I mentioned Flip as a distant possibility a few days ago, but I didn't think he'd settle for the BAE. However, if Joe's callign FLip's agent and they're not telling him "no" immidiately, there might be something to this.

Off the bench, he's the best we can hope for for the BAE. He's a slasher, and we need one badly. His jumper is inconsistent as hell, but we already have plenty of shooters. We need a guy that can go to the hole and Flip can do that consistently.

A positive note is there's no way Flip re-signs with Cleveland. His game didn't fit their ISO-style at all, and they drafted shannon brown to be the new backup SG anyhow.

Murray would be a minor coup. I just don't think he'll settle for $1.8 million.

Rob Parker: Clubhouse Confidential

No chance for sign-and-trade

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Robin Buckson/The Detroit News

Ben Wallace arrived in Detroit via a sign-and-trade with the Magic for Grant Hill. The Pistons didn't have a chance to work a similar move before Wallace accepted a four-year, $60 million deal from the Bulls. See full image



M y moles are telling me that the Pistons never had an opportunity to do a sign-and-trade with Ben Wallace.

As good as it sounds, the rumors out of Chicago are wrong. The Pistons didn't have any deals on the table with the Knicks or 76ers.

The talk was they did, but Wallace, the free-agent center, KO'd any chance for a deal, insisting on taking the four-year, $60-million deal from the Bulls.

If that was the case, it certainly would have looked as if Wallace had an ax to grind with the Pistons. For sure, the Pistons would have been interested in making a deal. After all, no team wants to lose a star and get nothing in return.

But, why would Wallace nix a deal that potentially could have gotten him even more money?

A sign-and-trade deal is usually good for all parties involved.

The player's old team can always pay more than the team he's joining, so he'll get more than on the open market. And it allows the old team to receive a player or two in return.

Let's not forget that the Pistons' turnaround was fueled by a sign-and-trade deal. Grant Hill, a free agent at the time, was moved to the Magic for Wallace and Chucky Atkins.

It allowed Hill to get the maximum amount -- $92 million over seven years. It also allowed the Pistons to get Wallace, who turned out to be the cornerstone of what was a fantastic five-year run.

Two Flips in Detroit?

My NBA familyis telling me that the Pistons have set their sights on free-agent shooting guard Ronald "Flip" Murray .

You might remember Murray from the Pistons' playoff series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Pistons are in search of a backup guard to replace free agent Tony Delk . Delk, 32, averaged 7.6 points in 24 games with the Hawks and Pistons last season.

Murray, 26, averaged 11.2 points in 76 games with the Sonics and Cavaliers. Many in Cleveland liked the way Murray filled in for Larry Hughes when he was injured. Murray can create his own shot and hit key outside jumpers.

That's something the Pistons want from Rip Hamilton 's backup.

Lindsey Hunter is the backup point guard. He agreed to a two-year contract this week.

this is a pretty dry market. yikes.

Flip aint horrible. but not really consistent as i would hope. i'd take delk over him.

Delk's a shooter. Flip's a slasher.

Given the makeup of our team, you go after Flip without question. He adds 10+ppg to your team off the bench, and he does it in a way that compliments the rest of the roster.

I also think he'd fit in so much better here, where he won't be misused as a spot-up shooter like he was in Cleveland.

Delk's a shooter. Flip's a slasher.

Given the makeup of our team, you go after Flip without question. He adds 10+ppg to your team off the bench, and he does it in a way that compliments the rest of the roster.
Once again if you're saying go after Flip "without question" then this market is garbage this offseason.

I thought that Flip's big thing was getting a chance to start? He's not going to do that here.

Flip is horrible, he's a blackhole, about 70% of his shots are bad shots, i want no part of Ronald Murray, i'd rather resign Delk.

I'll take MoEvans on defense over Flip Murray.

career 41 percent shooter(so he's shooting to many shots to score his points.), career 27 percent 3 point shooter(yikes), averages 2 assists per game career wise ans 1.5 turnovers(not a good ratio), and he's a prettty weak rebounder(which became evident in that game he coughed an easy rebound on a FT to us).

if somebody sees something good about him outside of his scoring average, please share with us.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ronald_murray/index.html

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/images/photos4.25/7424_512.jpg
"He's cheap."

I'd rather not. I want Delfino to get the bulk of backup 2-guard minutes.

If Delfino, Maxiell, and possibly Blalock or Amir are as good as the organization seems to think, then they need minutes to develop. 5 mins every other game does jack shit for nobody. If we're not gonna give em real minutes then use em as trade bait.

How's about if Flip Murray is the best we can do in free agency we sign him and let Murray and Delfino duke it out for the minutes.

I am sick of this "just give the ferners minutes" shit.

what are you talking about? Delfino hasn't gotten hardly any minutes.

I'm talking about the attitude of the fans which seems to be "don't sign this guy cause then Delfino might not play". That's bullshit. Let Delfino earn his minutes. Depth at that spot has been an issue since we traded for Sheed. Passing on a guy that's played pretty well during his career over Delfino's PT is stupid. If Carlos is soooooooooo good let him outplay someone for once. Instead of force feeding him minutes by givng away proven players or refusing to sign them.

Delfino would have good games and then get ignored. There didn't seem to be any pattern to when he'd be given a chance to earn his minutes. Evans would get consistent minutes even when he would suck. It was irritating, especially when Evans would be mismatched.

Having said that, I think Delfino looks like a sleepy-ass dude who looks like he just got out of bed half the time. My hunch is that impedes his playing time more than anything he does on the court.

I wish he was playing in the Summer League.