Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Say Goodbye to the Bulldog


Nate Robertson was traded to the Marlins yesterday for prospect Jay Voss. Voss was an 8th round pick who spent the past three seasons in the minors. As a starter, Voss struggled mightily, going 3-13 with a 6.9 ERA in A-ball. Yet, he turned it around last season as a middle reliever in AA-ball, posting an impressive 2.7 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

It's not often, though, that a middle reliever from AA makes a splash in the bigs. Typically, the best prospects are starters who then convert to middle relief or closers just to make the senior club. So, Voss is a nice, low-risk prospect who may develop a few years down the line.

It may seem a minor miracle that Dombrowski convinced any team to pick up Robertson's contract AND throw in a player. The truth is that the Marlins nabbed Robertson for Voss and $400,000. The Tigers will continue to pick up the remainder of Robertson's $10 million contract. So, like Sheffield last season, the Tigers once again are paying a player to leave.

Why make the trade? It's obviously not about money. There was a logjam at starting pitcher, with Willis, Bonderman, and Robertson vying for two spots. Robertson pitched the best in Spring training and has the fewest red flags (though he still has many). He was probably the only player that would net a prospect in return. Willis and Bonderman both possess higher price tags ($12 million each). Willis has "the thing," and Bonderman has a bum shoulder. He can't hit 95mph, nor does he have bite on his out pitch - the slider. Without the slider, Bonderman is as useful as Maggs on the mound.

As an insurance policy, the Tigers have Eddie Bonine and Phil Coke in the pen. Neither player pitched well this Spring, but Bonine did post solid stats late last season. Coke fared well as a starter in the minors (3.2 ERA, 1.2 WHIP), but only pitched long-relief as a big leaguer. Both are safer options than Willis and Bonderman. Yet, W&B get the nod thanks to their ginormous contracts. Dombrowski has to save face somehow.

As for Nate, I'm happy for him. He gets a chance to jump-start his career in the more pitcher-friendly National League. He was the lone Tiger to actually live in the Metro Detroit area and became a fan favorite. He worked his way up to the starting rotation, but never really had that breakout season due to a lack of wins. In '05, he posted a respectable 4.5 ERA, but only managed 7 wins due to horrid run support (2nd worst in the AL). This fact was oft-repeated by color analyst Rod Allen during Tiger games, and it became a running joke amongst Tiger fans.

"Nate never gets run support"
"Yeah, but he's a bulldog on the mound."

Nate's best season - by far - was '06, when he went 13-13 with a solid 3.84 ERA. The highlight of his career was Game 1 of the ALCS when he blanked the Oakland As through 5 innings. Nate continued his impressive run in early '07 until mid-May when he got rocked on back-to-back starts by Seattle and Boston. Nate was worried he was tipping his pitches. Whether he was or not remains a mystery, but his results were never the same. His ERA plummeted from 2.48 prior to the Seattle game to 4.76 by the end of the year. '08 was even worse, as Robertson was flat-out the worst starting pitcher in the American League with a bloated 6.35 ERA. His career as a Tiger seemed likely finished, if not for that enormous contract he signed after the '06 season. Like most of Dombrowski's signigs, Robertson's effectiveness ceased once he signed on that dotted line.

Robertson spent most of last season on the injured list and returned for a few quality starts in August. It left a glimmer of hope that something was left in the tank. Perhaps that glimmer was enough to persuade the Marlins to part with a prospect for him. That, plus the fact they could pay him a measley $400,000, while the Tigers picked up the remaining $9,600,000.

So, farewell Nate. Hope you turn it around down South.

Monday, March 29, 2010

More of the Same


First the bad news.

Or, to some, it's good news. The Pistons continued their losing ways this weekend. The current streak is up to eight straight. Their 23-50 record place them 5th worst in the league. Ask any person who's seen this team play recently, and they'd have to admit they should be dead last. They can't compete. Literally. They're down by 20 at halftime every game. It's the Varsity vs the JV. And it's a painful display of what the season would be like without Ben Wallace. The 35 year old retread singlehandedly made the team watchable for long stretches this year.

Justin Rogers pointed out on MLive that the Bulls two trade deadline acquisitions - Flip Murray (yes, the ex-Piston who apparently wasn't good enough) and Hakim Warrick - combined for 37 points on 70% shooting. The Pistons two offseason acquisitions - Charlie V and BG - combined for 3.

