Ed21 in Philadelphia,PA.:
Does Rasheed wallaces attitude clash with coach pops style?
Mike Moreau:
It would be fun to find out. I'd watch on League Pass every night.
Moderators: Cowology, theBigLip, Snakebites, dVs33
Ed21 in Philadelphia,PA.:
Does Rasheed wallaces attitude clash with coach pops style?
Mike Moreau:
It would be fun to find out. I'd watch on League Pass every night.
Lawrence in Burbank ca:
If the pistons biggest problem this year was defense,why would they want Ben Gordon who plays very little? Also what do u think of James johnson? Thanx
Mike Moreau:
They had multiple "biggest problems", and Gordon gives them 20 ppg and toughness without baggage. Don't know what their master plan is - get Gordon, trade Rip. Bring in Daye, trade Prince? Who knows. Johnson gives Chicago some of that Detroit toughness.
james in detroit:
as a coach..how hard is it to keep a sane locker room and maintain a good relationship with the players...with currys firing, whos the lead candidate that can lead the pistons and discipline them a little?
Mike Moreau:
It's all about establishing culture and respect. With knuckleheads, it's a nightmare. With mature pros, it's easy. I think Avery Johnson may be the best guy at this point.
mack in los angeles:
will detroit get a coach first before offering deals with free agents?
Mike Moreau:
That would be wise. If I'm a player, I'm not boarding a ship with no captain
allan in austin,texas:
Do the hawks have a real shot at landing any of the big men free agents [ rasheed,gortat,mcdyess]? Thanks and have a nice day!
Mike Moreau:
Don't know if they will spend the money, but they need another big man to help Al Horford. He can't do it all by himself, although he did at times last year.
Colon in Oregon:
Would Villanueva be a guy in 3 years that will seem overpaid?
Mike Moreau:
Depends on how much Joe Dumars or anyone else is planning on giving him. Really depends on how it translates into wins and team success. Whoever can help him become a better defender and rebounder will recoup their investment.
Sources: Clips to trade Randolph
The team agreed to trade power forward Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies for swingman Quentin Richardson, sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford. The deal was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The trade can't be finalized until the league establishes the salary cap July 8 and lifts the moratorium on player movement.
The Clippers acquired Randolph from the Knicks last November to fill the void left by Elton Brand signing with the Sixers. Randolph averaged 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest in 39 games for Los Angeles. A knee injury cost him time, however, and the Clippers limped to the worst record in the league. On draft night, the Knicks traded Richardson to the Grizzlies for center Darko Milicic. Richardson won't play a game for Memphis. The nine-year veteran averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds last season. He now returns to the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2000 draft.
Trade surplus: In the end, Joe D pulls off a sweet deal
Would you trade Chauncey Billups for Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva? It’s not quite that neat and clean, of course, but that’s the essence of the landscape-altering trade Joe Dumars engineered last November when he shipped Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson. So would you trade Chauncey Billups, a terrific point guard, signed to a significant but reasonable contract, and about to turn 33 – entering the danger zone for point guards, at least mortal ones – for Ben Gordon, a 26-year-old pure scorer, and Charlie Villanueva, a 24-year-old power forward with a multifaceted offensive game? There are other considerations to the deal, of course. The Pistons still have enough cap space left to add one more free agent, so the deal remains open-ended yet. On the other side, they had to renounce rights to Rasheed Wallace, which doesn’t preclude them from re-signing him but makes it improbable. The one-year look the Pistons got at Allen Iverson could have gone either way. It went south, so you can add the snapping of their six-year run to the conference finals among the casualties of the trade. But back to the premise: Chauncey Billups for Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva? Deal or no deal? If we’re talking about three years from now, that seems a pretty easy call. Billups will be 36 and, if he’s still active, probably will be somebody’s backup point guard, valued for his leadership, savvy and clutch shooting ability, but in the final analysis, a role player. Gordon and Villanueva will be still on the sunny side of 30, still with prime years ahead of them, and – barring other transactions impossible to foretell – in lockstep with Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, perhaps in lesser roles, and maybe Austin Daye or the two other rookies drafted last week as franchise cornerstones.
