Allen Iverson is a team player...

[crownsy]

if they would have kept billups they would be a 4 seed right now....

but they wouldnt have the cap space there about to get.

This was a $$ move to get an expiring contract and still make the playoffs.

Sheed and AI are done in detroit after this year, and Detroit will look to reload with that cap space.

[KungPoweChicken]

Being in an Iverson situation in high school, I can easily understand his frustrations. In Iverson's head, he's still the best player in the NBA. Who are we to say he's not? He was still an all-star this year, and he's tallied the second most career points among active players. Also, we cannot forget that he was once a MVP and carried a hapless Philadelphia team to the finals. These are not achievements that can be knocked over with a pebble. Yes, I understand that Iverson's game has fell off a little since his glory days. However, it's easy to sit back and tell Iverson to accept his role because "he's old" and it will "benefit the team." When push comes to shove, we all know Iverson is still the best individual player on the Pistons. The Pistons have chemistry problems. However, it is the coach's job to incorporate Iverson into the offensive plans more than eighteen minutes a game. Iverson can help that team win. The Pistons and Iverson need to reach a happy medium. We all know that no competitor is going to be happy with eighteen minutes a game. Especially when that competitor is one of the best scorers in the business.

[Lucky17]

if they would have kept billups they would be a 4 seed right now....

but they wouldnt have the cap space there about to get.

This was a $$ move to get an expiring contract and still make the playoffs.

Sheed and AI are done in detroit after this year, and Detroit will look to reload with that cap space.

QFT.

Detroit can use its significant cap space to land a FA or take back a big-salary player this offseason.

I imagine they will look to add Boozer or Bosh or a similarly offensively skilled big man to the returning starters (Stuckey, Rip, Tayshaun, and a resigned McDyess).

[the_Bird]

All that cap space, and what will they do with it?  Sign a player who's not as good as Billups?

[KungPoweChicken]

if they would have kept billups they would be a 4 seed right now....

but they wouldnt have the cap space there about to get.

This was a $$ move to get an expiring contract and still make the playoffs.

Sheed and AI are done in detroit after this year, and Detroit will look to reload with that cap space.

QFT.

Detroit can use its significant cap space to land a FA or take back a big-salary player this offseason.

I imagine they will look to add Boozer or Bosh or a similarly offensively skilled big man to the returning starters (Stuckey, Rip, Tayshaun, and a resigned McDyess).

Wallace and Billiups for an injury prone Boozer sounds like a big loss for Detroit.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

All that cap space, and what will they do with it?  Sign a player who's not as good as Billups?

We don't need to go into another summer of 09/summer of 10 discussion do we? These next couple offseasons are CRUCIAL for the league (if they get their labor issues out of the way, which is a MAJOR if). Billups is a good PG, but people have won titles without him before, and he is by no means a guaranteed championship. Take a look at the Denver Thuggets... They look to me like a possible 2nd round exit. The Pistons with Billups weren't getting past Cleveland or Boston and most likely Orlando, as they were getting older. The AI deal was not a deal to win now. It was a deal to create the space to sign any one of a number of very good free agent players in the coming summers.

[Lucky17]

if they would have kept billups they would be a 4 seed right now....

but they wouldnt have the cap space there about to get.

This was a $$ move to get an expiring contract and still make the playoffs.

Sheed and AI are done in detroit after this year, and Detroit will look to reload with that cap space.

QFT.

Detroit can use its significant cap space to land a FA or take back a big-salary player this offseason.

I imagine they will look to add Boozer or Bosh or a similarly offensively skilled big man to the returning starters (Stuckey, Rip, Tayshaun, and a resigned McDyess).

Wallace and Billiups for an injury prone Boozer sounds like a big loss for Detroit.

But, you're on board with Bosh, right?

I imagine Stoudemire might be in their sights as well.

[indeedproceed]

if they would have kept billups they would be a 4 seed right now....

but they wouldnt have the cap space there about to get.

This was a $$ move to get an expiring contract and still make the playoffs.

Sheed and AI are done in detroit after this year, and Detroit will look to reload with that cap space.

QFT.

Detroit can use its significant cap space to land a FA or take back a big-salary player this offseason.

I imagine they will look to add Boozer or Bosh or a similarly offensively skilled big man to the returning starters (Stuckey, Rip, Tayshaun, and a resigned McDyess).

Wallace and Billiups for an injury prone Boozer sounds like a big loss for Detroit.

But, you're on board with Bosh, right?

I think Bosh is really their guy.

