Iverson's Cross-Country Cross-Over
Word is spreading quickly that Allen Iverson is about to be traded from Denver to Detroit.
Iverson's Cross-Country Cross-Over
As I write this, a little after noon, word is spreading that former 76ers star Allen Iverson is on the verge of being traded from the Denver Nuggets to the Detroit Pistons.
UPDATE: The deal is official.
No great surprise, considering the Nuggets are the same team that sent Marcus Camby to the Los Angeles Clippers in a salary dump. But consider Iverson's path since he led the 2000-01 Sixers to the NBA Finals: In December, 2006, then-president/general manager Billy King traded thim to the Nuggets; last season, he was a Nuggets tri-captain; this season, the Nuggets went to co-captains, and he wasn't one of them.
Remember when the Sixers traded Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz and got back ''the expiring contract'' of Gordan Giricek? That's what the Pistons are getting, and it's a big one: $20,840,625. The Nuggets are reportedly getting Chauncey Billups ($11,050,000) and Antonio McDyess ($6,813,000), although it isn't clear whether McDyess will remain with them. Detroit also is giving up project Cheikh Samb.
The Pistons are clearing the decks for Rodney Stuckey, Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson, but first-year coach Michael Curry--as tough-minded as he is--suddenly has a whole lot of adjusting to do. But even as I say that, I have enormous respect for Joe Dumars, the Pistons president of basketball operations; if he believes this is the right path for his team, I have to believe it has a terrific chance of succeeding.
Just remember, Dumars is the guy who brought in Larry Brown for two seasons: A championship and a second trip to the Finals. He also had no qualms about seeing Brown go. I recall asking Dumars about that. He said: ''The mission was for him to win. He did that.''
“We just felt it was the right time to change our team,” Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars told the Associated Press. “Iverson gives us a dimension that we haven’t had here and we really think its going to help us”
It appears that Iverson could be the pawn that gives the Pistons the flexibility to do something really big later on.
Comments (54)
Why would anyone give up Chauncey Billups? Don't the Pistons still have a shot at the Finals? There is not much outside of the Celtics that are better than them in the East.— AllDawk_AllTheTime- wow, really? Not suprised about an Iverson trade, but to Detriot? Talk about oil and water...— K,M
- Next year, AI and Sheed are off the books for $36M. That gives them the chance to sign a max free agent and a mid-level person. I think Dumars will probably be looking at Boozer or Lamar Odom at PF to add to the nucleus of Rodney Stuckey, T. Prince and Rip Hamilton. I think it is a brilliant move. Dumars wanted to shake things up, and this does that.— datruth4life
Comment removed.- AI expendable, demoted from captaincy, what a shock.— sleepy
- I would give anything for the sixers to have pushed here. Just think about A.I. coming off the bench for Miller!! In any event, Iverson is very, very hungry and is going to turn it up a knoch in Detroit. I am a Sixer fan first and a basketball fan second but, This will be tough for us come playoffs.— jaydes
- AI will never be a sixer again as long a maurice cheeks is here. Who would want and old undersized point guard who doesnt get assists because he shoots too much. I love AI and I will never forget what he did for us that one special year, but come on... he is finished.— yescadog
- PLEASE NO, NOT AGAIN!!!..DO NOT BRING HIM BACK HERE!!— CROSSI
- Sets up AI's return to Philly next yr.— Truth
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- I love AI. Love him. But his game is better suited for street ball. We know he can't raise up a team better than .500 like Lebron or Kobe. He doesn't set anyone up and he gambles too much on the defensive end. He needs to shoot alot to get into any rhythm. He's a role player, not a starter. I think Chris Paul has established that position and what teams are looking for. He becomes a free agent next year - the worst possible time to become one, and I can see him heading overseas as teams prepare for the 2010 sweepstakes.— psv
- If the Sixers had not given an average,no consistent jump shooting, dunking machine Iggy 80 mil I could see AI back, but no one will take that contract if he continues to show that he can't play the two, no 3 point shot, no fade away or step back J.— ttmanage
- He is not finished. Denver was not a great team by any means. He may get his Championship this year. I wish him luck. He deserves it. Would be funny if he came back to Philly as a bench player though....AI off the bench...now that would be nice...— Prego614
- he called Mo Cheeks what he is - a "mo"— rocket23
- basketball is a business (ugh)...ai knows that...someone-somewhere will give him a lot of money so no tears need be shed...ah, what could have been— kgd
- A.I. would be an awesome 6th man. 15-18 points off of the bench then he could do what he does best score and not play defense. He would be the sixers's DH.— Nothing but the truth
- Don't even want to think about that.. A.I. love's Philly, but does Philly [ still ] love A.I.? It would make GREAT reading headlines in the paper, yes; but, "No way Jose" does he come back here without busting up the TEAM— wes
- Don't even want to think about that.. A.I. love's Philly, but does Philly [ still ] love A.I.? It would make GREAT reading headlines in the paper, yes; but, "No way Jose" does he come back here without busting up the TEAM— wes
