<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Constructing an NBA roster within the constraints of the salary cap and luxury tax can be difficult, so improving a roster already saddled with a couple of expensive contracts is oftentimes seemingly impossible. That's why expiring contracts are so valuable on the trade market - they allow general managers a chance to take a mulligan on a long-term deal that no longer fits into the big picture, freeing up precious salary cap room to make other moves. Most of Detroit's core players are locked up to long-term deals: Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince are signed through 2011 while Rip Hamilton is signed through 2010. That's a good thing, as all three are vital to the team's continued success. Rasheed Wallace, on the other hand, is only signed through 2009, which means that next summer he'll be an attractive trade target for a lot of teams looking to acquire salary cap relief via an expiring contract. And considering he's set to make $13.6 million in 2008-09, he could provide a team a lot of relief. Might the Pistons be willing to trade him? It's certainly possible. While Wallace is still an important member of team right now, he's also one of the most replaceable, at least in terms of having adequate backups waiting in reserve. For example, if Billups went down, there would be a lot of questions as to whether rookie Rodney Stuckey or Flip Murray could handle the starting point guard duties. But if Wallace were lost for any amount of time, the team could still get solid production out of Antonio McDyess (whose contract is also up in 2009), Jason Maxiell or even Amir Johnson.</div> Source: HoopsWorld.com
Rasheed is on the decline, but he still hasn't dropped off too sharply. While the loyal man says he helped win that championship and he deserves to stay, the team focused man probably trades Wallace in the first attractive offer he gets. I worry this could be an ugly season for him.
2009 is a long time from now, but the Pistons don't look like they can rely on Rasheed Wallace from 2009 and up with the competition of the East rising with trade by trade this summer. They're not favorites to win the Championship this year and I don't think they will, he's got a huge contract that the Pistons should get rid of and from then on, they can focus on building a tandem for the 2009-2010 season.
