Talkabout messing up the team and getting rid of salary space, the Nuggets are thelosers of the NBA. Two years, Allen Iverson was brought over from thePhiladelphia 76ers in exchange for Andre Miller. The Denver executives thoughtthat along with Carmelo Anthony, this team would be very talented and couldbreak out of the first round or even have a chance for a championship ring.Well, apparently that experiment did not end up in success because the Nuggetsstunk as they lost two consecutive first-round playoffs series. I guess thepatience in the front office is way too short to see if this experiment everworks. For a year and a half it didn't and now the Nuggets are rebuilding. Thisprocess started off the trading of our big guy Marcus Camby. Now I guessIverson has lost his job and in comes Billups from the Detroit Pistons.
Billups,6-3, 202, returns to his hometown of Denver where he starred at GeorgeWashington High School and the University of Colorado. In two games thisseason, he is averaging 12.5 ppg, 7.5 apg (8th in the NBA), 5.0 rpg and 1.50spg 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 ValuablePlayer.Billups guided the Pistons to six-consecutive Eastern ConferenceFinals (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 sevengames). Billups was named NBA Finals MVP in 2004 after averaging 21.0 ppg, 5.2apg and 1.20 spg in 38.4 mpg against the Lakers.
Eventhough the numbers do not sound that enticing, Billups is a team player. Hebrings everything to the court and can provide the kind of leadership theNuggets desperately need. However, with the absence of Iverson, the Nuggets mayneed a bigger offensive scoring role from Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, KenyonMartin, and even Linas Kleiza. In addition, the Nuggets also receive AntonioMcDyess andCheikh Samb. This trade is beneficial to both teams. Thehungry Detroit Pistons eye for another NBA championship ring while the Nuggetslook to create salary space and gradually rebuild.