West Will Get Even Better

[MoSpur]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3679931



The Nuggets and Pistons have agreed in principle on a trade that would send Allen Iverson to Detroit and Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to Denver, sources have told ESPN.

The deal has not been finalized.

This would be the second time Iverson has been traded in two years. He was dealt by Philadelphia to Denver in December 2006, kicked out of Philly over irreconcilable differences as part of a package that brought Andre Miller to the 76ers.

[dmac]

My Piston fan co-worker is preparing to kill himself.

[MoSpur]

^
Lol

[SpursDynasty]

The West lacks any great teams outside of SA and Utah.

[TwoHandJam]

Why in the hell would Detroit do that deal? I thought Dumars was one of the better GMs in the league.

[jrmp317]

The West lacks any great teams outside of SA and Utah.

wow

[DPG21920]

Iverson helps them more now and they clear salary for next year, great deal for Pistons.

[MoSpur]

McDyees will probably remain a Piston. I think its a Brent Barry type of thing.

[hater]

there is no fucking way! BIllups for Iversion?????

what the fuck are they thinkin in Detroit????

[JamStone]

Billups is on his decline just as much as people think Iverson is. Billups can't guard the smaller, quicker point guards, and has failed to show up in the last three post seasons. Iverson gives Detroit that superstar player that commands double teams and will actually attack the rim in crunch time rather than shoot long perimeter jumpers. Is Iverson the same guy as 5 years ago? Of course not, but he's still a hell of a scorer and brings an element to the Pistons that they've been lacking all this time.

At the very worst, if it doesn't work on the court, Iverson's contract plus Rasheed's expiring contract equates to about $25 million in cap space next summer. Now, the Pistons have never been able to get that max superstar type player, and the owner doesn't want to pay a max superstar type player. But, what it will do is enable the Pistons to go after multiple quality players to reconstruct their team.

There are multiple reasons the Pistons do it. As constructed with Billups, the Pistons were no threat to win an NBA title this season. They still might not be, but I believe they're in better position to compete this year and it opens up a myriad of possibilities going forward after this season.

Some say Iverson is on his decline. Well, so is Billups. It's basically an even swap. I think it's a great trade for the Pistons.

I might be biased because Iverson has been my favorite player forever.

[hater]

It's basically an even swap.

no way. Billups' defense is 10x Iverson's defense. And they are pretty much same offensively at this point.

Billups takes care of the ball better and passes way, way better.

crazy trade if true

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I'm not sure Billups would make Denver any better. IMO, Denver is likely lottery bound either way this year. Detroit picks up a ton of cap space next year, and Iverson may do ok with the nucleus they have there.

But I think Dumars is thinking more about dumping salary for '09-'10.

[Spurs Brazil]

I think it's a great trade for those teams. Both need changes

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

love it for both teams.

a Billups/JR back court sounds a heck of alot better than Carter/Iverson

[DPG21920]

no way. Billups' defense is 10x Iverson's defense. And they are pretty much same offensively at this point.

Billups takes care of the ball better and passes way, way better.

crazy trade if true

I have to disagree. Billups might be a better defender on the low block, but Iverson is more of a pest. Hence him being in the top 5 in steals. Not to mention Iverson is better at staying in front of quicker guards. If you let Iverson play in a defensive system, his abilities are at least a wash to Billups.

Then offensively Iverson is much better than Billups as a scorer, always has been. He will allow for them to run and gun a little more and draw more fouls. Iverson averages more assist than Billups as well.

Not to mention that they will get to start a more explosive back court in Stuckey/Iverson.

[urunobili]

there is no fucking way! BIllups for Iversion?????

what the fuck are they smoking in Detroit????

fixed

[TDMVPDPOY]

bostons road to finals is easier with one less team to worry about

nuggets, need a real PG, they got them that, now....stacked at the big frontline though...

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Nuggets have a press conference in 30minutes

[urunobili]

did AI buy a house there in DEN?

[DPG21920]

Nuggets have a press conference in 30minutes

I know you are excited! It was a good trade for both teams. Melo is going to benefit the most.

[tmtcsc]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3679931

The shakeup promised by Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars after last season's Eastern Conference finals has materialized just two games into the new season.

