http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2995 ... onsideringTrader Joe: Some Possible Moves Joe Dumars Should Be Considering
Not only are you dealing with the first season in recent memory in which the playoffs seem like a difficult endeavor, but you are watching an entirely different team take the court this season. In fact, due to injury, you are seeing a different team every night! The season is still in its early stages and injuries have robbed this team of a clear way of judging the effectiveness of the roster. However, teams are always measured by wins and losses and unless NBA commissioner David Stern steps in and gives the league a mulligan, this team is going to have to play with the hand they were dealt.
What We Know
As presently constructed, this team can not compete for a title. You may be saying "thanks for the update, captain obvious! Any chance the Lions miss the playoffs too?", however, this is an important realization. Namely, because it means Pistons president Joe Dumars likely sees this too. As we have seen in the past, Dumars is not shy about making big splashes, and there is no reason to think that has changed. Also, the Pistons are not drawing as many fans as last year. While the economy of Michigan (especially Detroit) is a factor, that has never stopped Dumars before from bringing in fans.Add to that the fact that Dumars' new boss, the late William Davidson's family, is probably not making the profits they are used to, and you have a recipe for action. Perhaps I am wrong and they are a patient bunch. However, it seems like any new boss is looking to make their mark, and it never feels good to be at the helm when the ship starts taking in water. We also know that this Pistons team has holes in it. Rodney Stuckey is trying hard to become the point guard that Dumars needs him to be, but with varying levels of success. The fact is that this team is second to last in the league in assists, and that is a direct reflection of the team's point guard play. So why does Stuckey need to be this team's point guard? In all honesty, he doesn't, but it would be easiest if he was the "one". More on this in a second. The front court also has holes in it, although the Ben Wallace renaissance has helped mask this fact. Power forward Charlie Villanueva has been just about what most people expected, a scorer with limited skill at defense and on the boards (however, he has shown a willingness to at least try to defend, which has been a pleasant surprise for yours truly).But behind these two, the front court is woefully weak. Kwame Brown is, well, Kwame Brown. He is big and he can rebound and defend a little, so he is worth keeping around, but he is not the center of the future for this team. Chris Wilcox has been a bust so far, which is probably what most people expected. That leaves Jason Maxiell who has been, to be generous, rather inconsistent over the course of his tenure in Detroit and is likely on the trading block. We also know that this team has a huge logjam on the wings. This has been less obvious lately with all the injuries, but I am sure this is on Dumars' mind quite often. Currently, this Pistons team has essentially seven guys competing for minutes at two positions that should be, at most, five players deep. Also, the three most expensive salaries on the team, by far, are among those seven, and this is also a factor. More on that as well.
A Bright Side?
The good news is that this team is not barren of talent. If you look around the league, you will see some situations that are far more dire than Detroit's. The New York Knicks have a worse record, less talent and some terrible salaries on hand that essentially tie the hands of their general manager, Donnie Walsh.The New Jersey Nets have yet to win a game, yet they have some likewise terrible contracts (anybody want Bobby Simmons at $11 million per season?). New Orleans may have a stud in Chris Paul, but the Hornets have to slash salaries and they are faced with the prospect of having to trade their once untouchable star. Detroit has no such toxic salaries. The three most expensive players, Ben Gordon, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, are all still in their prime and still reasonably priced in the $10 to $11.5 million a year range. This team is also very young. Aside from Wallace and Chucky Atkins (who each make the veteran's minimum), only Hamilton is over 30. Given Rip's reputation for physical fitness, most people would agree that he should be able to play well into his late 30's (ala former Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller). This gives Dumars what every general manager craves ... flexibility.
