Glenn
09-17-2007, 01:11 PM
:langlois:
Arziki (East Grand Rapids): I saw an ESPN Insider article about Rasheed and how he’s dramatically slimmed down this summer. Have you seen him lately? I’m sure he’s not going to look like he did back in the mid-’90s, but do you think he’ll have the physique to play under the basket this season instead of setting up tent downtown? Also, do you think the league will take additional steps to shut his mouth?
Langlois: I saw Rasheed last week working out and scrimmaging – he was the only vet there working with the three rookie draft choices plus a bunch of free agents. Yeah, he looks dramatically different than the guy we saw a few months ago. Joe Dumars popped his head out of his office at one point and jokingly asked, “Where’s Slim Jim?” Dumars also told me that Rasheed, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton have gone out of their way this summer to reach out to the young players, Amir Johnson included, to let them know how much their contributions will be needed this season. As for additional steps, no, I think the policy the league instituted last year had the desired effect.
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John (Auburn Hills): Chris McCloskey wrote in his blog last week that Antonio McDyess is likely to start in the frontcourt with Rasheed Wallace. I like that move. It also opens up backup minutes for Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson.
Langlois: It’s not set in stone, but the move makes a lot of sense. It relieves some of the burden from McDyess, who put pressure on himself to get things cranked up in a hurry when he came off the bench. This allows him to ease into a game with the starters, when he won’t be the first option. It also allows the Pistons to use Nazr Mohammed more selectively, matching him up against the few Eastern Conference teams with legitimate post scorers (New York, Cleveland, Miami). And, as you mention, they can use Johnson and Maxiell in tandem, which will give the Pistons a dramatically different look with two young players who’ll affect games at either end with their athleticism around the rim. If the Pistons start McDyess, I think it will be him – not Rasheed Wallace – who winds up guarding the other team’s primary post player. Though there will be times that leaves the Pistons at a little bit of a disadvantage defensively, think about the other end – somebody’s going to have to come out and guard McDyess and Wallace on the perimeter, too.
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Mark (Grand Rapids): How long are Amir Johnson, Rodney Stuckey and Jason Maxiell under contract? As a fan you want them to do well, but might someone like Amir go so high in value that the Pistons might have to let him go?
Langlois: Amir Johnson just signed a three-year contract this summer. He’ll be a free agent after the 2009-10 season when the Pistons should have plenty of cap space available as Nazr Mohammed’s contract comes off the books. (Only Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and the current rookies, who we’ll assume will have their options picked up, are presently under contract for that season; Rip Hamilton’s contract will also be up then, though he has an early termination option that he could invoke the season before that.) Maxiell can become a restricted free agent in July 2009. Stuckey, assuming the Pistons pick up his third- and fourth-year options, can become a restricted free agent in July 2011.
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Nick (Grosse Pointe): Just an idea: The Pistons send Nazr Mohammed and Tayshaun Prince to Phoenix and Ronald Dupree to Philadelphia. Philly sends us Andre Igoudala and Kevin Ollie while sending Phoenix Samuel Dalembert. Then Phoenix sends Shawn Marion to Philly and Marcus Banks to us. Phoenix gets the size they want and Philly gets Marion to star on his own team. The trade gives Detroit a lot of cap room. Then we cut Ollie and trade Banks for a draft pick and pick up Webber.
Langlois: I didn’t check the numbers to see if it works, but I can’t see Phoenix having interest in Mohammed and Dalembert – it just doesn’t fit what they do and they both have big contracts. Philly’s rebuilding and sees Igoudala as the cornerstone, so I don’t see the Sixers eager to do that deal either. And if you’re basing it on the Pistons’ ability to turn Marcus Banks into a draft pick, guess again. He’s untradeable with a bad contract. Back to the drawing board, Nick.
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Paul (Essexville): Flip Saunders might not have always utilized his bench and rotations as he could have, but he’s a pretty good coach who should be given some slack. Expand Maxy and Amir’s roles and Flip will have a lot of tools as his disposal off the bench.
