5 Questions Facing the Detroit Pistons This Offseason

It was a rough season for the Detroit Pistons. 

The team underwent a series of changes including a new Coach and a blockbuster trade that sent team star Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson. 

With chemistry problems and numerous injuries Detroit missed going to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in six years and ended up being swept in the first round of the playoffs by Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers.

After having been a Powerhouse in the East since their surprising 2004 Championship year, it was a shock to see the Pistons struggle this season.  Now in this off-season team GM Joe Dumars has a number of questions facing him.  These are just five of the most pressing ones:

5.  Has this Pistons team finally reached their limit?  Is it time to rebuild from the ground floor up?

The aging Pistons team had begun to show some wear and tear over the last couple of seasons with veterans Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince struggling in the playoffs.  They both were non-existent in the series against Cleveland. 

Richard Hamilton and Antonio McDyess have continued to play at a high level but wasn't enough to help Detroit advance.

Over the last couple of seasons Dumars has begun to bring in some young talent like Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum who are guaranteed to be the team's future but the question is whether or not he should ditch all of his veterans and start from scratch.

I think that the team needs to bring in some more young talent but I would like to see Hamilton stay on in the role that Dumars played on the team after the Bad Boy years:  the talented veteran who helps mold the younger talent.

4.  Should the Pistons make a strong attempt to keep Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess?

Both Wallace and McDyess are free agents this Summer and will be looking for the best deal available.  The Pistons have the cap room to give them the money they'll be looking for but is either player worth it?

Since Wallace came to the team in '04 Detroit has sunk or swim based on his play.  On nights when he is energetic and scoring the team usually wins and on nights when he seems to disappear and can't score a basket the team usually loses.

Wallace's poor play is a large factor in the Pistons poor playoff performance this year and has been a issue in past post season play.  His numerous technicals have also hurt the team in key moments.

On the other hand, McDyess has been key in keeping the Pistons afloat.  Despite his age, he continues to play his heart out every night on both ends of the floor. 

After the Pistons traded McDyess to Denver, he turned down other offers and took a pay cut to return to Detroit despite the fact that he could have gone to a winning team.

In the end, I think Dumars should let Wallace go and make an attempt to keep McDyess.  Wallace is past his prime and has become a hindrance to the team while McDyess can still play at a top level and brings a sense of urgency to the team when he is on the floor.

3.  Can Detroit continue to win without a major superstar?  Who should they draft/trade for this Summer?

For years the Pistons have played without any major superstar players.  The team is famous for it's underdog status and true team effort. 

Back in '03 Dumars put together a hodgepodge of underachievers that turned into a championship caliber team together.  All of the puzzle pieces fit.  Unfortunately, that strategy hasn't been working for a few seasons.

This off season Dumars will have to decide if he wants to continue with what has worked in the past or pursue a major player.  He has the cap space to do it but do the Pistons really need a Lebron James?

Personally, I don't think they need a standout player to win again.  The team has been missing a true center since the departures of Corliss Williamson and Ben Wallace and I think that is what they should concentrate on in the draft.

There will be a number of good players on the trading block this Summer and the Pistons should do their best to obtain a couple of them.  Carlos Boozer would be a nice fit here.

2. How can the Pistons get back to playing with the same strength and urgency that they have been known for?

There were times this season when it was almost impossible to watch the Pistons.  The team has always prided itself on it's heart and strong defense and both were missing throughout the year.

One of the questions facing Dumars in this off season is how to get his team back to that style of play.  There were flashes of it when the second squad was out on the floor and both Hamilton and McDyess had moments where they played with some urgency.

New coach Michael Curry does not seem to be able to inspire his team like many past Pistons coaches.  The team came out again and again with no drive which brings us to the final question.

1.  Should the Pistons stick with Michael Curry as their coach?

Dumars has already stated that Curry will be returning next season but I think he needs to sit down and take a closer look at the situation.

There were many reasons for the Pistons poor play this season but many of them lead back to Curry. 

Previous coach Flip Saunders was fired because of his poor playoff performance but he managed to get Detroit to the Conference Finals every season that he was here. Curry barely got them into the first round.

It was well known that Saunders had a hard time relating to his players and that Curry is more player friendly but in the end, you can't be their friend; you have to be their leader.  Larry Brown was a tough coach and under his watch the Pistons thrived and won a championship.

One of the most interesting things to watch this season was the revolving player lineups.  Curry changed lineups weekly causing frustration amongst the team and adding to the chemistry problems.

In the beginning of the season Curry stated that he wanted to use his entire team but by mid season half his bench wasn't getting any play time.  Players like Bynum, who started out the season on a high, found their time dwindle until they were suddenly put back in the lineup in the playoffs.  Bynum ended up being one of the few highlights.

Leaving Curry in the coach's chair for another season is a huge mistake.  Anything Detroit does this Summer will be overshadowed by the fact that they have a coach who doesn't know what he is doing.