<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>AUBURN HILLS - The Pistons are taking a proactive stance in the free agent market, hoping to solve a perimeter need. They're shopping for a small forward, and Boston's James Posey and Golden State's Mickael Pietrus are two of the players they have targeted. Posey is well known to Pistons fans, since he not only played for the Celtics this season but also Miami when the Heat eliminated the Pistons in the 2006 Eastern Conference finals. A 10-year veteran, the 6-foot-8 Posey is a solid 3-point shooter and defender who will likely command all of a team's mid-level exception. That salary stipulation is given annually to teams over the salary cap. The starting salary for this year's mid-level is expected to be between $5.5 and $6 million. The Pistons are facing plenty of competition for Posey, including the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Posey has averaged 9.2 points for his career. He had two double-digit outings against the Pistons in this season's conference finals and two more against the Lakers in the Finals. The 6-6, 26-year-old Pietrus has played all five of his seasons with Golden State, which is reeling from Baron Davis' decision to opt out of his contract and sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. Pietrus averaged a careerhigh 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds during the 2006-07 season but saw his playing time diminish last season under coach Don Nelson, averaging 7.2 points in 66 games. Pietrus is also regarded as a solid defender and 3-point shooter (35.3 percent for his career). A glut of small forwards on the market gives the Pistons plenty of options. Dallas' Devean George, Portland's James Jones, Golden State's Matt Barnes, New Jersey's Bostjan Nachbar, New Orleans' Bonzi Wells, San Antonio's Michael Finley, Orlando's Mo Evans, Miami's Ricky Davis and Washington's Roger Mason are also unrestricted free agents seeking multi-year contracts. The Los Angeles Clippers' Corey Maggette opted out of his contract, but it would take more than the mid-level to sign him. The Pistons have used a variety of players behind Tayshaun Prince in recent years, including Evans, Carlos Delfino, Ronald Dupree and Jarvis Hayes. None of them proved to be a long-term solution.</div> Source: The Oakland Press
