<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">At 12:01 a.m. last July 1, the Pistons were ready to pounce, making a move to sign point guard Chauncey Billups to a free-agent contract. About two weeks later, Billups had a six-year deal, and he helped the Pistons reach the Eastern Conference playoff finals. As the NBA free-agency period approached this year, though, the Pistons weren't ready to begin negotiations with a player. Teams could start talking to free agents early this morning, but they can't sign them until July 16. "Right now we have about 12 guys," said Joe Dumars, the team's president of basketball operations. "Last year we knew we wanted to go after Chauncey. This year is a little bit different. This year it's going to be, let's see how it unfolds and how many guys do we have." The Pistons drafted three players last week and expect two -- Darko Milicic and Carlos Delfino -- at training camp. That would give them 14 on the roster. "After July that could change," Dumars said. "I'll probably be looking at someone on the perimeter. You continuously look at the (shooting guard) and (small forward) position." The Pistons expect to keep restricted free agent Richard Hamilton at shooting guard. They made him a required qualifying offer Monday so they could match any offers he might get from other teams. The offer was for about $3.6 million. Hamilton made $2.7 million last season. Salary cap rules permit the Pistons to sign another free agent for about $4.8 million. Dumars might be looking to land a small forward, and Jumaine Jones of Cleveland is among the candidates. He played two seasons for coach Larry Brown when both were at Philadelphia. Jones averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds last season. Dumars and his staff also will discuss power forwards P.J. Brown of New Orleans, Derrick Coleman of Philadelphia, Juwan Howard of Denver and center Alonzo Mourning of Miami, but don't expect any of them in a Pistons uniform next season. Coleman is 36, Morning's health is still a concern, P.J. Brown will probably get a more lucrative offer from another team and the Pistons are stocked with forwards, making Howard moot. Tyrone Hill has played for Brown twice in Philly. He's a tough, rebounding power forward the team could use off the bench. Among other small forwards available are Jimmy Jackson of Sacramento and Lamar Odom and Corey Maggette of the Clippers. But the Pistons might not use the salary cap room to sign any high-profile free agents. "The thing is that we don't feel we're in a crunch," Dumars said. Some veteran Pistons might get crunched, though. Guard Jon Barry and forwards Danny Manning and Don Reid became free agents today. Manning and Reid likely won't be back, and Barry might not, either. The key for the Pistons is small forward. Michael Curry isn't expected to be the starter there next season, which makes him expendable. Brown supposedly wants to use Tayshaun Prince as a backup, but Corliss Williamson has been the backup small forward the past two seasons. The Pistons could start Williamson, trade him or use him to back up Prince, a rookie last season. Another veteran the Pistons might try to trade is center Cliff Robinson. In two of the four playoff games against New Jersey, Robinson failed to grab a rebound. Center Zeljko Rebraca is deciding whether to have a surgical procedure for his irregular heartbeat or continue the medication he was taking late in the season. If healthy and ready to play, Rebraca could compete for a starting role or back up Mehmet Okur at center. Backup point guard Chucky Atkins, who struggled for playing time last season, told Dumars last week that he had no desire to be traded. Atkins replaced Billups in the playoffs when Billups was hurt. "I thought Chucky came in and played well in the Philly series, and I think he proved himself in that series," Dumars said. "We don't feel like we're in dire need at that position." </div> Interesting..jermaine jones? hmm....he isn't too bad but not a player i really want
