Pistons – where is the deal?
July 10, 2008 by James Edwards
Filed under Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons, NBA Playoffs, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince
NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.
Rasheed Wallace is expensive, but available
Image details: Detroit Pistons v Boston Celtics, Game Five served by picapp.com
Chauncey Billups? He is available.
Rip Hamilton? Yeah, him too.
Rasheed Wallace? Well, more expensive, because his rather large contract expires next year.
Tayshaun Prince? He may be a throw in on other deals, go figure.
Joe Dumars said all four are available. He wants to shake things up. Umpteen million trips to the conference finals with only 1 NBA title just does not get it done.
Still, where is the deal?
Dumars has said he wants another team’s best player. But can they get that player? I don’t think so. Reportedly, Detroit wanted Carmelo but Denver was only offering Camby or Iverson. I see that exact scenario playing out with pretty much every team in the league. There will be no Carmelos out there, just a bunch of Cambys. And for what the Pistons would have to give up, I don’t think that makes them better – just different.
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The Pistons are already over the cap, so a deal needs to be done or the 5.4 million dollar exception is to be used.
As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.
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Dumars is in a tough position. He wants to light a fire under the players on the team, wants to excite the fans so they have something new to come out to see. He doesn’t want to give his starters away without getting something better in return. Prince and Hamilton are still have their best years ahead of them, both good team players. Billups is on the downside, has a lot of money owed him but how do you go out and get a better pointguard that will produce next year? Wallace is probably the most valuable player on the floor and will have a good year next year being in the last year of his contract. McDyess is a perfect fit for a veteran team and can start or come off the bench. Stucki and Amir have too much potential to just give them away. If you go down the roster and then look at whats available in the league right now it appears Dumars best bet is to sit tight another year, wait until rasheeds salary comes off the books next year and then make a run at a big time free agent.
At this point would be willing to trade a starter for youth.