USA – Denver’s Iverson dealt to Detroit for Billups, McDyess

DETROIT (NBA) – People in the Motor City were asking over the summer and at the start of the season what Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars was planning to do to spark the offense.

On Monday, he gave them ‘The Answer’.

Dumars dealt Team USA point guard Chauncey Billups, crowd favorite Antonio McDyess and prospect Cheikh Samb for Allen Iverson, a bronze-medal winner with the Americans at the Athens Games four years ago.

“We are pleased to welcome Allen Iverson to the Pistons organization,” said Dumars.

“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.”

Dumars, shrewdly, has also put the Pistons in position to go after a big free agent after the season since Iverson is only under contract for the rest of this campaign.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, have got veteran guard Billups, who has a three-year deal.

The 33-year-old Iverson, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2001, ranks 20th among NBA all-time scoring leaders with 23,031 points.

Billups, 32, hails from Denver and played college basketball at the University of Colorado.

McDyess, 34, has had two previous stints with Denver. He played for the team from 1995-97 and 2000-02.

FIBA