The Nuggets Had Better Hope the Chauncey Billups Addition Works ... Now

While Joe Dumars has put his franchise in a strong position going forward, the Nuggets are going for broke. We're likely to find out the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson swap had a driving force from Denver's side: the A.I./Carmelo Anthony combo isn't working well enough to storm the West, and with few movable pieces there was a need to get something for Iverson before he ran off next summer as a high-priced free agent.

Billups is something, alright: one of the top point guards of this era, a killer scorer and playmaker who fits in, plays defense and makes his team more efficient by aura. Whatever boost 'Melo saw when A.I. diverted attention, Billups will increase two-fold. Iverson isn't a great deep shooter; his game is predicated on driving and drawing attention in. Anthony's mid-range game will be in the Louvre some day, but the better benefit would come from a deep gunner. Billups is a career 38.5% three-ball shooter, and he takes almost 4.5 bombs a game. That's going be a huge help in drawing out defenses.

But Billups isn't some young buck: he just turned 32. And while shooting point guards age better than those athletic freaks who live on reverse lay-ups and free throws, Denver's on the hook for Chauncey through 2011-12.

By itself, that's not a nightmare. But the Nuggets have a few other massive contracts on the books, of course. In fact, should this trade go through in its current state, Denver will have five players locked up in the 2010-11 season ... five players who will make a combined $63 million. Anthony, Billups and J.R. Smith ($5.4 million) will earn their bread. But can you count on the same for Kenyon Martin (age 33, $16.5 million) or Nene (age 28, $11.3 million)?

If the Nuggets sign so much as one mid-level deal or, say, three draft picks (this could be Linas Kleiza, Renaldo Balkman, a back-up point guard, a back-up center), they will be bumping against the luxury tax line. Denver owner Stan Kroenke isn't a fan of paying the tax so long as the team isn't competing for a ring. (Case in point: Marcus Camby.) Will a Billups/'Melo combo compete for a ring? That's the bet the Nuggets have just made, it seems.