2006 Free agency rumors/speculation/news (Pistons related)

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_3897710

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Expect Detroit to add a scoring swingman in free agency. Keep an eye on Sacramento free agent Bonzi Wells.

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http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer...l=1&thispage=2

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The Pistons are probably going to use some or all of their mid-level salary cap exception to find a backup to Billups, who looked worn down physically and mentally in the playoffs. Billups played more minutes this season than ever in his career, and the heavy workload appeared to take a toll on him in the playoffs

Are we allowed to discuss in this thread? If so, I would crap my self if we could some how land Bonzi

(as long as Ben stays a piston)

So long as we sign him to a 1-year deal.....

Anybody that thinks Bonzi will wear himself out like that in a non-contract year is fooling themselves.

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Originally Posted by Kstat

So long as we sign him to a 1-year deal.....

Anybody that thinks Bonzi will wear himself out like that in a non-contract year is fooling themselves.

^^ Agree 100%. He's the next contract year guy to get paid big only to go back to normal, I really don't want him, unless the years are low or the price is right.

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The Pistons are likely to make a run at free agent Bonzi Wells, a former Pistons draft pick, who played in Sacramento last season. Other free agents who would fit the need would be former Piston Mike James, recently of Toronto (although he might command too much money), Philadelphia's John Salmons and Memphis' Bobby Jackson.
A player such as Portland's Juan Dixon also could interest the Pistons, although his contract runs through 2008 so they would have to broker a trade.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...606060319/1127

I would personally shit my self if we landed Jackson.

Jackson's a shell of what he used to be. I wouldnt spend a dime on him.

If we landed Juan Dixon, I probably WOULD shit myself.....

What are you talking about? His numbers this year are right on par with the rest of his career. He's a back up PG. It dosnt get much better than him. Atleast not this offseason.

%38 from the field. That's what I'm talking about. He doesnt have the lift he used to, and his mid-range jumpers fall short.

He's turned into a spot-up 3-point shooter instead of the slasher he used to be. I don't think there's another reserve guard in the NBA that took more threes than he did last year. We need scoring in the paint, not a bigger tony delk.

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Originally Posted by Varsity

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Originally Posted by Kstat

So long as we sign him to a 1-year deal.....

Anybody that thinks Bonzi will wear himself out like that in a non-contract year is fooling themselves.

^^ Agree 100%. He's the next contract year guy to get paid big only to go back to normal, I really don't want him, unless the years are low or the price is right.

Bonzi going back to normal (on the court) is still a bargain for the MLE. He's got a career average of 13ppg. He averaged 13.6ppg this year.

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Originally Posted by the wrath of diddy

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Originally Posted by Varsity

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Originally Posted by Kstat

So long as we sign him to a 1-year deal.....

Anybody that thinks Bonzi will wear himself out like that in a non-contract year is fooling themselves.

^^ Agree 100%. He's the next contract year guy to get paid big only to go back to normal, I really don't want him, unless the years are low or the price is right.

Bonzi going back to normal (on the court) is still a bargain for the MLE. He's got a career average of 13ppg. He averaged 13.6ppg this year.

IIIIFFFFFFFF you could get him for the MLE. More than likely the Pistons would have to broker a deal. The guy that goes insane in the playoffs rarely ever gets peanuts. Hell, even Speedy Claxton got 3 mil a season.

Grant Hill as backup PG would be awesome.

i'd love if we could convince Bonzi to come off the bench here. he tore it up vs the Spurs in the first round:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3254

I dont like the idea of Bonzi at all. Too many rumors around the league that he is a headach and wants to be the man somewhere. Personally, I like Speedy Claxton and Grant Hill. Also, I would like them to find a shooter. Maybe Delfino can fit that bill but we need someone to come in off the bench that can stroke the ball

Zack Randolf would help our scoring inside but I'm not sure about his D. Teaming him and sheed as defensive big men might not be a good idea...but our O would certainly improve.

As long as Bonzi is healthy, I'd go for it.

I'm going to ask Bobby Jackson if he'd consider Detroit the next time I see him. Not that I'd get the truth, but it'd be interesting to see what he says.

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Originally Posted by Kstat

Grant Hill as backup PG would be awesome.

