Denver or Detroit? Who really won the Allen Iverson-Chauncey Billups trade?

January 10 09

One team needed time. The other did not.

Two months ago, Detroit and Denver shocked the basketball world with a blockbuster trade, swapping All-Stars Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson.

This deal initially appeared lopsided. Even though, they gained an expiring contract, Iverson and the Pistons at first looked awkward –like two adults on a blind date gone wrong. Meanwhile, the Nuggets, with a team-first point guard in Billups, went on a winning streak.

Last night, Detroit went into Denver and won, proving that this trade is now dead even. That’s right. Call it a tie. Or push.

After some early struggles, Detroit and Iverson together have posted a 20-12 record and sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. With a strong mix of veterans and youngsters, Motown will be a factor come playoff time.

With Billups, Denver has a 24-12 record and currently leads the Northwest Division. Having a classic table-setter has improved chemistry and clarified roles. For example, Carmelo Anthony, when healthy, is now the undisputed first-option on offense, while everyone else provides additional scoring.

Well, what about the future? Who wins this trade?

Iverson’s 20 million dollar salary expires in July, which puts Detroit in a prime position to lure top talent. The Pistons have 33 million dollars on the books for next season. In 2010-2011, that number drops to approximately 22 million.

GM Joe Dumars can offer a brinks truck full of cash to this summer’s free agents and the highly coveted class of 2010. League superstars could very well join blue chip, developing pieces like Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo. Also, the payroll is lean enough to handle any decline in the league’s salary cap due to the global economy.

Denver can’t be faulted for adding a true one-guard. Billups, with his strong physique and economical movements, won’t break down anytime soon and has a few strong seasons left. Look for the ‘Mile High City’ to continue building around their MVP candidate and Anthony.

The Iverson-Billups trade is a rare win-win for both teams. All we needed was time to see that.

Who got the best of the Iverson-Billups trade? Detroit? Denver? Or was it a tie? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of GhoSStrider.

13 Comments: Denver or Detroit? Who really won the Allen Iverson-Chauncey (...)

Posted by

on 06.23.2009

you need to learn how to spell .

Posted by
sorry detroit denver all the way!!!!
on 05.13.2009

Allen Iverson sucks !!!!!! this was the dumbest trade in the history of the NBA... now the Pistons have no veteran point guard & that is the main thing they neeed they should try to get steve Nash... But on the other hand .....Well denver is doing what they gotta do with da leadership of billups J.r Smith & melo they seem to be nearly unstopable ... j.r smith in maybe the @nd or third geme againist da mavs hit at least 5 threes in the 2nd half .... Billups with his ability to hit the clutch 3 pointer whenever its needed .... with a incredible bench and the birdman watchin i’m going for the Denver Nuggets to go all the way!!!!! .

Posted by
melo boy
on 01.14.2009

Denver is hot! there tied for the 2nd spot in the west with san antonio! That game was complete BULL! there was a reason the nuggets lost... J.R Smith choked at the free throw line! he had 3 shots cause iverson fouled him! Then he choked missing 1! he could have tied it but he choked. Then linas kleiza only scored one single point! ONE! i had faith in the nuggets and everything was going good for chauncy! if chauncy would have been the one at the line shooting three, the nuggets probably would have sent it into overtime depending on their defence! i still say nuggets got the better deal and iverson sucks! He’s still a ball hog and he is messing things up for the pistons! .

Posted by
Fresh-prince
on 01.13.2009

Wait til the playoffs then we’ll see .

Posted by
AGEL
on 01.12.2009

sorry for the big long essay HOOPSVIBE, but it needed to be said, and Oly, you agree with me right? .

Posted by
AGEL
on 01.12.2009

okay lets get this straight, its obvious this trade benefitted denver. now lets talk bout detroit.they dont need iverson to score 27ppg, and hes finally starting to understand that. sheed is playing so well, defensive player of the year, plus his clutch play always, and even clutcher play in the playoffs, as always. stuckey is getting better every game, and tayshaun is playing like an all star. none of this is deniable. throw in the talented bench and you have all the pieces to the puzzle. so you ask why isnt detroit tearing it up with all this?? well, they may have every piece of the puzzle, but they havent finished putting them together yet.in my opinion, the pistons should start sheed, dyess, tayshaun, hamilton and stuckey. this is the classic pistons starting line up that grinds you down and gets to the ECF every year. then, bring in the bench, maxiell, amir johnson, hermann, afflalo and iverson, and iverson will feel comfortable because this resembles the quality of the starting lineups hes been on in the past. he will be the star of that lineup, and make detroits bench like a starting lineup, giving them 2 starting lineups with different styles of play. one is team oriented, the other is iverson oriented with other contributors. this would be amazing to have!! play the linups all together for chemistry, sub off 5 for 5, and play some DEEEEEEEETROIT BASKETBALLLL!!!! remember what happened in 2004? we started off 16-13. then we added that ONE GREAT PLAYER and what happened then?? after the transition period, detroit rolled over teams en route to a CHAMPIONSHIP. i see some striking similarities from 2009 to 2004, most notably the CHAMPIONSHIP DETROIT WILL WIN THIS YEAR. remember where you heard this first. .

Posted by
really ronh
on 01.12.2009

Duh that’s the deal was made to free up cap space, nobody wants to keep a declining Iverson .

Posted by
ronh
on 01.12.2009

Denver clearly got the better of the trade. Chauncey brings toughness and defense. Allen just brings scoring with no defense. Detroit might not even keep Allen after the season. .

Posted by
bosna boy
on 01.11.2009

wow, good point Oly. .

Posted by
that one guy
on 01.10.2009

billups has made an impact on the nuggets heart and will to win, iverson brings that dude who can get you out of a jam at any point in the game, and create a shot to win teh game, detroit has always had great players, and billups was mr.bigshot, but he’s not a kobe or iverson that can make something happen on his own, .

Posted by
thank you
on 01.10.2009

oh can you make an article about the resurgence of shaq lately? hes averaging 20 and 10 lately and phoenix has been winning. thank you. .

Posted by
thank you
on 01.10.2009

finally ive been waiting for someone to say this. thank you sir. thank you detroit vs phoenix nba finals 2009 .

Posted by
Tie-Draw-Equal-Same (Tang from Twain)
on 01.10.2009

I agree Mr. Oly Sandler that this was a win-win for both sides. It turned out better than I expected. Detroit has seen it ups and downs with A.I. but the longer he’s around the better it is getting. It’s fine for the short-term. But I wouldn’t want him pa-------this season, same with Sheed. .

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	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Denver or Detroit? Who really won the Allen Iverson-Chauncey Billups trade?

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