It seems that the talk of Tracy McGrady coming to Detroit is like professional wrestler Matt Hardy's credo it "will not die!" ESPN's Stephen A. Smith continued to fan the flame recently, stating that Tracy McGrady told him that he would not mind a deal to the Pistons, and that he has all the faith in the world in Pistons President Joe Dumars.
Stephen A. Smith is one of the most highly respected basketball journalists in the world. I do not believe that he is lying or blowing things out of proportion as Rockets GM Daryl Morey suggests.
I believe that Morey is interested, but the offer of Billups and Prince wasn't enough. Understandably so, as Prince is essentially an upgraded version of Shane Battier. Any McGrady deal would need to make Houston better.
With that said, I believe that there is a deal to be made between these two teams that would make both teams better. Detroit would send the Rockets their all star back-court of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton for Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston.
Houston would have a back-court that knows how to win a playoff series. Imagine the combined basketball IQ with Shane Battier at the three. Moving without the ball, Richard Hamilton is the best offensive player in the NBA. He is tough to stop. That is why he surpassed Isiah Thomas as the Pistons all time playoff scorer this season.
He and Billups have led the Pistons to six straight conference finals appearances. Billups knows how to control the tempo of a game like few others. With Shane Battier, Houston would be so proficient with the ball, it is ridiculous. Hamilton and Billups would get many scoring opportunities with Yao Ming in the post.
Aaron Brooks would make the perfect change-of-pace third guard for the Rockets. He is everything that Billups and Hamilton are not. Billups can defend shooting guards when he and Brooks are in the game together.
Detroit would be able to pair Rodney Stuckey with Tracy McGrady in their back-court. Alston would make a fine third guard off the bench. McGrady would give the Pistons a "hungry" superstar since he has yet to advance beyond the first round. Acquiring McGrady would give the Pistons two dribble drive players in the back-court. Detroit already has enough shooters.
This deal just makes too much sense for both teams. Someone needs to make a call! You still have Joe Dumars' number, right Morey?
Tony Wichowski is a writer for the Bleacher Report and the Host of "That's real Sports Talk" on the Godly Network
22 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Well, hate to be a debbie to Houston fans, but there's no chance in hell Joe D. trades Hamilton and Billups. From every single insider with in the Detroit organization, the only plausible deals involve trading Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Chauncey Billups. Hamillton and Stuckey are basically the two untochables. Detroit would be fools to give away BOTH Rip and Mr. Big Shot.
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
First of all, I ask you to cite your source that Hamilton is off limits. Hamilton is not "untouchable." He is not a "sacred cow." Just because his name has not been thrown around as much by the media, don't think the Pistons would not consider moving Rip for the right deal.
Indeed the Pistons would be giving up a bit more than Houston, but with Stuckey ready to get 40 minutes a night and Arron Afflalo's development, I doubt they would miss a beat. In fact, they would be better. Tracy McGrady is one of those players, like Paul Peirce and Lebron James who are unguardable. He is one of the five most skilled wings in the NBA, sitting in a class with James, Wade, Kobe and Peirce.
Arnie Kander would work wonders on T-Mac's back. This is a win-win trade for both teams.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
My source is the insiders are Detroit newspaper beat writers. Chris McCosky, and Sherrod Blakely, if you need names. I believe they are closer to the team then you, or myself for that matter.
That being said, no one is off limits, at least of the starting five (Rodney Stuckey is going NOWHERE). What I did say, and believe to be true is the Pistons will NOT deal Billups and Richard Hamilton together in a deal.
And...really...the development of Arron Affalo? Haha. Okay, I'll give you the fact that he's had ONE really superb summer league game, but, ummm am I wrong here...he hardly played at all last year! By the second half of the season he was only allowed to play the last 2 minutes of blowout games (or if Rip was hurt). So plllease let's not go there. Rip is the most consistent Piston on the team, and though the starting five are all up for grabs, he's at the bottom of the priority list to get rod of. They might do Sheed and Billups for T-Mac, or Billups and Prince, or Sheed, Billups, Affalo, but not Rip and Billups.
Not for a 29 year-old player who has been injury prone and an unproven playoff performer. He's not Kobe Bryant, and he's not the age of Carmelo Anthony.
The trade has to work for both sides, and I think Joe D is smart enough to see this one isn't smart for the Pistons.
That being said...take Sheed and Billups...please...
