The Pistons Offseason So Far

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Another point to note is that this signing creates a very crowded backcourt with Bynum, Stuckey, Hamilton, Gordon, and Afflalo all competing for two positions.

The Pistons camp has said repeatedly that they are moving forward with this current backcourt. I believe, however, that a trade is coming.

Recently, the Pistons offered a guaranteed contract to Deron Washington before even seeing him play one game is the summer league. This is unusual because they had no pressure to sign him blindly as Washington cannot sign with anyone else even after summer league. Also deals like this are often used to make salaries match according to league rules. 

Even if we signed Washington to be the fifth in line for shooting guard or third or fourth in line at small forward (doubtful), I still see a trade in the future of Detroit. 

While I think Villanueva has the potential to be a great power forward, his stats per 36 minutes 21 points and 9 rebounds, he needs some help defensively. The only way we can get him a defensive partner, who would complete the emulation of the two Wallace's, is to trade for one at this point.

This isn't bad because the Pistons have a couple bargaining chips to work with.

Hamilton is a likely candidate with the addition of another high scoring shooting guard, as well as Prince with his much more attractive contract. I think Rip is more likely to go from a Pistons point of view as I don't believe Dumars has confidence in starting a rookie or Rip at small forward.

There have been a few names kicked around, Tyson Chandler, Chris Kaman, Emeka Okafor, even Samuel Dalembert. 

After unloading Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies the Clippers freed up time and cap space for the young Blake Griffin, making it unnecessary to trade the big Chippewa.

Chandler is still a possibility if the Suns can find another taker for Ben Wallace's contract. Although Chandler has a bad injury history, he would provide some much needed shot blocking and physicality in the post.

The Okafor rumor is admittedly a fringe rumor but might be intriguing given Emeka's defensive and offensive prowess would mesh nicely with Villanueva's.

Lastly that leaves Dalembert. The 76ers have reportedly been shopping him hard, and they probably should by just looking at his contract. Dalembert is not known for his offensive capabilities but is an accomplished defender. While he is overpaid he might make a nice compliment to Villanueva, each players strength would help hide the others flaws. That contract is a killer though, $25 million over the next two seasons.

A trade might not come this summer but by the time the trade deadline comes around in February I would expect that someone is headed out of Detroit and a new face and a big new body is coming in.

Overall Dumars has made some impressive moves that gives the Pistons a lot of potential. Detroit doesn’t have all the pieces yet but the mechanisms to get them exist and Dumars is well aware of that. 

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