I think the Sixers got the better end of the deal. It must've been Carmelo and Smith getting suspended that forced the Nugz to give up more than they wanted. Why? The Sixers got a starting PG for a rebuilding club. I think pairing Miller with Iggy would be a good fit. Still, they'll have to make up the scoring loss somehow, but now they don't have so much worries if they don't. They have three first round picks for 2007 which is a nice, deep draft and a shot at Greg Oden. Smith is expiring so he helps alleviate the salary load. They can also package one of their picks to move up if need be. http://nbadraft.net/ As for the Nugz, they have decided to win now. I'm not so sure having the first and second leading scorers in the league will help. Sure, they'll be explosive on offense, but the Nugz were lacking on defense. They were already the second leading scoring team in the league before the trade, but was still trailing Utah.
Its not too bad for the Sixers. It sounds like the offers weren't very good so getting 2 1st round picks, a good PG, and a large expiring contract is pretty nice. Miller is the type of player who can make guys like Dalembert, Iguodala, or Korver much better players offensively. Now they have their PG, SG/SF, a decent young C, 3 first round picks in a loaded draft (they could trade up to get a top pick as well), and about 55 million dollars coming off the books after the 07-08 season.
Nuggets got a star but someone who is not going to make them better. Imagine AI and Boykins in at the same time, they will get slaughtered on the boards. Actually, with Camby and Reggie Evans, they have two role players who can coexist with Melo and AI. Who's going to be the point guard though? Maybe they can get Earl Watson back.
I see the Nuggets trying to go: AI/Smith/Anthony/Evans/Camby for the starting lineup. I think they are going to test what George Karl and AI can come up with as head coach and PG.
The more I think about this, the more I think it's going to be disaster for the Nuggets (and good for the Warriors, yay). Neither one of them is going to get as many shots as they're used to getting. But it's not just that they both demand the ball a lot, it's that they're both used to having all the power, to being The Man, to having things done their way, and to being the center of the offense and the center of attention. They may be all smiles for a while, but I predict this experiment is going to end badly.
Well, Denver has a ton of talent across the board, we'll see how it translates. We all know that it hasn't translated in NY, depite the $$$Mils contracts for everyone there. But when was the last time a single team had the two highest scoring players in the NBA!? of course, it's because of the trade, and one of the two will have to give up some ppg I imagine. but which one? Well, we'll have to see, but it's such a dynamic situation there, it could either explode and de-rail the good thing the Nugs had going (maybe the brawl already did that), or it could gel into a championship contender. Interesting dynamic that AI will have the team all to him self for 10-15 games, and then he'll have to relinquish the reins somewhat when the brawler-ballers come back...
AI and Carmello on the Nuggets = a lot of FT's for Denver. AI+Carmello = 11.6 FT/G + 8.7FT/G =20.3 FT/G Warriors = 25.5 FT/G AI and Carmello are both 80% FT shooters as well... We could use Maggette and Ike as our FT hogs. haha. Dunleavy for Maggette...in my dreams.
