The Detroit Pistons goal should be to assemble a championship caliber team, free from end of the season opt-out concerns.
With the NBA Draft rapidly approaching, my anxiety increases. I ponder Joe D. actually using his #15 pick on a drafty (I know, crazy right?). Worse still, he trades up to snag a guy that might possibly help his Detroit club in the future (ensuring a cap hit of $2-$4 million out of the gate).
Will we remember next week's draft as the day Dumars dug a shallow franchise grave?
We must, first and foremost, ensure proven talent. To make this happen, the Pistons will need every penny possible. If it's between signing one accomplished star or two, would you take the draft gamble?
WE NEED DEFENSIVE PROWESS, YES???
I, like most of you, would like to see us sign Hedo Turkoglu to a three or four year deal. In order to accomplish this, an offer of $10 million annually will most likely be necessary. I believe Turk is the only available FA SF better than Tayshaun Prince.
I would also like to see us pick up David Lee in a S&T for four to five years. This feat would also involve a $10 million salary. This would ultimately be a steal, given Boozer would cost a considerable amount more for equal stats minus the health & hustle.
Now, regardless who is favorable, I think we would all agree we need a true center. With the $ spent on Lee & Turk, we would have to make a trade for any improvement to be made.
The Piston nation majority would trade off Tayshaun Prince. I however, am in the minority. I strongly believe Tay is the answer @ the 2. (no pun intended)
Rip is faster, but he can't create his own shot, and he's 2 years older than Prince. Not to mention Tay is a 6' 9'' guy with a 7' 2'' wing span, who can run the floor like a deer. He also defends the best SG in the east (Wade) very well.
Speaking of defense, with Turk unloading vast amounts of defensive burden from Tay's shoulders, the Palace Prince will be free to focus on his offensive game. Besides Kobe, who could guard Tay @ the 2? WHO?
And let us not forget, Tay can play 1-4. Which makes him much more valuable than Rip. So if you want to go small (which Dumars already said he will at times), you can still put Bynum @ the 1, Stuckey @ the 2, prince @ the 3, Turk @ the 4. and Lee @ the 5.
Plus - possibly the most important aspect - you have size dominating every position. Stuckey's one of the biggest PG's in the game, Tay would be by far skying over every SG, at 6' 10'' Turk has already proven he can guard Pierce & James, and Lee won the HS McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest in '01. Dude's got hops.
This brings us to our center. There are quite a few options. With Rip as trade bait... fill in the blank as you see fit. My hope is Andris Biedrins. At 22 yrs old he had one of the highest FG% in the league @ .580 (highest last year @ .620), while averaging 11.9ppg, 11.2rpg, 1.5bpg & 1.0 spg in 30mpg. The Warriors have already offered Biedrins last trade dealdine and they have a stock pile of big men.
Okur, Kaman & Nene' would be solid as well.
BREAK DOWN:
-Trade Rip for Biedrins while dropping over $2.0 from the cap
-Sign Turk @ $10.0
-Trade Amir & #15 to NY for Lee (S&T) @ $10.0
-Use our 'Bird Rights' to resign McDyess
This would put Detroit about $2,000,000 over the cap, which means no luxury tax for ownership.
New & improved Pistons line-up:
1.)Stuckey – Bynum
2.)Tay – Afflalo
3.)Turk – Sharp
4.)Lee – J/Max
5.)Biedrins – McDyess - Brown
+ Picks/Summer League Prospects
The starting line up alone would (theoretically) give us 80ppg/40rpg/5bpg/5spg
This all without “super star” baggage.
