talent and Billups will probably be the better fit, but not the fit or missing piece to contend anymore than they were already IMO. By doing this deal, the Nuggets are satisfied with mediocrity for the next 3 years.

[ambiglight]

no.

however, it does make denver better than they are now, which is all the fans want.

they just want to feel like they have a chance.

before they didnt have a point guard, they didnt have any depth in the front court.

and karl didnt know how to use AI and JR together.

this deal forces karls hand and covers the hole at the point. which still leaves the front court kind of weak but fans are less hard on teams for that than they are weak backcourts.

so this was a good trade for denver, which would be satisfied with simply looking better and not having a two star team.

[Nuggetsfanduh98]

A Short and sweet reply is yes. I just read also that chapman said that Antonio will remain with us!

[JRmakes_it_rain]

I don't think so. I think the Nuggets revert back to pre-AI or maybe a little better. Instead of letting AI expire at the end of the year, the Nuggets have basically signed Billups to a 3-year deal until he's 35-36. Billups is a good player, but his talents shined with the Pistons system and very good team around him. It will be interesting to see how well Billups performs as he gets older and in a different system. Billups will probably be a better fit for the Nuggets than AI, but it's unlikely he makes them a significant better team to legitimately contend in the West. AI is the better talent and Billups will probably be the better fit, but not the fit or missing piece to contend anymore than they were already IMO. By doing this deal, the Nuggets are satisfied with mediocrity for the next 3 years.

Straight from the mouth of an AI fan. Good luck in Detroit.

[The Rebel]

Of course this gets them closer to being a contender, anybody without their AI colored glasses on could see that. This team has need a pass first pg that can hit the outside shots and play solid defense for year. Add in the growth that JR has shown, and we are just a couple of backup bigs away.

[ecuhus1981]

Closer, but still a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong ways away, says this Dallas/NJ fan. Kudos to your FO on the trade, though.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

A Short and sweet reply is yes. I just read also that chapman said that Antonio will remain with us!

Chapman just doesn't want the trade to be Georged.

Dice is being bought out. Even with that happening, easy yes, this trade gets the team closer to a title. If everyone stays healthy, and the team can add a piece or two to the bench (and gets a new coach) I'd call this team a title contender.

[CanNugget]

hell yes. so much closer. If dice plays, even more so.

[corona]

if dyess stays and the growth of jr continues (even slowly)....its a definite yes.

it's not like this trade made us favorites over the lakers (that's a damn good t eam)....but i like our chances against pretty much anyone now and i think if everyone gels quickly and stays relatively healthy, there's a solid chance at homecourt in the first round.

[tk76]

Why did they clear Camby's contract and then give away AI's 21M expiring?

If you want to build around the young nucleus of Melo, Nene, JR and Kleiza why not try to free up as much capspace as possible so that you can have the upper hand in moves to rebuild into a legit contender.

Being a Sixer fan (and watching what the Celtics did) you need to put the team in a position to strike for the big deal when the team is ready to contend. You have to have the flexibility to land the KG/Gasol/Brand when everyone else is hamstrung by the cap and bad long contracts.

I thought the Nuggets were doing this by dumping Camby and AI's contracts- but now they are tied to 18M for Billups and 'Dyess for the next 2-3 years- effectively limiting the teams ability to make moves for the pieces they need for long term success.

Please explain how paying two 34 year olds a combined 18M gets this team closer to building a contender?

[JRMelo15]

It does bring us closer to winning a championship, but not being called a contender in the Western Conference. Billups will bring us better passing game and more ball movement as when with AI it was more of a create your own shot. With JR now in the line-up it allows Melo to bring on double teams and hit open guys for an easy lay-up or an open 3. With Dice staying, he gives us a good back-up both at C and PF...so overall I think it made us a better team and maybe we can actually get out of the first round, but I doubt we will go deep into the playoffs.

[tk76]

I don't deny that the Nuggets could be a better team with Billups and 'Dyess- since they probably fit well, and you can move Carter to the bench. I just think even with improved chemistry the team will have its hands full in the West, and then have its hands tied when it comes to making moves in the next 2 years. Then all of the sudden its time to resign Melo, and the team may be closer to needing to rebuild than reload.

I'm sorry to come off as a pessimist- especially given the Nuggets to have the makings of a good team. Its just if this is what they were after, why not keep Camby?

[Rasheeed!!!]

If Nuggets kept Camby, and made this trade they would be in good shape. Now they just don't enough depth

[DNIsLeGiT]

Maybe.

[-Spyda-]

Camby
Nene
Melo
JR
CB

[dunleavyjr]

Chauncey will take away my man AC (Anthony Carter)'s starting job as point guard.

[vct33]

Yes they are closer to winning a championship. They have gone from a 50-1 longshot to 47-1.

[Ewingfan]

This is why to me the trade is even. I think this helps out Carmelo. A.i is a first ballot hall of famer and he gets criticized alot but I am a huge A.I fan. I beleive the trade was necessary. Its just too bad Denver is stuck in the Western Conference. Detroit is closer simply because there are only 3 elite teams in the east. Boston, Cleveland and Detroit. Detroits main defensive cogs are intact. Denver looks better defensively in the first 3 games but they have suffered on the boards. Mcdyess will help and is insurance for Kenyon or Nene. Thats sounds weird since Mcdyess has been hurt alot in his career. I hope this is not a repeat of Andre Miller. When he was traded everybody was happy. Then he helped Philly win 2 games against Detroit and everybody regretted him leaving. Hmmm. What people forget is how bad he was in the next few games where Detroit woke up and he and Iguodala were outclassed. Detroit may not win a chip but at least A.I is closer in the East than in the West.
I hope Carmelo has a great playoff run because if this keeps up he is gonna get a shyt load of criticism. He is a Hall of Fame talent but like my two favorite players Ewing and Iverson it doesnt mean you are above criticism. One last thing.

I JUST BOUGHT TICKETS TO THE KNICKS VS NUGGETS GAME THIS SUNDAY BEFORE THE TRADE WENT DOWN. LOL. THE GAME IS DEC 28. I HOPE CARMELO DROPS 50 ON THEM IN MSG. I am looking forward to it.

[PeTBuLL]

No one got the message? Nene is free, he will be a beast!

And i always spoke the truth, Iverson x André was a bad movie, now, thing´s will be all right!