There's truly no end in sight for this disaster. The Pistons are stuck with these two disappointments. The goal in the offseason will be to find a way to work with them, not against them. Watch some tapes from Gordon's days with the Bulls and figure out how to get him involved. He's a $55 million player rotting away on the bench. Joe dug this hole. Now it's up to him to dig his way out of it.

The lone bright spot on the team is that the continued losses increase their chances to land John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, or Derrick Favors.

As for the Wings, they forced overtime with Nashville without scoring a single goal. Both teams had their chances, but Pekka Rinne and Jimmy Howard blocked everything. The game went to a shootout. By the 12th round, the Red Wings finally broke free as Kronwall scored. Howard blocked the Pred's ensuing chance, and the Wings leapt to 6th in the standings. The OT loss earned the Pred's a point, keeping them barely above the Wings in 5th place. With seven games to go, the Wings are 6 points clear of 9th place Calgary. Yet, the way they're playing there's no reason to not chase Chicago for the top of the Central. Chicago has 99 points, 8 clear of Detroit. It's unlikely but possible.

This amazing run (and the awesome performance against the Preds) earned Jimmy Howard some national acclaim. He's an obvious candidate for the the Calder (Rookie of the Year), but there are even murmurs of a Vezina and Hart nomination. An MVP of the league may be pushing things a bit, but Howard is certainly the MVP of the Wings.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Lost in the HOOPla

One casualty of my new baby-inspired lack of blogging recently is Red Wings coverage. As we hoped, the Olympics invigorated this formerly lethargic team. Through January and early February, the Wings were continually outshot, outskated, and outscored. They regularly lost 3rd period leads and look destined to miss the playoffs.

Since the Olympics, they've gone 9-2-1. The nine wins came against top-notch competition like Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Vancouver. They even *look* like the Red Wings now. Tape-to-tape passes. Dominant possession. Cool confidence in clutch situations. That confidence served them extremely well last week when the Wings scored with 0.3 seconds remaining in regulation on back-to-back games. The first buzzer beater forced overtime against Edmonton. An Edmonton player tried to fall on the puck deep in his own zone. I actually didn't know that was legal. Didn't matter as the Wings pried it free. Zetterberg raced toward the net and let loose a backhanded shot. The goalie parried it away, but the rebound found an unmarked Rafalski on the weak side who slotted it home. It was an exhilarating play:



Unfortunately, the Wings lost in a shootout, but the goal did earn the team a precious point. The next game, the Wings were tied Vancouver in the waning seconds of OT. Filppula battled for the puck near the blue line and sent a pass along the boards. Zetterberg picked it up and skated toward the middle of the ice. He sent another backhanded shot that beat Luongo. The team erupted:



Back-to-back nights. Amazing hockey. The Wings followed that Vancouver win with a dominant win over the Malkin-less Penguins. A few months before, the Wings could barely skate with the Pens - a 2-1 OT loss on January 31. It took a Herculean performance from Howard (46 saves) to force overtime. Now the team is different. The top two lines are really clicking, especially the Zetterberg line. They've got an astounding 20 points the last three games. The Datsyuk line is not putting the puck in the net as consistently, but they are creating chances every shift. The goals will come.

Things are finally looking up.

The one unfortunately development is that the teams ahead of the Wings in the standings continue to win too. Despite the 9-2-1 run, the Wings remain in the 8th spot, 4 points clear of Calgary. The Kings and Avs have fallen slightly, and, if the Wings' solid run continues, they could overtake them. Nine games remain, and the Wings are four points behind the 5th spot. That should be their goal. The run continues tonight against the Wild. Go Wings.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Historically Bad?

Trying to put a newborn to bed at 4am is a bit like watching the Pistons' game. It lasts forever, neither party wants to be there, and it ruins your day.

After suffering through this interminable season, only one question remains - is this the worst Pistons team of all time?

As much as I can't believe it, last year's dreadful squad was light-years better. They actually won 39 games and beat some solid competition in the process. They were as enjoyable to watch as QVC, but they at least occasionally got results. Scanning the Piston squads of years' past, the only incarnations that rival the ineptness of this team are 79/80 and 93/94.

The 79/80 team put up an ungodly 16-66 record. Under the "guidance" of Dick Vitale, the team featured aging All-stars Bob McAdoo and Bob Lanier, but both missed significant time. Vitale brought John Long and Terry Tyler from his University of Detroit team, and both put up solid numbers - 19ppg and 12ppg, respectively. Yet, this was a team in transition. Not even slick-shooting rookie Greg Kelser could inspire this sad sack bunch. The 16 wins landed the Pistons the first pick in the 1980 draft, but OOPS they already traded it to Boston in the Bob McAdoo deal. Ouch. Boston took that first overall pick (Joe Barry Carroll) and sent it to Golden State in exchange for their 3rd pick and Robert Parish. The 3rd pick turned into Kevin McHale. In essence, the Celtics traded damaged goods Bob McAdoo and Joe Barry Carroll for future Hall of Famers Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. That, my friends, is how dynasties are built.

The 80/81 Pistons team only won 21 games but at least jettisoned Vitale, McAdoo and Lanier to build for the future. They then drafted Isiah and Kelly Tripuka which served as the foundation for future championships.

The 93/94 team went 20-62 and featured such marquee names as Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Sean Elliot, and Allan Houston. That's five All-star calibre players who - like today's team - did not mesh. Isiah and Laimbeer were both beaten-down and weary and retired at the end of the season. Allan Houston, a rookie, rarely saw significant minutes to showcase his scoring acumen. And Sean Elliot hated every second in Detroit. He was acquired in the Dennis Rodman trade. Spent one season with the Pistons then quickly re-signed with the Spurs where he finished his career bad-mouthing Detroit at every turn. Dumars, in his prime, was the lone bright spot, averaging 20ppg. The 20 wins landed the team the #3 pick, where they drafted Grant Hill.

This year's team already has more wins (23) than the 79/80 and 93/94 teams. Yet, nobody expected much of the 79/80 team. The 93/94 team was coming off a 40 win season, and the decline was quick and brutal, much like now. The pick of Grant Hill rejuvenated the franchise. They still had painfully few players to build around (like now), but the one young star (Hill) and the aging one (Dumars) led the team back to respectability.

In the grand scheme of things, the year's Piston team is not so bad. They're bad, but not historically bad. Unlike the 79/80 team, they at least retained their draft pick. They also have promising young players in Rodney Stuckey, Ben Gordon, and Jonas Jerebko, as well as savvy veterans like Rip and Prince. That core is too talented to reside with the NBA cellar-dwellers for long. It's a true indictment of the coaching, the injuries, or both that the team underperformed so drastically.

Friday, March 19, 2010

How screwed are the Pistons?

I figured the dreadful '08-'09 season would be rock bottom. Little did I know that lack of chemistry, injuries, inconsistent coaching, and poor work ethic would place the Pistons in the lottery once again. With little cap space and no true building block, the Pistons' future is bleak. How bleak, you ask?

The salary cap for this season was $57.7 million. It's possible the NBA may lower the cap, but my guess is that it will stay the same or increase slightly. Let's assume next year's cap to be a cool $58million. The Pistons already committed $51.4million of next season's cap to players currently on the roster. Here's how it breaks down:

Rip: $12.6M
Tayshaun: $11.1M
BG: $10.8M
Charlie V: $7M
Maxiell: $5M
Wilcox: $3M*
Stuckey: $2.8M
Daye: $1.8M
Jerebko: $0.8M

*Wilcox may opt out of that money. I can only see him opting out if he believes he'll get more money or playing time elsewhere. I can't imagine he's happy sitting on the bench for a horrible team. So, it's possible he'd leave. But who can turn down $3million? If he does opt out, Dumars would do cartwheels.

With $51.4million already tied up, the Pistons only have $6.6million to offer a free agent. That basically puts them on par with every other team in the NBA. Even a team that's over the cap can offer a $6million contract to a free agent under the Mid-Level Exemption (MLE). So, yeah, the Pistons will not be seeing any significant free agent signings this year.