The Pistons have reached an agreement in principle with the Denver Nuggets to acquire guard Allen Iverson in exchange for Detroit mainstays Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess, club sources told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.



Young center Cheikh Samb, selected by the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pistons with the 51st overall pick in the 2006 draft, will also be going to Denver in the deal, reports ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.


Doh ! Wrong Forum..Sorry folks.

[duncan228]

Conversations here:

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108613

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108608

[1Parker1]

I can't decide, but I'm pretty sure Nuggets are getting the better end of the deal. Mcdyess AND Billups for just AI?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

its official!!


The shakeup promised by Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars after last season's Eastern Conference finals has materialized just two games into the new season.

The Pistons and the Denver Nuggets have finalized a trade that sends guard Allen Iverson to Detroit in exchange for Pistons mainstays Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.
Young center Cheikh Samb, selected by the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pistons with the 51st overall pick in the 2006 draft, will also be going to Denver in the deal, reports ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.

It remains to be seen how McDyess' status is resolved, as the 34-year-old reportedly has no interest in playing for any team other than the Pistons, meaning McDyess could choose to retire or negotiate a contract buyout with Denver.
Dumars put the entire Pistons roster on notice after they lost to Boston in the East finals, saying that there "are no sacred cows" on his team and vowing to consider trading anyone -- even a major contributor to the Pistons' 2004 title run like Billups -- in addition to firing coach Flip Saunders and replacing Saunders with the untested Michael Curry.
The Pistons could not find a workable deal over the summer after talking with numerous teams -- Denver included, according to NBA front-office sources -- but it emerged then that Billups, MVP of the 2004 Finals, was the most likely Piston to be dealt.
With Denver's desire to acquire a dependable point guard growing, Dumars moved quickly to finally consummate this deal with the Nuggets, who acquired Iverson from Philadelphia shortly before Christmas in 2006 but failed in two attempts to get out of the first round with a three-man core of Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby.
Camby was jettisoned to the Los Angeles Clippers in a straight salary dump in July for luxury-tax purposes. After playing sparingly in the preseason, Iverson was stripped of his captaincy last week and averaged just over 13 shots per game as the Nuggets opened with a 1-2 mark.
The Nuggets will be hoping now that the homecoming Billups, a Denver native who starred collegiately at the University of Colorado, meshes better with Anthony, given that he's more of a natural point guard than Iverson. Yet there is some risk for the Nuggets, since Billups is 32 and has three more seasons left on his deal after this one, with the four years totaling in excess of $50 million.
Both Billups and McDyess were Nuggets in the 1990s.
The Pistons, meanwhile, will undoubtedly contend that their risks are mitigated by the fact that Iverson, who turned 33 in June, is in the final year of his contract at $20.8 million.
Dumars loves to gamble on players who are reputed to possess as many minuses as pluses, as seen with the trade-deadline acquisition of Rasheed Wallace in 2004 which spurred Detroit to its first championship since Dumars was playing in 1990. If this gamble doesn't work, swapping Billups for Iverson would give Detroit financial flexibility to pursue a more aggressive makeover next summer, with the highly regarded Rodney Stuckey staying put as the long-term cornerstone of the Pistons' backcourt.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3679931

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

if Dyess is bought out, then i hope the Nuggs play hardball and buy him out cheaply

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Billups/JR/Melo/K/Nene.............. HELL YEH!!

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

:danceclub :danceclub :danceclub :danceclub

[024]

i don't understand this trade. i thought the nuggets were trying to rebuild since they basically traded camby away for nothing. iverson's contract would have expired this year and they would have $20 million of salary cleared. they don't honestly think they can compete for a championship just by acquiring billups do they?

[The Truth #6]

Denver hasn't had a true point guard for a few years. This should benefit their scorers. Less competition for the ball. A clutch 4th quarter player. I think Denver gets better. AI is way overpaid for the amount of wins he creates. He completely dominates the ball and throws off any team concept. Detroit seemed like a cohesive group but I can't see that remaining with AI on their team.

