Breaking news: Pistons sign Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva
Ben Gordon
The Pistons have dominated the headlines this week: first when Joe Dumars fired head coach Michael Curry on Tuesday, and now with the news that the team has agreed to contracts with free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.
Gordon’s deal is reported to be for five years, $50 million, while Charlie V is getting broke off for $35 million over five years.
Double-digit millions per year for a backup seems like a lot, but that’s what Gordon will have to be initially, since we’ve seen what happens when Rip Hamilton is asked to come off the bench. Villanueva takes Rasheed’s place at power forward. It looks like Detroit’s crunch-time lineup would be Rodney Stuckey, Gordon, Rip, Tayshaun Prince and either Villanueva, Jason Maxiell or Antonio McDyess, who is a free agent and could be brought back cheap.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
carmeloismyboy says:
FIRST
damn my boy gordons going to the motor city but thats coool too
what happens to the answer?
July 1st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Cousin Larry says:
What is Dumars doing collecting all the UCONN players? What’s next he gonna trade for Okafor?
July 1st, 2009 at 8:07 pm
JJ says:
They better trade hamilton if they want that to work!!
July 1st, 2009 at 8:07 pm
s.W.o. 4 Life says:
Seems like Detroit is in panic mode. Too bad CV31 didn’t come back to Toronto
July 1st, 2009 at 8:07 pm
paufve says:
FIRST
what are the bulls doing this offseason, no moves, no free agents, the bulls management is asleep behind the wheel
July 1st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Arrogant says:
i think this means rip is getting traded…. neither of them want to sit, and rip can at least get them some depth or solidify the startin lineup in another position…
July 1st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Austin Burton says:
I really wouldn’t mind seeing Rip on the Pacers, but I don’t have time to see if there’s a reasonable trade there. Although I’m sure he’d sulk if he weren’t on a contender.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Arrogant says:
i think the Bulls are gonna make one big move… involving either the expiring contracts they have and Tyrus Thomas..
July 1st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
quest??? says:
i get villanueva but ben gordon???? wtf! its going to be worse than allen iverson. at least iverson passed a little bit, gordon will just jack bad shot after bad shot
July 1st, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Big V says:
This team is too small. They may have some success in the regular season and limited postseason success, but they don’t have the size to get by Cleveland or Orlando.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:15 pm
jzsmoove says:
deeeeeeeeeetroit will be good to watch again. Good moves by Dumars. It might work that BG comes off the bench hopefully he still doesnt mind since he got the money now anyways. Do not trade Rip, he is still of use. They just need another big.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:17 pm
the cynic says:
wow…Ben Gordon i’m sorry i didn’t think anyone would offer you that kind of cash, way to bring in the chedder. I guess this means Hamilton and Prince are being moved
July 1st, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Prof. TX says:
I was hoping to see Gordon replace TMac on my Rockets, damn.
And yeah, time to trade Rip and start BG in Detroit.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Scott says:
Thats awesome, Charlie V in the right scenario is gonna be great for this squad. The totally just re-engerized the franchise. A 3 man rotation of Stuckey, Rip, Gordon could dominate, Gordon being a Huskie probably has some ties or at least knows Rip you would think, so hopefully that familiarity is what will help the rotation.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:34 pm
ERIC says:
How about RIP for BOOZER?
July 1st, 2009 at 8:38 pm
IrishBaller says:
@ERIC not after they brought in charlie v
they need a real center…
July 1st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
yentron says:
rip to the wizards for young and deshawn
July 1st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
J says:
@scott
That 3 man rotation dosen’t work. Go into any Piston blog and they cried about it playing small ball with AI. They stuck with the team first mentality about everyone shooting similar number of shots, sharing the ball. Ben Gordon isin’t doing that and AI tried to fit in, but the team already fell apart when the trade got through. Stuckey is a scoring PG with no outside game, having rip and bg together is redundant.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Scott says:
Watch ‘em go get Gortat.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Kobeef says:
@Eric
I don’t think they’d do that since they just signed Charlie V to play PF for 7 mill.
I am not sure if they’ll move Rip. Stuckey didn’t really turn the corner like they thought he would last year and Rip and Ben is probably a better pair than Ben and Stuckey (who is actually not much bigger than Ben - taller but shorter arms). I like what Detroit did here - it keeps with their “no stars” formula by starting a lineup with no real stars but some very very good pieces.
PG - Ben (will be the ball handler but Rip will probably be the playmaker)
SG - RIP
SF - Tayshaun
PF - Chuck V
C - ? Kwame?
July 1st, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Ethan says:
Rip to Denver for Balkman and JR Smith
July 1st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
ERIC says:
Do people think these were good signings? Were the Pistons better off signing 1 free agent this summer and getting a better player summer 2010?
