I feel like an ass. I haven't even finished my NBA season predictions column yet, but there's no way I couldn't break my 08-09 NBA cherry right now. I just got back from lunch, and as my home page loads, this nucular bomb (thank you Gov. Palin) of a headline smacks me between the eyes:
Pistons Acquire Iverson From Nuggets.
Wha!! Wha???
It's the second game of the season for most teams, not the frenetic trade deadline. There's no way ANYONE saw this coming!
The Nuggets got rid of all of their so-called "defenders" over the summer (Najera, Camby) and were left with a roster of Iverson, Carmelo and 10 guys named Moe. So who does Denver get in return for A.I.?
Chauncey B-B-B-Billups and Antonio McDyess. Two major, major contributors to the ongoing success of the Pistons - a team that has been to the Eastern Conference Finals for 6 straight years.
My initial feelings on this is that the Pistons are cooked. They don't have a steadying point guard anymore - Rodney Stuckey is more a scorer than a set-up guy - and McDyess was a consistent face-up jump shooter who drew power forwards away from the basket. The East just lost a contender, but they do clear up an assload of salary for next year with this (Iverson's $20.8 million this year plus around $40 million from Billups' remaining deal and whatever McDyess' recent extension is worth).
What did Iverson do for the Nuggets the past two years? I mean, he scored like we expected, but the team was none the better for it. Now Denver has Colorado's own Billups in the fold, and he will be the best point guard that team has ever had. They are now a borderline playoff team. Before this trade, they were lottery fodder.
Short-term advantage: Nuggets.
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