There’s still no news on the Joel Przybilla front, but Lindsey Hunter agreed to return to Detroit, accepting a two-year, $4.5 million offer.
While I’m happy to see Hunter return, his contract is roughly one year and $3 million more than what most of us thought he’d be getting. Apparently it’s not even his true market value, though, as he reportedly turned down more money from the Suns because he wanted to retire as a Piston.
I can respect his wanting to return, but I’m guessing Joe Dumars will figure out some way to add another backup point guard to the mixThat is, unless we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Alex Acker and Will Blalock that any of us were hoping for. — Hunter may be a nice defensive stopper off the bench, but he’s not quite the backup to Chauncey Billups that this team still needs.
There’s also talk about Hunter moving into the front office after he retires. Of course, things like that aren’t allowed to be worked into a player’s contract (thank goodness — can you imagine if Isiah Thomas took over like he thought he was going to after he retired?), but by all accounts Dumars and Hunter have always had a close relationship, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it happen. I have no clue what role Hunter would be qualified to fill, but at the very least he’s a great ambassador for the team.
News on the Joel front: Ric Bucher says the Pistons are signing Nazr Mohammed, but doesn’t say for how much. I imagine it’s for the full MLE, which Nazr could easily get elsewhere. Now what?
So does Nazi Mohammed!!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2509256
We’re backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!! (pending any wild trade -ie iverson for rip/delfino/whoever, it’s the same line up we got)
not to sour grape or anything, they might actually end up to become a more balanced team….
Deeeetroit basketballlllllllllllllllllllll
Well, I’ll take Muhammed over Przybyla. God, it hurts to be happier with Nazr Muhammed than the alternative.
Nazr’s not too far away from the 10 point and 8 boards a night guy that he once was. Say what you want about the Spurs not having a center but they still let him go, this guy started during the Spurs championship run in 2005. He blocks shots, and he’s a larger body than Ben. He’s not a defensive guy like Ben, but he’ll be serviceable in that role, plus it’ll keep Dyess on the bench where he’ll be able to remain healthy.
Nazr Mohammed is a shit player. Nothing more or less to it than that. He has the absolute worst hands you’ll ever see, and he’s dumb as a post; he’s ALWAYS in the wrong spots on the floor.
No scoring and no defense. Wonderful.
Joe Dumars has lost his touch.
I hate to be a natering nabob of negativity but there is no good way to spin the Nazr for Ben. Nazr is only three years younger than Ben and in his 7 years in the league he’s never averaged over 28 minutes per game - and he’s been a Knick and a Hawk. He can rebound some and he can be 6′10″ but that’s it. Dale Davis might be the better option except he’s 46 years old, and he’s gotta be healthy so when we meet Shaq in the EC Championship he can give us some quality minutes and six fouls, what? Oh this sucks.
I love Joe D but his last good move was getting Rasheed over two years ago. Since then he’s made some unlucky but crucial mistakes. I’m not sure he should have given Ben enough to stay but that really was Joe’s only move to make after clearing the decks for Ben’s resigning. In four months Detroit lost three of their most tradable assets - Darko, Arroyo, Ben - and have nothing to show for it. Not even cap space.
For Detroit to compete for a championship in 2007 they had to bring back the top six and ADD a very nice piece. Instead they went, not sideways, backwards. I think I would like Joe to go ahead and start making moves to get us into a position to compete for the title 2-3 years down the road. Chauncey or Rasheed will be the next to go, I think.
I would’ve like Joel Pryzbilla to be here instead. At least he blocks shots.
Naz is a serviceable player. Detroit needed a backup/ starter center. Their offense is likely to even improve w/o wallace. Keep in mind this was one of the weakest free agent classes in years. Ben will be an albatross on the Bulls salary cap 2-3 years from now. Joe was unwilling to do that to Detroit. I’m sure he regrets trading Darko now. Honestly they offered Ben a great offer. They thought the loyalty aspect would win him over. It worked for Tay and sheed. They both could have made more money elsewhere.
Other than a decent pg backup, Detroit will still have a top 3 EC team. The young players will play more (Delfino, Acker, Johnson), Tay will improve in offense, and the entire team will be more flexible on offense.