How much can Pistons change?

[freedom&justice]

Bob Wojnowski

How much can Pistons change?

AUBURN HILLS -- It's easy to demand change, or to swear you'll change. It's so much easier to say in the NBA than it is to do.

The Pistons began to change, oh so deliberately, with a solid first-round selection of Eastern Washington combo guard Rodney Stuckey. They need youth and versatility and a dash of flash and that's what they added. I like the pick a lot more than their other first-rounder, UCLA's Arron Afflalo, as long as they give the kid a chance to play.

Stuckey was branded by one of the TV types a "poor man's Dwyane Wade." Lowering the hyperbole a tad, he actually might be a "young man's Chauncey Billups."

Obviously, the Pistons aren't pushing out free agent Billups by drafting two 6-foot-5 guards, that's for sure. But Joe Dumars is pushing his veterans, trying to change plenty with his team even if he can't (and shouldn't) change everything.

That's the concern this offseason. For all the talk of change, I wonder how much the Pistons are willing to do, or able to do. The NBA is an ultra-safe world, in which Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant nearly are traded daily, until one of the teams hyperventilates and bails.

The Pistons under Dumars have not played it ultra-safe. Dumars has stood out for his vision and his boldness, and it's going to take both for the Pistons to stay among the best.

Picks must produce

Let's be clear on one thing: Dumars shouldn't blow up his lineup just because spoiled fans (and media) are tired of going to the Eastern Conference finals. But help must come, and Stuckey is a fine place to start.

"Whoever we drafted at 15, we expected him to have the mentality to come in and play right away," Dumars said. "(Stuckey) has that mentality. When we've struggled in the playoffs, it's been on the perimeter, and that's what I set out to address."

Stuckey is not a luxury pick like the fateful Darko Milicic. He's not a raw athlete like Jason Maxiell or an intriguing project like Amir Johnson.

Stuckey also isn't a magical answer. But Dumars needs to hit with this one because it won't be easy pulling off a huge deal. Hey, I think it'd be great for the Pistons to climb into the endless Garnett trade talks. But Minnesota is looking for commodities the Pistons are lacking -- youth and versatility and a dash of flash.

No easy answers

The options are dwindling. And the harsh truth is, it's usually the bad teams making trades. Boston pulled another dopey one, acquiring aging Ray Allen. The sorry Knicks got troubled Zach Randolph.

Dumars still could make a blockbuster, but there's a reason he has been non-committal. Trades are contingent on other teams, and most teams play it safe. If the Pistons can't find help elsewhere, guys like Stuckey and Maxiell better lace up their sneakers and get ready to go.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...127/SPORTS0102

[freedom&justice]

Pistons draft trio of versatile guards
Friday, June 29, 2007By A. Sherrod Blakely

AUBURN HILLS - The Detroit Pistons passed on a chance to draft Dwyane Wade four years ago when they selected Darko Milicic with the No. 2 pick.

They may have found a player with similar skills coming out of the college ranks with the selection of Eastern Washington's Rodney Stuckey with the No. 15 pick in Thursday night's NBA draft. The Pistons followed that up by selecting two more guards in UCLA's Arron Afflalo with the No. 27 pick, and Depaul's Sammy Meijia with the No. 57 pick in the second round. The draft began as expected with Portland selecting Ohio State's Greg Oden with the No. 1 pick, followed by Seattle taking Texas' Kevin Durant No. 2, and Atlanta picking Florida's Al Horford with the No. 3 pick.

With few surprises early in the first round, that led to Stuckey - one of the few players Detroit targeted with the No. 15 pick - being available.

The 6-foot-5 combo guard's versatility was what ultimately gave him the nod over USC's Nick Young, who was selected by Washington with the No. 16 pick.

"The fact that he (Stuckey) can play both guard positions made it an easy choice to take him," said Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations.

In addition to his versatility, Dumars also liked the fact that Stuckey would come in looking to prove that his small college background wasn't going to prevent him from being a solid NBA player.

"I know a little something about that," said Dumars, who starred at McNeese State prior to being drafted by the Pistons. "You have to come in with somewhat of a chip on your shoulder; not upset at anybody, but a chip to prove who you are and what you can do. He and I talked about that, like when you play at an Eastern Washington or a McNeese State ... you kind of keep that at all times, you keep that edge at all times."

Stuckey has drawn rave reviews as more people took notice of his game leading up to Thursday night's draft.

"He's athletic as all get out," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said of Stuckey. "He gets by people with his strength. He's kind of a Detroit-molded guard, kind of the way he plays."

"They did the right thing," said ESPN analyst Mark Jackson, referring to Detroit selecting Stuckey. "Once they re-sign Chauncey Billups, they feel confident having a high energy guy coming off the bench."

Dumars said on Thursday night that Stuckey will get a chance to play immediately as a backup to Billups and Richard Hamilton. "We're not going to put him on a two-year plan," Dumars said.

That means that Flip Murray or Lindsey Hunter will probably be traded this summer, and Will Blalock probably won't be back next season. Alex Acker, who spent this past season playing overseas, still has a chance to be on the roster. But he might opt to play overseas again, or ask to have his rights traded if a roster spot in Detroit isn't available.

