"Since when has trading been fair?"

The more, and more, I look at it, I am... shocked.

An NBA trade that was actually fair. A trade from which both sides should benefit (although one much sooner than the other). It's just not common, just not... right?

Except that it is.

I am going to write Christmas cards to the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers for making a deal that didn't make one of the organizations look dumb (especially Philly, considering the last time it traded away a superstar - Charles Barkley in 1992 - it got virtually nothing in return). Neither team's fans should be shaking their heads after this one. The trade that sent Allen Iverson to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round draft picks was about as fair as you can get.

For the rest of the season, of course, it will seem like a one-sided deal. Denver, with the two top scorers in the NBA, is now a contender to win (gasp) an NBA championship. Do I see it happening this year? No, sir. But Iverson, just 31, and 'Melo should anchor this franchise for at least the next five years.

Next question: Will the Nuggets win a title in that time period? There's a decent chance. And if I'd been asked that before the trade, I'd have said, "No chance."

Anthony is a great player, but - just like Kobe - he needed a sidekick to take this franchise to the level San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas are on. He's got him now.

Look at every NBA champion in recent memory. No team has won the title with a superstar and group of average players. Bird had at least one other All-Star on all three of his championship teams. Ditto Magic for all five of his titles in L.A. Jordan had Pippen. Duncan had Robinson. The '04 Pistons didn't need a star. Last year, Wade had Shaq.

LeBron could (maybe) be the first player to win a title without an All-Star teammate, but I'm not convinced. He'll have to be at his best.

Denver gave up a lot to get Iverson. But it will all be worth it. These two guys on the court at the same time will be something to watch.

Unlike the 2006-07 76ers.

This team will not put up many W's in the months to come. They’ll certainly play hard and grind out some victories, but even with a HUGE upgrade at the point guard position (Kevin Ollie wasn't exactly the answer at the position), this team will have a tough time scoring. This is not a good thing, considering the Sixers give up over 100 points a game.

But while Philly's tough-necked fans won't be cheering much this season, they can expect better things in the near feature (even if they won't admit it, just like after the Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb). June's NBA draft will be absolutely loaded with talent, provided most of the nation's big-time freshmen come out. With three first-round draft picks and plenty of cap room, the 76ers would have to pull a Matt Millen to not come away with some NBA-ready talent.

Add two or three capable players to Philly's young corps of Miller, Andre Iguodala (now the only A.I. in town), Samuel Dalembert and Kyle Korver, and you've got at least a foundation for future success. And possibly a future superstar (one of the draft picks).

The NBA is a "What have you done for me today?" industry, and the results this season will not be pretty in Philly. But take a look at this team in a couple years, and there's a good chance Allen Iverson won't be a part of the conversation.

No one will be saying, "How could we let him get away?" but rather, "Look what this deal's done for us."

And no one in the Rockies will be regretting the trade either. The Nuggets will be among the NBA's elite.

Making the Dec. 18 trading of A.I. to Denver one of those rare deals after which both sides are content.

I guess it really ’tis the season for giving.