Chris McCosky reports for the Detroit News that the Pistons have inked Antonio McDyess to a two-year extension:
Antonio McDyess will be a Piston through 2010 at least.
McDyess, 32, signed a two-year extension with the Pistons on Monday that will pay him roughly $14.46 million from 2008-09 though 2009-10.
He will make $6.3 million next season, the last year of his initial deal with the Pistons, $6.9 million in 2008-09 and $7.5 million in 2009-10.
“I am excited,” McDyess said in a prepared statement. “We have enjoyed a lot of success as a team since I came to Detroit three years ago and I look forward to the upcoming season and making another run at a title.”
Sammy Mejia was also signed, which means there are now 15 players under contract. Barring a trade, that’s the team we’ll see go into camp.
Update: An excerpt of some thoughts about the deal I put up on FanHouse:
… Retaining him does nothing to change the public perception that the Pistons are an aging team. But even though McDyess will be 35 years old by the time the deal expires, is that perception really accurate? Maybe not.
Considering the Pistons also announced the signing of second-round pick Sammy Mejia today, this year’s roster will feature four rookies: first-round picks Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Afflalo, Mejia and last year’s second-round pick Cheikh Samb. Plus, 20-year-old Amir Johnson, who recently signed a three-year deal to stay in Detroit, and Jason Maxiell, 24, are also expected to factor into Detroit’s rotation this year. That’s six players who are all under the age of 25, including four expected to see a lot of playing time this year.
So I guess that means that Webber is NOT coming back?
So i guess that Webber will NOT be back?
Look, he’s like half the athleate he was 5 years ago…. now. His game isn’t foot speed or agility, it’s banging inside, quick short jumpers, sweet layups and a somewhat uncanny knack for being at the right place when the ball comes off the rim.
Aside from the J, I’m not seeing why Dyees will be a significantly worse player than he is now. He’s a very good backup PF.
As for Webber, I think if he was in the teams current plans he’d already have been signed. The rumors vary but word is he’s willing to sign for the Pistons for about 3-4 a year, which is REALLY REALLY cheap. The asking price for the other 2-3 teams he thinks are contenders is much higher, so nobody has signed him. That is of course not to comment whatsoever on the wisdom of keeping 7 guards on a roster and only one NBA ready center… that’s just to say “this appears to be the score”.
I wouldn’t be suprised to see Webber play for Detroit this year even now, but it’s definately NOT part of the “Plan” per se atm…. apparently Lindsey Hunter’s feelings are more important than our abilility to block out the front court.
the youth of the Pistons front line is something I addressed after I first read someone’s gripe about how Detroit was getting old while all the other “contenders” were younger… really only the Bulls are the team to worry about, and they’re coming up on a time where re-signing their talent is going to be an issue with the luxury tax…
Too much money for a position that we have too much depth at. I like dice, but not for starters money. Always a slow starter, too. If the starting line up has sheed at the 5, this makes more sense, but if you’re starting sheed at the 4, then when/where do max, amir, and dice get thier minutes? I’m starting to wonder if/why Joe thinks that this team can win even though it’s essentialy the same squad that lost the last 2 years. Lots of tough talk after the season ended, and not much done to fix the problems.
McDyess isn’t making starter money. He’s doing this on the cheap, really, for around 6-7 million a year. Mejia’s contract isn’t
guaranteed; he has to make the team.
This team’s going to look different, even though it has many of the same players from before, and even though the seems like a contradiction.
“that” seems
And boy, I don’t want Webber. Give him a ticket to Dallas for me, and give Pops Mensah-Bonsu a ticket to Detroit. LOL
Everybody loves Dice, but the Pistons could theoretically have had Darko back for the price of letting Dice go (along with Flip or Hunter).
Granted, Darko probably wasnt too hyped about returning to Detroit, but didn’t the Pistons need to take a shot? Especially when the frontcourt has such a gaping hole right now.
Dice had a player option for this year, but the Pistons could have moved Dice even if he did re-up… and we could have had Darko with Dice coming off the bench if we weren’t stuck with Nazr.
Instead, we either have a passable backup starting at center (Nazr) or Sheed playing center with Maxiell starting at the 4. Anybody out there who doesn’t think Chauncey-Rip-Tayshaun-Sheed-Darko isn’t better that whatever the starting line-up is come the start of the season?
