![]() |
The 11th pick in this years draft belongs to the
Detroit Pistons. The Pistons select: Michael Dickerson, SG,
6-5, Arizona. Submitted: Russell Pahl. |
I. 1998 Team ReviewThe 1998 campaign was litterlly a disasterous year which ultimatley culminated with the firing of Doug Collins on February 2nd. On April 28, 1998, The Detroit Pistons took the interim from Alvin Gentry's coaching role. Detroit went 16-21 under Gentry, including victories over playoff teams Chicago, Indiana, Miami, San Antonio and Atlanta. This will be Gentry's second opportunity. Three years ago, Gentry finished out the season as Miami's coach after the Heat fired Kevin Loughery. He guided the Heat to a 15-21 record over the final 36 games of the 1994-95 season, but was not offered the permanent job at the end of the season. He then joined the Pistons as an assistant coach for the 1995-96 season. Joe Dumars, the only remaining member of the Detroit Pistons championship teams of 1989 and 1990, announced Friday he will return to the team for one more season before retiring. Dumars, a six-time All Star, is averaging 13.3 points a game. He got off to a slow start this season, hampered with hamstring and shoulder injuries. Since Dec. 28, he is averaging 15.2 points in 51 games. Dumars has 15,959 career points, second only on the Pistons' career list to Thomas with 18,822. |
II. Draft StrategyUnder the Pistons' two-year plan to become a playoff contender, keeping the No. 11 pick in the June draft might not be their best move. Grant Hill has two years left on his contract before he can opt out. Brian Williams can opt out in two seasons. Coach Alvin Gentry has a two-year deal with an option for a third. "If something would've happened and we would've been 1, 2 or 3, we would've been ecstatic, but when I saw the way the probability factor worked, I knew we had no chance," Gentry said Sunday at the NBA draft lottery. "I think it's a deep-enough draft that if we decide we're going to keep this pick, I think it's going to be someone who can help our team." But a free-agent center or power forward would help more. That's what Gentry and Rick Sund, vice president of basketball operations, must decide before the June 24 draft. The Pistons have the option of sending the pick to Atlanta as compensation for getting Grant Long and Stacey Augmon two years ago. Or, they could convey the pick to Philadelphia as compensation in last season's Theo Ratliff-Aaron McKie trade for Jerry Stackhouse and Eric Montross. The Los Angeles Clippers landed the first pick because Vancouver and Toronto, under the terms of their joining the league, were ineligible to win the first pick until next season. Vancouver's combination of Ping-Pong balls actually came up first and third, but the Grizzlies were awarded the No. 2 pick and Denver the third. Elgin Baylor, the Clippers' vice president of basketball operations, said: "I knew this was in the bag. Prayers are stronger than a rabbit's foot. We have our eyes on somebody, so at least by drafting No. 1 we know that player will be there. I'm not saying who it is." "Screen-and-roll is our strong suit, and we have to have a guy who can roll out and shoot the ball, especially when you have Grant Hill handling the ball," Gentry said. "If we can't do it in the draft, then we have some flexibility under the salary cap." |
III. PlayersPoint Guard
Shooting Guard
Small Forward
Power Forward
Center
|
II. My SelectionMichael Dickerson SG from
Arizona |
III. Other players Considered.Michael Doleac
C from Utah |
IV. Who the team will probably takeThe heavyweights are Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter of North Carolina, Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce of Kansas, Mike Bibby of Arizona, and Robert Traylor of Michigan. The Pistons likely will choose from a group that includes Bonzi Wells, a high-scoring swingman from Ball State; center Nazr Mohammed of Kentucky; Notre Dame forward-center Pat Garrity; Mississippi forward Ansu Sesay; Jason Williams, a point guard from Florida; and high schoolers Korleone Young, Al Harrington and Rashard Lewis. "We'll bring in some people who we think will go anywhere from nine to 14," Gentry said. "There's a possibility some things could happen. We could move up or down. All of those things are possible." Gentry said the Pistons' needs center around a frontcourt player who can score and a guard who can play either position. They might look to trade up. Robert Traylor, who has been working out every day in Highland Park and supposedly is down close to 290 pounds, is expected to be among the top eight players drafted. He is still limited offensively, but with his size and athleticism, he would be an intriguing pick. |
V. Other offseason moves/Free AgentsThe Pistons will listen to offers for Brian Williams this summer. As Sund has said many times, Hill and Dumars are the only untouchable players on the team. The Pistons aren't shopping Williams. Granted, if somebody makes a great offer, say the Wizards offered Juwan Howard, the Pistons would listen. But their goal seems to be to add a productive frontcourt player to enhance Williams, not just unload him. They are long past the addition-by-subtraction stage. Also, the Pistons probably will offer Jerome Williams a contract extension. He can be a free agent after next season, and teams such as San Antonio and Charlotte have hinted they would love to have a player with his energy and ability. If the Pistons don't extend his contract, they might as well try to trade him. They need only recall Theo Ratliff to remember how unproductive a lame-duck Piston can be. As for other free agents, Malik Sealy is gone. The Pistons will renounce him. Steve Henson also will be renounced, although the Pistons might invite him onto their summer and training-camp rosters. The Pistons hold an option on Charles O'Bannon. They most likely will bring him back. |
VI. Salary Cap.Dumars caught some upper management types by surprise last week when he announced, with Davidson's and the rest of the team's blessing, that he would return for his 14th season. Expecting Dumars to retire, the Pistons were figuring to have maybe as much as $10 million to $12 million to spend on free agents, not including their own, this summer. Now that he's coming back, take away another $4.5 million. That's what he'll count against the cap initially. He probably will sign for less, maybe between $3 million and $4 million, but until he signs he goes on the cap at 150 percent of his current salary ($3 million). The Pistons still can do some serious shopping this summer, but they were hoping to add a premier free agent -- say a Tom Gugliotta -- and another Tier II guy. They probably can't do that now. They will look to get maybe two less expensive pieces or one premier piece. They are looking for a tough, physical frontcourt player -- a center or power forward -- and a proven perimeter scorer. Some of the names to be considered include Gugliotta, Jason Caffey, Matt Geiger, Gary Trent, LaPhonso Ellis, Matt Bullard, Del Curry and George McCloud. Also, with Dumars coming back, the Pistons will get more serious about signing Jerry Stackhouse. They retain his Larry Bird exception rights, so they can go over the cap to sign him. Stackhouse wants to stay here. He and Dumars have developed a strong bond on the court and he knows the shooting-guard spot will be his after next season, when Dumars retires. Under Dumars' influence, Stackhouse has improved his overall game immeasurably. He is 23 years old, hungry to learn and, most surprisingly, has shown a mean, competitive streak. He takes losing hard and backs down from nobody, not even Michael Jordan. The Pistons need to keep him. Problem is, some lesser, more desperate team, say the Clippers or the Warriors, might throw stupid money at him. The Pistons won't pay Stackhouse $10 million a year. How can you justify paying Stackhouse more money than Hill and Dumars combined? But if another team offers him that much, he's gone. Another consequence of Dumars' return: The Pistons might pick up the $2.977-million option on Grant Long. He's already on the cap and, if the Pistons choose to go after one premier free agent, they'll keep him. He can provide a lot of the frontcourt toughness the Pistons need. Keep in mind, though, that all the rules might change. The NBA and the players association are negotiating in an attempt to revamp the collective bargaining agreement. |
Craig Simpson - Usenet Draft Commissioner |