The Pistons as we all know are at least a top 2 team in the league, which is pretty impressive, and what makes it more impressive is that 4 of their starters were not drafted by the team, whereas the Spurs have Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and the Mavs had Nowitzki, Howard, and Harris.Richard Hamilton - SGRichard 'Rip' Hamilton was acquired by the Pistons on 9/11/02. (Wow kind of Ironic, RIP was acquired on 9/11 okay, back on topic) Along with Rip came Hubert Davis and Bobby Simmons, whereas the Pistons traded Jerry Stackhouse who was at the time an all-star, Brian Cardinal and Ratko Vardka. Basically it was Rip and Simmons for Stack and Cardinal with throw-ins being Davis and Varda. Now it could have went the other way, that Stackhouse stayed, and I'm sure the Pistons would be fine as he is a great scorer, a decent rebounder, a decent passer and just okay on defense, but LB would have improved that.Ben Wallace - CBen Wallace was acquired with Chucky Atkins by the Pistons in exchange for Grant Hill, and you know who won in that deal. Grant Hill that year played 4 games for the Magic...This was just luck by the Pistons, as Wallace was an undrafted player at the time, and Grant Hill was the next 'Jordan' who just happened to be injured the past two years. This leads me to believe they just had some blind luck with Grant Hill sucking horribly.Chauncey Billups - PGChauncey Billups was originally the 3rd pick of the 1997 NBA draft, whose career was so far a disappointment. Billups was a weak defender and just an okay scorer and distributor.When he got to the Pistons, his first year his PPG imcreased 4 and his rebounds went above his career average, but assist were still very low. He was really not a great player. However, under Brown he became an even better scorer and in the next 3 years his apg has increased all the way up to 8.6 now while his ppg was at 18.5 and rebounds per game are still above his career average. Larry has always been good with PGs...Another pretty lucky move by Motown, though..Rasheed Wallace - PFInvolved a three-team deal that sent 'Sheed to Detroit which sacrificed their 2004 1st round pick, Chucky Atkins and Lindsey Hunter. Atkins was also acquired with Ben Wallace. A pretty confusing deal but but he really came for a 1st rounder and two bench players..BasicallyRip Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse.Ben Wallace for Grant Hill.Chauncey Billups as a free agent. (Not great at the time)Rasheed Wallace for Atkins, Hunter and 2004 1st round selection.At the time, the Stackhouse deal was not a great deal for the Pistons, nor was the Wallace deal. Wallace was a great defender but bad on offense and a good rebounder, but not up to the standard of Grant Hill. Chauncey Billups was just a great FA signing and Rasheed was pretty much sacrificing the future for the present, well at least, sort of.Now just imagine, if instead of Darko they got Dwyane Wade, lol.
if we got dwayne wade darko would be a star and dwayne would be rotting on the bench. Could you imagine trying to break into the starting line up if you ahve to battle for it againts Billups and Hamilton? He got put in the right situation and with the right people to excell. So i really believe that only Melo would have been sucessful on the pistosn if they drafted him because at teh time he was better than prince so he would have got his spot.
I think Bosh would have been the most successful. Having a promising young big man that isn't just worried about contract or playing time. Plus, Rasheed and Ben are the oldest in the starting lineup. It's nice to have insurance.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrandMasterA @ May 17 2006, 07:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>if we got dwayne wade darko would be a star and dwayne would be rotting on the bench. Could you imagine trying to break into the starting line up if you ahve to battle for it againts Billups and Hamilton? He got put in the right situation and with the right people to excell. So i really believe that only Melo would have been sucessful on the pistosn if they drafted him because at teh time he was better than prince so he would have got his spot.</div> I doubt Dwyane Wade would be rotting on the bench. He might find minutes hard to get but his work ethic would prevail, you could have seen Hamilton as a 6th man or being traded.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrandMasterA @ May 17 2006, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>if we got dwayne wade darko would be a star and dwayne would be rotting on the bench. Could you imagine trying to break into the starting line up if you ahve to battle for it againts Billups and Hamilton? He got put in the right situation and with the right people to excell. So i really believe that only Melo would have been sucessful on the pistosn if they drafted him because at teh time he was better than prince so he would have got his spot.</div>Dwyane Wade's defensive and offensive game are superior to Rips game, not to mention he's a great slasher which the Pistons could really use.
dwayne wade have been like the microwave coming off the bench...there is plenty of room on this roster, for a third guard who can play both point and 2 guard...wade would have been the best pick
Well, we sure didnt run into greatness. we were bound for it as soon as we picked up sheed for cheap. and i hated the Stack trade, but look how its turned out so far. and i really never liked grant hill, so i didnt care about that trade. Ben Wallace's work ethic has paid off for us and now hes one of the greatest defensive players of all time.