What about freeing up some money via trade? I posted a few days ago on "Stock Watch" that the best combination of talent and tradeable salary is Stuckey or Prince. Yet, the bad news continues to pile up on the Pistons as Stuckey's recent unexplained seizures basically make him untradeable. Prince, of course, is coming off a back injury himself, but he's the most likely to attract a buyer. If Dumars trades Prince simply for cap-space, he'll open up $17.7million to throw at a free agent. That may just be enough to land a Chris Bosh-level talent. But why would Bosh come to Detroit when he can equal money at a team with more potential (Knicks, Nets)?

This past month has told me that Prince is part of the solution, not the problem. Unless a great deal comes Dumars way, he should keep Prince. The only hope for this team is for these four things to happen:

1. Stay healthy
2. Draft a solid big man ready to contribute
3. Re-sign Ben Wallace
4. Develop that mysterious thing called chemistry

Number 1 on that list almost never happens. Most teams deal with injuries. The Pistons just have to hope that the injuries do not linger and they don't affect key people. Number 2 is a possibility. There are a handful of potentially great big men in this year's draft. Unless they get lucky, the Pistons will be drafting number 7. DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, or Greg Monroe would be available. They're all unknowns but possible contributors.

As for Ben Wallace, he'll likely be willing to come back, but his resurgence will surely tempt many other suitors. Will Ben want to return to another lottery-bound Piston team? Or will he pursue another championship? My guess is that he'd prefer to pursue a championship. So the Pistons better hope that the Clevelands, Lakers, and Hawks of the world don't come calling.

As for chemistry, well... staying healthy will help. A year of playing together will help. Perhaps a coaching change will help. Ben Gordon and Rip Hamilton may never fit on the same team, but they've got no other choice. The way this team was built, I just don't see much potential for change. Too many 2-guards. Too many undersized 4s. And, I hate to say it, they've got no star. The Pistons won during the 00s without a superstar scorer, but those days are long gone. The quickest route to relevance is on the back of a Kevin Durant or a Brandon Roy. The Pistons have nobody even close to that level. We all hoped Stuckey would ascend to greatness, but I don't see that happening.

So, yeah, the future is pretty damn bleak. The team's best hope is to land that first or second pick this year. Draft another guard (Wall or Turner) and do some housecleaning.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Lakeland

Center Field
Austin Jackson has done his best to help people forget about Curtis Granderson. The young center fielder is hitting .428 this spring, in 28 at-bats. No doubt, he's the most pleasant surprise. Of course, spring training numbers are about as relevant as "facebook friends". The team may only get one at-bat against an actual senior squad pitcher. And the best pitchers hardly unleash their top stuff. Verlander may spend the entire spring working on a 5th pitch - ya never know. So, while we, as fans, may dismiss Spring Training, the manager cannot. Leyland must figure out who will start at Center Field. He'll base his decision on the players' performance in Lakeland. The entire organization was hoping Jackson would seize the opportunity, and he has.

Second Base
While Jackson solidified his spot in the outfield, second base remains a mystery. This winter, the Tigers gave the position to Scott Sizemore who has a grand total of zero major league at-bats to his credit. After two mediocre seasons in '07 and '08, Sizemore worked his way up to AA and AAA last season, hitting .308 with 17 HR. It was evidence enough for Dombrowski to name him Polanco's heir - another bizarre offseason decision that alienated fans. While Sizemore hit well, he did commit 21 errors with a .966 fielding percentage. Last year, Polanco commited 2 errors with a .997 fielding percentage. To put Sizemore's numbers in perspective, his 21 errors would have ranked him last in the majors in 2009. His .966 fielding percentage? Also dead last.

Complicating matters is the fact that he also broke his ankle a few months ago. Sizemore is still experiencing soreness. The injury may force the Tigers to find a replacement. At their disposal is former second baseman Ryan Raburn, who posted equally inept numbers on defense. Yet, Raburn is a more polished offensive weapon. To his defensive credit, Raburn's rarely spent more than a season at the same position. As a full-time second baseman, Raburn's defensive numbers would still likely place at the bottom of the heap, so perhaps they could platoon him with Ramon Santiago. Santiago's a natural shortstop, but his glove is the best amongst this threesome.

Starting Pitchers
The Tigers breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as potential 3rd starter, Max Scherzer, finally threw a solid 4 innings of scoreless baseball. He dropped his Spring Training ERA to 11.37. Again, I don't want to harp on Spring Training stats, but for players like Scherzer, starting his first season in the AL, he needs a few solid innings for his confidence alone.

