With the consummation of the mega four team trade today (14 players including draft picks) that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers and Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers … you know what, we will leave it to other blogs to diagnose their other new guys (or traded players). The Nuggets received Andre Iguodala and that’s what we care about right?

Truth be told, the Nuggets traded a good player with a great work ethic and a reserve guy off the bench who had a very good season last year (Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington respectively) for a 28 year old All-Star swing player who is known for playing great defense and being athletic. The Nuggets have long coveted Iguodala (who doesn’t like being called Iggy apparently … time for a new nickname stiffs!) and seems the Nuggets addressed their perimeter defense “issues”.

Iguodala will be a perfect compliment to George Karl’s offense, however, I believe that defensively is where he will help the most. Last season AAA’s defense suffered a bit (who can forget Ben Gordon lighting him up … Ben Gordon) and it seemed he was approaching his ceiling. Iguodala has “lock-down” perimeter defense ability and most likely this move is an attempt to bring in someone to guard Kevin Durant. Meanwhile, Harrington was injured again after being ridden like a circus elephant into the ground by his coach (not Al’s fault at all) and it seemed like the perfect time to get out from under Big Al’s contract. Al was being used at center, power forward and small forward. It’s apparent that Iguodala will be used at multiple positions as well.

I like the trade. While it doesn't get the Nuggets over the hump, it does take them another step up. This shows, once again, that Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri is not afraid of making a deal … even if it means parting with a player who was generally loved by Nuggets fans (AAA) and loved by a Nuggets coach (Big Al). This move almost certainly means there will be an additional trade in the future, but when it will come and who it will feature is up in the air. As constituted, the Nuggets should compete for home court advantage in the playoffs. With each acquisition the excuses for failure in the first round start falling away, so keep that in mind as the year progresses.

The Nuggets traded two good human beings as well. Keep that in mind as you analyze this trade. AAA and Big Al both are people who are great in the community and all around decent folks. It was a pleasure having both on the roster these past seasons and we and Denver Stiffs wish them nothing but success in Orlando.

Is there something else coming though? Stay tuned to Denver Stiffs to find out…