AI TO DETROIT: CAP SPACE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

The Denver Nuggets traded guard Allen Iverson to the Pistons today for former Boston first round pick Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheick Samb. While Detroit probably won't be as formidable this season, the deal sets them up wonderfully for the future.

By shipping out the aging Billups and McDyess, the Pistons are drastically changing the roster on a team that has been in the Eastern Conference Finals every year since 2002. I assume they will be starting Iverson, Hamilton, Prince, Maxiell, and Wallace, and bringing in the talented, young duo of Rodney Stuckey and Amir Johnson in off the bench. Probably not as good as the team the Celts beat last June, right? But look past the 2008-09 season and the Pistons are set up for the long haul.
Iverson is set to make $20,840,625 in 2009, and is only signed through this season. That means Detroit, a contending team, will have something really only seen at the bottom of the standings: cap space. If they decide against re-signing volatile big man Rasheed Wallace, who is making nearly $14 million this season, the Pistons are looking at quite a spending spree. Looking at ESPN's list of potential free agents after the season, the Pistons should be all set. Maybe they will go for a player like Carlos Boozer. Maybe Shawn Marion. Somehow I don't see Ron Artest playing home games at the Palace though.

The smart money is to hold onto that space until 2010. That is when the cream of the crop free agents will be available. Unrestricted free agents will include Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Dwyane Wade, Michael Redd, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Shaq, Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, and Chris Bosh. Or they could go for restricted free agents Rudy Gay or Brandon Roy. Can you imagine a Pistons starting lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Dwyane Wade, Tayshaun Prince, Jason Maxiell, and Amare Stoudemire? Scary.

For the Celtics, it really isn't that big of a deal. By that time, the Big Three will be winding down, and the C's will (hopefully) have money to spend as well. I really like this trade for the Pistons because they will be able to sign great free agents in the future. I like it for the Celtics because it worsens the Pistons for this season. The Celtics time is now.