As for the rest of the pitching cavalcade, only one player has distinguished himself for the 4th and 5th final starting spots. I can't believe I'm typing this, but that player is Dontrelle Willis. Willis threw three innings, allowing one run yesterday. His Spring Training ERA is 1.29, though control continues to elude him. He's kept runners from crossing home, but walks remain a problem. Robertson has also fared somewhat well in spot starts, but Bonderman, Galarraga, and Bonine each sport a 10+ ERA. My guess is that Bonderman will have to exhibit exceptional ineptitude to work his way out of the 4th starting spot. Leyland and Dombrowski desperately want him to succeed and will give him every opportunity. That 5th spot will likely come down to the wire, with Willis the leading candidate. The Tigers would love to see some return on their investment.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

What is wrong with Ben Gordon?


Joe Dumars must be cursing the stars. His $60million offseason acquisition can't shoot.

Ben Gordon's been in the league six seasons, and he's never has he played this poorly. I used to watch him single-handedly pick apart the Pistons, scoring almost at will. Not only is BG a shadow of his Bulls' self, he's a shadow of his early Pistons' self:

The best case scenario is that he's hurt. The worst case scenario is that he's got Dontrelle-itis. He simply can no longer play. Mrs. NoFrownMotown thinks he might need glasses. I sincerely hope that's the case. I remember Herman Moore sucking big time as a rookie. He got his eyes checked and... Voila!... Hall of Fame career. Perhaps Little Ben needs to watch his own commercials and visit Dr. Ramani.

From a fan perspective something needs to change. With so much money invested in him, Dumars will have to give him another season at least, but we could be looking at the most expensive buyout ever.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

18

The Red Wings have made the post-season 18 straight seasons. That's the longest current streak in any sport. Last night, the Red Wings sat in the 8th and final spot for the playoffs. They played the Calgary Flames who were just one point behind in the standings. The Red Wings led 2-1 entering the 3rd period. The Flames outshot the Wings 15-4 in that final period, scoring 3 times. Final score: 4-2 Flames.

The Wings are now on the outside looking in, with 16 games remaining. Of course, this is no surprise. They've blown 3rd period leads all season. I posted in late January that we should start to prepare for the inevitable - a post-season without the Wings. A quick look at the boxscore shows the Wings' failings. The Flames goals by period: 0-1-3. During crunch time, the Flames proved they were the more desperate team. That's a sad indictment on the Wings, who just minutes earlier, looked like the Western Conference Champion from '09.

While the Flames were desperate, the Wings were at least focused. This is not the same team from late January - both literally and figuratively. The injured players are back, and they've injected some life, especially on the power-play. In the 2nd period, the Wings worked the best power-play I've seen all season. The passes were crisp, fast, and they scored within seconds. The Flames had no chance.

The Wings seemed to be in control. If not for an unfortunate bounce off the walls, the score would've been 2-0 Wings. Yet, the cliche is true - hockey is a game of bounces, and the bounces went the Flames way in the end. The Flames worked extremely hard in the 3rd period to get the equalizer. They kept the puck deep in the Wings zone, and a rebound eventually found an unmarked Iginla. It was Iginla's first regular season goal against the Wings since 2004 (Iginla scored 181 goals against the other teams during that span). The game-winning goal did require a bit of luck. With more sustained pressure, the Flames shot the puck, but it ricocheted off a player's thigh and tumbled behind Howard. It was a clear case of effort leading to luck. Later, the Flames scored an empty-netter from a shot clear across the ice. I'd never seen a player score an empty-netter from his own defensive zone, but it was obviously the Flames night.

So now the Wings find themselves in the 9th spot. While they're playing like a top-8 team, it may be too late. For the season, the Wings remain 4 games under .500, and they've yet to win 3 in a row. That's hardly the mark of a playoff team. With 16 games left, they can still put together a run. Earlier in the season, their level of play left me pessimistic. Now that they at times resemble a playoff team, I hold a glimmer of hope.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Hugging in Sports

My apologies for being AWOL as of late. Mrs. Nofrownmotown actually just gave birth to Baby Nofrownmotown. Happy times indeed.

Yet, that couldn't keep me away from reading about the Wings' solid win last night, where I happened upon the following picture. Isn't this hug a little too intimate?