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
Respectfully speaking, not one of these beat writers have quoted Joe Dumars saying Richard Hamilton is untouchable, because he is not. Only Stuckey is.
Now of the starters do the Pistons like Rip the best? I bet they do. I sure do! Would they like to get an impact player without giving him up...yeah. But don't say he is untouchable. That is not true, and no beat writer has said that he is untouchable. If they have, I'd like to see the quote. Hamilton is not untouchable.
That said, I understand why you disagree with this deal proposal of mine, and you make a good argument there. I have some reservations too, but I would roll with it. You won't get a McGrady unless you lose something that hurts.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
k chief. stop taking what i say out of context. if you read my last comment i clearly said he wasn't untouchable. And i clearly said, time in and out, that he was as tradeable as any other starter (though, there's other guys they rather trade first) except in a package involving Chauncey as well.
So, you can stop conjuring up fake arguments here. We're actually on the same page, so i don't know why you're arguing here...
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
I am sorry. That was my mistake. I read your reponse and somehow overlooked the start of your second paragraph, where you clearly said..."no one is off limits, at least of the starting five..."
I was running with your first two sentences.
If we did give up Rasheed and Billups, and Houston took the offer, what would we do for a center? I like Plaisted and Samb, but are they seriously ready for that?
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Center would be a concern, however, it is plausable to move McDyess to center, and possibly start Maxiell at PF. Though, i do not believe Maxiell could be a consistent starter in the leauge because his size, maybe the Pistons think something different? McDyess did alternate with Sheed at the center/pf spot this year.
Dumars did say he expects a contribution from Samb this year...maybe they take the chance?
The Oakland Tribune has reported the Pistons and Warriors are talking again. The Pistons want Andris Biedrins, the Warriors just want to give them Al Harrington.
Biedrins would solve the center problem if they may a separate move, though not likely.
What can we conclude from all this? There are a 1,000 different things that could happen, and we just have to wait and see.
Hopefully soon enough we will be able to stop writing about possibilities and speculation, and write about an actual trade, ay?
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
You know we have a glut at the four spot, and the Clippers have two centers. Perhaps we could send them Tayshan Prince and Jason Maxiell for Chris Kaman. Then we could get another small forward for Rasheed or Billups.
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Anthony Orlando 11 months ago
Getting rid of Max would be a tough pill to swallow, but I'd make that deal. And Kaman is coming into his prime now, i've always liked his game. Hell, he's an alum of my school, i'd love him in the D.
But like i said, there's a 1,000 diff. things that could happen, who knows at this point.
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Tyler Jones 11 months ago
I think it's not a bad idea as a Pistons fan, but it does seem unlikely that Detroit would deal Hamilton with the years of more-than-quality playing time he has left. That said, any deal MUST involve Billups, as Stuckey could easily take over. I think parting ways with Sheed wouldn't be a bad thing, but that would require the aquisition of another player at the 4 or 5 spot. That's ultimately why I like this idea, because they wouldn't have to give up a big man and to me Prince's defense might be more valueble than Hamilton's offense (don't get me wrong. I love rip, but he's not the best offensive player in the league).
Don't see it happening though. What ever does happen, I hope they work something out. I'd love to see T-Mac in Detroit.
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Tyler Jones 11 months ago
Excuse me. I missed the "moving without the ball" part. My bad. You're probably right about that. It's the Reggie Miller replica!
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
Hamilton does everything Reggie did except clutch three point shooting, and Hamilton is probably a better defender. He did a great job on Ray Allen.
Billups has that other part of Reggie's game.
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RODNEY GOLDEN 11 months ago
Tracy Mcgrady Is 1 of the best 2's in the nba he has yet 2 get out the 1st round yes but he has yet 2 have the help he really needs Tracy Getting trade is not a good cuz any you trade him 4 is not as good as him NO1!! Hou will lose the man that been holding them 2geter 4 the last 2 years last year yao with out 4 the whole season tracy carry them for 32 games and they go 50 wins this season the same thing happen tracy carry them sending him away would be worng hou should give him and yao a whole year with each other and not look 2 trade tracy
you tell me 1 man in the nba that has do any thing with out a team no1
THEY SHOULD GIVE TRACY AND YAO THE REALLY SEASON 2GETER AND SENDING TRACY AWAY WOULD BRAKE THAT THEM AND WILL DO NIFFIN WITH BILLUPS CUZ HE DOES NOT KNOW WAT IT IS 2 BE IN THE WEST HE HAS HAD A EASY RUN IN THE PLAYOFF CUZ THE EAST WASNT NIFFIN BIG
THE WEST IS THE HARD AND BILLUPS WONT BE ABLE 2 DO ANYTHING
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
I don't agree with that. The best two teams in the NBA this year were clearly the Celtics and Pistons. Billups ate the Lakers alive in 2004, and the Pistons played really well against West teams.