[MoSpur]

Thsi whole "I don't wan to play for them, buy me out" is getting old. These players are way too spoiled. The NBA needs to do something about that. I understand its their lives and they can do what they wants, but something has to be tweaked when it comes to that.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

well i dont know how a buyout works but im assuming its a negotiation. I'm guessing Denver pays only some of his salary and saves some money.

Someone said they are close to getting below the luxury tax but im not sure about that.

[duncan228]

I'm happy for you NuGGeTs-FaN. We need a cartwheel smilie for you.

[lefty]

I can't decide, but I'm pretty sure Nuggets are getting the better end of the deal. Mcdyess AND Billups for just AI?

+1

With AI and Melo, Denver had 2 top scorers, which is not easy to manage.

With Billups, they have a stabilizer, a leader at the PG position and a clutch shooter.
Dice will be a good addition to their frontline

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

:lol thanks Duncan228 :toast

Going to be awesome seeing a real PG running the show and seeing JR start. I think alot of people are underestimating the impact of him starting. I guess you could liken it to moving Billups so Stuckey can get minutes, same goes for moving AI so JR can shine.

[MoSpur]

J.R Smith is going to benefit from this trade in a big way IMO

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

J.R Smith is going to benefit from this trade in a big way IMO

for sure. :hat Watch him tear it up for 20+ppg

[MoSpur]

Billups makes Denver better because of his team style of play. However, he does have a hard time staying in front of guys like Parker, Williams, and CP3. Will coach Karl change their style of offense? I doubt it. That is another thing you have to consider.

[tlongII]

Good trade for Detroit, imo.

[JamStone]

no way. Billups' defense is 10x Iverson's defense. And they are pretty much same offensively at this point.

Billups takes care of the ball better and passes way, way better.

crazy trade if true


You haven't watched enough Pistons if you truly believe that. Not that Iverson is a great defender, but Billups is an extremely overrated defender, and hasn't defended well in 3+ seasons. He can't stay in front of quicker guards at all, and has struggled both defensively and offensively in the past three Eastern Conferenc Finals.

Offensively, it's a huge upgrade because the Pistons have continually lacked a player that consistently attacked the rim in the starting unit. They didn't have a guy that commanded double teams out on the perimeter and forced defenses to foul them as they attacked the rim. Of course Iverson isn't the same player as five years ago. But, he brings a dynamic that very much gives the Pistons an element they've been missing for some time now. They have a superstar caliber player that forces teams to double him and force them to foul him. And, when it's a close game late in the fourth quarter, they have a guy that won't settle for long perimter jump shots.

How well AI can incorporate himself and how well he adjusts with everyone and everyon adjusts to him will be a matter of time. It won't be easy. The Pistons might not be legit NBA title contenders after this trade. But, they weren't before the trade either.

[ClingingMars]

Playing the Pistons is gonna be a pain in the ass in NBA 2K9 now. dammit.

-Mars

[SenorSpur]

You haven't watched enough Pistons if you truly believe that. Not that Iverson is a great defender, but Billups is an extremely overrated defender, and hasn't defended well in 3+ seasons. He can't stay in front of quicker guards at all, and has struggled both defensively and offensively in the past three Eastern Conferenc Finals.

Offensively, it's a huge upgrade because the Pistons have continually lacked a player that consistently attacked the rim in the starting unit. They didn't have a guy that commanded double teams out on the perimeter and forced defenses to foul them as they attacked the rim. Of course Iverson isn't the same player as five years ago. But, he brings a dynamic that very much gives the Pistons an element they've been missing for some time now. They have a superstar caliber player that forces teams to double him and force them to foul him. And, when it's a close game late in the fourth quarter, they have a guy that won't settle for long perimter jump shots.

How well AI can incorporate himself and how well he adjusts with everyone and everyon adjusts to him will be a matter of time. It won't be easy. The Pistons might not be legit NBA title contenders after this trade. But, they weren't before the trade either.

Good stuff. Since you're a Pistons follower, a few questions for you. Regarding Billups' falloff, what do you attribute this fall off to? How old is he? What other factors do you attributeto as the cause of the Pistons' slide?

