Allen Iverson is headed back to the Eastern Conference, and Chauncey Billups is headed home along with Antonio McDyess. Where are Fantasy owners going in this trade?
The Nuggets sent Iverson to the Pistons on Monday in exchange for Billups and McDyess, who both played for Denver in what seems like another lifetime. Billups also is from Denver and played in college at Colorado.
The Pistons got rid of Billups' contract and got more explosive on offense with Iverson. The Nuggets got a proven point guard in Billups to run their offense and another post presence in McDyess.
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| Billups returns home to Denver for his second go-around with the Nuggets. (Getty Images) |
Iverson, who is in the final year of his $20.8 million contract, spent the first 10-plus seasons of his career in the Eastern Conference with the 76ers. While his scoring might take a hit going from the up-tempo Nuggets to the slow-down Pistons, he knows how to get his points. He is averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists in three games this season and has averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists in his career. In his last full year with the 76ers in 2005, he averaged 33 points and 7.4 assists.
Iverson will remain a No. 1 Fantasy option. He will still average around 20 points and six assists for the season. Don’t worry about the trade ruining his Fantasy value, and remember he's still motivated by a contract year.
Billups, who is in the second season of a four-year contract worth a guaranteed $46 million with a $14 million team option for a fifth year, should benefit going home. He will be asked to score more in Denver's system, and he should thrive playing alongside Carmelo Anthony. Through two games, Billups is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 assists.
Billups struggled the last time he played with the Nuggets in 1998 when he averaged 13.9 points and 3.8 assists. But he's matured as a player since then, and his Fantasy value will improve in the Western Conference.
McDyess will remain a low-end Fantasy forward with the Nuggets if he stays with the team. There's a chance Denver could buy out his contract, which could open the door for a return to Detroit, where he 's averaging 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds this year. Regardless of where McDyess ends up, his Fantasy value won't change much. At 34 and with bad knees, his best days are behind him. Nuggets' fans who saw McDyess as a high-flier from 1995-2001 won't recognize this McDyess, who relies more on his jump shot than his jumping ability these days.
As for the other players affected in this trade ...
DETROIT
Richard Hamilton could lose some Fantasy value if the Pistons decide to play Iverson at shooting guard and Rodney Stuckey at point guard. They aren't going to remove Hamilton from the starting lineup, and he's likely too small to play small forward. Look for Hamilton to lose some minutes with Stuckey being bumped up. Continue to start Hamilton as a No. 3 Fantasy guard but keep an eye on the rotation, and Stuckey is likely a year away from making a Fantasy impact. He's a great option in keeper leagues, and his development was a reason the Pistons parted ways with Billups.
Up front, Rasheed Wallace remains the only Detroit big man with Fantasy value. Jason Maxiell will get increased minutes, so he could be worth adding as a reserve but not starting. And Amir Johnson and Walter Hermann will continue to battle for minutes and have minimal Fantasy value. Tayshaun Prince should remain the same as a No. 3 Fantasy forward.
DENVER
J.R. Smith should have increased Fantasy value with this trade. He now can play and even start at shooting guard for the Nuggets and shoot at will, much like Iverson used to do. Anthony Carter takes a hit with Billups a natural point guard. Look for Carter to come off the bench, and he should not be owned in most leagues. Carmelo Anthony's Fantasy value shouldn't change, and he might even improve now that he has a true playmaker on the floor and a more polished shooter in Billups.
If the Nuggets keep McDyess, he will cut into Kenyon Martin and Nene's minutes and compete with Linas Kleiza for playing time. Martin would remain a No. 3 Fantasy forward since he's the best rebounder on the team, and Nene should only be used as a No. 2 center at best. Since Marcus Camby was traded, the Nuggets don't have a quality big man worth using in most Fantasy leagues.
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