PISTONS: Pistons Mailbag

Pistons.com editor Keith Langlois answers your questions about the Pistons and NBA. Click here to submit your questions - please include your name, email address and city/state on the form.

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THURSDAY, September 4, 2008

Tyler (Lima, Ohio): How different do you think the Pistons would be today had they re-signed Mehmet Okur after the 2004 championship? With a young big man in the middle, would that have changed Joe Dumars’ tactics in the 2004 draft?

Langlois: Let’s go back and recall the circumstances. Rasheed Wallace had been acquired in February 2004, was also set to become a free agent and was obviously a critical piece in winning the title. The Pistons did not have his Bird rights – he would have had to have been with the team for three seasons for that to happen. So the Pistons could not go over the salary cap to sign him. A since-closed loophole in the collective-bargaining agreement also prevented them from exceeding the cap to sign Okur. All they could offer him was the mid-level exception, and when Utah gave him an offer sheet that started above the MLE, the Pistons were effectively out of the running. (Golden State also lost Gilbert Arenas under the same circumstances that year.) So the Pistons had to choose between Wallace and Okur. As much as it pained them to lose Okur, that wasn’t a difficult choice. The Jazz had a starting role for him. If he’d stayed in Detroit – for considerably less money – he’d have come back and again been behind both Rasheed and Ben Wallace, at least. And Darko Milicic had just completed his rookie season and was still considered the key to the future. Remember, also, that the Pistons then went out and used their mid-level exception to sign Antonio McDyess, and that’s been a terrific investment when you consider some of the other mid-level deals handed out, like the one Memphis gave to Brian Cardinal or New York gave Jerome James. Okur, by the way, can opt out of his contract following the 2008-09 season and probably will, given that he’s due to make $9 million that year and most likely can get a new multiyear deal that starts at least at that figure and probably higher. As for Joe D’s 2004 draft strategy, there wasn’t much of one – he sent his first-rounder and one he had coming from Denver in the Rodney White deal away as partial payment in the Wallace trade.

Golden (Troy, Mich.): Do you think Rasheed Wallace will not only have a good season but a good playoffs?

Langlois: It would be beyond my capacity to predict what type of playoffs Wallace is going to have even if you asked me on the eve of the postseason, but I’ve heard good things about his level of conditioning over the summer and I expect – based on his attendance at Michael Curry’s introductory press conference in June – that he’s fully on board with the coaching change. So I expect him to get off to a good start to the season. After that, it will depend on his health and the development of the three young big men around him. He’ll be 35 when the season starts. I think the Pistons are going to want him to keep his minutes to a maximum of 30 on average, though he’ll undoubtedly play more on some nights.

Patrick (Oxford, Mich.): When a restricted free agent signs an offer sheet and then his team matches the offer, can he sign another offer sheet from a different team if they offer more money?

Langlois: No. When he signs an offer sheet, he’s agreeing to the terms of that contract – whether it winds up being with the team that makes the offer or his original team. He wouldn’t be any more free to sign another contract than any other player under contract would be.

Jose (Kalamazoo, Mich.): Do you think there could be a chance of Rasheed Wallace starting at power forward again?

Langlois: I think the debate about whether Wallace plays center or power forward is overblown. There just isn’t that much difference in the two positions any more. Antonio McDyess spent as much time guarding the opposition’s top post player last season as Wallace did. Joe Dumars told me in the Q&A that appeared on Pistons.com in late August that it wasn’t set in stone that Wallace and McDyess would be the starting interior tandem this season. If McDyess is coming off the bench this season, Wallace would be the nominal power forward if the starter becomes Kwame Brown, but he would be the nominal center if the starter is either Amir Johnson or Jason Maxiell. Michael Curry will make it a point of emphasis to get more post touches for Wallace this season, but let’s face it – his versatility as a 3-point shooter means he’s going to spend more time on the perimeter any other Pistons big man, too, while blends better with the skill set of Brown and Maxiell, for certain, and maybe for Johnson, too.

Donald (Howell, Mich.): Is Kwame Brown a 10 and eight guy if he gets 28 to 32 minutes? If so, could he start in place of McDyess? I read that Wallace really doesn’t like playing center. With McDyess, Maxiell, Stuckey and Afflalo off the bench, we might not need a trade that moves the team laterally.

Langlois: And don’t forget Amir Johnson. If the Pistons are serious about bringing McDyess off the bench again, I don’t think you should discount the possibility that it could be Johnson who gets a crack at being the starter opposite Wallace. I think their skill sets would be intriguing and compatible. As for Brown’s projected role and stats, hard to say. I don’t think he’ll get that many minutes. Probably more like 15 to 20. Brown could be a 10 and eight guy in the league – on a team where there weren’t five quality big men and as much perimeter firepower as the Pistons have with Billups, Hamilton, Stuckey and Prince. I don’t think he’ll get enough touches and minutes to put up those numbers with the Pistons, but you never know. The ball is in his court.

Monica (South Bend, Ind.): I hate it when people talk about Rasheed’s bad attitude, etc. His raw emotion is what draws me in as a fan. Are people aware that he is a very giving man in his personal life? Are people aware that his teammates are actually crazy about him? We are way better with him than without him.

Langlois: Most people would be surprised at the market that’s out there for Rasheed. Around the NBA, personnel executives understand there are very few big men who are assets to the degree he is at both ends of the floor. I think anyone paying much attention is aware that Wallace is extremely well-liked by teammates. We’ve written at length and frequently about the encouragement and advice he gives to younger teammates, both about the game and about how to conduct and protect yourself as a high-profile person of great public interest. His philanthropy is also well-known in NBA circles but less so in general because Wallace insists on conducting almost all of his charity efforts – time and money – anonymously.

Lee (Oklahoma City): I think Joe Dumars is going to end up coaching the Pistons. What do you think?

Langlois: No, no, no – a thousand times no. He’s said repeatedly and emphatically that he has never wanted anything to do with that side of the business. I see nothing to indicate he’s not being anything but completely sincere.

Stefon (Albion, Mich.): Do you think Rasheed Wallace will have seasons similar to the ones he had in Portland, given that this is the final year of his contract, and do you think he will retire or still want to play beyond this season?

Langlois: I wouldn’t make too many analogies to his days with Portland, Stefon. Not only has his game evolved, but so has the NBA game changed since he last played with Portland going on five years ago. My guess is that he’ll want to continue to play another few years, but I say that only because he’s still a very productive player who would generate considerable interest and be able to sign a seven-figure deal – and not many choose to walk away from that type of thing.

Robert (West Palm Beach, Fla.): Maintaining a level of play as if it’s the seventh game of the Finals for 48 minutes a night seems to be the biggest challenge for this team. Will Michael Curry pull players and fine them if they don’t?

Langlois: He’s been pretty up front about that. At his introductory press conference, he said the way to get a motivated team was to sit players who weren’t motivated. He’s said in various ways that players like Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson and Rodney Stuckey would have more prominent roles. He and Joe Dumars have talked about having five big men who can play and intending to use them all. That said, Curry is a realist. There’s a happy medium between playing with the wild-eyed intensity of a Game 7 and not mailing games in during the dog days. He’s going to ask for focus and effort on a consistent basis, but he knows there are physical, emotional and mental limits to the demands he can impose over a season he hopes stretches to nine months.

Josh (Hsinchu, Taiwan): How is it possible for reserves like Afflalo or Herrmann to have any rhythm to their game if they come in for only 10 or 15 minutes sporadically throughout a game?

Langlois: Welcome to the life of a role player, Josh. Nobody ever said it was easy, which is why the good ones are so coveted. It’s why, 20 years after the fact, the Pistons are still looking for someone who can score consistently and, often, furiously the way Vinnie Johnson once did. Until a young player like Afflalo or Amir Johnson or Jason Maxiell can establish himself into a more set role, they have to produce in spurts and usually do so by finding one or two things they can do every night that doesn’t require a shooter’s rhythm – like hustle, play defense, rebound, execute flawlessly, etc.

Yahya (Highland Park, Mich.): If the Pistons did have an opportunity to acquire Tracy McGrady from the Rockets, did Joe Dumars make a strong push to get him?

Langlois: Nobody holds press conferences to talk about trades that didn’t happen, Yahya, so it’s not very likely it will ever be public knowledge how seriously the two sides were. But you can bet from the fact that McGrady did publicly acknowledge that he wouldn’t object to being traded to the Pistons that his agent was aware the two teams had some level of discussion and that he was fine with the prospect of being dealt – which is pretty unusual in itself for a player of his stature.

Jason (Holland, Mich.): There is a lot of talk about getting rid of Tayshaun Prince. What many people don’t realize is his importance to the team – he guards the other team’s best player, scores, rebounds and picks up assists. He is the most well-rounded player on the team and in my opinion the most important. What do you think?

Langlois: You can make strong cases for any of four players being most important to the Pistons – and you could even make the case that Rodney Stuckey, because of his youth and potential, could be the most highly coveted asset of them all. But don’t misunderstand trade talk, Jason, with a lack of appreciation for Prince. When Joe Dumars said he would be open to talking trade for any of his veterans, he also said he expected teams to come to him discussing trades for their best players – All-Star-caliber players. The fact Prince is still Pistons property means Dumars wasn’t going to let him go for anything less, which further tells you Dumars values him just as highly as you do.

Richard (Howell, Mich.): Are any of the games going to be on MyTV-20 this year or will they all be on Fox Sports Detroit?

Langlois: All locally televised Pistons games this season will be on Fox Sports Detroit. While the Pistons had a great relationship with MyTV-20 and Channel 4, there’s a lot to be said for the certainty of having all local games at one familiar spot on the dial. You can find the complete TV schedule for the 2008-09 season here, Richard.

Jeremy (Kelowna, British Columbia): Should Jamaal Magloire start for the Miami Heat? And who do you think will be the likely starter if Antonio McDyess returns to the bench? I think Jason Maxiell would be the best candidate and on nights when he would be overmatched, start Kwame Brown at center and move Wallace to power forward.

Langlois: If Magloire does start, that speaks volumes about Miami’s situation. He’s been remarkably unproductive the past three seasons, not getting off the bench for a New Jersey team starved for frontcourt contributions and doing nothing after being packaged to Dallas in the Jason Kidd trade. But he very well could start – the Heat’s option is Mark Blount. As for who starts if McDyess returns to the bench, as I suspect will happen based on Joe Dumars’ comments in the Q&A we did last month when he said it wasn’t set in stone that Wallace and McDyess would be the starters, don’t look past Amir Johnson. Michael Curry is aware that Jason Maxiell wears down when he overextends himself and I think they’re going to use Kwame Brown more situationally against other big men. Put those two things together and remember how enthusiastically Curry has spoken of Johnson, both before and after his Las Vegas Summer League showing, and it makes sense that Johnson would get a shot. But I think all three of them will be given a shot with the first unit in camp and throughout the preseason.

Paul (Essexville, Mich.): I’ve heard good things about Michael Curry, but I wonder how he’ll react as an X-and-O coach in crunch time or during the playoffs.

Langlois: When I asked Joe Dumars over the summer whether Curry’s absence of any head coaching experience was a concern, he scoffed and said, “Yeah, he hasn’t done this yet” – Dumars tapped his shoulders to give the signal for a 20-second timeout – “but he’ll figure out when to do that real quick.” In other words, while Dumars isn’t discounting the value of in-game adjustments, he’s both supremely certain that Curry is a quick study and up to the task and confident that he’s far enough ahead of the curve in other aspects of the job that the Pistons will comfortably live with whatever growing pains he encounters on game nights.

MONDAY, September 1, 2008

Erges (Tirana, Albania): What does it mean when a team renounces a player? I know people have been curious about Amir's height, but I'm curious about Cheikh's. One of the Pistons assistants said Cheikh was longer than he expected.

Langlois: By renouncing a player, a team gives up its right to use the Larry Bird, Early Bird, or Non-Bird exceptions to re-sign that player. Basically, teams renounce players to create more cap space. Philadelphia renounced a laundry list of players to create cap space to sign Elton Brand. Even though the renounced players were not under contract, they still occupied cap space. As for Samb, we've said 7-foot-1. But he does look longer than some other 7-foot-1 guys, especially when he extends his arms.

Bryan (Remus, Mich.): I don't get why there's all this fuss about getting Ben Wallace back. He is an undersized center and was overpaid. He was great, but he's no longer explosive on the defensive end. Maxiell is almost putting up the numbers Ben was at his age. Is it possible Maxiell can be a future Ben?

Langlois: I think Maxiell will be a valuable piece of the rotation for many years to come, but it would be a stretch to expect him to ever have the type of impact Big Ben had. If there's a next step for Maxiell, it will be to become the kind of player who can assume starter's minutes, 30 to 35 a night. The trouble for him, as Flip Saunders often noted, is that he has to play so hard to be effective that he wears down. When Maxiell loses his explosiveness, his numbers drop dramatically. He needs to stay fresh to be effective. So he has to prove he can play more than 20 minutes a night. But if that's all you can get from him - 20 minutes of mayhem - that still makes him a coveted asset.

Kobina (Baton Rouge, La.): Shaq, never the workout enthusiast, will be one year older and slower. Nash, though still good, is aging and might already be on the downside. If Phoenix looks like it won't have the right stuff, what are the chances we could get Amare Stoudemire for Rasheed Wallace? Their contracts match and it would give the Suns money to chase the talent-rich free agent class of 2010.

Langlois: I could have seen that happening if the Suns hadn't traded Shawn Marion for Shaq. I think it's less likely now. There were many indications that Stoudemire was ready to move on, but now he's talking enthusiastically about playing for ex-Pistons assistant Terry Porter. If the season goes bad in Phoenix, they might be inclined to do something bold around the trade deadline. But it would seem to me that if the Suns are trying to set themselves up for the summer of 2010, they'd want to hang on to Stoudemire to players like LeBron and Wade would be intrigued about playing there. Remember, the big contracts of Shaq and Nash will be off the books by then, so they shouldn't have to move Stoudemire.

John (Houston): What is the probability for Detroit and Houston to face off in the NBA Finals? If everyone stays healthy and Artest behaves himself, they both have a great mix of talented veterans and young players.

Langlois: Houston is very intriguing, John, but you do bring up a few red flags. Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady both have daunting medical histories and Artest makes Dennis Rodman seem low maintenance. I'll give you one more question mark with Houston - point guard.

Adeel (Plymouth, Mich.): I understand the difference between an unrestricted free agent and a restricted free agent. But if an unrestricted free agent's current team matches the offer of another team, will he have to go back to his current team or does he have a choice?

Langlois: There is no right to match with an unrestricted free agent, which is what makes him "unrestricted" in the first place. Once he hits the market, he can sign with anyone he wants.

Muris (New York): Why not go out and sign Patrick Mills of Australia. He looks to me kind of like Rodney Stuckey only faster.

Langlois: Can't sign him. Mills, who just turned 20 and presumably will return to St. Mary's, in California, for his sophomore season, must go through the draft process to get to the NBA. It's possible a good sophomore season will encourage him to test the waters next June.

Riley (Evart, Mich.): I've been hearing that the signing of Kwame Brown is a bad move, but I think he's a missing piece and one more of Joe Dumars' signings that will go down as one of the greatest in Detroit basketball history. What do you think?

Langlois: I'll hold off on calling it one of the greatest in history just yet, but it was pretty close to a no-lose proposition for the Pistons. To not only get Brown to sign for significantly less than the starting point for a mid-level exception contract but also to have him agree to just a two-year deal, meaning it has no long-range implications on the Pistons' salary structure and won't affect their ability to make trades or use the MLE again next summer made it an easy decision. If Brown shows enough to become a rotation staple, chances are he's going to want to exercise his option to stay next year and stake his future with the Pistons.

Tyler (Port Huron, Mich.): Will Arron Afflalo be in the lineup this year?

Langlois: If you mean starting lineup, no. If you mean rotation, you bet. He'll be first in line behind Rip Hamilton at shooting guard. I would expect Afflalo to get a consistent 15 to 20 minutes a night next season, Tyler. Michael Curry absolutely loves Afflalo.

Don (Coldwater, Mich.): I've heard bickering about Rasheed Wallace being a "cancer" to the Pistons with his temper getting him technical fouls and costing them crucial games. Do you see any validity to that and do you think trading him would be a good thing for the team?

Langlois: "Cancer" would be grossly inaccurate. There are times he lets his emotions sweep him away and, because he has such a dominant personality, that inarguably affects the team. I think Michael Curry is going to help mitigate that effect, though. Trading him would only help the team if you can somebody back who can provide at least some of the things he offers. And that's not very likely unless it's part of a bigger package, which is very unlikely to happen at this point.

