Glenn
06-26-2008, 08:07 PM
Special thanks to my colleague, Keith Langlois, for taking my question.
THURSDAY, June 26
Tracee (Detroit): Why is it all the trade talk is pointing to Billups? Do you think Joe Dumars would trade one of the most hard-working players in the NBA?
Langlois: No great mystery here, Tracee. Billups is the hot name right now because it’s been reported that Denver and the Pistons talked about a deal involving Carmelo Anthony. The Nuggets have a critical need at point guard. And Billups is a Denver native and still very much a big name. It doesn’t mean Joe D is necessarily looking to move Billups. But he is on record as saying he’s open to trading anyone. Rest assured that Dumars has had discussions with many other teams and Billups isn’t the primary object of desire for all of them. But point guard is a key position, a lot of teams are looking to better themselves at that spot, and the Pistons have a young player in Rodney Stuckey who will command 30-plus minutes a game next season.
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Jim (Indianapolis): Has Rip Hamilton ever gotten a Team USA invite? He’s got as many All-Star games as Chauncey and more than Prince. I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the league.
Langlois: Hamilton turned down an opportunity to be in the Team USA mix a few years ago. They were interested in him. He might have figured with Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade at his position, it was going to be tough to carve out a niche.
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Harrison (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.): I’ve heard rumors that Joe Dumars is going to deal Rasheed Wallace for New Jersey’s first-round pick in order to pick up Hibbert and someone else from the Nets. How do you think the Pistons and Nets would like that trade?
Langlois: That “someone else” would have to be someone making a lot of money, Harrison, because the salaries need to be fairly close to each other in order for two teams over the salary cap to pull off a trade. New Jersey is supposedly dangling Richard Jefferson in trade, so I guess it would be possible for him to be the key piece. But I haven’t heard anything about it. New Jersey has two first-rounders, 10 and 21. Hibbert could go somewhere around 20. Don’t know if the Pistons would consider him a good value at that spot or not. He looks like a career backup to me, but capable backup centers are very valuable chips in today’s NBA.
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Scott (Flint, Mich.): Correct me if I’m wrong, but I seem to remember Phoenix being interested in a deal with the Pistons last year involving Amare Stoudemire. I think we should try and trade Rasheed for Amare along with some smaller contracts to make the deal work.
Langlois: It’s an intriguing idea, Scott. I don’t dismiss that one as pure fancy, either. The Shawn Marion-Shaq trade shows Phoenix is very aware of the biological clock ticking on Steve Nash. Wallace would be attractive to Phoenix on a number of levels. A tax team, the Suns would find his expiring contract appealing. His defensive presence and all-around versatility would make him an ideal complement to Shaq and Nash. He’s the perfect antidote to Phoenix’s No. 1 nemesis, Tim Duncan and San Antonio. The Suns would have to swallow hard to give up Stoudemire, who’s still just 25, but he does have a serious knee injury history and there has been some friction between player and management. The Pistons would have to throw something else into the deal to account for the vast age difference, but the basis for a deal exists.
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Mike (Birmingham, Ala.): I think the Pistons need a true center. What about a smaller trade that sends Wallace to New Jersey for DeSagana Diop? He’s young, a good all-around player and you’d give up less to get him.
Langlois: I like a return of Amare Stoudemire just a little more than DeSagana Diop, Mike, whaddya think? Diop is an unrestricted free agent who doesn’t figure to come entice anyone into giving him a mid-level exception contract despite the dearth of big men. He’s a serviceable backup, but no way the Pistons would give up Wallace to get him even if Diop wasn’t going to be available as a free agent for the taking.
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Mohamed (Canton, Mich.): What are the chances we could swap Hamilton and Prince for McGrady and a future pick? Stuckey starts with Billups and McGrady plays small forward. Would that work?
Langlois: I’d hate to give up those two players for McGrady, Mohamed. For as immensely talented as McGrady is, you’re giving up two extremely durable and talented players for someone with a pretty scary injury history. I think McGrady can be had, just not sure I’d go that high to get him.
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Kathy (Coldwater, Mich.): Who do you think will be available at the 29th pick that Joe Dumars might be interested in who would be able to help right away?
Langlois: In all likelihood, nobody – not right away, at least. The Pistons think they’ll have a good shot to land a player good enough to eventually crack their rotation, Kathy, maybe someone comparable to Arron Afflalo. But remember that the person they get this year will be coming to a deeper team – unless Joe D trades some of his depth to upgrade at a certain spot – than the one that Afflalo came to a year ago, and Afflalo will have a year’s head start. It’s tough to project without knowing what significant move Dumars pulls off, but as the roster stands now the biggest opportunity could come at backup small forward. In that case, Kansas State’s Bill Walker might have the best shot to contribute. But if the Pistons go with a young big man, it’s going to be hard for him to the see the floor next season.