I thought Dumars was waiting until next summer to make a big free agent signing to help the frontcourt, but now he tied up even more $$
Joe D has a plan. We did not add a big name or trade for one. But I really think the best move you make is the move you don’t make. I don’t want to see us make moves just to make to please fans. I am not crazy about the team we have, however I think that we are good enough to win the East. Don’t forget we have until the trade deadline to make more moves. Remember how we got Sheed. Anything can Happen..
Just because Nazr’s starting a Center doesn’t mean he’s going to get starter’s minutes. He’s at most the 8th most important person on the team. That’s not a bad 8th option.
Webber is not a center and he can’t rebound or defend. How is he the solution to the “gaping hole” in the middle?
This roster is better than last year’s (assuming Stuckey is an upgrade over Lindsay/Flip and Maxiell and Amir take the next step in their respective development).
“Too much money for a position that we have too much depth at. I like dice, but not for starters money.” - Starting bigs in the NBA usually make like 10 million a year, this is a discount. Not a great one mind you but it’s a bit cheaper than signing someone away and Dyees would start at PF on alot of teams (and then blow his knee in Feb, but I digress).
“I’m starting to wonder if/why Joe thinks that this team can win even though it’s essentialy the same squad that lost the last 2 years.” - It seems he thinks the Pistons were unlucky/unprepared vs Cleveland two years in a row (The year Miami beat us we were exausted from the round before is the going theory). He’s probably figuring that if we can stop Lebron and improve the rotation it’ll all work out (not saying I agree just saying that’s what it looks like on paper). It’s a resonable theory and when you factor in what an expensive mess the FA market has become, it’s not like he has a lot of other options. Bringin in new players would either cost big contracts (Most of which we devoted to the starters and don’t want to trade) or send Detroit over the cap (something the owner is only NOMINALLY willing to look at). Plus you’re forgetting the winter fire sale that happens EVERY NBA season. Someone is going to be available as there are a HUGE # of decent players with soon to be expiring contracts. It’s a much easier sell to Mr Davidson to say “Sure we’ll be over the cap, but only for 3 months, the guys is DEFINATELY leaving for more money next year and we’ll win a title” than it is to say “Phoenix wants Prince and Wallace for Marion and they want us to eat XXX bad contracts too” in July.
“Anybody out there who doesn’t think Chauncey-Rip-Tayshaun-Sheed-Darko isn’t better that whatever the starting line-up is come the start of the season?” - Me and presumably the NBA GM on ESPN who was quoted as calling him “The Tissue Paper Picasso. He looks so perfect out there and then guys just go right through him.” I recall alot of that “going right through him” thing when we swept them in 4. Just because he CAN score 15 a night doesn’t mean he belongs here. The team made a HUGE mistake drafting him, compounding that by giving him EXTRA money to come here (that’s what it’d take, he would have taken any equal offer from Memphis because he has a chance to be “the guy” there if Gasol really is broke) would be stupid. Darko will be a pretty good star offensive center some day for a team that likes to win 105-101. I REALLY REALLY hope that’s never the Pistons.
“Webber is not a center and he can’t rebound or defend. How is he the solution to the “gaping hole” in the middle?” - He’s fat and won’t get shoved backward 3 times before someone goes right over top of him for the dunk…. see Shaq roughly 5-6 times a game. I admitt that’s not saying MUCH but since the backup is 225 Lbs or so it’s something. Plus presumably he’s cheap.
“Joe D has a plan. We did not add a big name or trade for one. But I really think the best move you make is the move you don’t make. I don’t want to see us make moves just to make to please fans. I am not crazy about the team we have, however I think that we are good enough to win the East. Don’t forget we have until the trade deadline to make more moves. Remember how we got Sheed. Anything can Happen..” - Yes to everything this guy said.
This is great for the Pistons. Dyess was one of the their most consistent players all season and playoffs, too. I wrote up on Dyess (and Mo Pete to New Orleans). Check it out at http://www.clutch3.com
{“Webber is not a center and he can’t rebound or defend. How is he the solution to the “gaping hole” in the middle?” - He’s fat and won’t get shoved backward 3 times before someone goes right over top of him for the dunk…. see Shaq roughly 5-6 times a game. I admitt that’s not saying MUCH but since the backup is 225 Lbs or so it’s something. Plus presumably he’s cheap.}
Yes, we have no answer for Shaq. But I’d rather see Max and Amir get as many minutes as possible than have Webber out there. Even if it means losing some games.