[JamStone]

Billups falloff is due to a number of things. First and foremost, he wasn't a great defender to begin with. A lot of his reputation as a defender came when most of his mistakes were erased by Ben Wallace playing behind him. But, then obviously the age factor also comes into play. He's now 32 years old, and was already a big, bulky point guard to begin with, who has logged heavy minutes deep into the playoffs for six consecutive seasons. Then lastly, it's his herat and hunger. It simply hasn't been there like it was his first 3 seasons with the Pistons. His cavalier mentality and approach, especially defensively, has been quite obvious to Pistons fans who follow the team closely. All that said, it's not to bash the guy. He was still a great leader, good teammate, and a nice face of the franchise for a couple seasons. But, it's a lot of bullshit to criticize how Iverson's defense will be such a drop off from Billups' defense when Billups was an average point guard defender to begin with.

As for the Pistons in general, there are a bunch of factors, including complacency, lack of hunger, lack of an attack-the-basket, dribble-drive perimeter player, and simply not being better than the opponents they've faced. The only time the Pistons really choked away a golden opportunity to advance, in my opinion, was in 2007 against the Cavaliers. The Pistons were better than that Cavs team. But, in 2005, the Spurs were better. In 2006, the Heat on paper weren't better, but they definitely outplayed the Pistons, as Dwyane Wade was just unstoppable that playoffs. And, last year, Boston was the better team.

The slide is due to a lot of factors. But, also, shit was just getting stale. It was time for a shake-up. And, I for one am ecstatic about the trade.

[mrspurs]

Hello Denver welcome to the POs for real. Everyone knew that AI was a gimmick. Nows thats the Pistons problem. The West just got 2 better players then the east. Now how will they effect their ball clubs? Who knows. Karl is a terrible coach. I didnt like him as a spur. As a ball player and coach he is just sub-par. If the Nuggets had another coach maybe they would have a chance this season. But with Karl with the ropes and that kind of talent. Not gonna happen. I know one thing is for sure. Since Melo and James came into the league, they came in with high hopes. And both of their ball clubs have made alot of changes in order to keep Melo and James happy. And it still hasnt worked for either. Especially Melo's end. And Ill say there arent many coaches in todays league that can manage a team with alot of talent. Id say maybe 4 tops. And Pop is easily in the top 2.

[JamStone]

Some of you are way overrating Chauncey Billups and what he brings.

Love the guy, but he doesn't make Denver much better at all.

[timvp]

Billups has been in a sharp decline. His absolute apex was the 2004 playoffs. He even declined from 2004 to 2005. But since then, he's been getting worse and worse. It's not always noticeable because he can still put up good stats but he's much less explosive than he used to be. He's also underperformed in the playoffs routinely in the last handful of years.

For the Spurs, Denver was more scary with AI. They can deal with Billups. Although, Billups' steady hand could give them a shot against other teams who can match their athleticism.

But overall, the Nuggets were going nowhere fast with AI. Now with this trade, they are taking on even more money and are still going nowhere fast. The Nuggets would have been smart to blow up and start over. Now that becomes even more difficult.

[DPG21920]

I have to disagree. Billups might be a better defender on the low block, but Iverson is more of a pest. Hence him being in the top 5 in steals. Not to mention Iverson is better at staying in front of quicker guards. If you let Iverson play in a defensive system, his abilities are at least a wash to Billups.

Then offensively Iverson is much better than Billups as a scorer, always has been. He will allow for them to run and gun a little more and draw more fouls. Iverson averages more assist than Billups as well.

Not to mention that they will get to start a more explosive back court in Stuckey/Iverson.


You haven't watched enough Pistons if you truly believe that. Not that Iverson is a great defender, but Billups is an extremely overrated defender, and hasn't defended well in 3+ seasons. He can't stay in front of quicker guards at all, and has struggled both defensively and offensively in the past three Eastern Conferenc Finals.

Offensively, it's a huge upgrade because the Pistons have continually lacked a player that consistently attacked the rim in the starting unit. They didn't have a guy that commanded double teams out on the perimeter and forced defenses to foul them as they attacked the rim. Of course Iverson isn't the same player as five years ago. But, he brings a dynamic that very much gives the Pistons an element they've been missing for some time now. They have a superstar caliber player that forces teams to double him and force them to foul him. And, when it's a close game late in the fourth quarter, they have a guy that won't settle for long perimter jump shots.

