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Nuggets, Pistons Swap Iverson For Billups, McDyess

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Nov 3, 2008 12:35 pm US/Pacific

Nuggets, Pistons Swap Iverson For Billups, McDyess

DETROIT (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Chauncey Billups (L) and Allen Iverson. (File)
Allen Einstein/Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

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The Detroit Pistons shook the NBA in a big way Monday — landing former MVP Allen Iverson from the Denver Nuggets. The Pistons gave up All-Star point guard and former NBA finals MVP Chauncey Billups, top reserve Antonio McDyess and project Cheikh Samb.

The trade was confirmed by Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, and a basketball official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.

"He was very excited about the trade," Rose told The Associated Press.

Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg declined to comment. Messages were left for a Nuggets spokesman as well as for an agent representing Billups and McDyess.

Iverson is in the final year of his contract, making $20.8 million this season.

Billups is in the second season of a four-year contract worth a guaranteed $46 million with a $14 million team option for a fifth year. The Pistons kept McDyess off the free-agent market by giving him a two-year contract extension, and they would love to have him back if the cost-cutting Nuggets buy out his contract.

The blockbuster deal comes two games into the season for Detroit. The Pistons have been a model of consistency in recent years, but they were determined to change their core following a third straight exit from the Eastern Conference finals last summer.

The Pistons play at Charlotte Monday night. The Bobcats are coached by Larry Brown, who led Billups and the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title and guided the Iverson-led Philadelphia 76ers to a spot in the finals in 2001.

Billups returns to familiar surroundings — he was born in Denver and played in college at Colorado. McDyess also will be enjoying a homecoming of sorts, having been a Nugget from 1995-97 and 1998-02.