NOTKyle
07-01-2009, 11:42 PM
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=pistons-090701&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dholling er_john%26page%3dpistons-090701
thanks!
johnnychacski
07-02-2009, 01:02 PM
I can't help shaking the feeling that when the Pistons traded Chauncey Billups (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=63) at the start of last season, it wasn't so they could sign Ben Gordon (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2381) to replace him.
Unfortunately, this is what the free-agent market left the Pistons. Once Detroit determined that Carlos Boozer (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1703) wasn't worth the money he sought, the team had only two alternatives with its $20 million trove of cap space: Move quickly to sign the next-best players available, or hold the money for next year and try again.
This option was probably the more prudent strategy, for a couple of reasons. First, Detroit got two young players, which is important. Today's reported agreements with Gordon for five years and $55 million, and Charlie Villanueva (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2792) for five years and $40 million, would be hugely risky with veteran players in their late 20s. But since Gordon is only 26 and Villanueva is only 24, the Pistons limited their risk.
Moreover, those players can still deliver some positive surprises going forward. Neither is an All-Star at present, but both have had enough moments as high-octane scorers for us to consider the possibility somewhere down the road.
Gordon also gives the Pistons a potent sixth man in a three-guard rotation with Richard Hamilton (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=294) and Rodney Stuckey (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3235), harking back to the days when Detroit dominated with a trio of Isiah Thomas (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3507), Vinnie Johnson and current team president Joe Dumars (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3689). Meanwhile, Villanueva replaces Rasheed Wallace (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=883) as the deep-shooting power forward in Detroit's system, although he's nowhere near the defensive force Wallace was.
The deals were of interest for a couple of other reasons, too. First, the setup leaves the door open for another move or two. Depending where the new cap number comes in, Detroit could have nearly $4 million left under the cap after these two deals, which could enable the team to sign another reserve into its cap space or, more likely, allow the Pistons to make an opportunistic trade with a team desperate to cut payroll. For example, they could trade Kwame Brown (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=981) and Jason Maxiell (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2775) to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=984) and Julian Wright (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3241).
Second, it shines a harsh light on a much less scrutinized decision Dumars made at the same time he traded Billups, but one that could prove far more hurtful to Detroit's chances -- signing Hamilton to a three-year, $34 million extension.
That will pay Hamilton until he's 34; more importantly, it might prevent Detroit from being a player in next year's free-agent market, when much more lucrative talents are on the board. As it stands now, the Pistons have no cap room in 2010. Had they not extended Hamilton, they would be looking at enough room to sign a player to a maximum contract.
Of course, a lot of water can go under the bridge between now and next summer, and it's possible Dumars could put Detroit back in position to make a run at a player in 2010 by trading Tayshaun Prince (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1724) and/or Maxiell for expiring contracts. Unfortunately for the Pistons, it is now their division rival Chicago that is well-placed to add a major piece in free agency in 2010.
In the meantime, the Pistons aren't in a terrible place for the coming seasons. They've solidified the frontcourt and the backcourt and have the type of ensemble cast of minor stars that earned them six straight trips to the conference finals earlier this decade.
Unfortunately, they don't have Billups, and they don't have a star of his caliber as a replacement. That wasn't the plan when they traded Mr. Big Shot a year ago, and that's why one can't help but feeling underwhelmed by Detroit's free-agent haul.