Your Black World: Iverson Traded To The Pistons?

DETROIT (AP)—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 and top reserve Antonio McDyess.

The trade was confirmed by a basketball official, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.

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

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 also 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.

From AP Sports

Bobcats & Emeka Okafor agree to 6 years $72 Million

Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - The Charlotte Bobcats have agreed to terms with restricted free agent big man Emeka Okafor.

The Charlotte Observer reported the deal is for six years and $72 million. General manager Rod Higgins expects the contract to be signed in the next few days.

"It was a long time coming -- actually about a year of negotiations," Higgins told the newspaper. "Any time you have a player like Emeka -- a rebounder, a defender at the rim, it's imperative for a team to keep a guy like that."

Okafor, a Connecticut product, averaged 13.8 points and 10.7 rebounds last season while playing all 82 games for the first time in his four-year NBA career.

The second overall pick in the 2004 draft, the 6-foot-10 forward/center has averaged 14.3 points and 10.8 rebounds in 248 career NBA games.



(The Sports Network)