The word has been out for several hours, but for posterity’s sake, here’s the “Charlie Villanueva is (likely) a Piston” post. After visiting the team on Wednesday, the first official day of free agency, he reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth $35 million or $40 million, depending who you ask. Just like with Ben Gordon, no agreement is official until July 8, the first day free agents are allowed to sign contracts.
Either way, the deal sounds like a relative bargain for 24-year-old whose best days are almost certainly ahead of him. Despite playing fewer than 27 minutes a game, Villanueva averaged better than 16 points and nearly seven boards a game; given regular starter minutes, 18 and nine is likely, and, if all of us cross our fingers, 20 and 10 isn’t out of the question.
Villanueva’s arrival will come with mixed reviews, in part because of shaky defense and a reputation for being “soft,” but objectively speaking, he’s a better shooter, passer and rebounder than Rasheed Wallace, the man he’s essentially replacing. No, he’s not a complete package — Wallace was an exceptional defender, at least when he was up for the challenge — but for the price and potential for improvement, I have no quibbles with the move. He alone won’t put the Pistons over the top, but this roster is a couple of years away from worrying about the “missing piece.”
In time, I predict Villanueva will emerge as a fan favorite, as much for his play on the court as his good deeds and accessibility (he was one of the first NBA players to embrace Twitter — follow him @CV31 — and he has his own YouTube page) off of it.
And, just because, here he is showing off his hat collection and Rock Band skillz:
I’ve got to make a Twitter account now.
You know, for the money… I like this deal. I’m not sold on Gordon, but I like this deal. The Pistons just got a lot younger.
E-A-S Myoplex, y’all
I’m an old-school UConn fan and Charlie Villanueva reminds me a little bit of Cliff Robinson, not so much their games but how their demeanor was far better suited to pro ball than college. Villanueva has done nothing but steadily improve in the NBA and I think he’ll do very well in Detroit.
Well, the least we can do is welcome him via Twitter, I guess. I sent him a message (as if he’ll read it!)
Guys $35 mil for Villanueva is a steal. If he picks up his intensity and has the right coach, he’ll all be saying he’s better than Chris Bosh. In fact he scores more per 40 and rebounds about the same. The only big difference between the two is the amount of free throws Bosh gets because the league loves him.
At 35/5, this is a great signing. 40/5, not so much but acceptable. Read ESPN where Collins (Thank God) withdrew himself from the list of possible coaches. Also read where, FWIW, Dyess has the pistons on his short list along with the usual suspects.
CH is one ugly dude. He’ll fit in well with the Pistons.
Also saw this morning that it appears the Lakers will let Ariza walk. Apparently they are only offering Ariza the MLE and he’s somewhat irritated because of that. Kobe and Bron have been pitching Artest. RonRon & Phil J, this is going to be interesting. Looks like they retain Odom. Toronto is pursuing Lee instead of Turkey Glue.
Now, if we can do a SnT for Gortat & Reddick (to make salaries work, I hink) with Hamilton, Orlando can move VC to the 3 and keep Lewis at the 4.
Stuck/MFWB
BG/AA/JJ
Tay/Daye/Sharpe
CV/Max
Gortat/Kwame
Or we send Max SnT for Gortat. It solves Orl problem at the 4 with Lewis moving to the 3. I don’t hink for one moment we can placate BG & Rip. And we can give Gortat 7M if CV was 7M/yr & BG is 10M we still have ~2M + Max at 5M (??). Why don’t we and Orl do this trade?
I can get most enthused about that lineup. Scorers, length, I like it.
Rock Band skillz? I like him more and more.
Mucho Zapatos
There’s really not much not to like about CV. He’s been an outstanding character guy since he came in the league. I think he’s going to do some great things in the Detroit area, especially if we can turn him into a franchise guy here. Definitely fits the “character mold” that Joe D was talking about.
And for what it’s worth, I’ve met Benny G a handful of times at the Underground in Chicago (a club where a lot of athletes go out in Chi-town– my brother’s a manager), and he was absolutely a cool, down-to-earth guy. Actually shot some Patron with him. Not that it says a ton about his “character,” but he definitely wasn’t the “too cool for you” diva you’d think most NBA players are.
Over all, I think we grabbed two young guys with good heads on their shoulders, who actually WANT to be here, and are both just entering the prime of their careers. And for good deals no less.
Favorite part of that video:
“Here’s my brother Rob. And over here, my other brother Rob.”
What?!
We got younger but smaller. I want smashmouth defense, I’m hoping that these two will subscribe their asses to that style of play.
I dont’ want the Pistons to S&T Rip or Tay. That’s the experience and swagger that a championship caliber team needs. You can’t get fair value for that.
A question, because people on this site know their stuff: if Detroit keeps Tay and Rip, how can they add a defensive stalwart 5 like Gortat?
According to McCoskey, if Dyess walks Detroit’s about $3 million under the cap… Afflalo’s expendable now… and there is still the MLE?
@Satchel
A question, because people on this site know their stuff: if Detroit keeps Tay and Rip, how can they add a defensive stalwart 5 like Gortat?
An answer– they don’t. Unfortunately we’re going to have give up some or all of our “swagger,” not only to get a decent big but just to have a balanced roster. I don’t believe for one second that Benny G’s getting paid $11mil/yr to be a super sub.
We have some amount of cash left to spend on FA’s– how much, none of us know, because the details as to the front end of BG’s and CV’s contracts aren’t available. It could be seemingly anywhere from $2mil to $5mil. What bigs are available at that price range? None, methinks. Maybe Chris Mihm? But then we have the starting frontcourt of the 2005 Lakers, and they sucked a dick. Really the only way to get that “defensive big” we all want is to unload Rip and/or Tay. And judging by our current roster, I think Rip’s the one that gets moved.
If I’m not mistaken, the MLE only applies to teams that are at or above the salary cap when free agency begins. So then we can’t sign a new player if it takes us above the cap. But we could trade for players that would put us over the cap. I’m not positive about this so someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
There might be an exception for McDyess because he was already on the team.
We can’t use the MLE this year because we were already under the cap.
NBA Salary Cap FAQ
Quote:
A team can’t act like they’re under the cap and sign free agents using cap room, and then use their Disabled Player, Bi-Annual, Mid-Level and/or Traded Player exceptions.
Charlie V has updated his twitter. http://twitter.com/CV31
been a long time reader and season ticket holder. Just learnin about how to use these websites so forgive me if I dont regard an unwritten rule…
About the pistons, there is no 5. They dont need a great 5 just a 5 and Kwame is not it. If, with there current roster, they had a 5, like Kendrick Perkins or a James Budda Edwards they could contend in the east. McDyess, CV and Tay are basically a small “active” front line that then get rotated for a smaller more active front line.
I’m cool with BG and Stuckey, tay and daye at the 3/4 and McDyess at 4 IF we get a solid 5. Think of it, a solid 5 and then rip and max off the bench with affalo…the pistons contend.
If we dont get a 5 or need to package players to get a 5 I would rather see us package Tay than Rip. I love Tay, but we can get more for Tay, draft picks and throw in’s than we could for rip.
on twitter he already said “im a pistons now what a long day god is good”
Watching that Youtube, maybe there could be something to the Uconn connection. You can see how big a part of this dude’s life it is. If nothing else, there is instant /connection for the Huskie trio. Maybe they should sign Diana Taurasi for their final big…