It's OK, Danny, go ahead. Exhale. You didn't make the trade. You didn't send Al Jefferson to Philadelphia for Allen Iverson. You sent Jefferson to Minnesota for KG. So instead of struggling to get above .500 for the last two years, you are working on winning your second straight title.
Cliches are cliches for a reason: They summarize truths in a concise and pungent fashion. And so it is with the cliche that some of the best trades are the ones you don't make.
Almost two years ago to this date, Allen Iverson was on the block, and Danny Ainge was trying to find the right package to get him. Philadelphia wanted Al Jefferson, and Danny, thankfully, wouldn't part with Big Al.
Iverson was eventually dealt to Denver, where he lasted less than two years. Some pundits thought that coming back East might be the right tonic for Iverson and give the Pistons that missing go-to guy in the playoffs.
So far it hasn't worked out that way. Denver is 13-5 since the trade, while Detroit is 8-9 (Detroit was actually 4-0 before trading Chauncey Billups). Iverson already skipped a practice for personal reasons.
I know AI is a perennial all-star. I know Philadelphia still loves their former scoring champion. I know he was league MVP, and took the Sixers to the Finals one year. But he did all that by being an over-the-top playground phenom in a league where team play and defense wins championships.
So go ahead and exhale, Danny, you dodged a bullet.
3 comments:
I don't understand the AI trade Pistons were one of the few playing team ball and AI does not fit their style at all. Now I wish Tayshaun would get traded to Boston so I can my faves in one place.
I love Elastic Man.
A rich man's walter mccAHty.
Honestly, the trade makes no sense at all to me. I'm a long time Pistons' fan and players being able to play both ends of the court (offense and defense) has been a key component to them going to six consective Eastern Conference Finals. Dumars is well aware of this. Giving away a loyal, hard working fan favorite like Billups for an undersized ball hog who can't defend like Iverson is nothing short of sabotage.
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