NBA Free Agency 2011: 5 Players Detroit Pistons Should Target

I know, I know; I am getting way ahead of myself here.

The NBA season isn't even over, the draft is still weeks away and with the collective bargaining issues facing the league, free agency let alone next season are not guaranteed.

But I am a Detroit Pistons fan, and having to choose between rooting for the "Heatles" and a team from Texas is enough to drive me to the top of a ledge somewhere.

The league no doubt is facing some real changes. There will probably be a hard salary cap, team owners are sure to try to grab back some of the huge amounts of money they have been dishing out and there may even be an NFL-style franchise tag.

That being said, there will still probably be free agency, and the Pistons will no doubt be a part of that.

Before we know how much we can spend, we need to know how much we have on the books and how much the cap will be.

The Pistons are committed to about $48 million next year. That does not include Jonas Jerebko, who is a free agent but is sure to come back for a raise, or Rodney Stuckey, who is a restricted free agent but has a qualifying offer of about $4 million.

If all goes to plan and you figure in about $5 million more for the rookies that Detroit will draft, you are probably looking at about a $58 million team salary.

That seems like a lot, but that would put Detroit at about 25th in the league if we went by this year.  It is actually a decrease of about $7 million from last year due in large part to Tayshaun Prince and Tracy McGrady coming off the books.

Now we have to figure out the hard cap. Last year's luxury tax threshold was about $70 million. I have heard rumors ranging from a hard cap of $75 million all the way down to $45 million.

Since all but the Sacramento Kings were above $45 million and 10 teams are at about $70 million or more, let's figure it is somewhere in the higher range. Besides, unless teams are granted one get out of jail free card that allows them to cut one or two big salaries, it will be hard to re-write contracts.

I am going to set the salary cap at $65 million with the likelihood that it will probably have a sliding scale and stiff ramifications for teams that can't abide.

With a $65 million salary cap, Detroit will have some options that few teams will have but more holes than the average team.

Here are the top five potential free agents that Detroit should target.

1. DeAndre Jordan, PF, L.A. Clippers

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 09: DeAndre Jordan #9 of the Los Angeles Clippers encourages his teammates during a time out in the final minutes of the game against the Boston Celtics on March 9, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Los Angeles Clippe

The Clippers and head man Donald Sterling are cheap. I mean, really cheap.

They also have a very crowded and talented front court in Chris Kaman, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

Now granted, if the Clippers have a brain, they will try to deal Kaman and his expiring contract and find a way to keep Jordan.

But the Clippers have never shown that they have a brain, so let's just assume that they keep Kaman and let Jordan walk.

The Pistons could easily find a use for the big and powerful Jordan. With his ability to rebound, block shots and score close to the hoop, he would pair perfectly with second year man Greg Monroe.

Jordan made less than $1 million last year, so he will really be looking for a raise. With as weak as this free agent crop is, Jordan should command $6-7 million per year. Before you balk, think about how much we paid for Charlie Villanueva, and he is essentially a 6'10" shooting guard that is softer than butter.

Lucky for Detroit, there will be few teams able to bid against them if the cap situation shakes out like I think it will.

2. Tyson Chandler, F, Dallas

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 05: (R) Tyson Chandler #6 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts in the third quarter while taking on the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 5, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressl

Chandler is another perfect compliment to Monroe, as he is a pure shot blocker and a stud rebounder.

Now, Dallas no doubt will want to keep him. He fits their system very well. But with a team salary sitting at $90 million this year with $61 million already guaranteed for next year, they probably won't have the money to do it.

It will likely come down to choosing between Chandler, Caron Butler and Jose Barea. You know Barea will win that any day of the week.

This year, Chandler commanded nearly $13 million. There is no way he collects that much this time around given the prospect of smaller salaries.

Put him also in line to be around $7 million. Detroit will probably have some stiff competition for Chandler, but he would be a nice addition.

3. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

MEMPHIS, TN - MAY 09: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 9, 2011 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE

Now this guy you have got to like. He is big, strong, loves contact and can rebound in traffic. He lacks elite athleticism, but he can score in a ton of ways.

For all of these reasons, he is sure to attract a ton of attention. Memphis will no doubt want to keep him, but they just committed a ton of money to Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley, and they still have O.J. Mayo on the books and restricted free agent Sam Young.

Gasol, however, will command a pretty penny. Unless Dumars can work his magic with team salaries, he may be out of our price range.

Even with the looming salary blight, Gasol will still command at least $10 million per year.

But a front court of Monroe and Gasol would gobble up every board and extend possessions. Sure, they wouldn't block any shots, but they would be formidable regardless.

4. Kris Humphries, PF, New Jersey

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

MONACO - MAY 27: Kim Kardashian (L) and Kris Humphries (R) arrive to attend the AmberLounge Fashion Monaco 2011 on May 27, 2011 in Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Yes, that is Kim Kardashian in the above photo. So what does she have to do with Detroit? She is about to get married to a guy that would fit the Pistons like a glove.

She also might be the biggest obstacle to obtaining him.

Humphries is a very good player that has underrated athleticism, soft hands and is an excellent rebounder.

Last year, he made $3 million, and he should double that this time around.

If Detroit brings him in, he could play next to Monroe, pushing the second year big man to what will eventually become his position of center.

Humphries also can block a shot or two, which will help a ton on the interior.

But is Detroit too dreary for the young starlet Kardashian? This could possibly be another Tamia Hill situation. Stay tuned.

5. Samuel Dalembert, C, Sacramento

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 21: Samuel Dalembert #10 of the Sacramento Kings dunks the ball against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 21, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or usi

The Pistons have been craving an interior presence on the defensive side of the ball since Ben Wallace left for Chicago.

They have struggled to threaten with shot blocking, and as a result, the paint has become a fly zone.

Dalembert has been rather unimpressive since he joined the Kings. Plus, they have some young guys that are looking to emerge, and there is no room for Samuel.

Dalembert made a heap of cash last year, but he will have to take a serious pay cut. If Detroit could get him at $6 million per year, he would surely shore up the middle and allow Monroe to concentrate more on offense.

Dalembert is an excellent shot blocker and a solid rebounder that brings little on the offensive end.

He is not an ideal signing, but this team has to start somewhere in the middle.