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05-22-2004, 02:04 PM
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Monday, May 17, 2004
Analysis
Pistons remain work in progress
Dumars will retool roster, regardless of playoff outcome
By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
Clarence Tabb Jr. / The Detroit News
Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace gets the best of a Kenyon Martin shot in the second quarter.
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Pistons President Joe Dumars knows he is in for a busy summer.
He knew it the minute he swung an improbable three-team trade that led to the acquisition of Rasheed Wallace in February.
Whether Wallace eventually leads the Pistons to the NBA Finals or not, which was the goal, Dumars knew that the window for this team to be a legitimate, perennial contender was just opening.
A premature exit this season, disappointing and frustrating as it would be, wasn’t going to change that.
This wasn’t a one-year mission.
“We are building this team to win today, and to keep winning for many years down the road,” Dumars has said more than once.
Dumars knew that even if the Pistons are to go all the way, he would still have to retool his roster this summer.
Essentially, two scenarios will play out — one that includes Wallace, and one that doesn’t.
The Pistons will make every effort to sign Wallace to a long-term contract. But there is a chance they won’t have to give him a maximum-salary deal. The teams that would have enough salary-cap space to offer him a contract starting in excess of $13 million — such as the Clippers, Jazz, Suns and Hawks — aren’t likely to mortgage their future on an unpredictable, 30-year-old Wallace.
Other potential suitors, such as the Knicks, can offer only the mid-level exception ($5.1 million to start). So, all things being equal, the Pistons could conceivably land Wallace at a price similar to or just over the $63 million deal they gave Richard Hamilton last summer.
If they do, in all likelihood, they would lose Mehmet Okur. Since he is a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match another team’s offer. But, if they are over the cap, which they would be if they signed Wallace, the highest they could go to match would be $5.1 million (which is the maximum starting salary allowed under the early Bird exception clause).
Although he continues to say all the right things, Okur has not been happy this season. His role has been reduced drastically since Wallace arrived, and his relationship with Coach Larry Brown has been, to say the least, turbulent.
Teams such the Rockets, Hawks and Jazz, among others, will be interested in Okur.
Now, if the Pistons lose Wallace, and if they renounce all their other free agents, and if Elden Campbell is lost to Charlotte in the expansion draft, the Pistons could get as much as $13 million under the cap.
That would make them a huge player in the free-agent market. If they wanted to, they could certainly match or trump any reasonable offer made to Okur. That, a big offer and no Wallace, is about the only thing at this point that could entice Okur to stick around.
They also could bid on other free agents, including the likes of the Nets’ Kenyon Martin (wouldn’t that be interesting?), Keon Clark, Stromile Swift and Erick Dampier — if they were looking for another big man.
But the free-agent market isn’t as well stocked as it has been in past years.
The Pistons also have the option to use Wallace, and others, in a sign-and-trade package. This could end up being a nice bail-out for Dumars, should he find himself about to lose Wallace and Okur.
Just like when he got Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins for Grant Hill, Dumars could land a starter or two in exchange for Wallace.
Though, again, the first priority will be to re-sign Rasheed Wallace.
The Pistons also will go in search of another backup point guard. Brown has been frustrated all season by the lack of a true point guard to complement Chauncey Billups.
Mike James and Lindsey Hunter, both of whom are free agents, aren’t expected to be brought back for next season. And incoming rookie Carlos Delfino is expected to back up the shooting-guard and small-forward positions.
Of the other free agents, Darvin Ham probably will be asked back and Tremaine Fowlkes has likely played his final game in a Pistons uniform.
On Sunday morning, though, Dumars was seriously hoping he wouldn’t have to start addressing any of these off-season issues for another month or so.
You can reach Chris McCosky at (313) 222-1489 or [email protected].
link (http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/0405/17/d06-155175.htm)
Monday, May 17, 2004
Analysis
Pistons remain work in progress
Dumars will retool roster, regardless of playoff outcome
By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
Clarence Tabb Jr. / The Detroit News
Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace gets the best of a Kenyon Martin shot in the second quarter.
Comment on this story
Send this story to a friend
Get Home Delivery
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Pistons President Joe Dumars knows he is in for a busy summer.
He knew it the minute he swung an improbable three-team trade that led to the acquisition of Rasheed Wallace in February.
Whether Wallace eventually leads the Pistons to the NBA Finals or not, which was the goal, Dumars knew that the window for this team to be a legitimate, perennial contender was just opening.
A premature exit this season, disappointing and frustrating as it would be, wasn’t going to change that.
This wasn’t a one-year mission.
“We are building this team to win today, and to keep winning for many years down the road,” Dumars has said more than once.
Dumars knew that even if the Pistons are to go all the way, he would still have to retool his roster this summer.
Essentially, two scenarios will play out — one that includes Wallace, and one that doesn’t.
The Pistons will make every effort to sign Wallace to a long-term contract. But there is a chance they won’t have to give him a maximum-salary deal. The teams that would have enough salary-cap space to offer him a contract starting in excess of $13 million — such as the Clippers, Jazz, Suns and Hawks — aren’t likely to mortgage their future on an unpredictable, 30-year-old Wallace.
Other potential suitors, such as the Knicks, can offer only the mid-level exception ($5.1 million to start). So, all things being equal, the Pistons could conceivably land Wallace at a price similar to or just over the $63 million deal they gave Richard Hamilton last summer.
If they do, in all likelihood, they would lose Mehmet Okur. Since he is a restricted free agent, the Pistons can match another team’s offer. But, if they are over the cap, which they would be if they signed Wallace, the highest they could go to match would be $5.1 million (which is the maximum starting salary allowed under the early Bird exception clause).
Although he continues to say all the right things, Okur has not been happy this season. His role has been reduced drastically since Wallace arrived, and his relationship with Coach Larry Brown has been, to say the least, turbulent.
Teams such the Rockets, Hawks and Jazz, among others, will be interested in Okur.
Now, if the Pistons lose Wallace, and if they renounce all their other free agents, and if Elden Campbell is lost to Charlotte in the expansion draft, the Pistons could get as much as $13 million under the cap.
That would make them a huge player in the free-agent market. If they wanted to, they could certainly match or trump any reasonable offer made to Okur. That, a big offer and no Wallace, is about the only thing at this point that could entice Okur to stick around.
They also could bid on other free agents, including the likes of the Nets’ Kenyon Martin (wouldn’t that be interesting?), Keon Clark, Stromile Swift and Erick Dampier — if they were looking for another big man.
But the free-agent market isn’t as well stocked as it has been in past years.
The Pistons also have the option to use Wallace, and others, in a sign-and-trade package. This could end up being a nice bail-out for Dumars, should he find himself about to lose Wallace and Okur.
Just like when he got Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins for Grant Hill, Dumars could land a starter or two in exchange for Wallace.
Though, again, the first priority will be to re-sign Rasheed Wallace.
The Pistons also will go in search of another backup point guard. Brown has been frustrated all season by the lack of a true point guard to complement Chauncey Billups.
Mike James and Lindsey Hunter, both of whom are free agents, aren’t expected to be brought back for next season. And incoming rookie Carlos Delfino is expected to back up the shooting-guard and small-forward positions.
Of the other free agents, Darvin Ham probably will be asked back and Tremaine Fowlkes has likely played his final game in a Pistons uniform.
On Sunday morning, though, Dumars was seriously hoping he wouldn’t have to start addressing any of these off-season issues for another month or so.
You can reach Chris McCosky at (313) 222-1489 or [email protected].
link (http://www.detnews.com/2004/pistons/0405/17/d06-155175.htm)