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Bill Dias 11 months ago
First of all Rodney, use actual English. Second the east has won 3 out of the last 5 years in the NBA finals. One of those times included Billups and Hamilton on a Pistons squad that embarrassed a Lakers team that had O'Neal and Kobe. There might have been a lot of good teams in the west but the 2 best teams were in the east last year Det. 59-23 Bos. 66-16 and both those teams were well above .500 against western teams. So explain how Billups or Hamilton couldn't hang in the west?
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
I concur with everything you said!
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anthony price 11 months ago
anthony was right they should not trade rip hamilton
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
Well, Rip is their big bargaining chip. That is why his name does not get thrown around as much. As Rob Parker said, he is the guy other teams want. So for the right deal, they will pull the trigger. He is not as likley as Billups or Prince to go, however, and Rasheed won't go unless we get another high quality center.
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BigReg 11 months ago
The only way the Pistons get McGrady is if Houston is willing to give in and take Chancy and Prince. Hamilton and Billips doesnt work because you lose so much of your core. Prince is expendable because Dumars sees that his defense is not as good as everyone once thought it was. The way to win in the East is to have a 2-3-4 player that can score bunches, ie Pierce or James. Prince proved in the last two playoffs that he can't contain either of them.
The reason they won't trade Sheed is because he gives them to much leverage next year. W/ his contract off the books they can make a move for one of the premier young players in the game today.
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Tony Wichowski 11 months ago
Don't hate on Tayshaun's defense. Notice how he kept Igoudala in check? For the same reason, Lamar odom's defense has taken a beating. With the new rules you can't guard a player like Paul Peirce, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade or a Rodney Stuckey. Nobody can stop a player who has a quick first step and can handle the ball. Those players get automatic free reign to drive to the basket. Banning hand checking has limited the ability to guard such players. For the same reason San Antonio's best player went from being Tim Duncan to Tony Parker. It also helped Chris Paul.
This is why the Pistons would love to have T-Mac. This is not the same NBA as it was in 2004 when the Pistons won the championship.
Don't hate on Prince's defense. Nobody could have stopped Paul Peirce or Lebron James from taking it to the lane. Sorry. It's just a fact now. You need guys who can dribble-drive to win it all.
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Brandon Vachirasudlekha 11 months ago
I would love a backcourt rotation of Billups, McGrady, and Stuckey. McGrady, Stuckey, and Afflalo? Not so much. I'd be ok losing Rip in a trade for TMac, but the Pistons could not afford to do the deal you're proposing. From the Pistons' perspective, the only way they win out in a trade for McGrady is to send Hamilton and a front court player, where there's depth at the PF position. Something like Rip, Amir, Afflalo, and a 1st rounder for TMac works...But that doesn't really make Houston any better. What they need is leadership and consistency at the point. Chauncey would be great on their team, but I wouldn't trade him for McGrady under almost any circumstance.
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yungCaucasoid ... 11 months ago
McGrady's bad back makes him a bad option, for trading any of the Pistons for. I hope Joe Dumars isn't as closed-minded as some of the posts I read here. McGrady's going to give you, less and less games, each year from here on. Its just not worth it.
Although, I do think Detroit needs to move Rasheed Wallace, my main man, and thats only because he seems like he's lost his fire. He won his lil' ring and is now complacent. But, he's about it, that needs to go.
And Stuckey IS NOT as ready, as everyone thinks. He had nothing to lose, and so was able to play as he did in the playoffs. He wasn't depended on. Ship Chauncey out, leave Stuckey back there depended on as the #1-PG, and I bet it's an entirely different story---negatively! Look how Tayshaun cut up his rookie year, in the playoffs, and had everyone extremely hyped his 2nd year. He helped win the championship, but hasn't become the premier player everyone thought he would, following his rookie-year playoff performance.
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