Detroit Piston-Denver Nuggets: A Trade That Changed Everything

When the Denver Nuggets opened their 2008-2009 season, after being swept by the Los Angeles Lakers the previous year, the expectations people had for them was not very high.

Some folks didn't have them making playoffs, or fighting for the No. 8 seed in a competitive Western Conference.

In the offseason, it got so frustrating for Denver's organization, they were putting their young all-star, Carmelo Anthony, on the trading block.

Anthony was not traded when the regular season began. However, Defensive Player of the Year recipient and four-year teammate, Marcus Campy, was traded away to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Denver received a second round pick, and most people believe the trade was made in order for Denver to shed salary, whose payroll was going to be $86 million if the team did not move Camby.

Denver was playing unsuccessful basketball to begin with. They wanted to outscore their opponents and play very little defense, which had a lot to do with them being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs three years in a row. Denver lacked a true leader and veteran point guard.

The Pistons, who won the NBA title back in 2004, had reached the Eastern Conference Finals three years in a row. After loosing to Miami in 2006, Cleveland in 2007,  and Boston in 2008, general manager Joe Dumars was displeased with the teams lack of motivation. As a result, he relieved head coach Flip Saunders of his duties.

In his press conference Dumars stated, "Make no mistake, everybody is in play right now. There are no sacred cows here. You lose that sacred cow status when you lose three straight years."

Detroit lacked a scorer that could take people off the dribble and create their own shot. They felt like they needed a scorer that could put up 30 or 40 points on a consistent basis.

On Nov. 3, 10-time all-star Allen Iverson was traded to the Detroit Pistons for four-time all-star, Chauncey Billups.

At the time, people felt the move was good for both teams. Denver would receive a veteran point guard and former finals MVP in Billups, and Detroit would get back the scorer they had been searching for in Iverson.

As the season went on, Billups adjusted well in Denver. They competed at a high level, and the team won ball games. As for Detroit, the complete opposite occurred, and they struggled to find their identity, with Iverson hurting their chemistry. 

While Billups continued to win games in Denver, Iverson went down with a back injury in Detroit, and the Pistons played well in his absence. They played as a team and Richard Hamilton was reinserted into the starting lineup, after being sent to the bench upon Iverson's arrival.

Whenever Iverson was expected to make his comeback, head coach Michael Curry indicated he would be the sixth man off the bench.

Iverson was not very happy with that role and lack of playing time.

"I will retire before I do this again. I will leave the game before I do this," he said. "Because I can't be effective like I know I can play this way. It's just something I've not ever been able or had to do."

With the comments Iverson made and the pain in his back, Dumars decided to shut down Iverson for the season, including postseason.

Detroit has slipped from being one of the Eastern conference top teams, to barely making the playoffs,  and will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.

Denver has been playing great basketball; Billups has changed the identity of that team. Anthony has taken on the challenge of checking the opponent’s best player, and now Denver went from barely making the playoffs, to being one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Denver will open up against the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the playoffs.

Next time Dumars, be careful what you do, and be careful what you wish for.