When I return to blogging full time, I will fully dismantle the Pistons, who I've quit watching*. They've quit on us, so why not quit on them?







* "Quit watching" for me means I change the channel when they start sucking and then manically switch back every minute to see if the momentum has turned. It's never turned.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

What to do about Charlie V and BG

Little Ben is struggling, and Charlie V can't play D. To illustrate just how poorly Ben Gordon is shooting, check out this graph of Ben's 3pt shooting percentage by season:



Something in the Detroit water apparently does not agree with him. I should note that he began the season quite well. He was shooting 37% from 3pt land prior to his injury. He had a handful of dreadful shooting nights (1 for 16, 3 for 11) but otherwise lived up to his scorer's reputation. Since the injury, the dude has not been the same.

An optimist would say that gives us hope. While he's a shadow of his Bulls' self, a healthy Ben Gordon may return next season to give the Pistons some offensive punch. Last night, he was schooled by Nate Robinson who singlehandedly won the game for the Celtics. This cannot happen. Little Ben is a better player than his stats tell us, but I can't fault Kuester for not playing him. Since the injury, he just hasn't delivered.

I wish I could be so optimistic about Charlie V. He's giving about the same production as he normally gives. What you see is what you get. My thinking is that he (and Ben Gordon) need to be partnered with more effective defensive players. The current Bench Brigade of Bynum, Gordon, Maxiell, Charlie V, and Austin Daye has no defensive presence. The opposing benches outscore them every single night. Since Kuester is stuck with these players, he'll need to mix it up. Perhaps pair Ben Wallace with Charlie V... and Stuckey with Gordon. Mix and match the starters and bench as opposed to playing all five bench players at once.

This likely won't solve many problems this season, so Joe D will need to add a defensive presence in the offseason. I hear Tyson Chandler is available...

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Go ahead, complain about the refs

Most sports fans think it's sour grapes to complain about the refs. What about when your team wins? Is it more acceptable to complain? Perhaps, but it's still generally frowned upon. The logic is that referees only impact a game to a small degree. A good team can overcome an opponent and inconsistent refs.

I disagree. In sports like hockey, basketball, football, and soccer, the refs largely influence the outcome. Just last night, with the Red Wings leading 2-0 in the 2nd period, Johan Franzen scored the apparent third goal for the Wings. The goal was immediately waved off by the referee, who claimed Holmstrom interfered with the goalie. Judge for yourself:



There's no doubt that the Wings lose more goals to "goalie interference" than any other team. By far. And it all has to do with Tomas Holmstrom. Opposing coaches must needle the referees all game long. Who can blame them? The tactic works. Granted I'm a homer about Homer, but I still have a difficult time seeing how he does things differently than any other forward. Every team parks a big body in front of the goalie and causes havoc. It's possible that Homer is just better than most. But the refs have it out for him. I'm utterly convinced.

After the disallowed goal, Colorado seemed rejuvenated. They quickly scored twice, tying the game. Thankfully for the Wings, Lidstrom scored the winner in the 3rd. Yet, it's my belief that the disallowed Franzen goal still greatly influenced the game. Falling behind 3-0 is pretty demoralizing. By keeping it 2-0, the crowd roared to life, and the Avs played with more purpose. And the decision to keep the game 2-0 was entirely on the ref's shoulders. If the league opts to give him that kind of power, that's fine. But I reserve the right to complain - guilt-free. They do impact that game. They do influence outcome. They do make mistakes.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Stock Watch

The Pistons finished their 4-game road trip losing 3 straight. Their final game - which was mercifully not on TV - saw the Pistons blow a 13 point lead and shoot 42% from the free throw line. The game before, the Pistons played valiantly against the Nuggets but could not offset the Nugs 37-20 free-throw advantage. The road trip was a microcosm of the season -- the team showed the occasional sign of competence but ultimately fell short - even against dreadful competition.

As the season winds to a close (23 games remain), Joe D needs to examine how to rebuild the team into a winner. Who should stay and who should go? This list is not based solely on talent. It also takes into account the player's contract/trade-ability. In other words, some players should go, but their contract says they're staying.

