The Pistons are rebuilding
Joe Dumars promised (or at least alluded to) big changes regarding the Pistons this offseason, but so far the only significant personnel changes in Detroit have been the free agent signing of Kwame Brown and replacing coach Flip Saunders with Michael Curry. In lieu of big-name trades involving the likes of Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince, what the Pistons have been doing is quietly laying the foundation for their future.
Earlier this week, Curry said second-year sensation Rodney Stuckey is slated to get about 30 minutes of burn every night, and today the Detroit News suggested fellow ‘07 first-rounder Arron Afflalo is also due for a big bump in PT. Curry has also thrown Amir Johnson’s name into the mix as someone who will have a chance to fight for a starting spot, even at the expense of 34-year-old veteran Antonio McDyess.
Then there’s Jason Maxiell. The Pistons have an offer on the table to extend the 25-year-old sixth man for three years at $15 million, but so far Max hasn’t accepted. If he doesn’t take the deal by Halloween, Maxiell will be a restricted free agent next summer.
Is it possible for Detroit — or any NBA team — to make a smooth transition from one core group of players to another without enduring a losing, “rebuilding” phase?
September 18th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
that's whats up says:
it’s not like they’re rebuilding the twin towers.
it’s more like a mild renovation – they’ll be fine
September 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Celts Fan says:
It’s possible, but always tricky. you need to have a team w/ a good mix of guys still in their prime sticking around (Tayshaun, Rip, even Chauncey, who’s a bit past it) older guys that are okay with fading into a backup role/leaving the team/retiring, AND the young guys actually need to be legit (Stuckey, Maxiell) and not just pure potential taht you hope will work out (Amir and Afflalo.) The Pistons are in great shape to make it work though. If Amir and Afflalo don’t pan out well, you still have proven youngsters in Stuckey and Maxiell that can lead the youth movement, and if Amir and Afflalo are legit too, then you have a whole new nucleus to build around, which, when added to the group of old heads that are still around leads to a reloaded team w/out the losing that usually comes with it. You need a perfect storm of things working out for you (and a good GM to recognize it) but the Pistons seem to have all of that and seem to be in great shape…
September 18th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Prof. TX says:
You need a team that’s built around several stars, instead of just one. The Pistons could pull it off, transitioning their younger guys into bigger roles. San Antonio needs some quality young players to prepare for their aging guys. The Celtics have a few good young guys that will start seeing more attention as the ‘big 3′ show their age.
The other side is the teams like Cleveland. If LeBron leaves, that squad will vanish from the national media scene and turn into the Grizzlies or Bucks-lite.
Some teams have current stars, some have ‘potential’ guys, not too many have multiples of both kind.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Jonny Drama says:
Would the 76ers count? Brand is their main guy in his prime, Igoudala and Thaddeous Young (probably a couple more I left out) are still growing in skill/basketball IQ…I guess they need a PG to take over after Andre Miller
September 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Tony Delk / Willy Burton says:
It is possible but the core cannot be completely changed instantly. There have to be some constants on the team throughout the transition.(i.e. Tim Duncan with Spurs and Reggie Miller with Pacers from late 90’s to mid 00’s). As some of the current core of the Pistons begin to retire or move on(McDyess and Sheed), I can see others like Tayshaun and Rip sticking around with the new players a few seasons.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
QuEsT???? says:
yo they might have only won one championship recently but they are the smartest team in the nba. joe dumars is extremely brilliant, u watch they are slowly transitioning with quality players in a few years when mcdyess, sheed, and billups are too old to greatly contribute, their young guns will take over completely. That is something that the spurs dont have.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
dagwaller says:
Their core is strong and their bench is strong. I’m not a huge fan of the team, but I don’t see why they can’t contend for the Conference championship this year, and with their youth, for the next few years.
Find a way to unload McDyess to a Western team, so that he can be the PJ Brown/Joe Smith/Kurt Thomas type that helps a team get over the hump. Get back a pick and some change and let Max and Johnson do the work that McDyess does. Re-sign Max to a slightly longer deal (if that’s what he wants) or tack another 3 mil onto the 3 year deal (if that’s what he wants).
September 18th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Michorizo says:
If the Knicks can make a smooth transition from one core group of players to another without winning, I don’t see how vice versa can be so hard.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
T Dubbs says:
They need to lock up Maxiell if they’re building for the future. That guy is a beast.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
David Brandon says:
i agree with Celts. and the other guys are mirroring that also. joe dumars is doing a great job. every year, ppl say you still have to get by the pistons and if the young guys are just as effective as your veterans, then you’ve done your job of rebuilding WHILE you win and maintain a strong position in the League.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Its very difficult but i think Detroit will be able to do it simply because of the players that they have on that team.
The way i see it is that Billups and Sheed are declining slowly, McDyess is a lil older but you know his minutes are dropping before the other two.
The Glue is Prince, who’s one of those hybrid-types, he can play the 2-3-4, he can guard the opposing 2-3-4’s, relatively still young, and can play with ANY team and be instrumental. They still have a few years left in RIP.
They can wait to make a trade for a young star or a high draft pick, all the while still putting out a team that at worst will win 45-50 games. And they already have Stuckey, Prince, Maxiell, Johnson, who are like the young core, they’re only gonna get better with more PT, which is making the transition a lot smoother than the Knicks’ transition.
Joe Dumars >>>>>>>>> Isaah Thomas.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Tim says:
Yea….Joe D is doing a fantastic job under the radar as usual. That guy could win executive of the year annually.
I’m not sold on Maxiell getting his own stats yet…but that will come…his J is looking good lately….With Sheed teaching him…we’ll be good…
And just imagine is Kwame Brown can realize half the potential in Detroit…thats a solid big man to have…
One thing I want to see is that I think people are underrating the hiring of Curry to replace Saunders. He has the players respect more than some people are giving him credit for.
I also think having Sheeds old Carolina roomate Sullivan on the staff will help too…
September 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Adrian Zapata says:
Spurs did it with no problem.
well they did have duncan tho!
September 19th, 2008 at 1:40 am
jace says:
depends on the young core.. with the kind of players pistons have.. definitely. i think this new core comin up might need a better scorer tho. theyre good role players. but stack them up against the old core and they only have like have the offensive firepower as them. maybe they can get lucky and draft a scorer a la sacramento kings with kevin martin.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:20 am
re says:
A lineup of Stuckey, Afflalo, Johnson, Max and Kwane…
What this team can do? They need REAl players just to stay within East Elite. The current starting lineup is too old to do something…
September 20th, 2008 at 2:56 am
dagwaller says:
re, personally, i don’t think that Chauncey, Rip, Tay, Sheed, and McDyess are “too old” to contend, and their bench (Stuckey, Amir, Max, Kwame) is better than most in the League, if not all. I don’t see why they can’t contend in the East.
And if they win the East, there’s no reason they can’t beat a West team that will no doubt be beat up from their own playoffs…
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Matt says:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=3002%7E617%7E3187%7E530%7E1724&teams=8%7E8%7E13%7E13%7E13&te=&cash=
Do it MITCH!!!