2011 Free Agency, NBA / Dec 14, 2011 / 10:00 am

Rodney Stuckey Is Caught Between A Rock And A Hard Place

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Rodney Stuckey

Rodney Stuckey (photo. Tom McKenzie)

Detroit should want him, but whether they need everything that comes with his play is a question for Dumars. Stuckey’s worth dives when the ball is out of his hands. Kuester couldn’t save the Pistons last year – or his job – in part because he couldn’t manage the mercurial Stuckey. Among his worst hits from last year were a benching in November against Atlanta for ignoring Kuester, refusing to enter the game in the fourth quarter in April against Chicago, and not showing up for practices and mocking Kuester from the bench later in the season.

If Detroit wants to pay him between a mid-level and a Gordon, Stuckey may feel his best offer is on the open market, where Detroit can match any offer sheet he signs; in effect, he and Rose could force the Pistons’ hand and truly judge their loyalty. The problem is any testing of the market will be met with reluctance stemming from leaguewide memories of his attitude problems.

There’s another scenario that could be the best option — even though it’s the one Stuckey surely doesn’t want and could leave the team exposed, as well.

The scenario is a one-year qualifying offer of $3.8 million. It allows Stuckey to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and in the best of both worlds, sets up long-term payday for the him and a short-term playoff spot for the team this year.

He’d be underpaid now, but he’d certainly have something to play for, whatever his clashes with previous management. There’s no question Stuckey is good enough to be a catalyst for the Pistons this year, under the right contract. It’s just a matter of opinion — Dumars’ or Stuckey’s — how the “right” contract is defined.

What do you think is a fair deal for Stuckey?

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Posted in 2011 Free Agency, NBA |

  • matt

    Dude is a SG that Dumars tried to turn into a PG.

  • Sean Sweeney

    Stuckey’s one of the more underrated players in the league. If Detroit is going to pay anyone from that team, it should be him.

  • Russ

    If Rodney Stucky is making $10 mil per year then it’ll show that this lockout solved nothing. $10 mil per year should be reserved for all-star caliber players.

  • Sean Sweeney

    Sounds like Detroit is offering $40-45 million and Stuckey wants more.

  • Banny

    7 mil a year tops.

  • Atticusmitch

    You don’t reward someone for not making the playoffs. Just because he had good stats on a bad team doesn’t mean he is good. He didnt produce wins. He is certainly not worth $10 milllion per season. Take the longevity of the deal for security. Besides Knight will start ahead of him eventually.

  • north

    His stats weren’t even that good. 13 ppg for the time he was on the court is average. Banny is right, $7 million per is his ceiling… 5 might be a bit low, 5.5 seems perfect. Tell him to lose the attitude and play ball.
    Guys like this make Derrick Coleman look like a saint.

  • Banny

    This article makes it seem like Stuckey is needed. He’s a solid player but hes not putting us over the top. We already overpaid twice. We can’t do it again.

  • beiber newz

    just me, but i don’t think it’s bad that he didn’t take the deal. stukey can ball.

  • thrillah

    @ Beiber Newz, Stuckey can ball? He can’t even shoot! 7 mil sounds just about right.

  • yentron

    10M per for 13 and 5? no way.

  • BiGShoTBoB

    I’m wit yentorn those stats aren’t impressive enough for 10 per.

  • ERIC

    He is an undersized 2-guard who cant shoot well or score efficiently.

    He is a big point-guard who cant pass well enough or quick enough to defend opposing team pgs.

    If he were putting up sick stats one could argue, but no stats, no intangibles, no real position and a team with overpaid wing players.

    If he is balking at 40-45mm, I’d dump the bum.

  • beiber newz

    would charlie v be getting paid more than him? hm

  • UncheckedAggression

    This guy is really overrated. He’s been about to bust out for how long now? Seriously, Detroit just doesn’t seem to want to admit they made a mistake with him. They were saying he was their future. He’s nothing special and if they keep treating him like he is, then it’s gonna limit the development of the team for years.

  • http://deleted dagwaller

    Where to begin…

    First of all, no, “10 million a year” belongs nowhere near “career high 5.2 assists per game” or “13.6 ppg”. Ben Gordon’s contract is way too large, but at least he scored near 20 ppg for a Chicago squad that put a scare into a legit team in Boston a few years back. Stuckey has put up decent – DECENT – numbers on a terrible team.

    Second of all, if he’s 6’5″, how exactly does he match up well with the league’s trend of smaller lead guards?!

  • http://deleted dagwaller

    Where to begin…

    First of all, no, “10 million a year” belongs nowhere near “career high 5.2 assists per game” or “13.6 ppg”. Ben Gordon’s contract is way too large, but at least he scored near 20 ppg for a Chicago squad that put a scare into a legit team in Boston a few years back. Stuckey has put up decent – DECENT – numbers on a terrible team.

    Second of all, if he’s 6’5″, how exactly does he match up well with the league’s trend of smaller lead guards?!

    Thirdly, if he plays best ON the ball, how does he make sense next to Ben Gordon, who plays the same way?

    Fourth, he’s already shown that he’s more than willing to clash with his coach. I give him a little bit of a pass on this one, since the rest of the team was doing the same thing. Still, when you’re rebuilding, you figure on having 2 coaches over 5 years. Are they willing to gamble that Stuckey’s going to get along with 2 different guys over that span?

    Fifth, shouldn’t a player just play his best and let THAT be the determining factor for his contract? Am I crazy? Desean Jacksons of the world need to shut up and play.

    Finally, Joe Dumars is lucky to have a job! He had a couple years earlier this decade in which he put together a championship team that lasted for a while. Then he drafted Darko Milicic, let his (quality) core sit while their value and ability declined, hired a coach that no one liked, traded away or let go his best players (Sheed and Billups), and has generally presided over a failing club.

  • http://deleted dagwaller

    PS Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva

  • Tee

    I said a long time ago. Joe needs to go. Terrible drafts, terrible trades, terrible FA signings, the team is put together terribly. Idk y he didn’t something for rip last year. Bad coaches. Can somebody tell me what has he done the 3-4 years? Seriously

  • the cynic

    Shouldn’t it read Pistons balk at paying Stuckey 40-45mil?

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