CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The promised shake-up has come to the Pistons.
The Pistons have traded guard Chauncey Billups, forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets for guard Allen Iverson.
“We are pleased to welcome Allen Iverson to the Pistons organization,” Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a released statement. “Allen has proven he is one of the elite players in the league, and we like what he adds to our roster at the guard position. We appreciate everything that Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb brought to the organization during their time here in Detroit, and we certainly wish them all the best.”
Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose told the Associated Press that Iverson "was very excited about the trade."
Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien also spoke with the AP about the trade: “Two teams had one common problem, or challenge. I think the Pistons looked at (Rodney) Stuckey and saw him as the point guard of tomorrow, and you have an All-Star in Chauncey who was in his way. We’re just thrilled with the way J.R. (Smith) is progressing, and he had a Hall of Famer in front of him. You understand the motivation of both teams.”
The Pistons are still unsure when Iverson will join the team.
“We just felt it was the right time to change our team,” Dumars told the AP. “Iverson gives us a dimension that we haven’t had here, and we really think its going to help us.”
Billups and McDyess were absent from this morning's shoot-around at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, although Samb was there.
Power forward Rasheed Wallace said he was just hearing about the trade this morning and didn't have much to add. He did think aloud about the possibility of adding a former NBA scoring champion in Iverson.
“Another scorer back there with Rip (Hamilton) … we'll see how it plays out,” Wallace said. “I can't comment too much. That's not a Guaransheed right there, so I can't comment too much.”
Iverson, 33, is averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists through three games this season. He is in his 13th NBA season and beginning his second full season in Denver. He spent the first 10 1/2 seasons of his career in Philadelphia and has averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists for his career.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, citing Pistons sources, said in a “SportsCenter” report that Iverson had told him he wants to play for a contender.
Billups, 32, is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 assists through two games this season. He is in his 12th NBA season and his seventh year with the Pistons. He was born in Denver and played college ball at Colorado. He is averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 assists for his career.
McDyess, 34, is averaging 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds through two games this season. He is in his 13th NBA season and his fifth year with the Pistons. He spent his first two seasons with the Nuggets.
Samb, 24, is in his second professional season. He has not played this year.
WDFN-AM (1130) reported this afternoon that McDyess is expected to be bought out by Denver and return to the Pistons. The Free Press has been unable to confirm that report.
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