You heard the rumors. You thought it wouldn’t happen because the season already started, things were rolling. Chauncey Billups is a much better fit in the D than almost any other guard.
But it’s official official, according to a phone call from MLive’s A. Sherrod Blakely:
The Detroit Pistons have reached a tentative agreement to trade Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson. Neither player was at this morning’s shoot-around. Team officials said that more information would be forthcoming later today.
First thing that comes to mind: Stuckey better come up off that No. 3.
Second thing: Detroit is going to love A.I. The little guard’s hard-nosed play will quickly anoint him a king.
But this trade also makes something else official: This is the Pistons’ last chance for an NBA Title…at least for a while.
Iverson’s contract goes off the books after this season. He’s likely not coming back, unless the Pistons can land a championship this season. Rasheed is also coming off the books, and he’s shown no desire to do anything next year other than chill on the beach and call it a career.
And…for the Nuggets. Billups seemed like he’d be a fixture in Detroit, but if he was to play anywhere other than the Palace, it has to be with his hometown Nuggets. Denver traded Chauncey in 2000 to the Magic although he was injured and never really got a fair chance. Since then, Chauncey has earned the nickname Mr. Big Shot and proved he belongs in the Brotherhood.
But can he lead a franchise? We’re fixin’ to find out…
