Pistons swap Billups for Iverson; smart move by Joe Dumars

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Joe Dumars has done it again.

With the trade of Denver Nuggets All-Star Allen Iverson for Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups, center Cheikh Samb and five minutes with Antonio McDyess’ bought-out contract, the Pistons general manager has pulled off another risky swap that not only keeps Detroit in the NBA title hunt, but also positions the team for success in the future.

Dumars, who has been enamored with Iverson since he took over the Pistons’ basketball operations in 1999, finally snagged the diminutive 33-year-old guard Monday in his most consequential trade since obtaining forward Rasheed Wallace in 2004.

In return for Iverson, Detroit surrenders Billups, the Pistons’ captain who has been the coolest face of the franchise since his arrival six years ago.

(This is the most heartbroken I’ve been over a Pistons trade since Jerry Stackhouse was shipped away for Rip Hamilton. I may or may not have cried that day.)

While the Stackhouse trade has been a success, the Iverson swap could be just as much of a boon for two reasons.

First, there’s the immediate effect of adding a point guard who could give scoring lessons to Hugh Hefner.

Iverson could become the go-to player down the stretch of playoff games that the Pistons have missed so badly in their six straight conference finals appearances.

In similar end-of-game situations where a big bucket is needed, the Celtics have gone to Paul Pierce, the Cavs have summoned King James and the Lakers have told Kobe Bryant to get buckets.

The Pistons’ clutch scorer? Like a bad card trick — pick a player, any player (just not Ben Wallace).

This trade will end up a position swap between Billups and Iverson, who should become the new Pistons point guard alongside the previously established starting four. There shouldn’t be much dropoff, if any, at the one spot with Iverson’s arrival considering the former Nugget has established himself as an adept passer in recent years.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, the Pistons are ridding themselves of up to $50 million worth of contract by dumping Billups.

Iverson, on the other hand, is owed about $20 million this season and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2009 — unlikely to be resigned by the Pistons (unless you want soon-to-be broken down middle-aged 6-foot guards running your backcourt).

With Iverson’s expiring contract and Rasheed Wallace’s $14 million coming off the books at the end of the season, the Pistons will become high-stakes rollers in the Great Free Agent Sell-Off of 2010.

In two years, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh and J.J. Redick should all be free agents.

(I want Redick on the Pistons just so I can boo him every other night.)

Dumars ate his mental Wheaties on Monday in pulling off the near-blockbuster trade he promised after another Eastern Conference finals loss last season.

It’s a smart move that should position the Pistons for an NBA title run this year and give Detroit an opportunity in 2010 to combine a high-priced superstar with its young core of talent.

Honestly, did you expect anything less from Joe D.?

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