OT: Denver - Detroit Trade

[evildallas]

If the deal is completed sending Iverson to Detroit for Billups, McDyess, and Samb, does it make Detroit better or worse this year? How about longer term?

My two cents: While I believe making the deal now is better than later in the year for integrating Iverson into the team, I have my doubts that it works successfully. Detroit has built itself as a unit. Bringing in the ultimate individual player seems like a reach to me. I didn't think Detroit had a great shot at a title this year, so they had little to lose in shaking it up. Iverson and Wallace are free agents at the end of the season, so I see it as a good move to revamp the roster longer term.

[tontoz]

I think Detroit is looking to start over. Iverson is expiring and i think Wallace is too.

Great deal for Denver. They are stuck with long term deals in their frontcourt so they have to be in win now mode. This trade definitely gives them a chance to make some noise this year.

[raleigh]

Detroit is hoping Iverson will get them further in the playoffs than Billups.

They'll likely start over with youth next year.

[killbuckner]

I'd love for the Hawks to find a way to upgrade from Bibby to Billups. Not quite sure what it would take for denver. But I think that Billups has just about the perfect skillset for the Hawks. Of course age is a downside but I really think with Chauncey the Hawks could take a big leap forward.

[Skyhawk1]

Wow, I'm stuuned. That's a great deal for the Nuggets, and the Pistons have finally noticed that their time was over in the East, but I trully think they could get something better than Iverson. IMO, that puts Detroit in a much worse position in the East, good for us. If Billups and McDyess leave that team, they lose their TRUE PG, a big that's a reliable player from the bench, and get an overrated guy who will still avg 25ppg, but won't be able to make that team grow. As a Hawks fan, I'm thrilled with that trade.

[HoopsGuru25]

Wow, I'm stuuned. That's a great deal for the Nuggets, and the Pistons have finally noticed that their time was over in the East, but I trully think they could get something better than Iverson. IMO, that puts Detroit in a much worse position in the East, good for us. If Billups and McDyess leave that team, they lose their TRUE PG, a big that's a reliable player from the bench, and get an overrated guy who will still avg 25ppg, but won't be able to make that team grow. As a Hawks fan, I'm thrilled with that trade.

I agree that Iverson is overrated, but I think Detroit wanted Iverson specifically for two reasons. His contract is over at the end of this year-which means Stuckey can start as soon as next season and they will also have a ton of capspace in the next 2 years. Neither of those would have been possible with Billups because his deal is 3 years longer. Iverson is also a big name so people won't look at it as if they are starting over.

[Skyhawk1]

That's a good point Hoopsguru. I just saw on ESPN that McDyess' contract is supposed to be bought out, so he might even go back to Detroit after a while.

[Hawkeyes]

I think this is a dumb deal for the Pistons if they want to win this year. Plus..why wouldn't the two teams have done before the season started, so that they could introduce the players and help mesh them together. Iverson is a ballhog, and certaintly doesn't improve their offense, sure he can score, but his percentages have never been that night, and they not only lost Billups, but their depth inside is a lot smaller now, as Mcdyess was an important piece over the past years. I think Denver benefits from this deal a lot.

[Bamboozled]

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/

[HoopsGuru25]

I think this is a dumb deal for the Pistons if they want to win this year. Plus..why wouldn't the two teams have done before the season started, so that they could introduce the players and help mesh them together. Iverson is a ballhog, and certaintly doesn't improve their offense, sure he can score, but his percentages have never been that night, and they not only lost Billups, but their depth inside is a lot smaller now, as Mcdyess was an important piece over the past years. I think Denver benefits from this deal a lot.

I don't think the Pistons improved(atleast enough to win a title)but do you really think that there team was going to win a title anyway? I could see if this was football where history doesn't repeat it self often(like when Manning finally beating the Pats after all those years)but the formula for NBA titles is pretty much set. The trend in the NBA is that you have to have a super-star player to win a championship. The 2004 Pistons are the only team in the last 25 years to beat that trend and that's looking like it won't happen again for a while. I like this move for Detroit because I think the capspace it will give them in the future is more important than whether they win 3 or 4 more games this year.

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.

Denver(unlike Detroit)is not in a position to worry about capspace. Like Tontoz said-Nene and Martin aren't going anywhere due to their contracts and their 24 year old franchise player is making max money for atleast 3 more years. They couldn't rebuild even if they wanted to. They aren't going to win a title either but I think this trade makes them better. I never liked Denver trading for Iverson in the 1st place because they already had enough isolation scoring(although Melo was suspended at the time)and not enough defense. Billups defense and outside shot should be a better fit with Melo...this also might force Karl to start JR Smith who could probably do well as a 2nd option if given the chance.

[Rip2137]

Iverson is a upgrade offensively and playmaking wise over Billups (calling Billups a true point guard is just....wrong. He is every much a scoring guard as Iverson...just not as good at it).

Giving up Antonio is what made this a head scratcher for me. NOW you have given up to much. I don't think Jason Maxiell or Amir Johnson are completely ready to give everything Antonio gave to that position.

[JoshB914]

This trade makes Denver better. But why would they sell Marcus Camby for nothing over the summer and then turn around and eat Billups' contract? They need to pick a direction and stay with it.

This also gives Detroit 35 mill in expiring contracts this summer between A.I. and Sheed, giving them lots of money to spend. And they keep their status as one of the top teams in the EC in the short term with A.I. at PG.

[LHughes/JSmooth]

^ Not wanting to pay luxury tax is the reason why Denver's GM got rid of Camby.

But I love this trade for Denver. I am a fan of what J.R. Smith can do, and with Billups running the point, look for Smith to improve alot this year. Also I don't understand these rumors about Denver waiving McDyess, when I think they need help in the front court and isn't he a free agent after this season? Just keep him if your going to pay him anyways. Heck, McDyess could even start there. But if you think about it, this could be part of the trade. Pistons and Nuggets prob agreed to trade McDyess to work out the contracts, then for Denver to cut him, so he could come back to the Pistons.

[evildallas]

Camby trade allowed them to sign JR Smith without going any further into luxury tax. Bottom line is they are paying 8-9M in luxury tax this year. What the deal means is that they will likely be in luxury tax threshold next season as well.

Don't look for the McDyess to return to Detroit thing to happen at least immediately. The league has been cracking down on circumventing the rules that way.

[JoshB914]

True, Denver doesn't want to go in the luxury tax. But don't they understand the only way they can compete with their current roster is by going over the tax? They need to either clear salary and rebuild, or bite the bullet and spend $$$. Billups is by no means the final piece to the puzzle, but how do they plan to add the correct pieces when they aren't willing to spend enough cash to do so?

[Master8492]

Nuggets will probably make the playoffs because they have upgraded their defense.