Thoughts on the Iverson/Billups Trade
"In this league, six or seven years is an eternity to have a core together. So when a situation like this presents itself, where you can cover yourself on both sides -- the immediate impact player and the long-term flexibility -- you have to push the button." - Pistons GM Joe Dumars
I think this trade works for both sides but there are definitely some questions about how this will affect the chemistry of the Pistons specifically. Iverson is one of the best guards and scorers of all time but he is also getting older with a higher potential of injury as he continues to go to the basket with reckless abandon. He is also a shoot first PG (or very small SG) so it could have some negative effects on the spread out scoring style of the Pistons. This might actually be a good thing for the Pistons in a sense because they have not had that guy on the team that is willing to step up and put the team on his back. Billups, Hamilton and Wallace are all great players, can score in bunches and even hit some big shots when needed but none of them are able to take over a game like Iverson can.
It should be interesting to see how the Pistons assimilate to Iverson's style of play. It should work out well that the trade happened so early in the season and they now have all year to work out any problems and learn each others style of play. Iverson has shown signs of being able to distribute the ball down in Denver but at the same time he is always going to get his points. I think at this point in his career, Iverson is willing to do whatever it takes to win a championship. If he needs to pass more to make this happen, I am sure he will do it willingly. Iverson catches a lot of heat for being a ball hog but he also wants to win more than anyone. The fact that he is on a team with a ton of weapons will make it much easier for him to give up some shots.
Look for Rodney Stuckey to step up later in the year and take over as starting PG. The kid has some skills and the Pistons are expecting him to develop at a rapid pace. This would move Iverson to a very small SG but he has done it effectively in the past so there is no reason why it can't work. That would probably push Richard Hamilton out of the starting SG position and push him to the bench or they could have him play a very small SF in place of Prince.
It probably makes the most sense to have Hamilton play for the second team to serve as the leader of that squad and be an offensive spark off the bench. We'll see how that goes over with him though. He is such a whiny bitch, I could see him complaining about his PT instead of worrying about winning. He seems like they type of dude who would just sulk on the bench or even request a trade. If you are a Celtics fan, you saw how much of a baby he can be in the Eastern Conference Finals with all of his acting and complaining after every shot he took. I remember one time when no one even touched him on the way to the basket, yet he fell to the ground like he just got shot in the shoulder. Not one of his teammates came over to him to help him up or see if he was OK because they knew he was just faking like a sissy soccer player. That should tell you something about the guy.
Don't underestimate the other reasons why the Pistons made this trade, as it may not be just a short term move. Iverson's contract expires at the end of the season, which means the $22-million he's earning this year will be gone, as well as the money that was owed to Billups and McDyess which gives the Pistons significant flexibility. Assuming they resign Iverson to another deal, they should still have enough room to potentially sign LeBron James, Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh from the super free agent class of 2010. LeBron seems destine for NY with either the Knicks or Nets but this team with Iverson would be very tempting for Wade and Bosh. Look out for that team if either one ends up in Detroit.
On the other end of the trade, the Nuggets still make out by getting a former All Star PG and Finals MVP in "Big Shot" Chauncey. He is making a homecoming of sorts since he played college ball at Colorardo and is from the area. It sounds like McDyess wants nothing to do with Denver, however, as he says he will not play there no matter what. Most likely, the Nuggets will release him and he will wait the 30 days to resign with the Pistons again just like Brent Barry did last year with the Spurs.
I actually have more concerns about Billups than I do with Iverson, which you would think would be the opposite since Billups is more of a standard PG and could be a good fit for the Nuggets. There is just something about Billups play over the past few seasons that makes it look like his best days are behind him. He is definitely a step slower and is not the prime time player he was just a few short years ago. I feel like he is having a quick fall from All-Star to chump just like Jim Rice did for the Red Sox back in the day. He was great for about 5-7 years and then his skills just fell off the map. Even if Billups' skills are rapidly deteriorating, it should still work out well for the Nuggets since they need a distributor. Carmelo will benefit the most from having a real PG, as it will allow him to get open much easier and make a few extra jumpers each game. This was supposed to happen with Iverson coming to Denver but it just didn't work out because they really should have had another PG to distribute to Carmelo and Iverson instead. It will be interesting to watch this all unfold but I think both teams will be better in the long run.
Here's a bonus look at some of the more recent Reebok Questions and Answers that Iverson has worn over the past few seasons in Denver. The Question is one of the best non-Nike basketball shoes of the past 15 years and has had a long shelf life just like the Air Force One. I have two pairs of these myself:
Here's a quick look at The Answer XII that Iverson will be wearing this season. Obviously the colorway will be switched to the Pistons but these are pretty dope in the Nuggets colors:
