From what I've heard, acquiring Cato's contract will secure both Billups and Big Ben for the Pistons in the offseason, so they can keep their starting lineup intact. That makes it worth it, in my eyes.
The Magic's pick should definitely be lottery protected. I don't see them making the playoffs this year and Detroit shouldn't end up with a lottery pick. I guess if this trade goes down Detroit officially has given up on Darko. Just imagine... Wade, Anthony, or Bosh in a Pistons jersey. They'd be contenders for a <u>long</u> time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Just imagine... Wade, Anthony, or Bosh in a Pistons jersey. They'd be contenders for a <u>long</u> time.</div> yep. not to mention guys like kaman and west, who are good players and probably can get even better with the tutoring of big ben and rasheed
2007? forgive me while I go puke Joe you better have another deal for a PG or you are a moron You also better not waive Cato, he would be big for the playoffs. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Just imagine... Wade, Anthony, or Bosh in a Pistons jersey. They'd be contenders for a <u>long</u> time.</div> None of them would be what they are today had any of them been drafted by Detroit.
So, what happens if Lindsey Hunter (or, gulp!, Billups) gets injured? Does Detroit even have another point guard?
Um...what to say...what to say. Now that it has been reported as a done deal, (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2332021) there isn't much to really say. I have faith in Dumars, but this is stretching even my beliefs. The pick is a 2007 pick, at earliest. Now honestly, this year Orlando sucks and will get a lottery pick. However, NEXT YEAR, assuming they get rid of Francis, and with a core of Howard, Milicic, Vazquez, and whoever they pick up in the lottery, that looks like a very talented core (I'm still under the assumption that Darko isn't a Kwame Brown level bust, but I'm getting closer and closer to that final realization). So, this makes me assume that the 2007 pick will be around a 15... So, we get a resigning of Wallace and Billups in exchange for losing our backup PG and admitting that taking Darko was the wrong move. Very nice... Combined with the fact that I'm getting to the point where I'm not willing to give Ben all that much money. Now I'm a huge fan of Ben, but he's getting older and he's not where he used to be talent-wise. Depending on how much money he draws on the market, I would be almost pushing for a sign-and-trade. So trading away backup PG + Milicic for the opportunity to resign an aging defense-only player (and of course, the fact that he provides a lot of our teamwork...and the fact that we can also resign Billups) seems to me that we got cheated. I honestly hope Dumars has something planned.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post"> None of them would be what they are today had any of them been drafted by Detroit.</div> i definetely agree with that. Bosh would be like Darko is, Wade wouldn't start over Billups or Rip after they won the championship in their rookie years. Melo might be the only one that started, but Detroit really loves Tayshaun, so I don't know if they would start him over Tayshaun either. Well good luck with Cato, you should get our pick next year, hopefully we won't be that bad again.
Wade would start over Rip Hamilton. I mean, the guy does single handidly beat the Pistons. And I don't know why Larry Brown gets such a bad rep for not playing rookies. If anything, he just knew what the Pistons and fans have finally come to terms with: Darko is a bust Chris Bosh and D-Wade would've definetly gotten time including Heinrich and Kaman. Not too sure about Melo since his ego / attitude would conflict with Brown's but there's no question he was ready to contribute in the NBA.
It's been said Joe D is targetting Claxton, Knight and Lue. I have no idea what he will offer. I don't see any chance at Speedy. The Hornets are playing too well and Speedy is a 6th man of the year contender. Brevin Knight is possible though,
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Heat4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">Wade would start over Rip Hamilton. I mean, the guy does single handidly beat the Pistons. And I don't know why Larry Brown gets such a bad rep for not playing rookies. If anything, he just knew what the Pistons and fans have finally come to terms with: Darko is a bust Chris Bosh and D-Wade would've definetly gotten time including Heinrich and Kaman. Not too sure about Melo since his ego / attitude would conflict with Brown's but there's no question he was ready to contribute in the NBA.</div> Well you see how good the chemistry is between the starting 5, why would you change that after you won a championship? Do you think Wade would have started over Rip in his rookie year? Wade wouldn't be anything close to what he is today if he was a Piston. Same with Bosh.
AllNet Id give anything to be able to retrieve your posts from a couple of summers ago! the reason why is that in the numerous debates you and I would have in those days you would usually come out right. I always wanted to live to see you eat at least a small bowlful of crow. I dont know if you remember but at that time you were quite convinced the picking Darko was exactly the right thing to do. I remember you saying that he was going to be a "dominant" center for years to come and that you did not think that Lebron or anthony (let alone wade or bosh) would have the kind of impact that Darko would have. Im not saying its impossible for that to still happen some day. But of all the words I would use to describe Darko in his first few years in the league, "dominant" is not among them.
At the time It was the right move and all the reports and clips suggested Darko would be a very good player. I don't ever remember saying he would dominate but he could be a very good player. No one knew that Wade would be the player he is today. Only Pat Riley thought he would be the player he is today. Most thought he would be Desmond Mason Part II. Coming off a championship when you have Rip and Prince the logical choice was to pick a big man with great potenial. Obviously that hasn't worked out but the Pistons did win a championship when 3 years ago were a lottery team so It's hard to be too harsh on Dumars. I guess we will see what kind of impact Darko has now he is in Orlando where he gets time.
Now to convince Billups and Big Ben to stay in Detroit. Other teams might offer him more money. So, hopefully they can stay in Detroit.
why would they want to leace Detroit, if they will have the same starting five, and not many changes from this year... I wouldnt leave for more money, unless it's a substantially more amount
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting airmcnair06:</div><div class="quote_post">why would they want to leace Detroit, if they will have the same starting five, and not many changes from this year... I wouldnt leave for more money, unless it's a substantially more amount</div> You never know with athelets. Maybe they want new challenge? Maybe they want to play in a city closer to where they grew up? There's a lot of variables in a player's decision making you just can't account for. I doubt either leaves, because I think the starting 5 of the Pistons put winning first.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">Now to convince Billups and Big Ben to stay in Detroit. Other teams might offer him more money. So, hopefully they can stay in Detroit.</div> No one can offer more money than the Pistons. I don't see any chance at all that they leave Detroit.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't see any chance at all that they leave Detroit.</div> Come on, it is Detroit. I could think of 25 or so other NBA cities they would likely prefer to play in than Detroit.