Peter (Warren, Mich.): I really want the scoop on any possible deals Joe Dumars might be working on. The fans have been itching for a monstrous deal to be struck.

Langlois: Check out the Q&A I did recently with Joe D, Peter. No big deal is very likely.

Mitchell (Bettendorf, Iowa): I just wanted to comment on the recent "Steering Clear" article you wrote on True Blue Pistons. I think you are absolutely right. Ignore the fact I love everyone on the current roster - Joe D has done an excellent job of keeping us away from bad long-term contracts and I see no reason to give anyone the kind of money Posey or Pietrus received to be a backup to a much better player in Prince. The only trade I would have been behind is for a big guy, but the signing of Kwame Brown took care of that.

Langlois: The contracts you don't sign, Mitchell, are just as important as the ones you do. There were probably 15 teams in the league this year that couldn't consider signing a player who would have been a great fit because it would have meant tax consequences, meaning a dollar-for-dollar penalty to the league so that a $5 million player, in essence, becomes a $10 million player. The Pistons, thanks to the trade that got Nazr Mohammed's contract off the books, didn't face that situation. And in Kwame Brown, 26, they got someone who could blossom into a better player than Mohammed at a fraction of the cost.

Donald (Howell, Mich.): I've been trying to figure out why general managers are leery of making trades with the Pistons. Do you think it might be because of the success Joe Dumars has had in resurrecting players that have had problems? Are other GMs wary of making a trade because it might make them look bad?

Langlois: There could be an element of that for some among them, Donald. There are some GMs who are reluctant to make anything approaching a significant trade because there is an inherent risk involved - and if the trade backfires, it could lead to their firing. Some GMs develop such a track record for success that others among their peers, less sure of themselves, think they must be making a mistake - if that other guy thinks it's a good deal for his side, then it must be a bad deal for me. But I don't think that played a role in this summer's inactivity. I think they were merely trying to get good players from the Pistons in return for less than market value.

Christian (Carrollton, Mich.): I was wondering when the Pistons' open practice would be? I want to make sure I take that day off from work.

Langlois: Nothing official yet, Christian, but you might want to keep flexible on Oct. 2.

Steve (Caledonia, Mich.): I was heartbroken when the Pistons lost to the Celtics. I have a lack of optimism for their success this season. Do you feel that this year will be as successful as the last few years?

Langlois: Given the benefit of good health, Steve, I think these Pistons will again challenge for best record in the East and be a formidable playoff team. I see plenty of potential for a team better positioned for playoff success because there is still so much room for growth among players like Rodney Stuckey, Amir Johnson and Arron Afflalo. I also think Michael Curry's emphasis on defense and getting into the paint will gradually forge a mind-set that serves the Pistons well in the muck and grind of the postseason.

Josh (Hsinchu, Taiwan): ESPN recently posted its predictions for the coming season in which it said Boston would finish the regular season atop the East again with the Pistons only slightly edging out Cleveland for second place. Even if you disagree with this statement, as I do, you must admit that all doors to the championship seem to go through Boston. How does Detroit plan to beat the Celtics next year?

Langlois: I can just imagine how Joe Dumars might answer that question. Probably something like, yes, Boston deserves to be considered the front-runner going into the season, but there are no doors to a championship. Everybody starts from the same point and it's up to your team to get to the finish line before the other guys. The Pistons just need to do a better job of taking care of their business this year. There's nothing they can do about Boston until they're lining up on the same court with the Celtics, and when that happens, we'll see. From my perspective, I have some real doubts that Boston is going to come back with the same hunger it had a year ago when its three stars were all focused on proving wrong the critics who had panned their careers for lack of postseason success and doubting whether they could co-exist.

Bruce (Windsor, Ontario): Is there still a chance to land Josh Smith? A player of his energy and shot-blocking ability would fit well with the rest of the Pistons young players.

Langlois: Smith cannot be traded until at least Dec. 15 of this season after signing with Memphis as a restricted free agent and then having Atlanta match the offer to retain him. It would not be a surprise if Atlanta shopped Smith next summer to see what it could get in return for him. The Hawks might ultimately decide they need to get bigger and move Smith to switch Al Horford over to his more natural power forward position.