Next to JoeD, Grant Hill prolly did more to bring a championship to Detroit than anyone. Thanks for leaving Grant. He was unstoppable back in the day and would be have a huge bench presence, imo.

and Matt ... nice edit on "I still believe" sentence. ...in next season...lol

:D

I split off some stuff that was trade related, as opposed to free agency related, into a new thread.

Thanks bye.

Thats why you're a syndicate member

Some of us have speculated that Jared Jeffries might be somebody that Joe would be interested in.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...061800794.html

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Wizards Notes: Several teams have shown interest in restricted free agent Jared Jeffries, but according to one league source who was in Orlando for the pre-draft camp, teams are not optimistic about landing Jeffries because they believe the Wizards plan to match any reasonable offer. Jeffries has averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in four seasons with the Wizards and has carved out a role for himself as the team's best all-around defender. The free agency period opens July 1.

Jeffries would be a great fall-back option if we don't get BOnzi Wells.

Jeffries would be awful. He has absolutely zero offensive game. His eFG percentage on jumpshots this year was 30%. For comparison, both Delfino and Hunter were just over 40%. And we complain about their jumpers being busted.

Trust me, we want no part of this guy.

washington will match any reasonable offer for him anyway. so he's not going anywhere to begin with IMO.

Can't say that I would advocate Jeffries when we have Al Harrington AND Bonzi wells as free agents. I really do hope that Joe pursues at least one of these two players.

Both Wells and Harrington should get more than the MLE.

Maybe we could swing a S&T, but that depends on the starting salary.

Davis + Evans = $5,000,000 + 125% = $6,250,000

I wonder if either would want more than that...

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Originally Posted by Pharaoh

Both Wells and Harrington should get more than the MLE.

Maybe we could swing a S&T, but that depends on the starting salary.

Davis + Evans = $5,000,000 + 125% = $6,250,000

I wonder if either would want more than that...

this seems like one of those "i hope he takes less money to play for a contender" scenarios......i'd be ecstatic if we could sign either for that amount.

I still think a PG is priority #1. If we blow our entire exception on a SG/SF we're stuck without a PG yet again. Who knows what Lindsey is going to do (He should be a 3rd stringer either way), and it's clear that Flip is against Delk at the Point. At least if we spend the MLE on a PG we have Delfino and *shudder* Evans at SG/SF.

IMO, we're going to have to get incredibly lucky to fill both needs (PG and Scoring swingman) this offseason. I don't see us trading Dale (with Cato and Darko gone), so we don't have any decent sized contracts to move in order to get a quality player back.

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Pistons president Joe Dumars confirmed he had interviewed Terry Porter (former Bucks coach) and Jim O'Brien (former Celtics and 76ers coach) for assistant-coaching spots on Flip Saunders ' staff. The Pistons are looking to hire both, which would give the bench a lot of clout.

http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...27/1004/SPORTS

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Originally Posted by JS

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Pistons president Joe Dumars confirmed he had interviewed Terry Porter (former Bucks coach) and Jim O'Brien (former Celtics and 76ers coach) for assistant-coaching spots on Flip Saunders ' staff. The Pistons are looking to hire both, which would give the bench a lot of clout.

http://detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...27/1004/SPORTS

Oh shit, not The Leprechaun!!
http://www.basket-plus.com/images/NBA/JimOBrien.jpg

Didn't he pull some bush league move against us when he was coaching the Sixers? Well, at least his father in law (Dr. Jack Ramsey) might like us better if we hire him.

EDIT: I wonder if Obie can score in the paint??

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talked to my guy at the palace today and he was talking about chucky atkins. Is he an URFA?

Yeah CA is a UFA, I am not sure he will want come cheap and not sure we wouldn't be better off with Delk all things being equal.

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Originally Posted by gusman

talked to my guy at the palace today and he was talking about chucky atkins. Is he an URFA?

Yea, he's unrestricted, but why would we want him? I'd much rather throw money at Speedy, Banks, etc. We already know that Chucky isn't going to run the offense very well or play D. He's a streaky shooter, and that's about it.

I'd offer Marcus Banks the full MLE and see how the Wolves react.