Langlois: You’re right, Paul, and I think Flip is genuinely enthused – as I know the front office is – about the intriguing possibilities now at his disposal with Rodney Stuckey looking like a serious player and very encouraging summers for Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell. Throw in a nice free-agent pickup in Jarvis Hayes to bolster the perimeter and the defensive tenacity and competitive fire of Arron Afflalo, and the Pistons will have a completely different composition when they go to the bench this season.
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A.T. (El Paso, Texas): Do you think our youth (Amir, Maxiell, et al) will rekindle that Pistons spirit we saw in 2004? It seemed like in 2004, when the Pistons went to work they had something to prove. Now they go to work because they have to.
Langlois: I can tell you that there’s a renewed energy over at the Pistons’ practice facility, A.T., from management to the coaches to the players. Even the veterans who’ve been around, by all accounts I’m getting from them and management and support staff, are excited by the promise shown by the young players. It’s going to change the chemistry, I believe, enough so that it’s a different product this year. Everybody seems to be eager for training camp to arrive this season.
----------------
Louise (Detroit): I read today that Charlie Bell is no longer interested in playing for Milwaukee. Is it possible the Pistons can somehow acquire him, maybe a sign-and-trade for Flip Murray and Ronald Dupree?
Langlois: I can’t see any way the Pistons get involved with Charlie Bell, Louise. I love Bell, by the way. First got to know him when he was a junior at Flint Southwestern, then followed him through his career at Michigan State. The Pistons just don’t have a need for another guard with two All-Stars starting and two No. 1 draft picks prepared to back them up. I really think Milwaukee is making a mistake by not doing whatever it takes to get him back. He gives Milwaukee great protection behind both Mo Williams and Michael Redd. Without him, the Bucks are dangerously thin on the perimeter.
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Pawel (Calgary): I’ve recently watched some games from the 2004 playoffs and I see the same players but a different team – no more attitude. In my opinion it’s tied to the personality of the head coach.
Langlois: Don’t know that I agree with that, Pawel. I sense that what you’re really talking about is what Joe Dumars referred to after last season as “complacency,” and he vowed to address it this summer. I talked to him at length about this last week and he’s comfortable that it won’t be a problem this year because of the way the mix has been altered. There’s a good chance the starting lineup will be different, with Antonio McDyess moving in at center, and the bench is going to be radically different with Rodney Stuckey probably the primary backup at both guard spots, Jarvis Hayes at small forward and Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell bringing a completely different look when they replace McDyess and Rasheed Wallace. And don’t overlook Arron Afflalo, whose tenacity will become contagious.
----------------
Ryan (Grand Rapids): The media is trying to convince Portland fans to start jumping off the cliff because Oden will miss next season. I see this going the same way as the Spurs when Robinson went down. They are not a playoff team now and could fight with Minnesota for another No. 1 pick. Roy, Aldridge and Oden will be tough but if you add another No. 1 pick they could be the next version of the Spurs. Am I missing the boat or is this a good thing for Portland in the long run?
Langlois: I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a good thing for Portland for a few reasons. No. 1, I’d be worried about how Oden bounces back from his. Microfracture surgery is no panacea. There’s also some nagging concern now about Oden’s durability, this coming on the heels of last year’s broken wrist. But if you assume Oden comes back as good as new next year, then it’s intriguing to consider what another top-three pick might mean. There’s no consensus No. 1 pick for next year’s draft – as Oden was at this time last year – but it appears rich in dynamic guards. If a Derrick Rose or O.J. Mayo emerges as a superstar this winter, a la Kevin Durant, and Portland winds up getting the next big thing, then all bets are off. Good analogy to the Spurs when Robinson went down and they wound up with Duncan. I thought the same thing.
----------------
Marvin (Richmond, Va.): In a response to Andrew from Dearborn, you mention that the Pistons rely on Rip early in games for scoring. But do you remember last year when Nazr was starting, he was the focal point in the first quarter and even had a few 10-point quarters and Flip suddenly announced they were going back to featuring Rip early in games. What is your opinion of that episode and what do you think of going to Nazr early to get him established?
