Chauncey Billups (photo. adidas)With the NBA free agent pool drying up more and more every day, we’re in that strange time in the offseason where teams have to come up with ways to still make their squads better. We’re going team-by-team to look at what every franchise needs and how they can fill those holes. After covering the Celtics and Lakers over the weekend, today we’re looking at the Eastern Conference runners-up Detroit Pistons…
The Needs: Detroit needs a couple of things… and also nothing. Do nothing, and they’re still in the conference championship again next season. That being said, they need ONE more player to get them over the hump, but they also need to continue to get younger. It was amazing what a boost Rodney Stuckey and Jason Maxiell gave them last year. Position-wise, they need more depth at the center spot, but they have talent everywhere.
The Possible Solutions: The trade rumors involving ‘Melo and T-Mac were juicy, but ultimately not very realistic. CJ Miles (restricted) had been rumored and that would certainly add to the youth factor, but he just signed an offer sheet with Oklahoma City. Joe Dumars would love to trade Rasheed Wallace if he could, but he’s clearly going to have trouble finding him a home. Unless the Pistons make a blockbuster deal, expect them to look at the pieces after the free-agent storm is done. Sebastian Telfair’s name could come up, as could Chris “Birdman” Andersen and Nenad Krstic. Re-signing Theo Ratliff is likely possibility, although he doesn’t help them get younger at all. Josh Childress (restricted) would be a great fit in Detroit, but the Hawks are poised to match any offer.
Our suggested moves? - Give Stuckey and Arron Afflalo big minutes early and see how it goes before making the radical move. You still have until the February deadline to pull something off if you have to. We like throwing out the offer to Childress more. The Hawks are in a spot with Josh Smith. You never know.
If you’re Joe Dumars what do you do?
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July 21st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
imperial-mel says:
FIRST!!…They need a highlight man…Detroit is almost like watchin the spurs
July 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Austin Burton says:
What’s wrong with watching the Spurs? Tony Parker and Manu are just as exciting as any guard in the League.
Usually I’m not for making big changes when you’ve found a formula that works, but the Pistons need to get rid of Rasheed.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Pskila says:
Man..the Pistons are not gonna spend big money for a highlight player. They need a nucleus to sneak up on the rest of east. Everyone knows how weak the east is; if they can just make the playoffs, they can really do damage. Rasheed Wallace will most likely need to be waived or retire. I don’t see anyone in the league giving him a long-term deal(attitude and age). I love the old school ball they play, it is just Flip Saunders didn’t know how to put his foot in their butt and make them play harder!!!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Detroit Dave says:
Start Maxiell and bring McDysse off the bench for stability. Play Amir Johnson consistent minutes. When Stuckey and Afflalo play together they should full court press and trap the other team like (04) see Mike James and Lindsay Hunter. I would take a gamble on an athletic 3 like Darius Miles. If it works Joe D looks like a genius if not oh well.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Truth says:
First off @Post 1. The spurs are a beast homie, you talking about last years champs!! The spurs compete EVERY YEAR!!
Rasheed is DONE!! Stick a fork in that guy!! He has an expiring contract, and that’s a very attractive peice for most teams to clear some salary space.
They NEED a center! A real Center!! Once Ben Wallace left, they never filled that gap with an AGGRESIVE contact oriented center willing to bang.
If I were them I would take a chance on someone. Maybe a Steven hunter?Chris Wilcox? Someone I wouldn’t have to pay too much for, the center doesn’t even have to have a polished offensive game because of Rip, Billups and prince, and if they kept wallace, he can do what he naturally does and still be effective not Burdensome! They need an aggresive center!! Period!! Somebody to catch those weak side blocks and grab boards!!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Truth says:
And theo ratliff isn’t the answer!!! He’s old and done with!!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Zach says:
I have been calling for a Sheed and picks to the Knicks for Lee and Z-bo for a while. I think David Lee fits in perfectly with the Pistons attitude and philosophy and with all the veteran leadership I don’t think Z-bo would get in as nearly much trouble (playing close to home might be a problem for him though with all his homies around) From the Knicks perspective they get rid of Zach for Sheeds $13 mil expiring contract and a 1st rounder. This seems like it would fit in perfectly with their salary cap dump that they are trying to pull off by ‘10. Why isn’t this deal done already?
Line up:
Z-BO
Maxiell
Prince
Rip
Chauncey
Bench:
Mcdyess
D. Lee
Amir
Stuckey
Affalo
July 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
imperial-mel says:
Ok, maybe i was alittle harsh, Austin you right with the exception of Manu, and Happy Feet….They are good, im not knockin them at all, but id rather watch the Lakers (which i HATE), Utah, Mavs, Celts, Jersey those types of games. They are exceptionally good but…its kind of like the Patriots. There good, but thats why you hate them type of thing.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Justice says:
i don’t know about the us(knicks) taking rasheed thing,wtf why do people always want to give us players nobody else wants…
July 21st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
sxrs says:
Truth,
lol at steven hunter being aggressive and contact oriented
July 21st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
JOB33 says:
Because they know the knicks will take them..jk
Probably cuz they’re the most high-profile team in a rebuilding process w/ a new coach and new system..
July 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
cbizzle says:
Not to mention the Knicks are blatantly trying to shave cap room, and with Sheed’s contract coming off the books next year, that’s 12-14 million coming off. I think they should stand pat this year, let Sheed’s contract come off the books, and go at the 2009 free agency pool with 12-14 million in cap room
July 21st, 2008 at 3:29 pm
odonis6 says:
How is the Birdman a better fit than Rasheed?Maybe They should see if Chris Washburn is out of rehab too.