[crownsy]

All that cap space, and what will they do with it?  Sign a player who's not as good as Billups?

stucky is their PG of the future, and billups is getting on in years. also, where would billups play with stucky and rip?

they are going after a big man to replace the woefully inconsistant wallace.

stucky
rip
prince
TBA (bosh? boozer?)
mcdyess

is what they are looking to build.

[Edgar]

All that cap space, and what will they do with it?  Sign a player who's not as good as Billups?

stucky is their PG of the future, and billups is getting on in years. also, where would billups play with stucky and rip?

they are going after a big man to replace the woefully inconsistant wallace.

stucky
rip
prince
TBA (bosh? boozer?)
mcdyess

is what they are looking to build.

if they get boozer and not bosh
they will be extremely small, bozzie leaves his best years behing
and MCdyess is more and more becoming the next Zo. age is getting him
hes not a startng center anymore
Stucky is overrated and Rip needs a past first PG.
Detroit with that team is a 50% Team tops.

[the_Bird]

There's a ton of talent available in 2010, but a ton of teams looking to acquire it.   

With all the teams gearing up for Wade, LeBron, and Bosh, why would any of those guys commit to spending the next five years of their lives in DETROIT, of all places?

Mark my words, Detroit ends up with sloppy seconds.

[crownsy]

All that cap space, and what will they do with it?  Sign a player who's not as good as Billups?

stucky is their PG of the future, and billups is getting on in years. also, where would billups play with stucky and rip?

they are going after a big man to replace the woefully inconsistant wallace.

stucky
rip
prince
TBA (bosh? boozer?)
mcdyess

is what they are looking to build.

if they get boozer and not bosh
they will be extremely small, bozzie leaves his best years behing
and MCdyess is more and more becoming the next Zo. age is getting him
hes not a startng center anymore
Stucky is overrated and Rip needs a past first PG.
Detroit with that team is a 50% Team tops.

well they have to do something, because they werent going anywhere with

billups
rip
prince
wallce
whoever

and the only player in that group you can move is billups. no ones trading a large contract for rip or prince.

i applaud them for trying something other than being the second tier team in the EC for the next 3 years until wallace, billups and rip are all voer the hill.

if they get bosh, and they will be a tempting destination for him with thier core, then its a great move IMO.

if not, who's to say they dont wait a year and save thier cap space for 2010?

[Edgar]

All that cap space, and what will they do with it?  Sign a player who's not as good as Billups?

stucky is their PG of the future, and billups is getting on in years. also, where would billups play with stucky and rip?

they are going after a big man to replace the woefully inconsistant wallace.

stucky
rip
prince
TBA (bosh? boozer?)
mcdyess

is what they are looking to build.

if they get boozer and not bosh
they will be extremely small, bozzie leaves his best years behing
and MCdyess is more and more becoming the next Zo. age is getting him
hes not a startng center anymore
Stucky is overrated and Rip needs a past first PG.
Detroit with that team is a 50% Team tops.

well they have to do something, because they werent going anywhere with

billups
rip
prince
wallce
whoever

and the only player in that group you can move is billups. no ones trading a large contract for rip or prince.

i applaud them for trying something other than being the second tier team in the EC for the next 3 years until wallace, billups and rip are all voer the hill.

if they get bosh, and they will be a tempting destination for him with thier core, then its a great move IMO.

if not, who's to say they dont wait a year and save thier cap space for 2010?

that last one makes more sense to me.
They will have a big need for growing in size

a BIG one.

[Lucky17]

There's a ton of talent available in 2010, but a ton of teams looking to acquire it.   

With all the teams gearing up for Wade, LeBron, and Bosh, why would any of those guys commit to spending the next five years of their lives in DETROIT, of all places?

Mark my words, Detroit ends up with sloppy seconds.

You forget the option of using cap space to trade for a big name player.

I would expect either Bosh or Amare to be the subject of Detroit trade rumors this offseason. Pistons can offer Phoenix a ton of financial relief. I wonder if a package of young promising players (Amir Johnson, Afflalo, Sharpe) and picks might be enough, depending on how desperate Sarver is to trim payroll.

With the economy as bad as it is, teams that have the rare ability to provide a trade partner with payroll relief will be dominating trade rumors this offseason. Detroit is the only such team that is one major player away from returning to contender status.

[moiso]

I'd like this team's future a lot more if Stuckey showed some improvement this year.  Subracting Wallace would help too.  There are times that Wallace makes POB seem like a highly motivated player in comparison.