If we’re talking about next season … a little closer, but still: Gordon and Villanueva combined to score 37 points a game last season. That’s the real takeaway from Joe Dumars’ earth-shaking opening salvo on free agency: These aren’t your father’s Pistons anymore. The days of half-court, grind-it-out offense have dissolved into a vapor cloud. The game has changed. The Pistons struggled too many nights for points over the past few seasons in an NBA that today makes it nearly impossible to win using the physical defense blueprint the 2004 team employed. Now they can put five players on the floor not only capable of putting up 20 points a night – they had that before, at times – but do it with great variety. Gordon, Stuckey and Will Bynum will give the Pistons three players adept at breaking down defenses off the dribble, something the Pistons have long lacked and a quality that’s become increasingly vital given the game’s changes. Gordon and Villanueva will greatly bolster a 3-point attack that was anemic last season, ranking in the bottom 10 percent in the league. Their threats, both off the dribble and from long range, should help Hamilton and Prince with their games, Hamilton in his familiar mid-range territory or spotting up in the corners for triples with the three slashers driving, Prince now having more space for what’s become his bread-and-butter, the back-down post-up move on overmatched small forwards. Neither Gordon nor Villanueva come advertised as good defensive players, but take that with a grain of salt. The truth is, there are a few dozen really good defensive players in the league and a few dozen really bad ones, and most of the rest are bunched pretty tightly together. The self-appointed experts divide players into “good” and “bad” defensive camps, when in truth 90 percent of them are some nights one and some nights the other, depending on the matchup. And the Pistons weren’t a very strong defensive team last year, either. The likelihood is that the offense gets punched up significantly by Wednesday’s contract agreements and the defense doesn’t change all that much.
Whether Gordon starts or comes off the bench – a role in which he’s been extremely comfortable in the past – he’s going to give the Pistons close to 20 points a game. Villanueva began last season coming off Milwaukee’s bench because the Bucks had plenty of scoring in the starting lineup with Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson, so Scott Skiles went with the defense of rookie Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – until Redd’s injury created a scoring void and Villanueva started delivering in a big way. Gordon is probably closer to his ceiling than Villanueva, but it shouldn’t be dismissed that in the cauldron of the playoffs, Gordon scored 24 a game in a seven-game series (despite a leg injury) and for the first time displayed that rarest of traits – the ability to carry a team’s offense for long stretches against postseason defenses. Gordon’s Boston performance probably wound up costing the Pistons an extra $1 million a year over the life of his contract, but it’s money well spent if they can count on Gordon for tough baskets in the lonely moments of future playoff fourth quarters.Villanueva should have several steps of progression left on his growth chart. What’s most striking about him is his innate scoring ability, another rare quality. Villanueva picks up garbage points around the rim a la Zach Randolph, knocks down mid-range jump shots with remarkable consistency like LaMarcus Aldridge and steps out to the 3-point line like … well, not quite like Rasheed Wallace just yet, but better than Wallace did at a similar point of their careers. The book isn’t closed yet on free agency. The Pistons’ big splash aside, once the few other big names are off the table, things are expected to slow down. Bargains can be found later in the summer. One more useful piece added to a frontcourt that now includes Kwame Brown, Jason Maxiell, Charlie Villanueva and three rookies auditioning for niche roles would solidify that segment of the roster and complement a backcourt that’s now dripping with options for a new coach to put to use. And the team that went to training camp a year ago whole, with Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Antonio McDyess at its core, facing major question marks about its ability to ever mount another title run, is now assured of looking radically different – and considerably more potent offensively – when it gathers for training camp in about three months.
Collins won't coach Pistons
Television analyst Doug Collins, one of two heavy favorites to fill the Detroit Pistons' sudden coaching vacancy, has withdrawn from consideration for the job. Collins told ESPN.com on Wednesday night that he called Joe Dumars to thank the Pistons president for considering him and to inform him of his preference to stay in television. That would appear to leave an unobstructed path to the job for ex-Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, who just completed his first season in TV as an analyst for ESPN. Sources close to the situation told ESPN that Johnson had his first substantive discussion with Dumars about the position earlier Wednesday.
