Detroit Pistons PG Chauncey Billups and PF Antonio McDyess were traded to the Denver Nuggets today, in exchange for G Allen Iverson. The deal, which is expected to be finalized later today, provides the shakeup that Pistons GM Joe Dumars had promised earlier in the summer, after Detroit was eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Dumars, apparently convinced that his core group of Billups, G Richard Hamilton, SF Tayshaun Prince, and PF/C Rasheed Wallace had reached its ceiling in terms of success, has found a trading partner in Denver that makes over the playing style for both teams.
Allen Iverson will be able to step in and provide a higher scoring average and a deadly crossover that has kept the lightning quick guard a step ahead of his defender for 13 NBA seasons. Billups, on the other hand, provides the Nuggets with a more stable half-court option, as well as a refined all-around game. But while there are advantages for both teams, there are also disadvantages as well.
Denver
Pro: At 32, Billups is coming off of an excellent year in which he shot over 40% from three-point range, and over 90% from the line. Billups is a master at drawing fouls late in the game, and is a strong, savvy defender, which has made Detroit one of the hardest teams to catch in the fourth quarter. He is also a better passer than Iverson, and doesn’t turn the ball over. Additionally, because Billups can shoot, and is tall for his position, he will likely be effective for the duration of his contract. In general, “Mr. Big Shot” may be the most complete two-way point guard in the league today.
PF/C Antonio McDyess, despite being included for salary purposes, is an underrated addition to Denver’s bare cupboard front line. Since the 2004-2005 season, Denver’s front line of Nene and Kenyon Martin have played an average of 34 and 50 games, respectively per season, so adding a competent big man who can knock down a mid-range jumpshot will help the team transition into more of a half-court offense.
Con: Billups plays fewer minutes per game than Iverson, putting some additional pressure on backup Anthony Carter. Billups’ contract also runs three years longer than Iverson’s, with about $38 million being owed to him after this season. This development is detrimental to Denver’s previous trade, that sent starting center Marcus Camby to the LA Clippers for nothing other than cap relief. Had the Nuggets retained Camby’s services, they would be competing with Utah for the Northwest Division crown, and subsequently, a top-four playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Detroit
Pro: Despite being an eyelash over 6 feet tall, Allen Iverson brings a big time scorer’s mentality to a team that has been getting its points by committee. Iverson is quicker and better in transition than Billups, meaning he will be able to create more open looks for Richard Hamilton. Iverson and Hamilton are likely the quickest backcourt in the NBA, and should result in a faster pace than what the Pistons are used to. This move also carves out a larger role for G Rodney Stuckey, whose size will be utilized more on the defensive end.
Con: Iverson’s defensive acumen is based on his elite quickness, while Billups could always use his strength to prevent bigger guards from posting him up. Whenever Billups would get burned by a quicker guard, Rip Hamilton would simply slide over to the point. Now the Pistons run the risk of losing the strength battle on the perimeter, while also losing the rebounding battle.
Conclusion
It’s hard to find a more complete player than Chauncey Billups. He’s a good player on both ends, can play on or off the ball, and is the only elite point guard to have played a significant role on a championship team. He won’t beat Allen Iverson one-on-one, but he’s stable as a table, and is going to provide the outside shooting and defense that Denver needs.
Detroit is receiving an injection of energy with this trade. Iverson’s scoring can keep pace with anyone, and his lack of size won’t be as much of an issue in the East, as the Celtics and the Cavaliers start point guards at or around Iverson’s height. Plus, even if Iverson and Detroit are a bad fit, the two can part ways at the end of the season, with the Pistons having successfully cleared the way for Rodney Stuckey, having jettisoned an expensive guard in his 30s.
This trade is interesting, because it involves the swapping of philosophies, but the lingering fact is that Denver and Detroit are on opposite ends of the offensive spectrum when it comes to how they get their points. Detroit plays one of the slowest paces in the league, and they’re adding a guy who has spent the last few years on a team that tries to run its opponents off the court. And because Iverson needs the ball in his hands in order to be effective, there will likely be some hiccups along the way as the rest of the members of Deeetroit basketball learn to push the pedal to the floor.
The upshot to this trade is that the infusion of Iverson into the Pistons’ starting lineup will cost Detroit some wins, and likely the Central Division crown. Denver, on the other hand, is still at best, in the lower half of the Western Conference, likely meaning a first round playoff series on the road, and far less cap relief to rebuild over the offseason.
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