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Jim (Jackson, Mich.): It seems to me the reason we haven’t returned to the Finals is the lack of an inside defensive presence that Ben Wallace brought night in and night out. What’s your opinion and who is out there that’s available?
Langlois: I think the Pistons’ defense has been, by and large, more than good enough. Offense has been more problematic in their playoff failures the last three postseasons. But there’s nobody out there available – at least not without paying a steep price – who can give them the things Big Ben gave them when he was playing at his peak.
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Sam (St. Louis): With the hiring of Darrell Walker and Harold Ellis, who do you see being Curry’s lead assistant? And what role do you see Harold fitting in?
Langlois: It could be Walker, but it might more likely be Dave Cowens as the lead assistant. That’s just my guess, at least. We’ll find out more about the staff later this week. But I like the composition – a nice mix of vets and young guys and all of them are teachers.
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Karen (Milwaukee, Wis.): The Suns want Tayshaun Prince. Can anything be worked out? Would either team do a Barbosa and No. 15 for Prince swap?
Langlois: It certainly would be a starting point for negotiations, Karen, but the Pistons would be left with a pretty imbalanced roster. They’d be loaded in the backcourt – Billups, Hamilton, Stuckey, Afflalo, Barbosa – and have nothing at small forward. (Jarvis Hayes is a free agent, remember, and probably not looked at as starting material in any case.)
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Vin (Canton, Mich.): Stephen A. Smith mentioned on ESPN that Rasheed has no intention of playing after his current contract expires. Have you heard anything about this? Does this make it more or less likely that he is dealt?
Langlois: Don’t know a thing about it, except to say that Rasheed loves basketball – maybe not all the trappings of the NBA, but the game itself – and it’s tough for anyone, no matter what else they have going on in life, to walk away from the game and its incredibly lavish rewards when they’re still capable of playing at a high level. In other words, I’ll believe that when I see it. As for its impact on his trade prospects, it would only affect the list of suitors, not their presence. Remember, the Pistons traded for him without having any guarantee he’d be with them for more than few months when they got him in February 2004.
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T.J. (Rochester Hills, Mich.): How do the Pistons like J.J. Hickson? Also, with questions about Batum’s heart problems, does he become a factor at No. 29?
Langlois: It would be a major upset if Hickson fell to 29. I would assume the Pistons would be very interested if he did. Batum had his condition checked out Monday and those reports are being heavily scrutinized by teams in the 20s. If he falls to 29, then you can assume at least a handful of teams were scared off – which, one can presume, would mean the Pistons would also have reason to be leery about his future. It would be almost as big an upset for Batum to be available to the Pistons that late as Hickson if his heart checks out OK.
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Seth (New Baltimore, Mich.): I’ve always been intrigued to see what Rip could do alongside Michael Redd. I’m aware that a recent article stated the Bucks are not looking to trade Redd, but I think enough money or maybe the right player (not Tayshaun!) would change their minds.
Langlois: I think Redd and Hamilton would make for an odd pairing, Seth. They both need players to get them the ball, not to mention the fact they both play the same position. One could swing to small forward, I suppose. I think Redd is eminently available. He’s a weapon, but he makes a ton of money. I think he’d be dynamite as a sidekick with someone like Chris Paul or LeBron James, guys who dominate the ball and cause defenses to collapse.
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Walt (Oak Park, Mich.): Do you think Isiah Thomas will coach, be in some team’s front office or an NBA commentator for one of the networks next season? Also, will Lindsey Hunter be playing, coaching or in the Pistons’ front office next season?
Langlois: There are no coaching vacancies in the NBA at present, Walt. I think Isiah is going to have to be rehabilitated before he gets another chance to be a coach or a GM after the disastrous run in New York, though somebody who believes in him might be willing to write that one off as the inevitable result of extreme organizational dysfunction. The Pistons are still waiting to hear if Hunter is indeed done with playing or wants to come back for one more season.
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Michael (Rochester, Mich.): What do you think about Rasheed Wallace for Emeka Okafor? He would bring the rebounding and defense we need.
Langlois: The main problem I’d have with that trade is deciding how much to commit to Okafor, a restricted free agent who turned down an average of $13 million before last season. He hasn’t been that type of player to date, but if you’re going to trade for him you’d have to be willing to part with that kind of money and hope he grows into it – and stays healthy. He’s been a little brittle so far, too.