Langlois: I think it was a well-intentioned effort to hasten the integration of Mohammed into a group of four other starters who knew each other’s tendencies thoroughly. It did help kick start Nazr in some games, but ultimately it caused too much disruption with the other four. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue this year, because as I’m reading the tea leaves it appears that Nazr won’t be a starter this year. I think he’s going to slide into the role that Elden Campbell and Dale Davis before him held – the big guy used to defend the increasingly rare post scorers. There might not be more than four or five of them in the Eastern Conference. My hunch now is that Antonio McDyess starts and winds up defending what passes for the other team’s post player.
---------------
Matt (Ohio): The raging debate on one of the fan forums is whether Amir is really 6-foot-11 or if the Pistons are fudging on that. You’re the last hope for us to be able to move on and get a life. Could you please get us an official measurement after the players are remeasured when they come to training camp. Our productivity is at all-time low.
Langlois: So the future of the American economy is relying on me accurately reporting on Amir Johnson’s height? Gadzooks! What pressure! I shall try my best, Matt. The Pistons say last year he checked in at 6-foot-11, a 2-inch spurt from when they drafted him in June 2005.
---------------------
Francis: I’m excited to see Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson in the lineup. I think they’re going to be great, but who will guard the big guys like Shaq, Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan? Can Rasheed handle the center as well as Mohammed? Will Shaq just run over Amir?
Langlois: If McDyess winds up the fifth starter, he would guard Eddy Curry and Shaq and Dwight Howard. Those are the three most physically imposing post players in the East. Against those teams and Cleveland (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), I’d expect Nazr Mohammed to get more minutes than he will against most other teams. Rasheed is a great matchup for more mobile big men like Duncan, Garnett and Nowitzki. In time, Johnson probably will be, too. I think the Pistons will take great pains to keep Amir as far away from Shaq as possible.
Arziki (East Grand Rapids): I saw an ESPN Insider article about Rasheed and how he’s dramatically slimmed down this summer. Have you seen him lately? I’m sure he’s not going to look like he did back in the mid-’90s, but do you think he’ll have the physique to play under the basket this season instead of setting up tent downtown? Also, do you think the league will take additional steps to shut his mouth?
Langlois: I saw Rasheed last week working out and scrimmaging – he was the only vet there working with the three rookie draft choices plus a bunch of free agents. Yeah, he looks dramatically different than the guy we saw a few months ago. Joe Dumars popped his head out of his office at one point and jokingly asked, “Where’s Slim Jim?” Dumars also told me that Rasheed, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton have gone out of their way this summer to reach out to the young players, Amir Johnson included, to let them know how much their contributions will be needed this season. As for additional steps, no, I think the policy the league instituted last year had the desired effect.
-------------
John (Auburn Hills): Chris McCloskey wrote in his blog last week that Antonio McDyess is likely to start in the frontcourt with Rasheed Wallace. I like that move. It also opens up backup minutes for Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson.
Langlois: It’s not set in stone, but the move makes a lot of sense. It relieves some of the burden from McDyess, who put pressure on himself to get things cranked up in a hurry when he came off the bench. This allows him to ease into a game with the starters, when he won’t be the first option. It also allows the Pistons to use Nazr Mohammed more selectively, matching him up against the few Eastern Conference teams with legitimate post scorers (New York, Cleveland, Miami). And, as you mention, they can use Johnson and Maxiell in tandem, which will give the Pistons a dramatically different look with two young players who’ll affect games at either end with their athleticism around the rim. If the Pistons start McDyess, I think it will be him – not Rasheed Wallace – who winds up guarding the other team’s primary post player. Though there will be times that leaves the Pistons at a little bit of a disadvantage defensively, think about the other end – somebody’s going to have to come out and guard McDyess and Wallace on the perimeter, too.