Dumars announced on the team's Web site that he hopes to have a new coach in place early next week after firing Michael Curry on Tuesday, mere hours before the start of free agency. "My goal is to have a head coach in place by the time we go out to Las Vegas," Dumars said in a video posted on the team's Web site. The NBA Summer League runs July 10-19. The new coach will inherit a different roster than the one Curry had. On Wednesday, the Pistons agreed to terms with guard Ben Gordon and forward Charlie Villanueva, sources told ESPN.com.Dumars announced Curry's dismissal Tuesday. The first-year coach led the Pistons to a 39-43 regular-season record and a four-straight-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
In the video, Dumars said Detroit needs a more experienced coach as it moves to integrate new players with remaining veterans. "We think it's best to move forward with a more experienced coach to get us through these times right now," Dumars said. "We're going through a transition now where we're bringing back some of the veterans, we're implementing some of the younger guys. "That's probably a little bit too much for a first-time head coach. ... It's a little bit unfair of me to put him in that situation." Dumars and Curry played together at Detroit, but that wasn't enough to save Curry's job after he led the team to a losing regular-season record and four lopsided playoff losses to the Cavaliers after six straight Eastern Conference finals appearances.
Video in the link above^.Could Doug Collins be the one?
Our personal Pistons insider Matt Dery of 97.1 The Ticket talks Doug Collins on Fox News.
Gordon and Villanueva - Meeting with Joe Dumars
Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are either on their way to the Palace or already there as I type.
Ben Gordon and The Pistons Strike a Deal
And I’m not happy about it….“The Detroit Pistons have reached agreement with free-agent guard Ben Gordon(notes) on a five-year contract worth around $55 million, a source with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo! Sports Wednesday evening. The Pistons are continuing to negotiate with forward Charlie Villanueva(notes). July 8 is the first day free agents can sign contracts. Gordon and Villanueva, who played together for a year at UConn, traveled to Detroit on Wednesday morning to meet with Detroit president Joe Dumars.” Over 11 million dollars a year for Gordon….say it ain’t so Joe.
And, if you follow me on Twitter you know…I’m not cartooning Ben Gordon until I find out his contract is under 11 mill. NO TOON FOR YOU!!!!
UPDATE from Dave Dial “A 5-year $55 million dollar contract is what Ben Gordon was reported to be looking for, and the starting salary for that deal would by just under $9.5 million. The Pistons have been reported to have $20 million in cap space, so will still have around $10.5 million to spend on other free agents. If Charlie Villanueva agree to a contract starting at around the $7 million dollar range, Dumars will have a little cap space left over to initiate a salary cap trade or to sign a lower level free agent.”
Charlie Villanueva Agrees Too
Joe Dumars wastes no time and seems to be weighing no other options.
The AP is reporting: “Villanueva, the seventh overall pick by Toronto in 2006 who has played all three of his NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks, also agreed to a five-year deal. His contract is worth at least $35 million.”
UPDATE: Pistons.com has it as front page news now.
Aldridge: Pistons agree to terms with Gordon, Villanueva
The Detroit Pistons agreed to terms with two of the NBA's top free agents on the first day of free agency Wednesday, getting commitments from Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon and Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva on multi-year deals. Gordon agreed to terms on a five-year deal worth $58 million, according to sources, and Villanueva agreed a five-year deal worth $40 million. The deals used up all of the $19 million the Pistons had under next year's likely salary cap, but makes Detroit a deep, versatile team after the Pistons were spanked in the first round of the playoffs. Gordon had been on the Pistons' radar for some time, and had been linked to them soon after Chicago's first-round playoff loss to Boston, and Villanueva became free after Milwaukee declined to make him a qualifying offer on Monday, which would have made Villanueva a restricted free agent, allowing the Bucks to match any offer he received. Failing to make the offer made Villanueva an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign with any team. Several contending teams, including Cleveland and San Antonio, had hoped to sign the 24-year-old Villanueva, who had career highs in points (16.2) and rebounds (6.7) for Milwaukee last season. The Pistons brought in Gordon, 26, and Villanueva together, figuring the two former University of Connecticut teammates -- they won the national championship together in 2004 -- would feel more comfortable seeing one another. It worked.
Last season, the Pistons fell apart internally, with players openly sniping against former coach Michael Curry, who was fired Tuesday. At issue was Curry's decision to bench veteran guard Rip Hamilton in favor of newcomer Allen Iverson, who'd been acquired from Denver for guard Chauncey Billups. Iverson quickly wore out his welcome in Detroit, missing the final few weeks of the season with a back injury, and the Pistons had no interest in re-signing him. Gordon's arrival is different, a team source said. "Ben agreed to come here knowing he would come off the bench," the source said. "That makes it completely different than Iverson coming here ... Gordon is choosing to come here and play the super sub role." Gordon and Villanueva's arrivals continue the makeover of the team that reached six straight Eastern Conference finals between 2002 and 2008. President of basketball operations Joe Dumars had said after the 2008 conference finals loss to Boston that he thought his team had grown stale and needed to be broken up. He's been as good as his word, with Billups already gone and free agents Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess less likely to return.