Stuckey is confident that, given an opportunity, he can make an immediate impact - similar to his favorite player, Wade.

"I love watching his game," Stuckey said. "He's relentless, slashing ... just watching him and how he plays on the court, that's how I try to be."

Stuckey added, "when I get my chance, I'm going to prove people that I can help the Detroit Pistons out."

Antonio McDyess informed the Pistons on Thursday that he will not opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer. The news did not catch Dumars off guard, who has repeatedly said he plans to offer McDyess some type of contract extension. Agent Andy Miller, who represents McDyess and Chauncey Billups, said McDyess is also interested in working out some type of extension.

"We have expectations that on July 1 or sometime after that, to be able to work out some form of an extension that will keep Antonio in Detroit for the rest of his career," Miller said.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories...640.xml&coll=1
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There are gonna be a lot of very heavy expectations for these guys, Stuckey especially, since he was drafted so high. Trade winds are blowing pretty hard because we drafted three SGs, and I honestly have no idea what's going on in Joe's mind right now.
If Chauncey walks, this run is officially over. If he stays, we hope at least 1 or 2 of them turn out good and Chauncey gets a decent backup, as does Rip, and we hope we do a little better next year than we did this year and last year. It's gonna be tougher than ever, it seems like; the bulls are scaring the hell out of me, and Miami with a healthy Wade and Shaq are always dangerous, same with Cleveland having Lebron, but to a lesser degree.

[jochhejaam]

So far we got rid of the lackluster, stoic Delfino and added two promising guards. Now let Dumars work his trade magic and we're back in the hunt for a title.

And along with trading Murray forget about Blalock, there's nothing there.

[freedom&justice]

Originally Posted by jochhejaam

So far we got rid of the lackluster, stoic Delfino and added two promising guards. Now let Dumars work his trade magic and we're back in the hunt for a title.

And along with trading Murray forget about Blalock, there's nothing there.

As far as I can see, we've got ONE promising guard. The other 2 are pretty much fodder. Poor Blalock..he's a nice guy. Too bad he probably won't be a Piston anymore lext year.

[freedom&justice]

MICHAEL ROSENBERG

Dumars' picks must be hit for Pistons
June 29, 2007

BY MICHAEL ROSENBERG

FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

You hear it a lot around here: Joe Dumars is the greatest general manager in the world, the salt of the earth, The Man in every way, but for the love of God, what does he drink on Draft night?

Dumars took Darko Milicic ahead of a group of All-Stars. He took Rodney White, who had the skills but not the work ethic, and Mateen Cleaves, who had the work ethic but not the skills. He took Carlos Delfino, who chewed gum for three years, hit a few shots and just got traded for spare equipment.

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I normally don't dwell on all that, because Dumars' job is to win. It really doesn't matter how he does it. And the Pistons have won plenty.

But Dumars has to get this one right. It matters too much. The Pistons needed to add a slashing, athletic guard player, and Rodney Stuckey has to be the right guy.

The Pistons have no margin for error anymore, and the 15th pick in this draft was like a top-8 pick in other years. The Pistons had a choice of Stuckey or Southern California's Nick Young; I won't pretend I studied Eastern Washington and can break down Stuckey's skills, but the Pistons need this to be a hit.

Stuckey is the guy they wanted. Soon, we'll find out if Stuckey is the guy they really need.

By the way, if we're going to rip Dumars for his draft record, let's be fair and point out his steals, too. He grabbed Mehmet Okur with the 38th pick, Tayshaun Prince at No. 23, Jason Maxiell at No. 26 and Amir Johnson, whom the Pistons love, at No. 56.

I don't know why Dumars gets better players with late picks than with early ones. But I would be surprised if it happens this year -- the Pistons grabbed UCLA's Arron Afflalo with the 27th choice, and there are serious, legitimate questions about Afflalo's athleticism.

Dumars said judging players on leaping ability is "a common mistake. I want tough guys. I want guys who compete."

Most of Dumars' draft mistakes -- White, Milicic, Delfino -- came when he went for athleticism over work ethic and toughness. He won't make that mistake again.

The biggest complaint about Stuckey is that he played for the fourth-best team in Washington. This is true. But there is risk all over the NBA Draft, especially after the first few picks, and the weak competition is relatively minor one.

Two picks after Stuckey, the Nets took Sean Williams, who missed the season because he couldn't lay off marijuana. The 76ers used first-rounders on Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith, neither of whom is ready to play much. The Bulls used the No. 9 pick on Joakim Noah, who is basically a weak-side defender who can't shoot.

This is what I like about Stuckey: he had to go to Eastern Washington, instead of a bigger school, because he was academically ineligible.

THAT is what you like? He couldn't qualify? What would you like to see him add to his game? Lead shoes?

Man alive, would you let me finish? After five quarters at Eastern Washington, Stuckey had a 3.34 grade-point average. He made the Big Sky's All-Academic team. That tells you something about his pride.

Can he play at the NBA level? Joe Dumars says yes. And when you look at the balance of Dumars' resume -- not just the high picks -- you have to like Stuckey's chances.

http://forums.freep.com/viewtopic.php?t=34487