Why Trading Chauncey Billups Was the RIGHT Move

I've seen a lot of confusion and anger regarding the Pistons trading Chauncey Billups today. Being the resident NBA/Pistons expert that I am, allow me to explain to everyone why this was not a good deal, but a great one. The people who are primarily upset with this trade must not have been paying very close attention to the Pistons the past few years. They must think we're trading the Chauncey Billups of 2004. 2004 Chauncey had passion and heart. He was Mr. Big Shot. He played hard every night and was the floor general for one of the most surprising teams in NBA history. He rightfully earned his NBA Finals MVP.

That's not the Chauncey Billups we traded today. Sometime around 2006, Chauncey Billups, and all the Pistons for that matter, got it in their head that they DESERVED respect and it was owed to them. As the leader of this arrogant team, early playoff exits were OK with Chauncey Billups. When they lost to inferior teams, he shrugged it off. "We'll be fine. We've been here before." These are the not words of a player who belongs on my team. If the Lakers lost to an inferior team, do you think Kobe Bryant would have such a relaxed response?

Chauncey's on-court performance fell off as well. All of a sudden, he was doing things that he normally didn't do: He forced bad shots, he turned the ball over more, he missed free throws in clutch moments. When was the last time Mr. Big Shot actually hit a big shot? I began to suspect, and still believe, that Chauncey was point shaving and/or throwing games. Then, to top it all off, after each enormous fuck up, Chauncey would just flash that "I don't give a shit, I'm still the man" smile that SICKENS me. Early playoff exit after early playoff exit, Chauncey would continue to blow it off. I don't know any athlete who accepts failure as well as he does. I don't play in professional sports (obviously) and I take losing much worse than this guy does.

The Pistons have had 7 consecutive 50-win seasons. They've made it to the Eastern Conference Finals 6 years in a row. They only have one championship to show for it. When it's all said and done, the Pistons could be remembered as one of the most colossal underachievers in NBA history, and that's OK with Chauncey Billups. It's not OK with me, and it shouldn't be OK with any of you.

So what do we get in Allen Iverson? Where do I start? First off, the major knocks against Allen Iverson are that he's old, banged up, small, and a ball hog. Allen Iverson is, in fact, only 7 months older than Chauncey Billups. So let's throw that argument out of the window. As for being banged up and small, both of those assertions are true. However, Allen Iverson has been banged up and small for his entire career. This has not stopped him from being one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. A.I. is tied for 5th all-time in career scoring average behind Jordan, Wilt, Elgin Baylor, and Shaq. He's tied with Jerry West. For his career, A.I. is averaging 27 ppg. A.I. has never averaged less than 22 ppg in any season of his career. I think that's pretty impressive for a small and banged up guy. Finally, as for A.I. being a ball hog, yes, that used to be true. In high school, that was my primary knock against him. However, I graduated high school 9 years ago. He's a different player now. Iverson actually has a higher career assist per game average than Billups (6.3 to 5.8 I believe). Last season, Billups averaged 6.8 assists per game. Iverson averaged 7.1. For a ball hog, that's not half bad.

Finally, Iverson brings some things to this team that they sorely need. He brings flat-out scoring. He's a player we can go to in the clutch who can just take over. He's a go-to guy. We haven't had that since Grant Hill left. However, the most important thing that Allen Iverson brings to the Pistons is heart and passion, two qualities that have been absent in this team for many years. Allen Iverson has never been afraid to send his small and banged up body into the paint over and over and over, several times a game, every game of the season, for every season of his career. The man is fearless, and will put his body on the line to win. He's never had a supporting cast around him like he will have now. Try to imagine what the man will be capable of when he doesn't have to be "the man."

Chauncey's time is over. He had a period here that will never be forgotten, and he was the 2nd most important piece of one of the greatest teams this city has ever seen. It's been a great ride, but we're not trading the Chauncey Billups of 2004. We're trading a man who no longer cares whether or not the Pistons win. He assumes that they will win, whether they play hard or not, simply because he's in uniform. It takes more to win a championship than suiting up a great starting five, you have to PLAY like you're great. Chauncey Billups has no desire to win anymore, and Allen Iverson, in addition to being a better player than Chauncey could even imagine himself being, has never won and has a burning hot desire to win. Welcome to Detroit, A.I. We welcome you with open arms.