2009 NBA Free Agency Has Begun

by Packey on Jul 1, 2009 2:20 AM EDT in Detroit Pistons News

It's upon us: The 2009 NBA Free Agency period. Will we wake up to any breaking news? What types of tricks does Joe Dumars have up his sleeves for his biggest free agent period since he first rebuilt this Pistons team?

We've been discussing all the options for the Pistons this summer, most people laying out all the big names on the list that could fit well with the Pistons. I want to remind everyone how Joe Dumars built this team back before the 2004 championship: A hasn't hacked it yet point guard from Colorado (Chauncey Billups), an undrafted journeyman from Alabama (Ben Wallace), and a guy who was not even the best player in the deal at the time (Richard Hamilton). Those three, a couple unexciting draft picks, and a big deadline deal turned into a championship team and six straight years of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Sure, Hedo Turkoglu, Charlie Villanueva, Ben Gordon, and David Lee are going to be options, but what Dumars ultimately decides may surprise you, upset you at the same time, and then wind up being the best move for this franchise.

Joe Dumars says it best in this Dan Wetzel column on Yahoo:

"The hardest thing is to convince people that fantasy basketball and running a team are two different things," he said. "You can’t just write down names that look good on paper. We’ve seen in the past that’ll get you a ways, but not all the way."

It's going to be a very interesting time period from now until this team starts to take shape for next season. Let's enjoy it and hope Joe Dumars uses the loads of money wisely. Happy Free Agency.

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I have hammered Joe over the past couple years

But I am hoping he shows us as fans why we hold him with such regard. He has the tools to rebuild this team. Ultimately his reputation will fall with how he handles this transition.
I am openly rooting for Lee, or Milsap to sport the D.

Good Luck Joe

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894

by Leapin Lion on Jul 1, 2009 5:47 AM EDT reply actions

In Joe D We Trust

We didn't lose the games, we just ran out of time -- Bobby Layne

by detpistons3 on Jul 1, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

When Gordon has 50 million plus from the Pistons....

…are you still going to be trusting in Joe D?

"I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." ~Shaq

by Max_in_Missouri on Jul 1, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

10 million a year

Isn’t bad at all for a player not even in his prime yet. Gordon is still improving, he’s only 26. The contract will end when Gordon is 31, probably when he begins his decline. It’s great timing, the contract is over when Gordon stops being great. Sheed made 13million a year and I didn’t hear anybody complaining about his bad contract. Remember the deal will probably start out at 8-9 million a year and steadily increase to 11-12 million. I can’t see that as overpaid, when Sheed, Tayshaun, and Rip make roughly the same thing. At least he isn’t asking for 16 mil like Boozer or a max contract like Bosh

We didn't lose the games, we just ran out of time -- Bobby Layne

by detpistons3 on Jul 1, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

And if anyone signs Bosh to a max-contract next year..

then they are probably legally retarded.

Well, Gordon got 5 year and 55 million from the Pistons….

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-gordonpistons070109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

It is what it is….hope he improves so that he lives up to his soon to be signed contract….

"I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." ~Shaq

by Max_in_Missouri on Jul 1, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

11 million a year

It’s excessive, but not unbearable. At least it’s not McGrady’s 20 mil a year deal. The first year of the contract shouldn’t be as much, possibly 9.5 mil, then add C-Vill for 7 mil or so, and you have 3.5 left over which is enough to sign a good role player or some flexibility in the trade department.

We didn't lose the games, we just ran out of time -- Bobby Layne

by detpistons3 on Jul 1, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

Thanks for being on the ball today guys and keeping these convos interesting and intelligent. I’m in the middle of a moving process (awful timing) so bare with me on the timeliness of the posts. I really appreciate you guys continuing the discussions and getting stuff on FanPosts though.

Motown String Music- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog

by Packey on Jul 2, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Gordon

I just found this site off a Bulls blog I was reading. They were up after midnight thinking they would hear something on Gordon’s FA. lol They are going to be devastated if he leaves. So, apparently the fans like him there. That gives me hope that if we sign him he will be exciting to watch and help our team. Pistons have some bad luck this year. The draft is full of PG and the FA are all 2 and 3’s… It looks like Joe is going to get guys he likes then move the pieces around after that in trades. Rip and Gordon on the same team does not make sense. Rip is on the trade block I would speculate.

by killinro on Jul 1, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

I have a lot of friends who are Bulls fans

All of them are devastated. I’d say it’s probably similar to Grant Hill “leaving” Detroit, or even Ben Wallace.

Motown String Music- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog

by Packey on Jul 2, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Gordon's a great, great player.

He’s clutch, he makes big shots, he’s impossible to stop when he gets hot.
He needed to leave because Bulls management is retarded, though Congrats on getting him, and I’ll be following the Pistons more closely.
I’d say this is nothing like Grant Hill or Wallace leaving – Wallace got WAY overpaid [and Dumars not signing him was a good move], and Grant Hill got a nagging injury right before leaving the Magic [and apparently forced the Pistons to trade him]. BG ~~might~~ be a little overpaid, but not much – 1 to 2 million a year at most. And that’s if his defense is actually as bad as his rap [which I don’t think it is – he tries, he’s just short … or he could guard the 1! Wooo Hamilton/Gordon backcourt?].

Vinny Del Negro Offensive Gameplan, Part 1
-When there's less than 30 seconds left in the game, that's me with my hands cupped around my mouth yelling.
"BEN! SHOOT! SHOOOOTTTT!!! WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME?!?"
-This segues nicely into my Timeout Management classes - order now!

by Prevenge on Jul 2, 2009 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

I used the comparison merely in terms of how fans may feel. Despite Hill’s injury, his departure still rocked Pistons fan nation and same with Wallace (no one saw what Dumars saw and thought Wallace’s departure was devastating).

Motown String Music- SB Nation's Detroit Pistons Blog

by Packey on Jul 2, 2009 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions