Detroit Pistons: How the Lockout Will Affect 7 Key Members

The impending lockout is affecting us all differently. As fans, we are disappointed that the big wigs and ballers can't come to an agreement. 

Owners are nervously looking towards what could be year of lost revenue and sales.

Players are scurrying overseas and looking for ways to keep themselves in the spotlight as they are down for theirs at the negotiation tables.

The lockout will affect many of our Pistons in profound ways. Here are how the lockout will treat seven of Detroit's finest.

Richard Hamilton

The masked man has made no bones about his frustration with the situation in Detroit. I think the lockout will only make it worse. 

Richard Hamilton now has time to sit at home and grumble about the situation that is before him in the Motor City. I really don't think that this is going to be good situation for the Pistons.

I know Rip has meant a lot to the franchise over the years, but he simply doesn't want to be a Piston anymore. The lockout will allow Pistons president Joe Dumars some time to formulate a plan for dealing with this. Hopefully it will result in a trade of some sort.

Kyle Singler

Honestly, the lockout is one of the best things that could have happened to Kyle Singler. Providing games are missed, he will have a chance to go overseas and get better.

Singler enters the NBA game a refined player, yet there are still some areas that he is going to need to improve. He is going to need to improve his defensive footwork, bulk up a little bit and make his jump shot more consistent.

He can work on all these things and more overseas during the lockout without the bright lights of the NBA shining on him.

Brandon Knight

Brandon Knight has yet to announce his plans for the 2011-12 season if there is a lockout. If he does not play in Europe somewhere, he is going to fall behind and his development will be stunted.

While Singler is more of a finished product, Knight is still very raw in many aspects of his game. The best way to smooth out the rough edges is to play. I worry that if he is not playing at a competitive level, he is going to regress.

Knight has all the game in the world and can be a game-changer for the Pistons as long as he gets on the floor and plays at a high level.

Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe will undoubtedly take a large portion of the lockout and just try to bulk up. The biggest weakness in his game right now is physicality. A bigger and stronger Monroe would be very hard to deal with.

Monroe's game is well rounded. He is a deft passer, can shoot a little and rebounds well. He seemed to get pushed around a little last year.

With a full summer of being an NBA player and the lockout to boot, Monroe should come back built for dirty work, something the Pistons need somebody to do this season.

Rodney Stuckey

The extra time in the offseason will help Rodney Stuckey because he will be able to tie down the loose ends of his game. He will have added time to work on his shooting and distributing.

Stuckey is not a point guard. I think we have finally all come to that same conclusion. Now that it is established, its time for him to become the best two-guard he can be.

By adding a more consistent jumper to his slashing ability, he will allow Dumars to show Hamilton the door and could be part of a foundational backcourt in Detroit for years to come.

Ben Wallace

Father Time has definitely caught up with Ben Wallace. The days of the afro and intimidating defense are gone. The lockout surely isn't going to bring them back. It is only going to make him older.

Wallace is still a serviceable rebounder and defender. He was never great offensively but his defensive prowess covered a multitude of sins. Now that he is just an average defender it makes it harder to find him a spot in the lineup.

Wallace has meant a lot to Detroit and has become an icon in the city, yet even rock stars reach a time when they just can't do it anymore.

Jason Maxiell

Jason Maxiell has always been a portly fella. There is no way the lockout is helping that. I fully expect Maxiell to report back to the team overweight and out of shape.

But I really like what Maxiell brings to the team. He can add energy and is a surprisingly good scorer. If he can keep his weight under control there is no reason to believe he couldn't be part of this team's future. Unfortunately, I question his ability to do that through the lockout.

Without organized team activities and preseason, I look for Maxiell to report when the season starts in a Vin Baker or Shawn Kemp post-'98 lockout.

I genuinely hope the lockout does not wipe away an entire season. The NBA has so much momentum right now it would be a shame to throw it all away. Money is at the root of all of this and if the boys can't play nice it could be a long winter for NBA fans.