A I Traded

[bsmooth]

The NBA season is barely a week old, and there is already a blockbuster trade in the works.

The Pistons are expected to trade Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to the Nuggets for superstar Allen Iverson, according to multiple reports Monday. The Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News reported on their Web sites that the deal was still being finalized.

A basketball official also confirmed the deal to The Associated Press.

Detroit was determined to shake up its core last summer following a third straight exit from the Eastern Conference finals, but never made a major deal. Two games into the season, the Pistons have pulled off a blockbuster many expected months earlier.

Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg declined to confirm the trade to The Associated Press, and messages were left by AP for a Nuggets spokesman as well as for the agent of Billups and McDyess.

Iverson, an eight-time All-Star, has averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists per game over his 13-year career. The 2001 MVP with the Sixers was beginning his third season in Denver alongside fellow superstar Carmelo Anthony.

Billups, a year younger than Iverson at 32, has averaged 14.8 points and 5.5 assists over his 12-year career, but has emerged in recent seasons as one of the most reliable point guards in the NBA. Billups has also developed a reputation as a clutch, late-game shooter.

McDyess, 34, would add another big body to a Denver front line that has suffered through injury after injury.

I am not real happy about this yet, will have to see how Iverson works out.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I see a very volatile situation here.  Iverson is a shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body.   He is a ball hog and will take shots away from Rip Hamilton and the front line. 

Additionally, he doesn't have the defensive skills that Billups has and is definitely not a "floor general" which is what your point guard needs to be. 

Denver definitely got the better of this deal, IMO.