Building Blocks
Ben Wallace - It's a sad indictment when the cornerstone of the future is a 35 year old. Few thought Ben had much left in the tank, but he proved this season he's still an effective player in this league. He's the best Piston defender, and his leadership sets the tone for how the Pistons should play. Currently, he's playing for the veteran's minimum, and, despite his age, Joe D should reward Ben with a hefty raise in the off-season. Any chance at a successful '10-'11 campaign begins with a commitment to Big Ben. He may not last much past next season, but the team should keep him around as long as possible.

Rip Hamilton - I thought he was a goner in the offseason. It made no sense to sign Ben Gordon to such a lucrative contract with Rip Hamilton on the hook for four more seasons. But the deed is done, and the Pistons are stuck with the shooting guard logjam. While Rip struggled mightily with injuries and his shot this year, he's recently shown he's simply the best player on the team. He's the one Piston who seems to know how to win. He's fearless with an exceptionally high basketball IQ. Piston fans complain that the entire team must be catered to Rip's running-off-screens-style, but, if it's working, who cares? He doesn't hog the ball, and he's perhaps the best passer on the team. Why entertain the notion of trading this guy? Rip brings so much to the table that it would be foolish to think Joe D would get equal value in return.

Jonas Jerebko - Jerebko is proof that the rookie league should not account for much. He was the worst of the three rooks coming out of Vegas, but he's since proven he's far-and-away the best. He's started 50 games this year, no small feat for a 2nd rounder. All season, he crashed the offensive boards with Dennis Rodman-style abandon, and, as a Big Ben disciple, he's a committed defender. Recently, he's hit the 3-ball at a 41% clip, showing that more growth is on the horizon. Just a great find by Joe D.

Austin Daye - While he's hardly at the top of the pecking order, the smooth-shooting forward showed an offensive acumen not found often around these parts. He's a complete defensive liability, mostly due to his lack of strength and inexperience. With a few years of seasoning, Daye could average 18/game. He has NBA range and NBA smarts. Just needs time.

Stuck with the Pistons
Ben Gordon - I was first in line to praise this signing. I loved Gordon's ability to score at will. As a Bull, Gordon would put up 30 at the drop of a hat. Those days are long gone. We're 60 games into the season, and Gordon has yet to find his groove. The team can't trade him because nobody wants to pay his 4yr/$47million contract. So they're stuck with each other. For forever. It may not turn out to be so bad, as Gordon is a huge talent. Yet, with a better player like Rip Hamilton in his way, BG will find minutes hard to come by.

Charlie V - Fans in Toronto and Milwaukee are snickering. They knew that Joe D was foolish to spend so much on the poster child of inconsistency. With an array of post-up skills worthy of Adrian Dantley, Charlie V can score at will. Yet, he'll go days, weeks, months without turning it on. He began the season as a starter and has slowly worked his way down the bench. Jonas Jerebko and Jason Maxiell - both significantly less naturally talented - eat up his minutes because the team seems to instantly suck when Charlie V hits the court. Yet, the team is stuck with him. What other GM would possibly take on his 4yr/$30million contract? If he could somehow regain his footing in the rotation, Charlie V could be a valuable weapon off the bench. I simply don't see it happening.

Folks, those are your Detroit Pistons, at least for the foreseeable future. The team has $120million committed to that group (Hamilton, Daye, Gordon, Villanueva) over the next three seasons. Who's left?

Good but trade-able
Rodney Stuckey - With Rip out, Stuckey was the Piston's best player. He's improved quite a bit this year, especially on the defensive end. What he lacks, unfortunately, is the killer instinct near the hoop. He simply can't finish, and his shooting percentage attests to it (40.5% for the season). I do believe he's a talent, and, according to 82games.com, the Pistons suffer the most when he's off the court. Because of this talent and an agreeable contract, he's a trade-able commodity. The Pistons may benefit best by shipping Stuckey off for a big man. Stuckey was the only untouchable during Joe D's famous "sacred cows" speech, but,if Joe D can get some talent in return, he'd have to consider dealing the guard.

Jason Maxiell - The Pistons are on the hook for $15million over the next three years to Maxiell. With the way he's played lately, that's a fair contract. Maxiell adds value as 3rd big man. He's not a starter, but he can compete against the opposition's subs. He added a reliable mid-range jumper to his repetoire this year, and he's still relatively young (27). Due to the contract's 3-year commitment, my guess is that other teams will not want to deal for him. Yet, if they do, Dumars would have to listen. Maxiell is a decent talent who may yield something valuable in return. The Pistons have painfully few players that fit in that category.

