Pistons trade for Iverson
A shocking trade on Monday appears to be a done deal, one that could reshape the Eastern Conference: The Detroit Pistons are set to get All-Star guard Allen Iverson in exchange for guard Chauncey Billups, forward Antonio McDyess to Denver and center Cheikh Samb.
Iverson, 33, is averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists through three games this season. He is in his 13th NBA season and beginning his second full season in Denver. He spent the first 10 1/2 seasons of his career in Philadelphia and has averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists for his career. The 8-time All-Star nearly was traded to the Pistons eight seasons ago. This could be more salary cap-related, however, as Iverson’s monster contract is up after this season.
Billups, 32, was the Pistons’ captain and was in his seventh season with the Pistons. They signed him to a free-agent contract in 2002 and re-signed him in 2007. He averaged 13 points and seven assists this season. McDyess, 34, averaged 8.8 points and 8.5 rebounds last season for the Pistons. He was starting his 13th season in the league, fifth with the Pistons. McDyess reportedly is expected to be bought out by Denver and return to the Pistons, however.
The Pistons, incidentally, are in action Monday night and are 4-point favorites at Charlotte. But they will be shorthanded, obviously, so Charlotte could be decent value.
Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has been intent on breaking up his team since his club lost to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
Detroit already has Richard Hamilton, the game’s best player at moving without the ball, at shooting guard, meaning Iverson will be forced to take over Billups’ role as the quarterback of the team.
The Pistons would now be cutting over $26 million (if you include forwards Walter Herrmann and Rasheed Wallace with Iverson) off their cap next summer, leaving them with a ton of cap space. So they could possibly add a serious impact free agent.
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