July 1st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
rban says:
yikes, starting rip and ben together would be terrible, Stuckey in his first full season averaged 13 5 and 4, thats a solid sophmore season.
I think its highly likely Rip will be moved for a big… if not… Dumars has lost it. Rip isnt going to be happy unless hes getting his 36 minutes a game.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Arrogant says:
I agree wit Austin, Rip to the pacers would be nice…. he would compliment granger…
Detroit still have a lil money for someone like Gortat or Pachulia so I know they arent done…
July 1st, 2009 at 8:57 pm
JHUSTLE says:
its good 2 see detroit is makin moves but is seems like they got too many guards now. AI, rip, stuckey, gordon, will bynum, all those dudes wanna get minutes and it wont be a happy locker room. they are definitely gonna move AI or rip soon. hopefully AI to dallas lets go Dumars get it done
July 1st, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Dagomar says:
I hate these moves for the Piston. HATE.
They now have a shitload of money invested long-term in two streaky players who can’t play D and are best suited coming off the bench. They didn’t address their core needs at the 1 and the 5. If they manage to swing Rip in a trade for a big man - say Chandler or Kaman - their lineup would, for example, be: Stuckey, Gordon, Prince, Charlie V, Chandler. That’s a kickass bench, but it’s BARELY a playoff team, even in the weak (once you get past the big three) Eastern Conference. These signings smack of desperation, but I have no idea why Dumars feels he has to be desperate yet.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:04 pm
bone0315 says:
All this love is just more of people thinking everything that Joe Dumars touches is gold. Hate to break it to Pistons fans but teams aren’t successful when they are paying a 6th Man $11 mil per.
I actually like the Charlie V signing, and was wishing he would go to Cleveland. With BG, Rip, Rodney, and Charlie, here’s betting Detroit is last in the league in assists next year. Chucker, chucker, chucker, and chucker.
As Eric said, why not be patient, sign a mid-tier guy this year, add a probably lottery pick, and go after someone big next summer? I don’t get it. If any other GM were blowing money like this, they would be crucified. But since it is Joe D, he gets a free pass.
Must be nice to be riding the coattails of moves you made five and six years ago. What is the last good personnel move Joe made?
July 1st, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Dagomar says:
Oh, and in response to people who like these signings because it fits with the Pistons “no stars” philosophy:
The Pistons team that won the championship in ‘04 was actually stacked with great players. We’ve all seen how great Billups was; he wasn’t a star because he isn’t flashy and played in a slow-it-down offense but he’s still one of the best points of his generation. Sheed in ‘04 was one of the best bigs in the NBA. Ben Wallace was the best defensive player and rebounder in the league. Prince was one of the most versatile talents, Hamilton was one of the league’s best shooters. And that bench was money. Bottom line: that team had the best lineup in the league, stocked with players who were among the top three at their positions. Right now the Pistons are stocking their team with castoffs from mediocre teams. HUGE difference.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:22 pm
ponky_alolor says:
Well if Mo and Delonte got killed playing D against orlando, I have all the reason to believe that a small backcourt of Stuckey and BG would fare the same.
Detroit = desperate to keep up with Orlando and Cleveland’s offseason moves but all they got were nice parts with who cannot play D at all.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Big V says:
By the way Z-Bo to Memphis for Q Rich.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:40 pm
bone0315 says:
And Cavs chasing Ron Artest according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Kobeef says:
@Big V
That is actually a good trade for both teams. Memphis has been trying to get Z-bo for a long time so they have to be happy and Q can play SG beside Baron to give the Clips an interesting starting lineup which looks like it could be dangerous on paper.
Maybe they can film Youngest Guns 2 with Richardson and Griffin..
July 1st, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Tim says:
You guys do realize stuckey is 6′ 5″ right?
July 1st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Chaos says:
i kinda like the moves being made
BG, villanueva, rip, prince, mcdyess, stuckey and maxiell is a decent lineup. time for sheed to move on
July 1st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
bone0315 says:
6′5″ my ass…that’s like saying Ben Gordon is 6′3″
July 1st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
ERIC says:
Now that ZBO is traded to the Grizzlies & the aforementioned Piston signings, OKC is going to have their picking of Paul Millsap or David Lee or any other young up-and-comer who wants to play for the Thunder…
July 1st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
J says:
6′5 and he still can’t guard no1. RODNEY STUBBY
July 1st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
DurrtyInjun says:
WTF! CV’d deal ain’t bad but 11 mil for Gordon? I agree with whoever said they should have gone for Gortat. They might not have won as much this year, but they would still be able to make the playoffs and have some flexibility next year. I can’t see them getting a center that would make up for losing Rip in a trade.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:54 pm
vcn says:
.qrich back to clips
July 1st, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Willis says:
BREAKING NEWS:
Z-Bo traded to Memphis for Quentin Richardson.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Whatarewedoing? says:
I am pissed!!! What is Chicago doing? This man was your biggest playoff team member and you just let him walk off that easily? I know this sets us up for 2010 better, but who’s going to hit the big threes in illinois now? And we loose a lot of depth also…hope my bulls know what they are doing!