How well AI can incorporate himself and how well he adjusts with everyone and everyon adjusts to him will be a matter of time. It won't be easy. The Pistons might not be legit NBA title contenders after this trade. But, they weren't before the trade either.

Does no one ready what I say?

[JamStone]

Do you not understand the concept of me directly replying to someone who directed a post towards me and even and even quoted my post?

[DPG21920]

Do you not understand the concept of me directly replying to someone who directed a post towards me and even and even quoted my post?

This was not a shot at you, but people asking the same questions for which there are already answers.

[DPG21920]

Good stuff. Since you're a Pistons follower, a few questions for you. Regarding Billups' falloff, what do you attribute this fall off to? How old is he? What other factors do you attributeto as the cause of the Pistons' slide?


Do you not understand the concept of me directly replying to someone who directed a post towards me and even and even quoted my post?

and i do not know why i quoted you (brain fart) i meant to quote this one.

[DPG21920]

We normally don't see blockbusters three days into November, so when word leaked of a possible Allen Iverson-Chauncey Billups swap, a double check of the calendar was needed.

Yep, the season is less than a week old. Still, with the trade deadline more than three months away, two playoff teams have apparently seen enough to send a couple of All-Stars packing.

Denver is giving up on Iverson less than two years after prying the former MVP out of Philadelphia. The Nuggets receive a package from Detroit that includes Billups and Antonio McDyess.

Declaring a clear-cut winner in this deal is like debating that Tina Fey does a better Palin than Will Ferrell does Bush. Both sides make a compelling case.

You don't need to live in Motown to grasp what's going on with the Pistons. Celebrate their string of 50-win seasons and yearly status as a serious title contender. The majority of the league's teams would gladly change places.

Also realize the vibe has grown stale. Joe Dumars promised change after last season and that turnover finally included players and not just coaches. Exchanging Flip Saunders for Michael Curry is one thing. Bringing in AI is another risk, albeit a calculated one.

Billups has been the Pistons' heart and soul this decade. He's also the most tradable high-salaried piece. And with Rodney Stuckey waiting in the wings, Billups became expendable.

Scratch that. He became expendable for AI. The Nuggets have been shopping Iverson all summer. Though money played a part, this isn't the strict cash dump that Marcus Camby was.

The Iverson-Carmelo Anthony experiment failed. The Nuggets didn't and weren't going to get out of the first round with their Mile High scorers. Billups, a Denver native who made a brief stop in his hometown early in his career, is the classic point guard this team needs.

Anthony, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin should benefit from Billups' steady hand. Sure, the Nuggets are still in that 7-9 seed range in the Western Conference. The playoffs aren't a sure thing, but Iverson leaving via free agency after the season was.

Billups is under contract through 2011, with a team option for another year. Getting a player of his caliber for one with one foot out the door is a coup for general manager Mark Warkentien. McDyess, also a former Nugget and solid role player in Detroit, may decide to retire instead of reporting to Denver.

The Pistons have a season to figure out if Iverson can mesh with Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. Detroit remains Boston's most serious challenger in the East, though LeBron has other ideas.

If the recalibrated Pistons don't fire come the postseason, Dumars can retool again next summer. With Iverson and Wallace potentially off the books, Detroit could have as much as $35 million to spend.

Or the Pistons could be planning another parade. Dumars rolled the dice in 2004 with Wallace and a championship followed. Iverson is still seeking that elusive first ring.

It's never too early to think big or make big changes.

http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/art_garcia/11/03/trade.reax/index.html

[duncan228]

Pistons get Iverson now, LeBron later? (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ArTUVOnKexzfvDH0bzAo3DS8vLYF?slug=aw-dumarslebron110308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Adrian Wojnarowski

Joe Dumars had the chance to consider Dallas’ Jason Kidd and his expiring contract over the summer, a league executive said Monday, but the Detroit Pistons president had bigger, bolder ideas. Allen Iverson still gives the Pistons a puncher’s chance in the Eastern Conference this season, but this trade isn’t about him. It isn’t about Chauncey Billups.

