Glenn
08-23-2007, 12:35 PM
:langlois:
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Paul (Essexville): You’ve mentioned maintenance issues and called Carlos Delfino high-strung. What does that imply? And with Jarvis Hayes on board, where does that leave Ronald Dupree and Flip Murray? And can the Pistons keep Hayes by using their “Bird Rights” next season?
Langlois: Even since the trade, Delfino has been quoted as saying that while he didn’t have any particular issues with anyone in Detroit, he never felt he was fully appreciated or given a chance to shine here. That’s an insight into Delfino’s psyche – he was given every chance to shine here. Joe Dumars went so far as to trade a useful part – Maurice Evans, who, truth be told, had outplayed Delfino during the 2005-06 season – to clear more playing time for him last season. Flip Saunders exercised far more patience with Delfino last season than he did for, say, Flip Murray. Yet Delfino never really developed any measure of consistency and too often made it seem like he held no accountability for his shortcomings. I think Dupree is the one most affected by Hayes’ addition. If the Pistons can’t find any other solution to reduce their head count from 16 to 15, Dupree – by virtue of the facts he just got bumped down another rung in the ladder at small forward and he has the easiest contract to swallow – could be in danger of being waived. As for keeping Hayes via his “Bird Rights” – no. To qualify for the Bird Rights exception, a player must have played three seasons without having been waived or signing as a free agent. The rule, of course, was named for Larry Bird and it’s intended to allow teams to exceed the salary cap to retain their own free agents – as the Pistons did this year with Chauncey Billups. By contrast, they could not do so with Chris Webber unless they were to use all or a part of their “mid-level exception,” which they just used a portion of to sign Hayes. Fans who want an excellent quick reference to the intricacies of the collective bargaining agreement should visit the Web site www.cbafaq.com.
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Lee (Oklahoma): Pistons rookies will come into training camp and play against one of the better defensive teams in the NBA. Do you think that hurts their progress or helps it?
Langlois: That’s up to each individual player. You’d have to assume, based on what the Pistons believe about the toughness of the three players they took in the June draft, that they’ll respond positively to the inevitable humbling rookies are first administered. Competitors fight back when challenged and the Pistons believe Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo and Sammy Mejia are all hypercompetitive players.
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T.J. (Rochester Hills): With the news that Joe Dumars and Chris Webber are having a meeting to discuss Chris’ return, does that mean a trade of Nazr Mohammed is on the table? With Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess on the team and Dumars’ statements that Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell will play, that would push Nazr down to sixth in the big-man rotation. So my question is would the Pistons bring back Webber even if they had no takers for Mohammed?
Langlois: It’s difficult to imagine the Pistons going into training camp or the regular season with both Mohammed and Webber on the roster, T.J. Dumars, of course, isn’t tipping his hand either way. I don’t believe the Pistons are actively shopping Nazr Mohammed. I think it’s possible that Webber let’s this thing run its course and wait for dominoes to start falling. Teams that think their rosters are set right now are going to be dealing with injuries or personnel disappointments in a few months. That might stir up a trade market or create opportunities for Webber to sign elsewhere or here if the Pistons make a deal. I think we’re in a full wait-and-see mode on this one. For more, I’ll refer you to Mailbag FAQ.
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Gil (Charlotte, N.C.): Do you think the growth of the D-League, as well as in the increase in restricted free agency, will lead to teams developing their talent more, leading to fewer careers that start off like Chauncey Billups’ did? Kind of like the farm systems in baseball?
Langlois: The D-League as well as increased attention teams are paying to player development in the off-season could help more players make a smoother adjustment to the NBA, Gil. New Pistons assistant Michael Curry told me this summer that he thinks one of the biggest mistakes NBA teams make is practically wasting the off-season in the case of rookies. Once the summer leagues end, many rookies disperse and have no further contact with their coaching staffs until training camp opens. Curry has been overseeing workouts throughout the summer for Pistons rookies and young players.
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Brad (Washington, D.C.): Both Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson appear best suited for power forward. Even a few years from now, I don’t see these guys on the same court together. If they both reach the high end of their potential, is there any way we can utilize both and keep them happy enough to remain Pistons or will one of them have to go?
Langlois: I don’t see incompatibility issues with these two, Brad. Right now they both are best at stirring things up around the rim, but both players have shown the ability to be effective away from the basket, as well. Maxiell showed progress in knocking down 15-foot jumpers this summer and Johnson was playing much more confidently facing the basket this summer, Pistons personnel director George David told me a few weeks ago. The Pistons view both players as coveted assets for the future, ideally enjoying long careers in Detroit.
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Nick (Clinton Township): Offer this one to Joe Dumars – why doesn’t he trade Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant? We could start Kobe at small forward and Rip Hamilton at shooting guard and Amir would take Rasheed’s place in the lineup.
Langlois: My best guess is that Kobe isn’t going anywhere, but if he does I’d be stunned if the Pistons entered the bidding. I think Joe D would be wary of the divisiveness Bryant seems to stir within his own locker room – not to mention the onerous effect his contract (complete with a 15 percent trade kicker that would make it even worse) would have on the team’s salary structure.
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Eric (Greensboro, N.C.): Now that we’ve signed Jarvis Hayes, do you think Joe Dumars is finished making moves or do you think he’ll do more?
Langlois: GMs are always on the lookout to find ways to better their teams, Eric They all keep an eye on everyone else’s roster and monitor injuries and news of unrest or friction that could create opportunities. So I’d never say the roster is set in stone. But I don’t believe anything is imminent and my hunch is that there will be no more additions to the roster between now and the start of training camp in October.
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Corey (Grand Rapids): I’d like to see all pro sports contracts be performance-based, which is the equivalent of an all-commission job to be a salesman. There’s too much based on potential and guarantees for nothing.
Langlois: For many years the pendulum was stuck in favor of the owners and then it swung too far the other way. I think the NBA has a pretty good balance right now when you consider the outsized signing bonuses given by the NFL and baseball for high draft choices. No. 1 pick Greg Oden is thought to be a certain star one day soon, but his first contract will pay him far less than the NBA average. Contrast that with NFL No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell – about whom there is far less unanimity regarding his future – who’ll be paid like a superstar quarterback before he’s ever taken a snap.
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Mark (Carson City, NV): It looks like the athleticism will vastly improve this season with the addition of four new players. I have to admit I’m so glad we upgraded the situation behind Hamilton. I wasn’t much of a Delfino fan. On the current roster, who is the team’s best ballhandler behind Billups?
Langlois: The Pistons should get better minutes from their bench at all three perimeter spots this season, Mark. Rodney Stuckey is a clear upgrade at point guard and also has a chance to be the primary backup to Rip Hamilton. If Stuckey’s play warrants it, he could demand 25 minutes a night and become, in effect, the Vinnie Johnson of this team – there was very little need for a fourth guard in those days, remember? And Jarvis Hayes should be a better option than Delfino behind Prince. I think Stuckey will be the team’s best ballhandler after Billups.
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Kalen (Detroit): What will the fourth jersey look like?
Langlois: No prototype has been unveiled yet, Kalen, but it will be a throwback uniform to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Pistons’ relocation to Detroit from Fort Wayne, Ind.
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George (Yamato City, Japan): When is the NBA going to get rid of the “Hack a Shaq/Hack a Ben” ploy? I’m all for strategy and fouling a poor foul shooter has always been part of the game, but that should be used when he has the ball. Isn’t a team that does this committing an intentional foul? An easy solution would be to give the team an option of shooting free throws or taking the ball out of bounds. Let’s keep the games exciting.
Langlois: They’ve already taken steps to discourage the practice, George, by allowing a team to retain possession in the last two minutes. I don’t have a huge problem with the strategy. It puts the onus on the other team’s coach to decide if he can afford to keep a deficient foul shooter on the floor. That said, the strategy hasn’t seemed to work for its practitioners and there are so few players – you’ve pretty much named the only two who’ve been consistently targeted – who are such notoriously poor foul shooters that it doesn’t come into play often enough to threaten the game.
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Debbie: Do you know yet if any of the preseason games will be on TV?
Langlois: I’m told that information will be coming out shortly, Debbie. Keep checking back on Pistons.com.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Paul (Essexville): You’ve mentioned maintenance issues and called Carlos Delfino high-strung. What does that imply? And with Jarvis Hayes on board, where does that leave Ronald Dupree and Flip Murray? And can the Pistons keep Hayes by using their “Bird Rights” next season?
Langlois: Even since the trade, Delfino has been quoted as saying that while he didn’t have any particular issues with anyone in Detroit, he never felt he was fully appreciated or given a chance to shine here. That’s an insight into Delfino’s psyche – he was given every chance to shine here. Joe Dumars went so far as to trade a useful part – Maurice Evans, who, truth be told, had outplayed Delfino during the 2005-06 season – to clear more playing time for him last season. Flip Saunders exercised far more patience with Delfino last season than he did for, say, Flip Murray. Yet Delfino never really developed any measure of consistency and too often made it seem like he held no accountability for his shortcomings. I think Dupree is the one most affected by Hayes’ addition. If the Pistons can’t find any other solution to reduce their head count from 16 to 15, Dupree – by virtue of the facts he just got bumped down another rung in the ladder at small forward and he has the easiest contract to swallow – could be in danger of being waived. As for keeping Hayes via his “Bird Rights” – no. To qualify for the Bird Rights exception, a player must have played three seasons without having been waived or signing as a free agent. The rule, of course, was named for Larry Bird and it’s intended to allow teams to exceed the salary cap to retain their own free agents – as the Pistons did this year with Chauncey Billups. By contrast, they could not do so with Chris Webber unless they were to use all or a part of their “mid-level exception,” which they just used a portion of to sign Hayes. Fans who want an excellent quick reference to the intricacies of the collective bargaining agreement should visit the Web site www.cbafaq.com.
-------
Lee (Oklahoma): Pistons rookies will come into training camp and play against one of the better defensive teams in the NBA. Do you think that hurts their progress or helps it?
Langlois: That’s up to each individual player. You’d have to assume, based on what the Pistons believe about the toughness of the three players they took in the June draft, that they’ll respond positively to the inevitable humbling rookies are first administered. Competitors fight back when challenged and the Pistons believe Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo and Sammy Mejia are all hypercompetitive players.
----------
T.J. (Rochester Hills): With the news that Joe Dumars and Chris Webber are having a meeting to discuss Chris’ return, does that mean a trade of Nazr Mohammed is on the table? With Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess on the team and Dumars’ statements that Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell will play, that would push Nazr down to sixth in the big-man rotation. So my question is would the Pistons bring back Webber even if they had no takers for Mohammed?
Langlois: It’s difficult to imagine the Pistons going into training camp or the regular season with both Mohammed and Webber on the roster, T.J. Dumars, of course, isn’t tipping his hand either way. I don’t believe the Pistons are actively shopping Nazr Mohammed. I think it’s possible that Webber let’s this thing run its course and wait for dominoes to start falling. Teams that think their rosters are set right now are going to be dealing with injuries or personnel disappointments in a few months. That might stir up a trade market or create opportunities for Webber to sign elsewhere or here if the Pistons make a deal. I think we’re in a full wait-and-see mode on this one. For more, I’ll refer you to Mailbag FAQ.
-----------
Gil (Charlotte, N.C.): Do you think the growth of the D-League, as well as in the increase in restricted free agency, will lead to teams developing their talent more, leading to fewer careers that start off like Chauncey Billups’ did? Kind of like the farm systems in baseball?
Langlois: The D-League as well as increased attention teams are paying to player development in the off-season could help more players make a smoother adjustment to the NBA, Gil. New Pistons assistant Michael Curry told me this summer that he thinks one of the biggest mistakes NBA teams make is practically wasting the off-season in the case of rookies. Once the summer leagues end, many rookies disperse and have no further contact with their coaching staffs until training camp opens. Curry has been overseeing workouts throughout the summer for Pistons rookies and young players.
--------
Brad (Washington, D.C.): Both Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson appear best suited for power forward. Even a few years from now, I don’t see these guys on the same court together. If they both reach the high end of their potential, is there any way we can utilize both and keep them happy enough to remain Pistons or will one of them have to go?
Langlois: I don’t see incompatibility issues with these two, Brad. Right now they both are best at stirring things up around the rim, but both players have shown the ability to be effective away from the basket, as well. Maxiell showed progress in knocking down 15-foot jumpers this summer and Johnson was playing much more confidently facing the basket this summer, Pistons personnel director George David told me a few weeks ago. The Pistons view both players as coveted assets for the future, ideally enjoying long careers in Detroit.
----------
Nick (Clinton Township): Offer this one to Joe Dumars – why doesn’t he trade Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant? We could start Kobe at small forward and Rip Hamilton at shooting guard and Amir would take Rasheed’s place in the lineup.
Langlois: My best guess is that Kobe isn’t going anywhere, but if he does I’d be stunned if the Pistons entered the bidding. I think Joe D would be wary of the divisiveness Bryant seems to stir within his own locker room – not to mention the onerous effect his contract (complete with a 15 percent trade kicker that would make it even worse) would have on the team’s salary structure.
--------
Eric (Greensboro, N.C.): Now that we’ve signed Jarvis Hayes, do you think Joe Dumars is finished making moves or do you think he’ll do more?
Langlois: GMs are always on the lookout to find ways to better their teams, Eric They all keep an eye on everyone else’s roster and monitor injuries and news of unrest or friction that could create opportunities. So I’d never say the roster is set in stone. But I don’t believe anything is imminent and my hunch is that there will be no more additions to the roster between now and the start of training camp in October.
---------
Corey (Grand Rapids): I’d like to see all pro sports contracts be performance-based, which is the equivalent of an all-commission job to be a salesman. There’s too much based on potential and guarantees for nothing.
Langlois: For many years the pendulum was stuck in favor of the owners and then it swung too far the other way. I think the NBA has a pretty good balance right now when you consider the outsized signing bonuses given by the NFL and baseball for high draft choices. No. 1 pick Greg Oden is thought to be a certain star one day soon, but his first contract will pay him far less than the NBA average. Contrast that with NFL No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell – about whom there is far less unanimity regarding his future – who’ll be paid like a superstar quarterback before he’s ever taken a snap.
---------
Mark (Carson City, NV): It looks like the athleticism will vastly improve this season with the addition of four new players. I have to admit I’m so glad we upgraded the situation behind Hamilton. I wasn’t much of a Delfino fan. On the current roster, who is the team’s best ballhandler behind Billups?
Langlois: The Pistons should get better minutes from their bench at all three perimeter spots this season, Mark. Rodney Stuckey is a clear upgrade at point guard and also has a chance to be the primary backup to Rip Hamilton. If Stuckey’s play warrants it, he could demand 25 minutes a night and become, in effect, the Vinnie Johnson of this team – there was very little need for a fourth guard in those days, remember? And Jarvis Hayes should be a better option than Delfino behind Prince. I think Stuckey will be the team’s best ballhandler after Billups.
--------
Kalen (Detroit): What will the fourth jersey look like?
Langlois: No prototype has been unveiled yet, Kalen, but it will be a throwback uniform to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Pistons’ relocation to Detroit from Fort Wayne, Ind.
---------
George (Yamato City, Japan): When is the NBA going to get rid of the “Hack a Shaq/Hack a Ben” ploy? I’m all for strategy and fouling a poor foul shooter has always been part of the game, but that should be used when he has the ball. Isn’t a team that does this committing an intentional foul? An easy solution would be to give the team an option of shooting free throws or taking the ball out of bounds. Let’s keep the games exciting.
Langlois: They’ve already taken steps to discourage the practice, George, by allowing a team to retain possession in the last two minutes. I don’t have a huge problem with the strategy. It puts the onus on the other team’s coach to decide if he can afford to keep a deficient foul shooter on the floor. That said, the strategy hasn’t seemed to work for its practitioners and there are so few players – you’ve pretty much named the only two who’ve been consistently targeted – who are such notoriously poor foul shooters that it doesn’t come into play often enough to threaten the game.
-------
Debbie: Do you know yet if any of the preseason games will be on TV?
Langlois: I’m told that information will be coming out shortly, Debbie. Keep checking back on Pistons.com.