-------------
Mark (Grand Rapids): How long are Amir Johnson, Rodney Stuckey and Jason Maxiell under contract? As a fan you want them to do well, but might someone like Amir go so high in value that the Pistons might have to let him go?
Langlois: Amir Johnson just signed a three-year contract this summer. He’ll be a free agent after the 2009-10 season when the Pistons should have plenty of cap space available as Nazr Mohammed’s contract comes off the books. (Only Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and the current rookies, who we’ll assume will have their options picked up, are presently under contract for that season; Rip Hamilton’s contract will also be up then, though he has an early termination option that he could invoke the season before that.) Maxiell can become a restricted free agent in July 2009. Stuckey, assuming the Pistons pick up his third- and fourth-year options, can become a restricted free agent in July 2011.
---------------
Nick (Grosse Pointe): Just an idea: The Pistons send Nazr Mohammed and Tayshaun Prince to Phoenix and Ronald Dupree to Philadelphia. Philly sends us Andre Igoudala and Kevin Ollie while sending Phoenix Samuel Dalembert. Then Phoenix sends Shawn Marion to Philly and Marcus Banks to us. Phoenix gets the size they want and Philly gets Marion to star on his own team. The trade gives Detroit a lot of cap room. Then we cut Ollie and trade Banks for a draft pick and pick up Webber.
Langlois: I didn’t check the numbers to see if it works, but I can’t see Phoenix having interest in Mohammed and Dalembert – it just doesn’t fit what they do and they both have big contracts. Philly’s rebuilding and sees Igoudala as the cornerstone, so I don’t see the Sixers eager to do that deal either. And if you’re basing it on the Pistons’ ability to turn Marcus Banks into a draft pick, guess again. He’s untradeable with a bad contract. Back to the drawing board, Nick.
---------------
Paul (Essexville): Flip Saunders might not have always utilized his bench and rotations as he could have, but he’s a pretty good coach who should be given some slack. Expand Maxy and Amir’s roles and Flip will have a lot of tools as his disposal off the bench.
Langlois: You’re right, Paul, and I think Flip is genuinely enthused – as I know the front office is – about the intriguing possibilities now at his disposal with Rodney Stuckey looking like a serious player and very encouraging summers for Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell. Throw in a nice free-agent pickup in Jarvis Hayes to bolster the perimeter and the defensive tenacity and competitive fire of Arron Afflalo, and the Pistons will have a completely different composition when they go to the bench this season.
-------------
A.T. (El Paso, Texas): Do you think our youth (Amir, Maxiell, et al) will rekindle that Pistons spirit we saw in 2004? It seemed like in 2004, when the Pistons went to work they had something to prove. Now they go to work because they have to.
Langlois: I can tell you that there’s a renewed energy over at the Pistons’ practice facility, A.T., from management to the coaches to the players. Even the veterans who’ve been around, by all accounts I’m getting from them and management and support staff, are excited by the promise shown by the young players. It’s going to change the chemistry, I believe, enough so that it’s a different product this year. Everybody seems to be eager for training camp to arrive this season.
----------------
Louise (Detroit): I read today that Charlie Bell is no longer interested in playing for Milwaukee. Is it possible the Pistons can somehow acquire him, maybe a sign-and-trade for Flip Murray and Ronald Dupree?
Langlois: I can’t see any way the Pistons get involved with Charlie Bell, Louise. I love Bell, by the way. First got to know him when he was a junior at Flint Southwestern, then followed him through his career at Michigan State. The Pistons just don’t have a need for another guard with two All-Stars starting and two No. 1 draft picks prepared to back them up. I really think Milwaukee is making a mistake by not doing whatever it takes to get him back. He gives Milwaukee great protection behind both Mo Williams and Michael Redd. Without him, the Bucks are dangerously thin on the perimeter.
----------
Pawel (Calgary): I’ve recently watched some games from the 2004 playoffs and I see the same players but a different team – no more attitude. In my opinion it’s tied to the personality of the head coach.