July 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
fiyaman says:
@post 7
b/c we aint giving up no more draft picks that y… and besides thats wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
2much for sheed
July 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Truth says:
@sxrs
LOLOLOL!!!
You got me on that one, but he does like to block shots? He don’t like contact, but he’ll swat some shots to the bleachers.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Zach says:
@ 14
What do you mean not giving up anymore draft picks?
—-Sheed and picks to the Knicks for Lee and Z-bo.—-
YOU WOULD BE GETTING PICKS
July 21st, 2008 at 4:40 pm
sxrs says:
Truth,
well, as my screen name indicates, i’m a sixerfan, and i can tell you, steven hunter and his aversion for physical contact frustrated the hell out of me when he played in philly. thats why i reacted to your post:). you are right about him blocking shots, but he should not be starting in this league. let alone for a contender.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:46 pm
fiyaman says:
oh my bad u meant Detroit giving up picks.. thought u meant the Knicks would.. with that being said I would think about it… still probably no though ( maybe if u through in Stuckey)
July 21st, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Zach says:
haha…not a chance Stuckey is involved. Think about it though. You get rid of one of your 2 slow ass frontcourt players (at a huge price tag for several more years) It would free you guys up for the Lebron sweepstakes (since Sheed is in the last year of his deal) and a 1st round pick. I don’t see how the Knicks could pass that up (If Isiah was still there we would just offer Theo Ratliff’s corpse and it would be a done deal lol)
July 21st, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Big Sneeze says:
They should keep Rasheed and let his contract come off the books.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Big Sneeze says:
Also, I would try and sign J.R Smith
July 21st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
doc says:
We’ll take Sheed in Philly.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:17 pm
doc says:
And I dont know about if Detroit stay the same they get back to the conference finals.Maybe if they play them weak ass teams again.If they face Boston or Lebron in the 2nd round I like they chances of getting sent the fuck home.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Dagomar says:
Every year people say the Pistons don’t need a big change. Every year they come up just short. They need a guy who can create his own shot regularly. Hamilton is a spot up shooter and Chauncey does better distributing the ball; he has also become increasingly spotty in the clutch. I still feel that a trade for Melo might have worked for both teams. The Nuggets aren’t going to win with him in the short-term and the Pistons have the mix of winning experience and veterans to maximize that guy’s potential.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
ITSMR2U says:
Joe D missed the boat by not offering Denver SOMEthing for Marcus Camby. No, Camby wasnt worth one of the Pistons’ young bigs (Maxiell, Johnson, Samb)… but, they could have gotten a proven defensive 5 for a future pick and cash. That would have freed Dice up to come off the bench and save his legs. Now.. they’re kind of stuck with picking from the available League leftovers until February 09.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
K Dizzle says:
If Chaucey and Rip stay healthy and tayshaun gets his confidence up by playin wit the big dogs in China, Detroit ain’t gotta do a damn thing. Heads keep forgettin that the Celts barely scraped by the Hawks and whooped on Lebron’s aau team. The same Pistons team, healthy and focused, can be in the finals this season
July 21st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
ITSMR2U says:
we Piston fans have been talking that same IF healthy/focused rah-rah for the last 3-4 seasons. it’s obvious that they can’t count on both situations AUTOMATICALLY happening. Joe D has been waiting for the combo of those two things to happen and this squad only got 1 ring to show for it. This is/was arguably, the best starting 5 in the league, but… something has gotta happen to get another chip. Sheed is my dawg, but he’s perceived as damaged goods throughout the league, so his trade value has dropped. Without something more in the middle that Dice/Sheed can offer( both of them being power forwards), all we gonna get is another trip back to the Conf. Finals and hurt feelings (again)
July 21st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Top_gun says:
Rasheed is the glue to that team. His skills are declining, but you can’t find better veteran leadership. Plus, whose gonna do those retarded dance moves if he’s traded ?
July 21st, 2008 at 9:26 pm
johnny says:
1. Please no Zach on the Pistons!
2. Trade J-Max and Samb (and 2nd rounders?) for Noah
Trade Rip and 2nd rounders for Gerald and Ajinca.
3. Re-sign Lindsey, Theo and a couple scrubs.
4. That’s it. They would be younger. They would rebound a lot better. Noah’s contract isn’t expiring like J-Max and Samb, so the Pistons would look hard at free agency next summer. And some really skilled Pistons would come out of their offensive shells without Rip Hamilton - especially Tay, who would get a bunch of minutes at the 2 where his defense is stronger.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:37 pm
tim says:
sign and trade for Josh Smith….
Don’t care who…just not Sheed or Stuckey.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 am
Mr Shamrock says:
Det should trade sheed for Curry! before you laugh this will give them a low post scorer (only)which would allow the offence to kick in gear in their half court game.
Also not only will NY agree this will throw in one of their small forwards for desert. This will free the glut at the four Then they should explore trading prince for Deung (I know all trades in the east is not the norm but this will work) One of the few reasons they lost was no low post sheed wanted to stay on the wing. This might have been by design to clear the lanes but it didn’t work at all.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
Big V says:
Sheed is trash. Worse than Z-Bo, IMO. At least Z-Bo has some remnant of an upside to speak of.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
Jose says:
Yao Ming + Detroit Mentality = BAD BAD SCARY YAO