- Don't even want to think about that.. A.I. love's Philly, but does Philly [ still ] love A.I.? It would make GREAT reading headlines in the paper, yes; but, "No way Jose" does he come back here without busting up the TEAM— wes
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- While I wish he could come home....Hopefully this is finally his chance for a much deserved championship. He wasn't going to get it in Denver, and sadly, Lord knows he won't get it with the Sixers.— jillian_mancini
- Yup, he will be back!— mariomick
Good Lord, I hope not. I couldn't stand him when he was here and the team has been better served without him. He's a thug and was an embarrassment to the city, IMO. Len— djlen- If he came back to Philly, I'd become a season ticket holder again. He may be older but he's still an exciting player! AI gone equaled empty seats. Nuff said.— manning18
- I hope he does go to Detroit, anywhere but here, and not to say anything bad about him because I always thought he could do better than Philly. I bet you he will get his ring now, so bench that one HATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— daddysgirl
- LOSER.— MTbelly
- i thought i was the only one thinking about the possibility of bringing a.i. back...it is interesting and alot would depend on his ability to adjust his game/attitude...but hey he wouldn't have to worry about sselling that house anymore...— dsoul
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- I miss A.I so much bring him back!!!!— KJ256
- Iverson was the best player the 76ers had in the last 20 years. He shoots too much? That's a laugh. I remember a couple seasons back when Iverson tried to pass first, shoot second. Man did the losses pile up quick. Who exactly did the 76ers have that he could pass to and they'd make a shot? Remember the Olympics? He had no problem being the play maker. The issue I always had with Iverson was that once you got to the playoffs, his defense was a problem. He was too small and had to gamble all the time to get steals to make up for the fact that he couldn't defend. He'd be great as a guy coming off the bench but that won't happen. He's the past. We've got Lou for that role. I'm into the current team. It should be a fun year. The 76ers may be very good in the near future. This is the time to start watching. Once they're playing as a team, it will be that much better if you saw them develop.— MikeP
- The only way AI ends up in Philly next year is as a six man off the bench. He does have the 3rd highest scoring avg 27.7 in NBA history. But would his ego allow that to happen? He would be great off the bench; remember the microwave Vinnie Johnson? That's all AI is good for; scoring...period.— The Professor
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- I think it's funny that people are on here talking about Iverson getting his ring. Detroit wants Iverson's expiring contract, not Iverson! They traded Billups, who made that team go, and a big man for $20 million in cap space next year. Detroit got smoked by Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals last year and they'll do it again this year...if Detroit gets that far (both Boston and Cleveland are still better than Detroit). Sorry Iverson lovers, he's not getting that ring...not in Detroit, not ever.— Billy The Kid
- Iverson's still got a few years, and while I love him and on one hand would love to see him back, he doesn't really have a place on this Sixers team. It will be very interesting to see what he is able to get when his contract expires after this season.
- Time for AI to ruin another team. He wont score the way he wants to in that offense then he'll blow it up. Surprising move here.— Gigs1777
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- If Detroit gave up Billups for AI then Detroit has no shot at sniffing a Championship.
- Don't ever bring back AI— louturks
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- He stinks.— CupCake
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- Sixers Miss him !!— philly-z
- AI is not a bench player...Last year, he was the Nuggets' best player...His assist number was way up, and he still can score. The problem with Denver is that they play in a tough conference. That said...Detroit is too good to trade for an expiring contract AND giving up Billups kills them....Iverson is not a good defender.— nervegenerator
- AI, a ball hog, shootin-up, scoring machine that kills the rest of the team. He will never win a championship and I don't want him back in Philly. Fun to watch, if you don't care if your team will win the game. I only started following the 76ers again when they got rid of him.— chucksf
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- Iwas really shocked when i heard of this trade.A.I,going to motown?Smart move ,or patsy move?We'll see.Detroit may give him a better chance,but i really don't see why they gave up on Chauncey,he was their go-to-guy in the clutch,so why ? O well welcome back to the eastern conference A.I,and hope its a better fit for u this season .dang,guess i'll have to get a piston jersey now.— teephilly76
AI is cancer to a team. No thanks. He never saw a shot he didn't like. The Sixers are doing well without him. Tell him to go to the Bobcats...now that would be nice.- Detroit: another team A.I. i will mess up. watch their FG pct drop, and their turnovers go up.. PLEASE DONT BRING Him To PHILLY. We have a real team with a true Point Guard.— Huge
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About this blog
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
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