Allen Iverson Traded to Detroit Pistons

It's official, the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets completed the young season's first blockbuster trade. The Pistons send Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to Denver for controversial superstar Allen Iverson.

Iverson will take a physical tomorrow in Detroit, with a press conference scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. He will then head to Toronto where he's expected to play against the Raptors on Wednesday.

Antonio McDyess is expected to work a buy-out with the Nuggets, and then re-sign with Detroit after he clears waivers.

Many people in the Detroit area aren't so sure this was the change the Detroit Pistons needed, given Iverson's past history of having a bad attitude, especially when paired with an already volatile Rasheed Wallace. However, after thinking about it, I do like this trade for three reasons:

1. Allen Iverson is a guy who can successfully drive to the basket, which the Pistons currently lack in their perimeter offense

2. Iverson can serve as the "go-to guy" that the Pistons also have arguably been with out when the game is on the line or to carry the team when in a shooting slump

3. Iverson is in the last year of his deal which pays $20.84 million this season. By trading away Billups and McDyess for Iverson, the Pistons will shave about $34 million off their books in salary over the next three seasons. Which will free up ALOT of money to use in a star studded free agent class in 2009 or 2010 Free agents such as Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh will be available in 2010, while Carlos Boozer will be available in 2009.

Melo not going to Detroit?

It's been no secret that the Denver Nuggets were recently contacted by the Detroit Pistons and the two clubs had several conversations about a deal involving sending Melo to Detroit for Billups and Tayshaun. The Nuggets are declining that offer and have instead proposed a deal involving Allen Iverson or a package built around Marcus Camby. But the Pistons are only interested in Anthony.

Anthony's agent has confirmed with Nuggets' brass that they are not interested in trading Carmelo.

Trades, Draft, Pistons Talk...

There are many possibilities when it comes to changing the Pistons' roster this off-season.  Here are a few quick thoughts on what I could see happening, or maybe what I'm sub-consciously hoping happens:

1.  Rip and Tay for Tracy McGrady.  T-Mac hasn't been past the first round of the playoffs, he's an annual All-Star, and he's a proven scorer.  Rodney Stuckey can fill in where Rip would leave a void, and fill in nicely.  We'd miss out on Tayshaun's defense a bit, but if we get a big man in the draft who can block shots, that would make up for it.  McGrady would be sweet in a Piston's uniform.

2.  Sheed for any decent post player and a couple draft picks.  It's been noted that Sheed's contract will be tough to trade, but with the young players in our system stepping up, I think we can afford to dump his attitude for something close to that.  

3.  Draft a big man or two.  Our guards are set with Chauncey/Rip/Stuckey giving us three great threats.  We still don't have a legitimate Center on our roster.  Sheed is a guard playing in a PF's body, McDyess is getting older every game, and Ratliff will probably be gone after this season.  Get a big man that can post up and block shots.

That would be suuuuuper...