THURSDAY, June 26
Tracee (Detroit): Why is it all the trade talk is pointing to Billups? Do you think Joe Dumars would trade one of the most hard-working players in the NBA?
Langlois: No great mystery here, Tracee. Billups is the hot name right now because it’s been reported that Denver and the Pistons talked about a deal involving Carmelo Anthony. The Nuggets have a critical need at point guard. And Billups is a Denver native and still very much a big name. It doesn’t mean Joe D is necessarily looking to move Billups. But he is on record as saying he’s open to trading anyone. Rest assured that Dumars has had discussions with many other teams and Billups isn’t the primary object of desire for all of them. But point guard is a key position, a lot of teams are looking to better themselves at that spot, and the Pistons have a young player in Rodney Stuckey who will command 30-plus minutes a game next season.
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Jim (Indianapolis): Has Rip Hamilton ever gotten a Team USA invite? He’s got as many All-Star games as Chauncey and more than Prince. I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the league.
Langlois: Hamilton turned down an opportunity to be in the Team USA mix a few years ago. They were interested in him. He might have figured with Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade at his position, it was going to be tough to carve out a niche.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harrison (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.): I’ve heard rumors that Joe Dumars is going to deal Rasheed Wallace for New Jersey’s first-round pick in order to pick up Hibbert and someone else from the Nets. How do you think the Pistons and Nets would like that trade?
Langlois: That “someone else” would have to be someone making a lot of money, Harrison, because the salaries need to be fairly close to each other in order for two teams over the salary cap to pull off a trade. New Jersey is supposedly dangling Richard Jefferson in trade, so I guess it would be possible for him to be the key piece. But I haven’t heard anything about it. New Jersey has two first-rounders, 10 and 21. Hibbert could go somewhere around 20. Don’t know if the Pistons would consider him a good value at that spot or not. He looks like a career backup to me, but capable backup centers are very valuable chips in today’s NBA.
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Scott (Flint, Mich.): Correct me if I’m wrong, but I seem to remember Phoenix being interested in a deal with the Pistons last year involving Amare Stoudemire. I think we should try and trade Rasheed for Amare along with some smaller contracts to make the deal work.
Langlois: It’s an intriguing idea, Scott. I don’t dismiss that one as pure fancy, either. The Shawn Marion-Shaq trade shows Phoenix is very aware of the biological clock ticking on Steve Nash. Wallace would be attractive to Phoenix on a number of levels. A tax team, the Suns would find his expiring contract appealing. His defensive presence and all-around versatility would make him an ideal complement to Shaq and Nash. He’s the perfect antidote to Phoenix’s No. 1 nemesis, Tim Duncan and San Antonio. The Suns would have to swallow hard to give up Stoudemire, who’s still just 25, but he does have a serious knee injury history and there has been some friction between player and management. The Pistons would have to throw something else into the deal to account for the vast age difference, but the basis for a deal exists.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike (Birmingham, Ala.): I think the Pistons need a true center. What about a smaller trade that sends Wallace to New Jersey for DeSagana Diop? He’s young, a good all-around player and you’d give up less to get him.
Langlois: I like a return of Amare Stoudemire just a little more than DeSagana Diop, Mike, whaddya think? Diop is an unrestricted free agent who doesn’t figure to come entice anyone into giving him a mid-level exception contract despite the dearth of big men. He’s a serviceable backup, but no way the Pistons would give up Wallace to get him even if Diop wasn’t going to be available as a free agent for the taking.
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Mohamed (Canton, Mich.): What are the chances we could swap Hamilton and Prince for McGrady and a future pick? Stuckey starts with Billups and McGrady plays small forward. Would that work?
Langlois: I’d hate to give up those two players for McGrady, Mohamed. For as immensely talented as McGrady is, you’re giving up two extremely durable and talented players for someone with a pretty scary injury history. I think McGrady can be had, just not sure I’d go that high to get him.
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Kathy (Coldwater, Mich.): Who do you think will be available at the 29th pick that Joe Dumars might be interested in who would be able to help right away?
