This Summer

[theBigLip]

I don't think we should trade Sheed in the offseason, even if we do start rebuilding. We could use the cap space ourselves. I'd start with moving Chauncey, RIP and/or Dice. Keep Tay.

If we just let Sheed roll off the books, and if we move one more big contract, the summer of 2009 we would be big players in free agency. I think that's the year LeBron and everyone opts out.

[srt4b]

I am the only one who thinks the big 5 should stay together for at least 2 more years? We have had no bench for 4 years now. MxDyess is our best most consistent rebounder, if he goes we are done, we already get killed on the glass.

The entire bench can go for all I care, I'm not in love with an of them.

[theBigLip]

Free agents are going to be cheaper - everyone is adhering to the Lux Tax, which has basically made it a hard cap. I bet we could get a couple of good players with the MLE. We need to make sure we stay under the lux tax so we can use the MLE.

[srt4b]

Detroit Trade Breakdown
Change in Team Outlook: +1.1 ppg, +5.1 rpg, and -0.8 apg.
Incoming Players
Mike Miller
6-8 SG from Florida
16.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg in 37.5 minutes
Pau Gasol
7-0 PF from Spain (Foreign)
19.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.0 apg in 36.8 minutes
Outgoing Players
Amir Johnson
6-9 SF / PF from Weschester (HS)
2.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.4 apg in 8.1 minutes
Tayshaun Prince
6-9 SF from Kentucky
13.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg in 33.5 minutes
Richard Hamilton
6-7 SG from Connecticut
18.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.4 apg in 35.1 minutes

Memphis Trade Breakdown
Change in Team Outlook: -1.1 ppg, -5.1 rpg, and +0.8 apg.
Incoming Players
Amir Johnson
6-9 SF / PF from Weschester (HS)
2.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.4 apg in 8.1 minutes
Tayshaun Prince
6-9 SF from Kentucky
13.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg in 33.5 minutes
Richard Hamilton
6-7 SG from Connecticut
18.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.4 apg in 35.1 minutes
Outgoing Players
Mike Miller
6-8 SG from Florida
16.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg in 37.5 minutes
Pau Gasol
7-0 PF from Spain (Foreign)
19.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.0 apg in 36.

[Master Shake]

I like that deal, get it done. I think at the very least we need to give a 1st their way too.

But Maxiell is really building a case for himself to be one of our next starting big men. It's the summer to extend him, do we get a deal done? Do we look to move him? Or do we look to wait till the following summer when he's a restricted free agent?

[ajaX82]

I like the deal as well. We have 4 quality big men than. But who starts? Billups/Miller/Hayes/Sheed/Gasol with Max/Dice/Stuckey/AA off the bench. I guess Hayes/Miller are slightly redundant, so start Stuckey and move MM to the 3?

[Master Shake]

Hopefully we'd look to pick up a slasher to play the 3, because Gasol shoots the J too, and we wouldn't have much of a threat attacking the basket, maybe start Jarvis and look to sign a guy like Gerald Green and hope he can make something of himself?

[The Penguin]

I like the Memphis deal a lot maybe they could pick up Corey Maggette (or someone like him) with the mid level.

I was actually thinking about Lee the other day, maybe Isiah will say "screw it, I'm getting fired anyways, maybe I will trade Lee for Flip Murray and in return the Pistons will give me a job blowing up basketballs and going to children's birthday parties".

[Uncle Mxy]

You'd have a much better chance at making Amir a SF than Maxey. Heck even Amir was talking about himself as a small forward in the mould of Tayshaun over the summer.

Was that before or after we signed Hayes?

[gusman]

I don't necessarily think that this franchise really cares if we get back to the finals or not. They like winning 50-55 games a year, going deep in the playoffs and makin lots of money...

I don't think Joe's ready to make a firesale while this team is still playing at his "high level." It would be crazy to take a step backward, bad for business. I know we as fans want championships... but that may not be the real case here.

That is true, why would detroit want their areana to look like that of philiadelphia or minesota

[roc]

I would like that Memphis deal a lot better if Amir wasn't involved. Might as well send them Maxiell instead since he would be losing minutes with Dice/Sheed/Gasol all in front of him for PT. Gasol seems a bit soft to me but he is a pretty good big man. What would Memphis do with Tay, Rip, Gay and Pau's buddy JCN all playing the 2/3? Seems like Rip or Tay would have to go somewhere else to help them balance their roster.

[mercury]

I think we should trade for our backup center before the deadline... the FA crop for bigs at the MLE looks weak.
Whereas SGs & SF's is a strength with few teams under the lux tax to compete with.
IMO, Grant Hill for just one year makes sense (player opt)... this sets us up for the big payroll drop in in 09/10...
Per Langlois Rip has an opt out the same year as Sheeds deal is over.

[Rodya]

I don't necessarily think that this franchise really cares if we get back to the finals or not. They like winning 50-55 games a year, going deep in the playoffs and makin lots of money...

I don't think Joe's ready to make a firesale while this team is still playing at his "high level." It would be crazy to take a step backward, bad for business. I know we as fans want championships... but that may not be the real case here.

I'm not so sure Joe is all about "going deep in the playoffs and makin lots of money..." I respect the argument, but this is the guy that fired Carlisle after two 50+ win seasons and a trip to the conference finals, just for the possibility of winning a championship.

[Master Shake]

-= original quote snipped =-



I'm not so sure Joe is all about "going deep in the playoffs and makin lots of money..." I respect the argument, but this is the guy that fired Carlisle after two 50+ win seasons and a trip to the conference finals, just for the possibility of winning a championship.

That was also long before the Pistons were pulling in the kind of money they are pulling in right now. At that time, tickets were half the price they are now.

Joe D wouldn't fire sale the team, take a few steps back to win a championship in 3 years, he'd much rather run to the ECF year after year and almost get another 1/4 of a season's profit in with high playoff tickets.