The Denver Nuggets have acquired Billups, Mcdyess and Samb from Detroit for Iverson

[Matt-Tha-Cat]

Nuggets Acquire Billups, McDyess and Samb
Trade sends Allen Iverson to Detroit



DENVER, Nov. 3, 2008 -- The Denver Nuggets have acquired guard Chauncey Billups, forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for guard Allen Iverson, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.
Billups, 6-3, 202, returns to his hometown of Denver where he starred at George Washington High School and the University of Colorado. In two games this season, he is averaging 12.5 ppg, 7.5 apg (8th in the NBA), 5.0 rpg and 1.50 spg with Detroit.

In his 11 NBA seasons, Billups has averaged 14.8 ppg, 5.5 apg, 2.9 rpg and 1.03 spg in 760 career NBA games with Boston, Toronto, Denver, Minnesota and Detroit. The three-time NBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2008) has a number of accolades to his name, including NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (2004), All-NBA Second Team (2006), All-NBA Third Team (2007), NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2005, 2006), Eastern Conference Player of the Week (three times – 2/2/03, 11/23/03 and 3/21/05) and Eastern Conference Player of the Month (twice – Jan. 2006 and Feb. 2007).

While with Detroit, Billups guided the Pistons to six-consecutive Eastern Conference Finals (2003-08), including back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals in 2004 (defeated L.A. Lakers in five games) and 2005 (lost to San Antonio in seven games). In 117 career postseason games (111 as a Piston), he has registered averages of 17.3 ppg, 5.8 apg and 3.4 rpg in 37.1 mpg. Billups was named NBA Finals MVP in 2004 after averaging 21.0 ppg, 5.2 apg and 1.20 spg in 38.4 mpg against the Lakers. He owns averages of 20.7 ppg and 5.8 apg in 12 career NBA Finals games.

McDyess, 6-9, 245, also returns to Denver after spending the best seasons of his career as a Nugget from 1995-97 and 2000-02, averaging 18.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, and 1.67 bpg in 361 games with Denver. He was named to the 1998-99 All-NBA Third Team after posting averages of 21.2 ppg, 10.7 rpg and 2.30 bpg. In two games so far this season, McDyess has averaged 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.5 apg in 19.0 mpg with the Pistons.

Samb, 7-1, 245, has yet to appear in a game for the Pistons during the 2008-09 season. He averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.8 rpg in four appearances with Detroit last year. He also played 20 games with Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League during 2007-08, posting 10.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (51st overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to Detroit on June 28, 2006.

Iverson was originally acquired by the Nuggets from Philadelphia in exchange for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first round draft choices on December 19, 2006. Iverson averaged 25.6 ppg, 7.1 apg, 3.0 rpg and 1.87 spg in 135 games with the Nuggets.

For his career, Iverson has averaged 27.7 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.8 rpg and 2.26 spg in 832 NBA games with Philadelphia and Denver. He ranks 20th on the NBA All-Time scoring list with 23,044 career points and ranks 13th on the All-Time steals list with 1,879 career steals.

This season for the Nuggets, Iverson averaged 18.7 ppg, 6.7 apg (10th in the NBA), 2.7 rpg and 1.00 spg in 41.0 mpg (tied for 4th) in three appearances.



http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nugs_acquire_billups_110308.html

To me i see a win win situation with both teams.

Denver:
All of these guys (Besides Samb who most likely be waived by the Nuggets) are vets that can bring their experience and skill to the table. With the Nuggets you get a more vetern experience with nba champions in Antonio McDyess, and Finals MVP Chauncey Billups. Antonio McDyess will be heading back to his career highs when he was a Nuggets (1998-2002). McDyess will give the Nuggets a even more deeper front court, where he can be put at PF behind Kenyon Martin, or start at Center ahead of the less experience Nene. With the leaving of Iverson, the Nuggets look thin at the shooting guard position; no worries because J.R Smith is a raising star in this league. Denver will have Billups at the point will give them leadership which hasn't existed since the departure of Andre Miller.

Detroit:
The Pistons lose some depth but in order to get you must give, and they recieved one of the prolific scorers in NBA history. Allen Iverson will get Detroit to contend with the Celtics which last year they did poorly. Detroit has a solid bench with young players like Rodney Stuckey, Arron Affalo and big guy Jason Maxiell. The Pistons also get some cap room in the offseason when Iverson's and Wallace's contracts expire. They will test their luck in the Free Agent market. In the end i could see the Piston's taking the east, like years before.