And since it would be rude to start a thread and then not post my own take on things here we go:
First mission: force Joe Dumars to retire. Explain to him that after the last 5 years his beloved Pistons simply can't attract quality coaches and players with him in charge. He'll either retire of his own accord or I would create a BS "position" within the organisation so he can stay employeed... but he'll have no further say in anything related to the Pistons.
2nd mission: hire Ryan McDonough from the Boston Celtics (thanks Kilo).
http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/3 ... gh-profile
3rd mission: Coaching staff... Frank was part of the Celtics staff before coming here but he's got to go. Detroit has never been a desired destination for quality free agents and having a poor coach AND a rookie GM AND a poor location = 3 strikes. I can't change the location but can certainly change the coach...
Hire Mike Budenholzer... 16 years as an assistant coach... 5 as the #1 to Pop...
http://www.nba.com/coachfile/mike_budenholzer/New GM... new Head Coach... Now time for the New Roster...
Draft:
Lotto Pick = McLemore, Olapido, Porter or Bazz - whichever player our trusted scouts think will be better

For the rest of this plan I'll assume we draft Olapido as McLemore is taken before #5
2nd Round Picks = highly unlikely we strike gold.. but I hope our scouts can get someone capable of making a contribution at #35. At #55 it's "stash a Euro" time...
Free Agency
Amnesty CV-DNP
Pay Stuckey $4 million to walk away
Renounce Maxiell, Maggette, Bynum and Jose Calderon
Team Salary = $18,256,686 (assuming the #5 pick = $2 million in salary)
Cap Space = $41,743,314 (assuming a salary cap of $60 mil)
Under contract:
Drummond/Slava
Monroe/Jerebko
Singler/Middleton
Olapido/English
Knight
I'm on record numerous times saying that we need a quality shooter (or 2) on the wings, a veteran PG and a quality back up big man... and looking at the roster I enter free agency with it's even more obvious what we need.
First things first: Hope Speights chooses to be a free agent!
With more than $40 mil to spend it's time to go shopping:
Bigs = Speights starting @ $6 mil per season and David West @ $10 mil per season
Best thing about signing those 2 it we weaken divison rivals

Wings = Corey Brewer starting @ $6 mil per season and Al-Farouq Aminu @ $6 mil per season
Brewer can handle some SG and Aminu could defend stretch 4's in certain line-ups
PG = Jarrett Jack starting @ $6 mil per season
With those guys signed I've got a total team salary just over $52 mil. IF I needed to spend more money to reach the minimum team salary required I'd give whatever was needed to Will Bynum for 1 season only.
Roster:
Drummond/Speights/Slava
Monroe/West/Jerebko
Aminu/Singler/Middleton
Brewer/Olapido/English
Knight/Jack (and possibly Bynum)
Deep, athletic, versatile...