McDyess will be worth the salary next year. That is virtually certain. He will likely be worth it the next year as well. The big question is the third year.
However, this does send a strong message to free agents. Sign with the Pistons for the MLE. If it works out, we’ll treat you right. When the next Webber oportunity comes down the pike, players will look at the Billups/McDyess contracts.
Just a thought.
“Yes, we have no answer for Shaq. But I’d rather see Max and Amir get as many minutes as possible than have Webber out there. Even if it means losing some games.”
What if those games are game 2 at home and all three in Miami?
I guess I should clarify. I’m NOT saying I want Chris Webber to log alot of significant mins. Infact I’m not sure he should be the #1 clogging the lane option… Nazr is taller, younger and more muscle/less fat. However there’s still a dying breed of “back to the basket/strong like a bull” NBA big men in our conference and right now the ONLY player we have who can contain them in that position is Nazr Mohammed…
For refference in our conference the guys I’m talking about are Shaq, The Disease (Ilgauskas just sounds like something you catch while on a sex tour in Amsterdam) and Jermaine O’Neil. Howard and Bosh are CAPABLE but don’t seem to know how to play backwards in the block yet, so they’re mostly “modern” fours even when playing at the five, which means Amir and the Baby eater are MUCH better suited to pick up mins against them.
Since nobody is banding down Chris Webber’s door, AND we still represent at WORST the 6th best chance of winning a ring next year, I’m pretty sure someone can talk Webber into playing deep bench all year knowing he’d DEFINATELY get burn as the playoffs went deeper…. The team just ISN’T interested in mortgaging it’s future to satisfy his pride and let him start as a side effect. We’re talking 3.5 Million or so here, 1 year deal. He’d take it, and we’d be covered if Nazr got wrecked or continued to sulk/suck like the back half of last year.
Really man, we have SEVEN guards on the roster….. seven. We can’t tell Lindsey it’s time?
Giving AM an extension surprised me. I figured Dumars would flip this team from aging vets to young up and comers as the vets contracts expired. I don’t see it as a bad thing though. AM can still play… lets hope he still can during the 08-09 season.
as far as Webber’s concerned its hard to tell who in here is up for resigning CW or not. Surely, the Pistons would be better if we signed Webber. No? Webber can’t defend any high flyers who penetrate, but I don’t see how having him as an option is a bad thing. Who else you gonna sign for 3-4 mill that will make any sort of difference?
Cliff Robinson, Corliss Williamson, Antonio McDyess. You look at Joe’s track record and you’ll see that he rewards his good soldiers. Always has. But giving them a good deal doesn’t mean they stay around.
Detroit’s roster has typically featured two kinds of players: reasonably-priced veterans who couldn’t be replaced for the same cost, and low-priced reserves who couldn’t be swapped for anyone good. Dice’s deal is the middle ground - hefty enough to swap for a good player, but short enough to offer cap relief in a couple years. So whether you think he’s worth the money or not, it’s a move that offers flexibility in the cap-crazy world of the NBA.
For all the posts that i’m reading, no one here thinks the team can win a championship. I hear a lot of ECF’s and best in the east comments, but no best in the L comments. Why? Because we’re not. And correct me if i’m wrong, but isn’t the goal every season to be the best and win the chip? Reminds me of the sketch on tv about lowered expectations. Remember firing the coach of the year for LB? The 3 way deal to land Sheed? Now we’re talking about how Samb might get minutes 3 years from now, or who’s better between web and nazr. I’m not hating on our previous success, but the window lasts only so long, then we’re back to the teal and gold days. Win now. Make moves, not excuses.
I was ecstatic when I heard they signed McDyess. We all know he was mad about not winning a ring. I thought he was going to leave. Joe has rewarded him and rightly so. I hope that the Pistons win a ring this year, especially for McDyess. We’ve got a young core that will take us places and carry the bench, along with McDyess. I thought the Pistons would do more in the free agent market than this. Not getting Grant Hill hurts them now, but helps us in the long run. To me the Pistons biggest problem in the future is their veterans and playing time. They have so many good veterans their not able to develope their young prospects. Aquiring Hill would just add to the problem. But in a “what have you done for me lately world of sports”, I think should made more of an effort to sign Hill (they might not have had a chance, though). As for the Chris Webber situation, I expect for them to make room on the roster, by either trading or cutting Murray, Mohammed, or even Dupree. I expect him to sign for two year $8 million contract, with a player option for the third year.
