Rasheed Offseason options

[Snakebites]

His playoff performance, and the teams' as a whole will (and should) largely determine his future with the team, and whether he'll even have one beyond his current deal. We fail and he's a major part of that failure, he'll either be traded that offseason or let go the next. I have to believe Dumars would try to salavage SOMETHING for him, but I have no idea what that would be.

I was under the impression the guy was on thin ice after what happened in the playoffs last year, that ice will break if he and we meet a similar fate this year.

[theBigLip]

Do we believe that Sheed can age gracefully and continually develop into *more* of a C?
If we plan on re-upping him and keeping him at the 5 (with Dice/Amir at the 4 for the next two years and PF Maxiell to be extended soon), the length of his deal will affect if/when we draft/sign a center and who that player is. If we acquire some sort of project, a three-year deal would be fine, for example.

I can't think of a near-contending team with any young bigs that we could get in exchange for Rasheed.
We could get Dalembert from Philadelphia? Jermaine O'Neal?
I don't believe that Milwaukee/Charlotte would trade Bogut/Okafor, but I could be wrong.
I have no interest in any of Seattle's bigs besides Wilcox.
How about Chris Kaman? While I believe he's superior to Rasheed NOW, does LAC?

After spending a long 4 hour plane ride today from Shanghai to Bangkok looking at an NBA stat sheet, I realize that you are right. If we could get Bogut, Okafor, maybe Kamen, that would be a solid rebuilding move. But if Sheed becomes our center for the next 3-4 years, that would be the smartest move, especially if Sheed doesn't want a raise.

Dice, on the other hand, should be moved to give more time to Amir and Max. This also depends on the playoffs - if we go to the NBA Finals, then we keep him (and everyone else) for next year. If we don't, I think Dice is a good expiring contract to move (team option the following year I believe, so he is essentially an expiring deal next year).

[mercury]

I think we tend to overvalue Sheeds's contributions... he's a good post defender and a poor perimeter defender.... his offense is good once every three games.
We should at least explore our trade options for his expiring... I could see Sheed giving up the game after his contract runs out.... but yeah if we could trade him and sign him back would your best bet.

[LanierFan]

I think the opposite, Merc. A lot of the big expiring contracts that get traded offer cap relief and nothing more. Guys who are too old, too injured, too selfish, too overpaid.

Compare that to Sheed. You get size, defense, unselfishness, no real injuries, offensive versatility, experience in big games. Oh, and a big expiring number too. If the Pistons want to shop him in the offseason, I think they can command a very hefty price - and we'll still find ourselves struggling to make up for his loss.