Tayshaun Prince - His back injury signifantly downgraded his stock. Without that injury, he'd likely be playing for a contender right now. Durability was Prince's calling card. Not anymore. Yet, with the way he's been playing lately, GMs may forget about his 33 games on the IR. He averaged 14 points, 6 boards, and 4 assists in February. He was a key cog to the efficient starting five. Why is he not part of the Building Blocks? Because his salary expires in one year. Like Stuckey and Maxiell, Prince is the only other Piston to potentially entice another GM. The Pistons have so many holes to fill that they desperately need to consider all offers. If Prince sticks with the Pistons, I wouldn't mind, but I don't see it happening. Next year, barring another injury, his stock will rise since he's a decent player with an expiring contract. That could yield Joe D a first-rounder. And it would also open up minutes for Austin Daye.

Future Uncertain
Will Bynum - Just a few months ago, Bynum was the future Piston point guard. He made Stuckey expendable. Then Bynumite went out with a sprained ankle. Then he sprained his other ankle. Then he pulled a muscle. Then a black eye. The dude could not stay healthy. And he hasn't been the same since. To his credit, he's still a capable passer, but he's part of the Bench Brigade that loses leads, momentum, and fan interest. In November, the dude averaged 15 points, 5 assists, and was a hounding defender. In February, it plummeted to 6 points and 4 assists while shooting 40%. That's not going to earn him a major payday. If Bynum somehow turns it around in the remaining 20 games (like he did last year), Dumars will have one more reason to shop Stuckey. If not, Bynum may be looking at another one-year deal as a backup.

Please No Mas
Chris Wilcox - The bad news is that Wilcox is under contract next year. The good news is that he may opt out. I doubt he'll find a team willing to pay him $3million, but ya never know. He is a talented big man, but he's a dreadful fit in Detroit. For the season, the Pistons have been outscored by 158 points while Wilcox was on the court. Ouch.

Kwame - I didn't mind him as a starter. He was a capable defender. But, for whatever reason, Kuester did not like him. If he's not in Kuester's plans, he's not likely in Joe D's plans. He's also out of a contract, so he's gone.

The Suits
Kuester - Yes, he was saddled with injuries, so maybe he deserves another year. Yet, he does not seem to get the most out of his players, nor does he put them in a position to succeed. That's a tall task, I know. I would've thought he could find a role for Charlie V and Ben Gordon, but he's (and those players) failed. Kuester does deserve credit for rejuvenating Ben Wallace and unearthing Jerebko. Another year? Sure. But only if a better candidate isn't available.

Joe D - When he misses, he misses big. The Darko draft, the Chauncey trade, and the Gordon/Villanueva signings crippled this franchise. He brought them a championship in '04, but now they're in an even worse situation than when he started in '01. He deserves much of the blame. But is there anybody else out there that would do a better job? I doubt it. With the ownership in doubt, nothing is certain with these Pistons, but my guess is that he'll be back.

Conclusion
The commited salaries dictate most of the Pistons' future. Next year's roster may not look much different. If Joe D makes the least-possible moves, the rotation will look like this:

PG - Stuckey, Bynum
SG - Hamilton, Gordon
SF - Prince, Daye
PF - Jerebko, Maxiell (DRAFT PICK - Derrick Favors?)
C - Wallace, Villanueva

That roster's not going to excite many people. If they stay healthy, though, they may sneak into the playoffs. That's a big IF.

Now, if Joe D maximizes his moves, the roster would significantly change. In that scenario, Stuckey gets moved for a big man (say, David West). They might have to throw-in Jason Maxiell too. Then Prince is moved for a 1st rounder in 2011. The updated roster:

PG - Bynum
SG - Hamilton, Gordon
SF - Jerebko, Daye
PF - David West, (DRAFT PICK - Derrick Favors)
C - Wallace, Villanueva

I have to admit, that roster looks like the worst team in the league. Yet, most Piston fans would love a Prince-for-First-Rounder deal, and they'd also love a Stuckey/Maxiell for West swap. Be careful what you wish for...