PG4L,
Yes, we need a banger (one that’s taller than Maxiell). But Webber can’t do this. I’d rather have Bryan Skinner or Mutombo to fill that need (hell, I’d take Dale Davis).
Craig,
I actually think this team CAN compete for a championship. This looks like a better roster than last year.
The keys are Maxiell taking the next stage in his development. And Stuckey being an impact player in the playoffs that takes the NBA by surprise. Both are within the realms of possibility.
Oh, and Flip not getting outcoached.
Hit that “Flip Outcoached” siren.
Larry Brown anyone? I really do despise Saunders. I don’t blame him for last year’s loss, but he certainly doesn’t demand respect from the officials or his players. He just stands around and adjusts his collar/tie like Rodney Dangerfield “sticking to the gameplan” when the other team has figured our gameplan out. A coach who makes adjustments to what’s happening on the court would be nice, instead of one that assumes things will change on their own.
Craig, as it stands now I don’t think this is a championship winning roster. That having been said, the better team DOESN’T always win the finals and…. for like the 100th time…starting in about late December the bottom 1/3 of the league starts to freak out and dump expiring contracts because it’s clear they aren’t going to make the playoffs. In 2004, we did NOT START with a championship roster. Adding Sheed was what made the team “finished” and said on paper “we’re legitimate contenders”.
24 Million for J-Kap? 120 Million for Rashard? Clearly the smart money is waiting for the sales.
I agree with PG4L. Dumars will probably wait to see how the current roster pans out and then make a move at the trade deadline.
I just threw this interesting trade at a friend, I think this would make us a serious contender if the young bucks are as good as we think.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=294~568~306~1014&teams=26~26~8~8
Fire sales at the deadline, huh? Care to give me any examples from the last 2 years that qualify as putting a team over the top? Perhaps a Sports Guy article will prove my point.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070223
I’m not disagreeing with you that the team can be changed during the season, and possibly for less then in the offseason, but I’m not into the “turn the switch” mentality. Where. all the sudden, we’re going to get one player again and win. That’s not common. Look at denver and their struggles last year after the AI deal. I’d rather see changes made during the offseason, particularly around the draft, and allow a full season for the team to adapt. The stones are my squad, but i wouldn’t bet your money on this team.
Craig, how many teams win an NBA championship every year? How many teams are there in the league? I think its silly to say that its not common when its very uncommon to win a championship period.
How many trades, usually, get made at the deadline? 2 or 3, usually that affects a handfull of teams, 1/2 of which are out of contention teams looking for salary cap relief. Not only that, alot of those trades involve junk players. So, if you want to say its very uncommon to make a major trade at the deadline, I’ll agree, but to say it’s more unlikely to build a championship team via a huge deadline trade rather than not making any moves during the season.. I’d have to disagree.
I can honestly say that I have never read an entire one of PistonsGrl4Life’s posts.
Who’s with me?
I’m not really sure what to think of the Dyess move. He’s been incredibly consistent over the second half of every season and was consistent in his first two playoff appearances with the Pistons (this year he looked pretty shaky at times).
I don’t really know that Dyess was worth 6.5 to 7 million a year seeing as he only plays consistently for half of it, but he’s one of the only veterans on this team that would do anything to get a ring and I like that. He deserves the money he’s being paid, although I’m also getting tired of Joe D’s “paying back” the player for all that they’ve done.
The Pistons will be fine this year. I expect Joe D to make a big move during the season.
Craig… the fact that players like AI WERE available is the point. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s about finding the right piece at the right price and the prices are ALWAYS way better in the winter or at LEAST after the season starts. Webber is a very good example, the price before training camp would have been significant… both from Philly and cap wise. By the time they CUT him ouright, it was a good move. If you’re sure the Pistons are MORE than one player away, cool beans. I’m not and this looks like it might be the best fire sale in a DECADE with all the expiring contracts in 2008 (and no I’m not listing them, just read ESPN). As for Simmons article, it was stupid. Just because the trades happened BEFORE the deadline doesn’t mean that they weren’t basically the same kinda move. How any year where players like AI move can be considered “boring” is beyond me. I love Simmons, but sometimes he’s just a dumb guy from Boston.
James B - I had a dream last night that you were going to die in a fiery auto crash and I knew I had to warn you somehow. Then I read your post and realized that since you don’t ever finish reading mine there was just no way to tell you. Sorry playa, you’re crispy bacon.