July 1st, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Big V says:
@Kobeef,
I agree. Although I think Z-Bo is by far the better pickup between the two, Z-Bo’s presence would more than likely impede Griffin’s development in more ways than one. He obviously needed to go.
Memphis could use a guy with some versatility, but I think they got the better end of this one just because of what they essentially gave up: Darko.
Unless there’s a salary/payroll issue I’m missing with Q Rich, I can’t help but think that Z-Bo’s worth more than Q.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:22 pm
nckdmss says:
Q’s contract expires after this season.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clippers-randolph2-2009jul02,0,238192.story
July 1st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
AL says:
Charlie Villanueva=rasheed wallace (without defense)
July 1st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Tim says:
He’s at least 6′3″
July 1st, 2009 at 10:38 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Perhaps I really missed something at some point or time but can anyone tell me…
…what all this means for Iverson?
Is Detroit going to try and trade him for a center or have they gotten rid of him already and I missed it or what?
Help?!
July 1st, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Tim says:
http://nbcsportsmedia2.msnbc.com/j/getty/gyi0056105633.widec.jpg
we all agree Hamilton is around 6′6″ so you figure out the rest everybody…
July 1st, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Tim says:
Iverson was a free agent after the season free to go to whomever wants him. He’s no longer under contract with Detroit.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Scott says:
I find it interesting that people downplay the Charlie V signing and don’t think BG is worth the money.
Regular season is one thing, but the Playoffs are where it counts and now BG has that experience plus has the balls to take/make extremely tough shots under huge pressure. Having him and Rip, two closers on the squad is a definite plus. I’ll say it again, this is nothing like the AI situation, BG wanted more money, anyone ever heard him whine about coming off the bench? Seems to me that he’s cool with coming off the bench if necessary so long as his play is rewarded by milli’s. Plus, he’s a UCONN guy, and Rip is a UCONN guy, you gotta think that they know each other, and possibly played together at some point during a summer. So the respect/friendship is probably there on some level that’ll allow them to co-exist a lot better than Rip and AI. Plus, AI was the dude Billups went for, Rip seems to have had a mancrush on Billups, and whomever came over for him, Rip wouldn’t have been happy.
Charlie V will be bananas when he mature’s, gotta believe he’s capable of being a Lamar Odom type guy, Lamar in Miami at PF typa numbers.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:02 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Thanks Tim, I hope A.I. chooses wisely.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:04 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Scott after that outstanding performance BG put on in the playoffs and Charlie has been doing ok I think they are excellent pics.
As far as money, no NBA player is worth all they are paid lol.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Big Ben says:
1. To all the people saying that Dumars should have saved his money for 2010 - Bosh, James, Wade, whoever - none of them are going to come to Detroit. Detroit isn’t exactly a hot destination. Name one superstar we’ve had in the last 30 years that we haven’t drafted. Dumars has to build a team in Detroit differently than someone building a team in New York, Boston, Chicago, or somewhere with warm weather. You just aren’t going to get big name guys in the prime of their careers.
2. To all the people saying that all Detroit needs now is a center: Can you name more than, say, 8 teams in the league who DON’T need a center? I’m so tired of hearing that. Like we don’t have a good center because Joe D isn’t trying hard enough, or because he just isn’t looking for one. EVERYBODY needs a center - there just aren’t enough to go around. So stop repeating that same stupid idea, like nobody’s ever thought of that one before.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:42 pm
hahns says:
no chance in hell pistons make the playoffs next year.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 am
heavy d says:
Defense = what Detroit USED to be know for. If I was a Piston fan, I wouldn’t like the moves. I’m not. As it is, I’ll be happy not to hear the De…Troit Basket…Ball chant for several years as they implode.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:54 am
POPPI GEE says:
Detroit really needs a center lol.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 am
QQ says:
This hurts the bulls surely. For the sake of the eastern conference, really hope chicago can land someone who can make a difference. An Amare signing would be a pretty nice pickup - maybe amare for tyrus + expiring contracts?
Starters:
Rose
Salmons
Deng
Amare
Noah
Bench:
Hinrich
Miller (unless hes an expiring contract)
Gray
James
Gibson
That’s a solid squad that can make it to the second round in the East (Assuming they are in the top 4). If they face the magic though….not gonna be pretty.
GOOOOO MAGICCCCC!