Think bigger.

Think bolder.

Think LeBron James, 2010.

The Pistons president doesn’t just have the salary cap space for the Cleveland Cavaliers star. He also has the connections and the championship credibility. Make no mistake: Detroit and Dumars are officially in hot pursuit of James – maybe even the favorite now – and it promises to be a long, agonizing two years for the Cavaliers.

Detroit doesn’t deliver the bright lights and global metropolis destination that James wants when he opts out of his contract in 2010, but two more years of watching Kobe Bryant win titles could transform his priorities. James wants badly to be considered the best player on the planet and that won’t happen until he’s a champion.

James wants a front office with a vision that honors his greatness, and make no mistake: This makes Detroit and Dumars so dangerous, makes them Cleveland’s worst nightmare. The city could justify losing its prodigal son to New York or Los Angeles, but nearby Detroit?

Cleveland would never recover.

So why Iverson over a possible package for Kidd? Several league executives know exactly why: The trade with Denver to make an unhappy Iverson happier just further imbeds the Detroit franchise deeper into James’ agent, Leon Rose, and advisor, William Wesley. Just as they represent James, they rep Iverson.

And as much as anyone, “World Wide” Wes is one of the most important voices in Lebron’s life. Wesley lives in Detroit, where one of Rose’s clients, Richard Hamilton, is a Pistons star. What’s more, Dumars is close to an agreement with Hamilton on a two-year extension that will keep him through 2012, sources say. This is a terrific show of faith for Hamilton, who is trying to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars that a business manager allegedly stole from him.

Wesley comes and goes at the Palace of Auburn Hills as he pleases, and few have such a window into the winning culture of the Pistons.

As one rival GM said Monday, “Damn it, I am afraid Joe has this whole thing wired. He’s got everything in place to pull this off.”

The New Jersey Nets’ move to Brooklyn is falling apart, and so is owner Bruce Ratner’s chances of using limited partner, Jay-Z, to lure James. The Knicks will be a factor, but the bumbling of the Stephon Marbury mess has reflected horribly on the organization. The Knicks have an owner, GM and coach with differing agendas and they’ve made an initial poor impression. Detroit can’t compete with New York as the global city to market James, but winning could take care of everything.

With Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni as GM and coach, the Knicks can still get their act together. Yet, no one will ever need to ask that of Dumars. No one else can sell James on a winning culture as compellingly as Dumars. He had gone as far as he could with Billups, who has three years and $36 million left on his contract. Billups gave the Pistons a slight edge over Iverson to make another run this season, but Dumars had already gotten a final run out of him a year ago. Detroit won a title, reached a Game 7 of the NBA Finals and six straight Eastern Conference finals with Billups.

Now, Billups is 32 years old. He’s declining. This is a low-risk, short-term, high-reward, long-term play for Dumars.

The Pistons president believes that the young guard Rodney Stuckey, a brilliant pick out of Eastern Washington, can take over the Pistons next year. Iverson and Rasheed Wallace could leave the payroll this summer, and the Pistons will be $22 million under the salary cap in 2009. They will have a core of Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Stuckey, Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson in 2010. No one else among James’ serious suitors with cap space has two All-Stars (Hamilton and Prince) and a potential third (Stuckey) for him to join.

Most of all, James knows he’d have Dumars to give him the right coach, the right teammates, the right atmosphere to chase championships for a long, long time. What makes this plan so ingenious is that the bridge from Iverson to Stuckey, from Wallace to Maxiell, makes it possible for the Pistons to reconstruct themselves without bottoming out. They’ll still be a 50-win team. Dumars hates the idea of rebuilding through the lottery, and that won’t need to happen here. He won’t be offering James a heap of ashes in 2010, but a good team needing him to complete its greatness.

For the flawed franchises falling over themselves to get under the salary cap for 2010, the most ingenious plan promises to start out of the NBA’s brightest executive mind. Joe Dumars is thinking big. He’s thinking bold. This will be an agonizing two years in Cleveland.

[m33p0]

sayonara, cleveland. hello, detroit?

even if dumars doesn't land lebron, with that much cap space available, and a good team in place, he'll land someone big.