PistonsGirl…I always read your posts. So thanks for making my drink come out of my nose. just now.
Further, the McDyess signing gives Joe D. expiring contracts in potentially three consecutive years. To the extent that he might be overpaying for the last year by a couple mil, the flexibility is worth it.
I would add that injury situations have two sides. On one hand, McDyess is not able to do the things he once was able to. On the other hand, the pedometer has three fewer seasons than most. How many 32 year-olds have played 198 consecutive games?
50% shooters with unstoppable shots off the bench are hard to find. It’s worth locking up that sort of asset.
PistonsGirl,
Thank God I finally read a full post
All in good fun, and you make a lot of good points all around.
Although if there was one thing I would want to be, it’d be crispy bacon….mmmmmm…bacon.
Kevin S,
I agree that McDiggidy has a few less years under his belt and has stayed healthy with the Pistons, we all know who we can attribute that to *Cough*…Arnie Kander…*Cough cough* I just don’t see why we couldn’t have paid him less.
Were there any teams out there that were THAT interested in McDyess that we needed to offer him up that much cash?
Right on, James. And pg4l, I agree with you on on mid season moves being better deals, but it’s still rare that it actually happens. Chicago would’ve been in the the finals this year with Gasol. People get cold feet. I think people here are giving Joe D. a free pass because of the “deal” that he’s going to pull off that puts the team over the top. What if he doesn’t make a deal? If we lose in the ecf’s or scsf’s? The team has been getting worse since we lost to SA in the finals, and I think the team needs a change at the core. Signing dice for 3 years (at 7 per) doesn’t do that.
Lebron was only one of the problems in the Cavs series. Look at Gibson’s stats compared to everyone else they played in the playoffs.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=4170
You tell me what stat jumps out at you and tell me how this is possible.
Techniq– holy ##$$@ing free throws, batman.
We could have paid McDyess less … if we wanted to get a surly McDyess. IMO, he’s worth around the money he got paid as the rock that anchors the second team. Other folks in the same range (give or take a million) are:
Drew Gooden, Stephen Jackson, Shane Battier, Corey Maggette, Vladimir Radmanovic, Brian Cardinal & Stromile Smith, Udonis Haslem, Dan Gadzuric, Mark Blount & Marko Jaric, Malik Rose & Jerome James, Tony Battie, Kenny Thomas, Nick Collison, Radoslav Nesterovic, Matt Harpring and Etan Thomas.
I can’t see where you can look at those folks, weigh Dice’s demonstrated commitment to the team and the importance of the message to free agents that kevin s. pointed out and have too big a problem with it.
This is bizarre. It wasn’t/isn’t THAT much cash. In addition to his ability, he’s a class act that the young guys can follow. Same deal with Nazr. There’s a list of problems people have with them, but class and work ethic is never one of them. And, in a pinch, these are still moveable contracts.
Everyone on the above list are role players or 6th men. Not so much on this board, but I love it when fans say “Sign another big man! Sign another big man!” Who?
Yeah. Struggling teams don’t struggle because they are saddled with moderately priced productive players.
Techniq,
That is insane. He shot two fewer free throws in that series than he did the whole season.
Hold on. Nazr is NOT the same deal as Dice. In fact, I think Nazr is the indirect source of all the Dice chatter. It’s true that it isn’t a huge contract for Dice (and since he is so tradeable, it’s a good contract for a trade if it ever comes to that).
But Nazr. He’s not part of the long-term future and he thinks he’s a starter when he’s clearly not. And we are probably going to be stuck with him for the rest of his contract. Hell, we couldn’t even trade him for Marko Jaric.
Sure, Nazr seems like a nice guy, but he’s no Dice.
Why is Nazr clearly not a starter? I don’t think there are 25 better centers in the league by any stretch.
“And we are probably going to be stuck with him for the rest of his contract.”
This is so unlikely. He’s a decent guy by team accounts, but he’s also generally productive when he does play. The Pistons were what, 18-8 when he started? He’s paid like a moderately productive, championship-winning, almost 10-year NBA veteran big man, which he is.
If the T-Wolves wouldn’t take Nazr for Jaric, that’s just further proof that McHale’s lost his mind. Although Craig Smith’s a beast. If he posted up against Maxiell, or vice versa, I think the world would explode.