With Jaric + Hudson signed at failry big salaries I doubt they'd be willing to match that offer for Banks.

And if they do fuck 'em. We don't have to wait 15 days anymore so it's no big deal.

Wow, you're really high on Banks.

I remember that being the case when we were discussing the Wally-Ricky trade a while back, so you are nothing if not consistent.

You only do Banks at the MLE if you're thinking of dealing Chauncey next year. Banks isn't going to want to be Chauncey's backup for the next 3+ years, and there's a few teams that would want to start him and pay him.

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Originally Posted by FP22

I still think a PG is priority #1. If we blow our entire exception on a SG/SF we're stuck without a PG yet again. Who knows what Lindsey is going to do (He should be a 3rd stringer either way), and it's clear that Flip is against Delk at the Point. At least if we spend the MLE on a PG we have Delfino and *shudder* Evans at SG/SF.

IMO, we're going to have to get incredibly lucky to fill both needs (PG and Scoring swingman) this offseason. I don't see us trading Dale (with Cato and Darko gone), so we don't have any decent sized contracts to move in order to get a quality player back.

here's what i'm wondering......Joe D made is clear we want to bolser our bench. towards the end of last season when Flip was giving Delk substantial minutes, him and Dice were putting up like 20 ppg together.

back then i was wondering, do we need a "pure" PG on our bench? if we have Delk, Delfino, *insert SF that's not named Evans*, and Dice playing good minutes, we're looking a a 20+ ppg bench. that's very good and something we could have really used during this past playoffs.

i'm not saying we should stand pat with our bench roster, but if we end up keeping Delk, i personally wouldn't mind, as long as Flip's willing to give him the minutes. of course, if there is a slashing/penetrating PG out there we can get, that i'm all for that. does Banks play that role?

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Originally Posted by Matt

here's what i'm wondering......Joe D made is clear we want to bolser our bench. towards the end of last season when Flip was giving Delk substantial minutes, him and Dice were putting up like 20 ppg together.

back then i was wondering, do we need a "pure" PG on our bench? if we have Delk, Delfino, *insert SF that's not named Evans*, and Dice playing good minutes, we're looking a a 20+ ppg bench. that's very good and something we could have really used during this past playoffs.

Yea, I was saying ever since we got Delk mid-season that we should have been seeing a main bench rotation of...

PG- Delk (13 minutes)
SG- Delfino (8 minutes) / Delk (5 minutes)
SF- Delfino (13 minutes)
PF- Dice (22 minutes)
C- Dale (5-7 minutes)

I have always thought that Delk could easily work well at PG in certain situations. Let either Delfino or Tayshaun (whoever's on the floor) share some of the duties running the offense, and let Delk play the scorer role instead of the playmaker (which is Delfino's specialty, not scoring). It's all about putting a player where they're most comfortable. You can't just force guys into roles that they aren't used to and expect it to work.

I definately think you're right that we don't need a "true" PG. But they have to be able to at least do one or the other (scoring or dishing). Lindsey can't. That's where we run into a problem. Therefor, I think Delk would be fine as our main backup PG, but that's only if he's used properly (to guard PGs, but play a shooters role in the O). I'm not confident that Flip will see that though.

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of course, if there is a slashing/penetrating PG out there we can get, that i'm all for that. does Banks play that role?

That's him. He's quick and explosive at breaking down the D and getting to the rim. He's not a great set shooter, but he's very good at scoring around the rim or creating his own jumpshot. Plus he's young and he's some fresh blood that is probably hungry for wins after years in Boston and Minny.

How bad is Ainge going to look (again) if Banks turns out to be as good as some here think he will be?

He tried forever to get rid of Banks (didn't he even deal him out west in a deal that fell through?) and finally did so.

What is Danny's #1 offseason priority this summer, yep, finding a PG.

I agree that Banks could be ready to break out (Chauncey II)... ironic if we get Banks for the same reasons as C.B.... and McHale is left with the gimps/big salaries... something about sticking it to McHale puts a smile on the face.
We still have to wait on Delk's decision.

I think Banks was originally part of the deal that sent Kwame Brown to the Lakers.

Banks has sucked everywhere he's been. Chauncey Billups? Please.