OT: Is Iverson going to be coming off the bench?

[KingSpeed]

I thought the point of trading Billups was to move Stuckey into the starting lineup. Will Iverson replace Hamilton? Doubt it. Looks like Iverson will be coming off the bench. Thoughts?

 

[alex42083]

Hey, AI said he's willing to do anything.. even in PRACTICE.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=""></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[B-Roy]

He's going to start at point guard.

 

[KingSpeed]

Thanks for that clip. That made me laugh. Cool to see him laughing at himself.

 

[KingSpeed]

He's going to start at point guard.

Ahead of Stuckey? Did you read this somewhere?

 

[B-Roy]

Ahead of Stuckey? Did you read this somewhere?

Yes ahead of Stuckey. Obviously no one from the organization has confirmed this, but common sense tells you that Iverson is going to start at point. It's not just me, everyone in the media thinks so too.

 

[THE HCP]

Dude, it's AI! He's not coming off the bench!

 

[whatsmyname]

anything is possible..... "yes we can"

 

[KingSpeed]

I thought the whole reason for trading Billups was to turn the job over to Stuckey.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I thought the whole reason for trading Billups was to turn the job over to Stuckey.

I'd say there was a lot more to it then that. Keep in mind that AI is a 1 year rental. Stuckey gets to be the man next season, but for now they have a nice 3 guard rotation. In short bursts, AI is still capable of taking over a game offensively. He gives them one last run at contention, before they go into rebuilding mode around Stuckey and Prince.

 

[BalancedMan]

I thought the whole reason for trading Billups was to turn the job over to Stuckey.

Nope. Because AI's contract is up at the end of the year as well as Rasheed's, they will have a lot of financial flexibility to go after a major FA. If they don't go after one this summer, they can still have room to go after one or two major players in the summer of LeBron, Bosh, Wade and Co. Essentially, they are dumping their old regime and going young and cheap (like us) but with the goal of getting a FA in 2010. Moving Billups's contract allows this to happen.

As for this year, they are still very good, if not better in that they have a iso scorer that they didn't have before. They made this deal because Stuckey proved he was the future of the Piston's backcourt, and also because Maxiell signed an extension.

So if they let their expiring contracts go, next year they start Stuckey/Hamilton/Prince/Maxiell/Johnson. And then could you imagine adding a two big FA's to that? I don't know if Detroit can lure that talent, but you never know.

 

[Haakzilla]

before they go into rebuilding mode around Stuckey and Prince.

...don't forget Rip, Max, and Amir [that is their "core" as far as I can tell]

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I'd say he's perfect for instant offense off the bench. He'd still be in there at the end of the game.

 

[hasoos]

I was actually guessing Rip Hamilton would come off the bench. He has always been a team player.

 

[THE HCP]

Stuckey does NOT start ahead of AI. Maybe in game 1, but AI is a top 3 scorer in the league.