Iverson traded to Pistons
 

DETROIT (AP)—The Detroit Pistons shook the NBA in a big way Monday—landing former MVP Allen Iverson from the Denver Nuggets.

The Pistons gave up All-Star point guard and former NBA finals MVP Chauncey Billups, top reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb.

“We just felt it was the right time to change our team,” Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars told The Associated Press. “Iverson gives us a dimension that we haven’t had here and we really think it’s going to help us.”

Iverson is in the final year of his contract, making $20.8 million this season. He could debut with the Pistons on Wednesday night in Toronto.

“He was very excited about the trade,” Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose, told the AP.

Billups is in the second season of a four-year contract worth a guaranteed $46 million with a $14 million team option for a fifth year. The Pistons kept McDyess off the free-agent market by giving him a $13.5 million, two-year contract extension, and they would love to have him back if the cost-cutting Nuggets buy out his contract

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow

Chauncey and McDyess are gone :( We are so sad. Joe, Joe, what are you doing???

:( Chauncey

Lebron to be the next peice of the puzzle
 

The Bigger Picture of the Iverson Trade



Joe Dumars had the chance to consider Dallas’ Jason Kidd and his expiring contract over the summer, a league executive said Monday, but the Detroit Pistons president had bigger, bolder ideas. Allen Iverson still gives the Pistons a puncher’s chance in the Eastern Conference this season, but this trade isn’t about him. It isn’t about Chauncey Billups.


Think bigger.


Think bolder.


Think LeBron James, 2010.


The Pistons president doesn’t just have the salary cap space for the Cleveland Cavaliers star. He also has the connections and the championship credibility. Make no mistake: Detroit and Dumars are officially in hot pursuit of James – maybe even the favorite now – and it promises to be a long, agonizing two years for the Cavaliers.


Detroit doesn’t deliver the bright lights and global metropolis destination that James wants when he opts out of his contract in 2010, but two more years of watching Kobe Bryant win titles could transform his priorities. James wants badly to be considered the best player on the planet and that won’t happen until he’s a champion.


James wants a front office with a vision that honors his greatness, and make no mistake: This makes Detroit and Dumars so dangerous, makes them Cleveland’s worst nightmare. The city could justify losing its prodigal son to New York or Los Angeles, but nearby Detroit?




http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

And Detroit fans have grown to HATE LeBron James. Detroit fans have loved that they had a TEAM, not individual superstars who carry a team. Still so sad...

I think this argument says a lot more about perception, and the way the media has portrayed Iverson, than the reality of the situation. You can say what you want about Iverson's shot selection, or his comments about practice, but he played hurt a TON when he was in Philly. If your'e going to talk about someone who is a team player, I'd take the guy who is going to play hurt in that manner. (And, from what I've read and heard, Iverson's teammates have loved him).

Plus...everyone loves Rasheed Wallace now, but when he was with the Trail Blazers, he had a reputation as a selfish player and locker room trouble-maker. It was only after he went to Detroit that people started tossing verbal bouquets his way. It's mostly perception, and the way in which the media presents a player, that shapes this sort of debate, and I think it obscures the facts.

ETA: It would be VERY interesting if Detroit ended up with Lebron. The Nets have essentially purged their roster to make a big push for him. Apparently, though, the move to Brooklyn is on hold, and that could make a difference in Lebron's decision-making.

This is a great way to sell tickets, but the reality is that Detroit's "Big 4" of Billups, Prince, Wallace and Hamilton were every bit the "superstars" that the Celtics or others have - it's a team game, sure, but having four stars is clearly better than one no matter how well they share the ball. Detroit's collection of all-star talent really was second to none for quite some time.

I don't really like this move for Detroit, unless it does lead directly to LeBron - it's a strict talent downgrade in a roster sense (as Billups and McDyess are likely just better than AI at this point), and while it may be a push in terms of the starting five (Stuckey is apparently that good), it kind of kills their depth, something that will be missed in the playoffs.