AI to be traded to the Pistons!

[gonnadunkonU]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3679931

Does this make Denver better? I think it does imo. Denver will get a steady distributor in Billups and a solid vet big man to come off the bench.

[sendai91]

How do you see this trade impacting Denver's chances in the division and conference? I think that Billups fits the Nuggets team a lot better than AI did, and McDyess is a solid presence on a team that needs frontcourt depth. On the other hand, the Nuggets are on the hook for about $60 mil to those two players, which means that outside of Melo, they are a considerably older team with maxed-out cap space and perpetual health concerns with Kenyon Martin and Nene. I don't think that team wins more than 45-46 teams in the ultra-competitive west, and will probably win 1 out of the 4 games per year against the Jazz. If Melo ever demonstrates either leadership or an inclination to play any d and if Denver ever gets a quality center, I would worry more about them. Until then, probably not a significant change in the # of wins from Denver as I see it...

[schneiderjazz]

Denver looks much better IMO after this trade. I can't believe the Pistons traded both Billups and McDyess for an expiring contract.
The Nuggets add a good role player which they could really use in McDyess and they get a guy who can shoot from the outside, distribute the ball and play pretty good defense in Billups. No worries though. The Jazz still look better than them.

[The Sheik]

Jazz winning the division isnt a cake walk anymore. Mcdyess wont be staying with the nuggets.

[schneiderjazz]

Jazz winning the division isnt a cake walk anymore. Mcdyess wont be staying with the nuggets.

That's what I've heard too, but the Nuggets would be dumb to let him go. Their frontcourt is made of crazy men made of glass. Why would they buy him out or trade him? To avoid the luxury tax?

[The Sheik]

Probably a hand shake agreement they have in place with Detroit. Seems like Ai for both is too much from the pistons. I think its a great move for Detroit. It still makes them a contender this yr and gives Stuckey and extra yr to season before he becomes the starter next yr and they clear out Billups contract.

[schneiderjazz]

Makes sense. I don't think the Pistons would give up McDyess when they have such a thin frontcourt.

[schneiderjazz]

So, the Pistons will have a ton of capspace next year and a very thin frontcourt, with basically just Maxiell and Johnson. Anyone thinks they might try to get Boozer?

[Ming Kong!]

Shouldn't they have just kept AI so they could make big moves next year? I mean they hardly get younger with this trade.

[Ming Kong!]

So, the Pistons will have a ton of capspace next year and a very thin frontcourt, with basically just Maxiell and Johnson. Anyone thinks they might try to get Boozer?

Probably not, they seam to be too defensive minded.

[carrottop12]

It's a good trade for both teams but I still don't think Denver is in the top Class of the West with the Jazz/Lakers by any means.

They still have a crappy front court and their bench is still second rate.

Billups will definitely make Melo better, and having more shots to go around with AI gone will help JR Smith and Klieza, and it should make K-Mart more of a weapon on alley oops and fast breaks. But then this isn't the Billups of a few years ago, he's definitely aged since his championship days.

Kind of an interesting comparison with Billups matching up against Deron.

Deron's Stats: 18.8/9.2/2.8/1.0 51% FG 41% 3P
Billups's Stats: 19.2/5.8/3.0/0.8 39% FG 43% 3P

Pretty even match up even though Deron's numbers are a lot more efficient.

The real stat to look up though is the head to head record between the two. In 5 match ups between Deron Williams and Chauncey Billups... Deron 5, Chauncey 0.

[Duiz]

OMFG. This is actually really really good for Denver, and to be honest, I am even a bit scared of them. I mean wow, just wow. I am shocked, this is a good trade... AI was a cancer, and I think the this is now Chauncey's team. I am excited!

[The Sheik]

This is the blueprint I was hoping KOC went with last season in trading AK for Shawn Marion. We stay competitive for 2 seasons and allow Miles etc. to develop. Let Marion walk and have significant cap room. Joe D performed the semi rebuild quite well in this scenario. One last run at a title with the 4-person core, if it doesnt work out you let AI and Sheed walk and have 20-22 mil in cap room.

[outerspacefella]

Nuggets get better and get serious. Both Billups and McDyess will help them big time, and could certainly mark the beggining of the end for the "thuggets" era. This is a good trade solely for that.

[Soul Patch]

Nuggets get much needed leadership from Billups and Dice, they'll improve but I think this helps us out a lil bit. They'll play our style of game more and hopefully stop killing us on the fast break.

[Ming Kong!]

Nuggets get much needed leadership from Billups and Dice, they'll improve but I think this helps us out a lil bit. They'll play our style of game more and hopefully stop killing us on the fast break.

McDyess isn't happy, and said he wont play in Denver.

I think for this year it's good for Denver, and for next year it's best for Detroit.

[Reckless]

Yeh they said McDyess won't play a second with Denver as they will buy out his contract

Billups is a nice floor leader that Denver desperately needed

Iverson gives the Pistons a scoring star who can be help them a lot in the playoffs

good trade for both teams

[hoops4life]

yikes! We will still win the division but this will make the Nuggets a lot better. I think that they got the better end of the trade for now...

[DiscoLives4ever]

Does this open up potential for something like a Boozer/Almond for Hamilton/Maxiell trade? Move AK to PF and you have a starting line-up of Williams/Hamilton/Brewer/AK/Okur and you have Detroit free up an additional 12k next summer.

[Racer X]

I like it for both teams. The Pistons have Stuckey who is Billups 2.0. I think Billups makes the Nuggets better.