Last season, following the end of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Pistons President, Joe Dumars offered a trade opportunity with the Denver Nuggets that would ship the always flashy, but skilled Allen Iverson back to the East to play with a Championship contending team that is the Detroit Pistons.  The Nuggets in return would receive All-Star point guard, Chauncey Billups, 35-year-old Antonio McDyess, and Cheikh Samb.

The trade was final on Monday, Nov. 3.

McDyess has already expressed his disagreement with the situation, saying that if he does have to go to Denver, then his retirement could be coming faster then he, or anyone else expected.  That was the first issue that arose with the newly finalized trade.  The next big one would be the question of whether or not this was a fair trade on both ends.

On paper, it looks as if the Nuggets really made out with this one.  Yes, they are parting ways with a veteran scoring machine in Iverson, probably one of the best to ever play the game.  But, they are getting a natural point guard with Billups, which is what Iverson is not.

It has been said that Nuggets’ coach George Karl, as gotten “proclivity for passing,” when they acquired Billups.  Basketball analyst, Stephen A. Smith, has stated immediately following the trade that Allen Iverson is a “scoring machine.”  He’s a shooting guard and wasn’t given a fair opportunity to display his talent, as a point guard in Denver.

The third issue that was brought about after the trade has been that this is the last year in Iverson’s deal, which means more likely than not, that he will leave Detroit at the end of the season.  Is this his last chance at achieving greatness?

He was Rookie of the Year in 1996, MVP in 2001, and is set third on the all time list of points-per-game, only behind greats Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.  Will he be the NBA National Champion in 2009?

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