Now, Detroit sports a three-guard rotation of Rodney Stuckey, Hamilton and Gordon, with Tayshaun Prince and first-round pick Austin Daye at small forward, with Villanueva starting at power forward. If Wallace and McDyess both leave, Detroit would have a hole to fill at center, with veteran Kwame Brown the most likely candidate at the moment. Gordon's deal ended two offseasons of sometimes contentious negotiations with his former team over a contract. He started his career in Chicago as a sixth man, but soon became a starter, and led the team in scoring this season, including a 24.3 point average in the Boston series. But the Bulls claimed he turned down several offers for a new contract in each of the last two summers. Gordon's camp denied that he had gotten significant offers from Chicago. At any rate, he signed a one-year deal worth $6.4 million last year. Gordon's agent, Ray Brothers, said that 17 teams contacted him Wednesday about Gordon, but most were looking to sign Gordon to the mid-level exception or looking to do a sign-and-trade with Chicago. And after the last two summers of trying to negotiate deals with Chicago, Gordon was leery of yet more delay in trying to work something out down the road when Detroit came through so quickly with a tangible offer.
Video in the link above^.State of Detroit
NBATV's Steve Smith reports on his conversation with General Manager Joe Dumars about the coaching situation, head coach prospects and possible free agent signings
Source: Pistons job is Doug Collins' to lose
The Pistons just endured a 39-win season and first-round playoff sweep, in large part due to the three-headed backcourt of Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, and Allen Iverson. The fallout led to coach Michael Curry’s sudden and unexpected firing Tuesday, with Doug Collins and former Mavs coach Avery Johnson emerging as the front-runners to replace him. A high-level coaching source told CBSSports.com that the job appeared to be Collins’ to lose.
Pistons agree with Gordon, Villanueva
The Detroit Pistons struck first Wednesday, getting commitments from their top two free-agent targets, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.
Gordon agreed to a five-year, $55 million deal, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Villanueva also agreed to a five-year deal in the $35 million range -- or slightly above the anticipated mid-level exception of $5.6 million per year -- a person involved in those discussions said. The exact figures won't be known until the deals are signed on July 8, after the league and players association agree on the salary cap and luxury tax for the 2009-10 season.
2009 NBA Free Agency Has Begun
It's upon us: The 2009 NBA Free Agency period. Will we wake up to any breaking news? What types of tricks does Joe Dumars have up his sleeves for his biggest free agent period since he first rebuilt this Pistons team? We've been discussing all the options for the Pistons this summer, most people laying out all the big names on the list that could fit well with the Pistons. I want to remind everyone how Joe Dumars built this team back before the 2004 championship: A hasn't hacked it yet point guard from Colorado (Chauncey Billups), an undrafted journeyman from Alabama (Ben Wallace), and a guy who was not even the best player in the deal at the time (Richard Hamilton). Those three, a couple unexciting draft picks, and a big deadline deal turned into a championship team and six straight years of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Sure, Hedo Turkoglu, Charlie Villanueva, Ben Gordon, and David Lee are going to be options, but what Dumars ultimately decides may surprise you, upset you at the same time, and then wind up being the best move for this franchise. Joe Dumars says it best in this Dan Wetzel column on Yahoo: "The hardest thing is to convince people that fantasy basketball and running a team are two different things," he said. "You can’t just write down names that look good on paper. We’ve seen in the past that’ll get you a ways, but not all the way."
It's going to be a very interesting time period from now until this team starts to take shape for next season. Let's enjoy it and hope Joe Dumars uses the loads of money wisely. Happy Free Agency.
Gordon Signs with the Pistons..
The Detroit Pistons have reached agreement with free-agent guard Ben Gordon(notes) on a five-year contract worth around $55 million, a source with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo! Sports Wednesday evening. The Pistons are continuing to negotiate with forwardCharlie Villanueva(notes).
July 8 is the first day free agents can sign contracts.
Gordon and Villanueva, who played together for a year at UConn, traveled to Detroit on Wednesday morning to meet with Detroit president Joe Dumars.
UPDATE: As he did with the Sixers' job earlier in the offseason, Collins has pulled his name out of consideration for the Pistons job, according to ESPN. Johnson now has an unobstructed path to the job.