That would of been cool if we picked up Bobby Jackson. At least for training camp but the Chuckster is tight.

from “six teams facing roster questions” at si.com:

“Pistons, center): Ben Wallace could help sell some tickets, and given the state of Detroit’s economy these days, that’s nothing to sneer at. But the days when the undersized center could suck up every defensive rebound in his time zone are long gone. With Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess having departed, Detroit is left with a washed-up Wallace (a surprise free-agent signing after he was released by Phoenix), the well-traveled Chris Wilcox and a mediocre Kwame Brown to man the middle. The Pistons have plenty of firepower everywhere else, making their shortcomings in the middle stick out even more. They have designs on asserting themselves as a contender again, but how will they survive in a conference with the likes of Shaq, Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett roaming the paint?”

I hope we didn’t let Spellcheck go to Denver so we could sign Chucky Atkins. He just isn’t a good player at this point in his career.

I think we get Amare. I’m just saying.

@Garrett

That’s my wet dream for this season. If we can unload Rip + extras in some type of 3-way deal for Amare, that would be ideal.

amare can opt out after this season. even if it were possible to trade for him (which I doubt), would he re-sign in detroit?

phoenix can offer the most money, and miami is also financially appealing (no state income tax). the knicks are another possibility given the d’antoni connection. the bulls might be able to clear enough cap space, too.

Well, if Phoenix trades him to the Pistons, the Pistons can offer the most money. The Bulls are going to set their sites on Dwyane Wade, which Miami a non-appealing option from a basketball perspective.

That said, why would Phoenix trade for Rip? I think Dallas is a more likely trade partner, and they have an asset in Dampier that they can unload. If Dallas is at 28-14, and the Jasons are hobbling, I think they make a move to beef up the back court.
 
What about a move the sent Rip to Dallas, Dampier to Orlando, and Gortat and Pietrus to us? At that point, Dallas would think its getting more competitive, Orlando saves millions without sacrificing frontcourt depth.

I like that trade idea a lot. Pietrus is a little redundant, but getting Gortat would be very, very nice.

@kevin s.

Phoenix wouldn’t trade for Rip, that’s why a third team that indeed wanted him would have to get involved.

Looking at next year’s FA class, and factoring in the shrinking of the cap, we’re going to be able to get a STUD for MLE-type money. Seriously. There is only so much max money that can go around, and there are a TON of great players out there who think they’re going to be getting a huge pay day. So guys like Pryzbilla (early termination option), Brendan Haywood, and Tyson Chandler are all going to be looking at deals totally in our price range. Pryz at like $7-8 mil? I could get down with that. We should be able to clean up, one way or another.

Whatever happened to the letters, F, P, C, and B?

Whatever happened to the letters, F, P, C, and B?

Not interested. One soft PF is enough (see current Piston “CV31”).

@PS:
I concur. And at least our soft PF isn’t a whiny diva who thinks he’s worth a superstar max contract. Our soft PF is paid $7 million and is about as productive as Chris Bosh.

Indeed. $7 million is much better than $MAX million.

Maybe FPCB would take a pay cut (he probably knows he won’t be getting max money anyways, but he had to say it) to play with his ol’ buddy CV31?

I don’t understand why Ben Wallace gets so much ‘washed up’ hate when so many other older bigs who stick around forever and are called gutty veterans. He’s a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year who is playing limited minutes as a backup. Sure he’ll get burned by some young legs on a regular basis but he’ll get his spacing and rotations right almost 100% of the time, something players with young legs often do not.

JJJ — the hate is probably based, ultimately, in the same kind of silliness that saw all the national media (or, at least ABC) insisting that the Lakers’ game two victory in 2004 was the turning point of the series, that game one was a fluke… and then that game three was a lucky win… and that game four was given to the Pistons by the Lakers… and that game five just meant that the Lakers had given up, not, by any means, that the Pistons had beaten them.

Not saying that it is the same, or that we are the same team that we were in 2004, but I think the antipathy is rooted in the same sort of soil.

I’m nowhere near a media apologist, but I can at least see where the haterade is pouring from. Guys like the 37-year-old Shaq make their money, earn their points and rebounds by their sheer size. If you’re a 7-footer and can stay healthy beyond 28, you’ve got an advantage that doesn’t sap with age as much as energy does.

When you’re a an undersized 6’9" C who can’t shoot and whose entire game was based on energy and related physical dominance, it’s easy to assume that you’re on your way out of utility.

That said, fuck dem hoes. Cleveland was a LOT better last season when Ben started, he was a defensive anchor even at his age and withstanding injuries. I expect a slight improvement in per possesion numbers out of Ben this season, if only because he’s back where he carved his name out of the hardwood by puttin’ in work every night.

I can see why the media are soft on Ben. I also know better than to agree with that perspective.

Amare is a glorified Charlie Villanueva.

Amare is a glorified Charlie Villanueva.

QD, are you turning a clever phrase, or do you know something that we don’t?

Shane, that was a Tim Thomas type shot… I’m failing to see the relation!

Ben Wallace is not washed up, Phoenix has made and will continue to make questionable moves, and them passing on Ben Wallace for whatever reason Kerr went with, doesn’t make Ben washed up. C’mon.

He’s not the baddest defender in the league anymore, but I’m happy to have him back… he’ll do more than sell tickets.

“Amare is a glorified Charlie Villanueva.

QD, are you turning a clever phrase, or do you know something that we don’t?"

Amare is a terrible defensive player and an average rebounder. I like what CV gives at a third of the price.

I like what CV gives at a third of the price.

Me too. CV > FPCB or STAT, production-per-dollar-wise. I just wish that more of our cap space was devoted to a badass center to play alongside CV.

Dumars needs to find that dominating defensive-minded Center no matter what the guy’s name is.

@QD:
What a fool I was to doubt you. You make Shane Battier look like Stephen Jackson! :)