Also, you can cross out LA from his list of destinations. The Lakers are capped out thanks to Bynum's new deal, and the negatives of playing for the Clippers outweighs all the positives of playing for LA.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IdoCLk3kCo"]YouTube - Iverson "Practice" Again[/ame]
The reason he might stay in Cleveland is simple - the man is an international superstar, not just a regional one...he's this big in Cleveland! How much bigger can he get in New York or Brooklyn? That being said, I see him at least testing free agency, and there's a good chance he leaves.
As for this deal, it works for both teams. It's a ballsy move for Detroit but one with the future set in mind as the cap space will be theirs in a few years. Perhaps AI can mesh well, it remains to be seen. It's similar to the Shaq deal last year - Phoenix was good but not getting over the hump, so they took a risk. We'll see if it works out for Detroit. It's a nice trade for the Nuggets though, Carmelo and AI coexisting didn't bring the type of results they wanted and Billups is probably more of a "pure" point guard. Win-win deal all around.
But reefer...the Nuggets better than the Pistons? Stick to baseball, man...
I did a lot of good things as a sim league GM.
Ah, give me something clever to say here.
Iverson gives Detroit that pure scorer that they never really had. Billups gives the Nuggets the playmaker they never had. But to say the god damn Nuggets will be better than the Pistons?!!??!?!?!? Try being better than the Thunder first (both teams are 1-2 early)
2003 Hybrid World Champion (115-47 reg season, 11-4 playoffs)
TBL: Anaheim Angels 2006-present (238-244 regular season, 1 division title)
MSL: St Louis Cardinals 2013-present (2734-2936 regular season, 5 division titles, 2 championships)
TSSL: Seattle Mariners 2006-2029, Pittsburgh Pirates 2030-present (209-277, 5 division titles w/SEA, 1 championship w/SEA)
Chauncey Billups has been named Western Conference Player of the Week.
He averaged 21.5 ppg and 5.8 apg for the week, and is averaging 19.5 ppg and 6.0 apg thus far in his second tenure with the Nuggets.
He's off to a great start...but Detroit's still better
I did a lot of good things as a sim league GM.
Ah, give me something clever to say here.
That's very, very short term. Besides, they went on a 4-game west coast road trip and beat the previously undefeated Lakers quite convincingly. The Pistons will be fine. The Nuggets still have to deal with many good teams in the West.
Wins over the Lakers (in LA) and over the Cavaliers (tonight). Doing just fine, thanks.
Nuggets doing even better since the trade
Detroit 6-6 since the trade.
Denver 11-3 since the trade.
Zero missed practices for Billups.
As jlshorty mentioned, this trade was all about the money. Dumars wanted Iverson's expiring contract in order to make a run at the big FA names in 2010 as well as allow Stuckey to get more playing time at PG.
And btw, Lebron is as good as New York bound in 2010. He's kept it no hidden secret that he loves NY and MSG not to mention being a Yankee fan. I'd be shocked if he stayed in Cleveland, my bet would be on the Knicks.
"They asked me if I wanted the ball in Game 6, and I said yes. I'll always say yes. That's what I did with Jack McKeon. I told him, 'Let me see how I feel tomorrow.' I went out, did a long toss, came in and said, 'I'll pitch, I want it, I want to do it.' And it ended up working out." -Josh Beckett