Langlois: Don’t know that I agree with that, Pawel. I sense that what you’re really talking about is what Joe Dumars referred to after last season as “complacency,” and he vowed to address it this summer. I talked to him at length about this last week and he’s comfortable that it won’t be a problem this year because of the way the mix has been altered. There’s a good chance the starting lineup will be different, with Antonio McDyess moving in at center, and the bench is going to be radically different with Rodney Stuckey probably the primary backup at both guard spots, Jarvis Hayes at small forward and Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell bringing a completely different look when they replace McDyess and Rasheed Wallace. And don’t overlook Arron Afflalo, whose tenacity will become contagious.
----------------
Ryan (Grand Rapids): The media is trying to convince Portland fans to start jumping off the cliff because Oden will miss next season. I see this going the same way as the Spurs when Robinson went down. They are not a playoff team now and could fight with Minnesota for another No. 1 pick. Roy, Aldridge and Oden will be tough but if you add another No. 1 pick they could be the next version of the Spurs. Am I missing the boat or is this a good thing for Portland in the long run?
Langlois: I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a good thing for Portland for a few reasons. No. 1, I’d be worried about how Oden bounces back from his. Microfracture surgery is no panacea. There’s also some nagging concern now about Oden’s durability, this coming on the heels of last year’s broken wrist. But if you assume Oden comes back as good as new next year, then it’s intriguing to consider what another top-three pick might mean. There’s no consensus No. 1 pick for next year’s draft – as Oden was at this time last year – but it appears rich in dynamic guards. If a Derrick Rose or O.J. Mayo emerges as a superstar this winter, a la Kevin Durant, and Portland winds up getting the next big thing, then all bets are off. Good analogy to the Spurs when Robinson went down and they wound up with Duncan. I thought the same thing.
----------------
Marvin (Richmond, Va.): In a response to Andrew from Dearborn, you mention that the Pistons rely on Rip early in games for scoring. But do you remember last year when Nazr was starting, he was the focal point in the first quarter and even had a few 10-point quarters and Flip suddenly announced they were going back to featuring Rip early in games. What is your opinion of that episode and what do you think of going to Nazr early to get him established?
Langlois: I think it was a well-intentioned effort to hasten the integration of Mohammed into a group of four other starters who knew each other’s tendencies thoroughly. It did help kick start Nazr in some games, but ultimately it caused too much disruption with the other four. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue this year, because as I’m reading the tea leaves it appears that Nazr won’t be a starter this year. I think he’s going to slide into the role that Elden Campbell and Dale Davis before him held – the big guy used to defend the increasingly rare post scorers. There might not be more than four or five of them in the Eastern Conference. My hunch now is that Antonio McDyess starts and winds up defending what passes for the other team’s post player.
---------------
Matt (Ohio): The raging debate on one of the fan forums is whether Amir is really 6-foot-11 or if the Pistons are fudging on that. You’re the last hope for us to be able to move on and get a life. Could you please get us an official measurement after the players are remeasured when they come to training camp. Our productivity is at all-time low.
Langlois: So the future of the American economy is relying on me accurately reporting on Amir Johnson’s height? Gadzooks! What pressure! I shall try my best, Matt. The Pistons say last year he checked in at 6-foot-11, a 2-inch spurt from when they drafted him in June 2005.
---------------------
Francis: I’m excited to see Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson in the lineup. I think they’re going to be great, but who will guard the big guys like Shaq, Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan? Can Rasheed handle the center as well as Mohammed? Will Shaq just run over Amir?
Langlois: If McDyess winds up the fifth starter, he would guard Eddy Curry and Shaq and Dwight Howard. Those are the three most physically imposing post players in the East. Against those teams and Cleveland (Zydrunas Ilgauskas), I’d expect Nazr Mohammed to get more minutes than he will against most other teams. Rasheed is a great matchup for more mobile big men like Duncan, Garnett and Nowitzki. In time, Johnson probably will be, too. I think the Pistons will take great pains to keep Amir as far away from Shaq as possible.