<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">AUBURN HILLS -- The Pistons enter the free-agent signing period with a wish list, something akin to a child's Christmas list. And as every kid at Christmas knows, some wishes are granted and others aren't. The Pistons would like to find a good small forward / shooting guard to back up Tayshaun Prince. But they don't have much to offer in terms of space. They already have 11 guaranteed-contract players on a roster of 15 -- and that's before including 2005 draft picks Jason Maxiel, Alex Acker and Amir Johnson. Also throw in free agents Elden Campbell, Darvin Ham and Horace Jenkins. Jenkins and Campbell aren't expected to return, but Ham is still a possibility. So the Pistons will lie low, see what other teams are doing and what players might be available, and be patient. "That's about all we can and want to do right now -- study the situation and see what's shaking loose around the league," said John Hammond, vice president of basketball operations. "We certainly hope to find somebody who can fill the bill, but we're going to be pretty selective." </div> Source
The Pistons should ship some of those guaranteed eleven contracts in a package deal for a backup small forward like a two for one or three for one deal. They only had an eight-man rotation last season if you really look at it so four of those eleven guys are occupying nothing, but roster spots. By trading them in a package deal you would allow your team to have more flexibility in the free agent market. Am I saying they should ship away a player like Darko, because he was not in the rotation last year? No, but players like Carlos Arroyo, Dupree, and others could be used as trade bait for a young team possibly the Hawks looking to get rid of Al Harrington.
Why bother doing that when guys like Allan Houston, Michael Finley and Jalen Rose will likely all become available soon? makes no sense. You try and add to your team not make trades to lose some of your bench.
