NBA Draft 2010: What the Detroit Pistons Need To Do Tonight

The Detroit Pistons have been horrible to watch for far too long.

It didn't start with Charlie Villanueva or Ben Gordon. It didn't start with Allen Iverson—although that was the straw that broke this camel's back.

No, the absurdity that has become Pistons basketball has been seen since the minute after they won their last NBA title. Rasheed Wallace won that title for the Pistons, but as Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, and the rest became more and more like him—arguing with the refs, drowning out the coaches—it became apparent the run was over.

Joe Dumars, a good general manager but horrible drafter, needs to shed that image and rebuild the Pistons.

It isn't about adding a piece or excising a cancer anymore. This year needs to be a rebuilding, a start from scratch. Here is what the Pistons need to do.

1) Draft a Big Man: Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe is the one player I covet for the Pistons.

Monroe is a legit 6'11". He's a bit undersized at 247 lbs but expected to fill out nicely into his long frame. He is a taller Lamar Odom with many of the same skills.

Monroe can pass to create the fast break. He is tough to defend with his back to the basket and can finish with both hands. He can hit jumpers from just about anywhere on the floor.

He is a lot like Rasheed Wallace without the propensity to jack up stupid three-pointers.

2) If Greg Monroe Isn't Available...

If Monroe isn't there, Epke Udoh will be and needs to be the second option. He is better than Monroe defensively and plays like a taller Ben Wallace.

Udoh is a true power forward at 6'10" and will probably never be able to fill out to be a true NBA-style center. But, honestly, he might walk in and be the best center on the Pistons' roster.

Udoh is, most importantly, mature and would be a solid building block for a team like Detroit.

If Udoh isn't what Joe D is after, Ed Davis should fit rather nicely. Offensively, he is as polished as Udoh is defensively and Davis probably has more upside on both ends of the floor.

Davis is a better-than-average shot blocker and a superb rebounder who plays even bigger than his 6'10" frame. He compares favorably to Al Horford or Al Jefferson.

3) Get Another First Round Pick

Chris Wilcox, seen here in all his glory, and Tayshaun Prince both have expiring contracts.

Teams like Memphis, Golden State, and Minnesota are looking to clear the books and would probably take either of those players in order to get some financial flexibility.

Richard Hamilton has been rumored in a lot of deals connected with a trade up, but what about a trade back in? Rip fits better with a championship level team looking for a shooter than a building block of a lottery team.

If a team would be willing or able to take on his money, sending back the Pistons a pick and some roster flotsam, then the Pistons can clear up the Ben Gordon-Rip Hamilton problem and get another piece to work with.

The Pistons also have an early second-round pick and many teams prefer picking high in the second round over the guaranteed money of the first.

Actually, this is the NBA; you can just buy a draft pick. Someone get on the phone and do it.

4) With That Extra Pick...

Another big man couldn't hurt.

After years of fielding undersized players like Ben Wallace and Jason Maxiell, or unwilling post players like Villanueva and Rasheed Wallace, the Pistons should be ecstatic about getting two players within an inch or two of seven feet and ability around the hoop.

Monroe and Cole Aldrich would be a superb tandem. Aldrich is great around the hoop while Monroe owns the 12-foot shot from the high post. Davis would be a good pairing with Aldrich as well.

If Udoh is the pick at seven, Larry Sanders is an impressive big man from Virginia Commonwealth who could fit nicely with him.

The Pistons have been making due on the frontline for far too long. A draft like this could end that.

5) If That Second Post Player Isn't Available

Pistons fans, meet Eric Bledsoe.

Although he played second fiddle to John Wall in 2009, Bledsoe is one of the most outstanding true point guards of this draft class.

A true point guard.

Remember what those look like?

Rodney Stuckey isn't a true point guard. He can play there, but he's a combo guard who is at his very best providing a spark off of the bench at either guard position.

Some players in the NBA are just better off the bench. Stuckey is one of those people.

For a year or so, Stuckey could continue to man the point while Bledsoe matures, but as a passer and ball handler, Bledsoe is probably better right now. He is also a good defender and gets to the rim.

He wouldn't make fans forget about Chauncey Billups, but he would be a step in the right direction.

6) With That Second Round Pick

Depending on which options have been taken in the slides before this, the Pistons need one of three things: a big man who can control the low post on both sides of the court, a legitimate big man who can play in the high post, or a true point guard.

One of those positions will be available at the top of the second round, which is a haven for pass-first guards and talented polished big men who don't have first-round explosiveness.

Gani Lawal is a big former lottery pick candidate who rebounds and gets out on the break with the best of them.

Brian Zoubek is a tall and tough defender and rebounder who could be a gem with just a little polish.

Grevis Vasquez is a tremendous leader and floor general from Maryland who could drop out of the first. If the Pistons are lucky enough to have him fall in their laps, they would be insane to pass him up.

A Final Plea

No matter how one looks at it, a team must fill five positions on the floor.

Joe Dumars, in the past few years has been unable to fill even one.

Point guards who shoot too much, shooting guards who can't guard other shooting guards, forwards who are too small to play forward, centers who are smaller than the NBA average at power forward.

It is ridiculous.

Tonight is the night to change that.