Glenn
03-27-2014, 08:17 AM
Background material, via Grantland
CHARLOTTE/DETROIT
The Trade: In 2012, Detroit sent the last two years of Ben Gordon’s contract and a future first-rounder (protected 1-8 in 2014) to Charlotte for Corey Maggette’s expiring contract. Seems like a money dump, right? Let’s go back a little further …
Retroactive Verdict: In 2008, Joe Dumars traded a still-in-his-prime Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson’s expiring deal. The following summer, Dumars used Iverson’s cap space to spend $95.7 million on Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. In 2012, Dumars used that aforementioned future protected pick to dump Gordon’s deal for Maggette’s expiring. The following summer, Dumars used Maggette’s cap space to spend $78 million on Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, then cheaped out on any quality coach who could have reined them in.
2014 Draft Ramifications: Right now, the Pistons are “battling” Cleveland for the no. 8 lottery spot. If they land at no. 9, Charlotte gets it. If they get to no. 8, Detroit keeps it and it rolls over to 2015 (top-one protected) or 2016 (unprotected). If you were a Charlotte fan, do you want the pick now, or would you rather roll the dice with the Detroit Dumbasses bottoming out in 2015 or 2016? Tough dilemma, right?
Bonus Tanking Potential: Super-duper high for Detroit. Maybe the Pistons should re-sign Gordon for the last few weeks to re-poison the locker room, just to bring everything full circle. Or they could go with Plan B: asking Smith and Brandon Jennings to attempt a never-ending slew of ill-advised 3s and long 2s every game. Oh wait, they’re doing that anyway? My bad.
CHARLOTTE/DETROIT
The Trade: In 2012, Detroit sent the last two years of Ben Gordon’s contract and a future first-rounder (protected 1-8 in 2014) to Charlotte for Corey Maggette’s expiring contract. Seems like a money dump, right? Let’s go back a little further …
Retroactive Verdict: In 2008, Joe Dumars traded a still-in-his-prime Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson’s expiring deal. The following summer, Dumars used Iverson’s cap space to spend $95.7 million on Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. In 2012, Dumars used that aforementioned future protected pick to dump Gordon’s deal for Maggette’s expiring. The following summer, Dumars used Maggette’s cap space to spend $78 million on Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, then cheaped out on any quality coach who could have reined them in.
2014 Draft Ramifications: Right now, the Pistons are “battling” Cleveland for the no. 8 lottery spot. If they land at no. 9, Charlotte gets it. If they get to no. 8, Detroit keeps it and it rolls over to 2015 (top-one protected) or 2016 (unprotected). If you were a Charlotte fan, do you want the pick now, or would you rather roll the dice with the Detroit Dumbasses bottoming out in 2015 or 2016? Tough dilemma, right?
Bonus Tanking Potential: Super-duper high for Detroit. Maybe the Pistons should re-sign Gordon for the last few weeks to re-poison the locker room, just to bring everything full circle. Or they could go with Plan B: asking Smith and Brandon Jennings to attempt a never-ending slew of ill-advised 3s and long 2s every game. Oh wait, they’re doing that anyway? My bad.