Detroit needed to do something to add talent to their team. Billups isn't the player he used to be and wasn't meshing there anymore with Flip. Detroit is the team taking the risk here, but it's not a big risk. If it doesn't work they are where they were before; a non-title team in the East. If it does work for them, perhaps they make a run.
I'd rather give T-Mac for Billups than Iverson. He'd be a perfect fit at PG on a team with a big like Yao and a wing like Ron.
Yeah, I'm in agreement. They have a lot of expiring contracts (AI as well). If it works, great! If not, they can prepare for 2010. (Billups has like 4 years left on his contract.... he's not exactly a spring chicken.)
He is a playmaker though. Remember Morey talking about those stats that showed T-Mac to be the best wing passer in the NBA? Tracy tends to pass to guys in a position to score. That said, he's not a PG, he's a "Superstar Scorer" who can't shoot. He's been a less effective scorer than Flip Murray 2 out of the last 3 years. (not including this one obviously as it's so young)
I bet! Two fifths of last year's starting Detroit line up coming to Denver for AI has to be like a dream come true. I am really really curious about how Detroit is going to deal with this. Obviously they were grooming the young ones to take over in the inside, but this is a huge leap of faith for where those guys are.
I don't even get why this thread has turned into a trade T-mac thread when A)That isn't going to happen and B)This trade is better for both teams than a trade involving T-mac.
If there's no contract filler then Denver only need to cut a further 3M to get under luxury tax. Too bad for Juwan Denver will probably waive his non-guaranteed contract now.
Am I the only one here that thinks Detroit got the better end of this deal? Billups' contract is going to be an absolute thorn a year down the line while in the present, Iverson gives the Pistons just as much if not more. Great deal for the Pistons.
this move makes denver out of the playoffs most likely, without iversons scoring and their lack of defense i feel like its going to be a tough season for denver which is good. For the pistons i think it helps them out a lot they get a scorer and someone that warrants doubles allowing open shooters like rip and company. But you could have seen this coming when they locked in jr smith in the summer because hes the future along with melo. Is iverson that bad of a guy that hes being traded around so much?
Detroit needs to adds talent because they clearly aren't a contender in the East, despite so many saying they are. Not sure if AI will mesh on that team. For Denver, maybe they never expected to get much for AI. One reason I thought he might stay the whole season is his huge expiring contract could have set them up to be a big player in the free agent market next summer.
Billups and Denver is an odd mix. Denver is traditionally a fast breaking team, but Billups likes to keep the game at a very slow pace. I do think Billups is a very underrated player, and my first reaction was that Denver won this hands down in the short term. But it's hard to predict how these players will mesh with their new team. It was a nice cost-cutting move for the Pistons long term, and if things shake out favorably they might still be able to make a deep playoff run.
crap they are getting Cheikh Samb too!!! the pistons must be banking on the development of Stuckey to pull this trade. I am still not convinced of AI being a primary PG but Stuckey is really good. And I believe they have been starting Amir Johnson this year. The trade is good from Denver's standpoint of course, but doesnt Billups contract run till 2011 if i am not mistaken? Wow it just makes the PG rotation in the west crazy..I think the lakers and the rockets easily have the worst PGs out of the "contenders" in the west. Oh and the funny thing about this I think on NBA tv just before the season starting they were applauding Joe Dumars for staying put with his team and not trading anyone despite the rumors of having a fire sale. And here he goes trading the former Finals MVP a week into the season. Detroit hasnt been the same team though since the finals against the spurs. They always seem to be the best team in the east but end up losing recently to teams in the ECF they are more talented than (heat, cavs and somewhat even with the celtics) oh and if i am not mistaken wasnt billups drafted by denver? looks like both he and mcdyess are going back home.