Langlois: In all likelihood, nobody – not right away, at least. The Pistons think they’ll have a good shot to land a player good enough to eventually crack their rotation, Kathy, maybe someone comparable to Arron Afflalo. But remember that the person they get this year will be coming to a deeper team – unless Joe D trades some of his depth to upgrade at a certain spot – than the one that Afflalo came to a year ago, and Afflalo will have a year’s head start. It’s tough to project without knowing what significant move Dumars pulls off, but as the roster stands now the biggest opportunity could come at backup small forward. In that case, Kansas State’s Bill Walker might have the best shot to contribute. But if the Pistons go with a young big man, it’s going to be hard for him to the see the floor next season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim (Jackson, Mich.): It seems to me the reason we haven’t returned to the Finals is the lack of an inside defensive presence that Ben Wallace brought night in and night out. What’s your opinion and who is out there that’s available?
Langlois: I think the Pistons’ defense has been, by and large, more than good enough. Offense has been more problematic in their playoff failures the last three postseasons. But there’s nobody out there available – at least not without paying a steep price – who can give them the things Big Ben gave them when he was playing at his peak.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam (St. Louis): With the hiring of Darrell Walker and Harold Ellis, who do you see being Curry’s lead assistant? And what role do you see Harold fitting in?
Langlois: It could be Walker, but it might more likely be Dave Cowens as the lead assistant. That’s just my guess, at least. We’ll find out more about the staff later this week. But I like the composition – a nice mix of vets and young guys and all of them are teachers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karen (Milwaukee, Wis.): The Suns want Tayshaun Prince. Can anything be worked out? Would either team do a Barbosa and No. 15 for Prince swap?
Langlois: It certainly would be a starting point for negotiations, Karen, but the Pistons would be left with a pretty imbalanced roster. They’d be loaded in the backcourt – Billups, Hamilton, Stuckey, Afflalo, Barbosa – and have nothing at small forward. (Jarvis Hayes is a free agent, remember, and probably not looked at as starting material in any case.)
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Vin (Canton, Mich.): Stephen A. Smith mentioned on ESPN that Rasheed has no intention of playing after his current contract expires. Have you heard anything about this? Does this make it more or less likely that he is dealt?
Langlois: Don’t know a thing about it, except to say that Rasheed loves basketball – maybe not all the trappings of the NBA, but the game itself – and it’s tough for anyone, no matter what else they have going on in life, to walk away from the game and its incredibly lavish rewards when they’re still capable of playing at a high level. In other words, I’ll believe that when I see it. As for its impact on his trade prospects, it would only affect the list of suitors, not their presence. Remember, the Pistons traded for him without having any guarantee he’d be with them for more than few months when they got him in February 2004.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T.J. (Rochester Hills, Mich.): How do the Pistons like J.J. Hickson? Also, with questions about Batum’s heart problems, does he become a factor at No. 29?
Langlois: It would be a major upset if Hickson fell to 29. I would assume the Pistons would be very interested if he did. Batum had his condition checked out Monday and those reports are being heavily scrutinized by teams in the 20s. If he falls to 29, then you can assume at least a handful of teams were scared off – which, one can presume, would mean the Pistons would also have reason to be leery about his future. It would be almost as big an upset for Batum to be available to the Pistons that late as Hickson if his heart checks out OK.
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Seth (New Baltimore, Mich.): I’ve always been intrigued to see what Rip could do alongside Michael Redd. I’m aware that a recent article stated the Bucks are not looking to trade Redd, but I think enough money or maybe the right player (not Tayshaun!) would change their minds.
Langlois: I think Redd and Hamilton would make for an odd pairing, Seth. They both need players to get them the ball, not to mention the fact they both play the same position. One could swing to small forward, I suppose. I think Redd is eminently available. He’s a weapon, but he makes a ton of money. I think he’d be dynamite as a sidekick with someone like Chris Paul or LeBron James, guys who dominate the ball and cause defenses to collapse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walt (Oak Park, Mich.): Do you think Isiah Thomas will coach, be in some team’s front office or an NBA commentator for one of the networks next season? Also, will Lindsey Hunter be playing, coaching or in the Pistons’ front office next season?
Langlois: There are no coaching vacancies in the NBA at present, Walt. I think Isiah is going to have to be rehabilitated before he gets another chance to be a coach or a GM after the disastrous run in New York, though somebody who believes in him might be willing to write that one off as the inevitable result of extreme organizational dysfunction. The Pistons are still waiting to hear if Hunter is indeed done with playing or wants to come back for one more season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael (Rochester, Mich.): What do you think about Rasheed Wallace for Emeka Okafor? He would bring the rebounding and defense we need.
Langlois: The main problem I’d have with that trade is deciding how much to commit to Okafor, a restricted free agent who turned down an average of $13 million before last season. He hasn’t been that type of player to date, but if you’re going to trade for him you’d have to be willing to part with that kind of money and hope he grows into it – and stays healthy. He’s been a little brittle so far, too.