Pistons Sign Two Free Agents to Big Contracts

5 years. $90 million total. For two players. Would you rather have Emeka Okafor and Gerald Wallace for the next four years at $23.75 million per year, or Ben Wallace and Charlie Villanueva for the next five years at roughly $18 million per year?

over 2 years ago David A. Arnott 20 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Okafor and Crash by a mile

I’m not sure what Detroit is thinking. They gave up Chauncey to get cap space and then use it on Ben Gordon? That doesn’t seem like improvement to me. Now they have three guards (BG, Rip and Stuckey) that think they should start, but none of them is half the PG that Billups is.

Villanueva is a decent fit with Maxiel as the other PF, but he’s still a below average starter. He doesn’t make up for losing McDyess and Rasheed. The Pistons have quickly dropped from defensive greatness to a potentially horrendous defenive team. I also see serious chemistry issues with the Pistons as they’re composed now. There’s probably a trade in their future, but I don’t see this team returning to the playoffs next season. Great news for the Bobcats!

by ClipCat on Jul 1, 2009 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

I assumed you meant Ben “Gordon” and Charlie V. in the original post.

by ClipCat on Jul 1, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Villanueva put up great numbers in limited PT last year.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him go 17-8 or so if he gets starter’s minutes. He’ll certainly give them more than Sheed did.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 2, 2009 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Great Numbers?

Villanueva’s personal stats benefitted greatly while Bogut and Redd missed most of the season. The fact that he played “limited minutes” on a team with so few options should be a red flag itself. Villanueva scored more because RJ was the only dependable scorer on the Bucks last season. Unfortunately his FG% dipped below his career average of 45%, poor efficency from a power forward. With Bogut hurt, the Bucks relied on him to be their leading rebounder, but he still only averaged 6.7 per game. And most importantly, he’s a terrible defender.

The Pistons will miss McDyess’s unselfish, blue collar game. They might get by with Villanueva at PF as the Bobcats do with Diaw if they had a defensive and rebounding standout like Okafor. But the Pistons won’t even have a center once Sheed leaves. As currently composed, this team will be the worst rebounding team in the league and a wreck on defense. I think they’ll compete with the likes of Indiana, Milwaukee and New Jersey for the Eastern Conference basement.

by ClipCat on Jul 2, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t see how this isn’t a playoff team. I think the Pistons are miles better than the Bobcats at this point.

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on Jul 2, 2009 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 2, 2009 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Ben Gordon?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 2, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Great Moves By the Pistons

With this starting lineup, how can they not be a playoff team?

Stuckey
Gordon
Prince
Charlie V
Kaman/Boozer(Theres no way they dont trade Rip for a C)

All this does is make the Bobcats road to the playoffs that much tougher

by Civardi on Jul 2, 2009 8:01 AM EDT reply actions

Speculation?

Well I don’t see Kaman or Boozer coming to the Pistions for Rip. The Clips just traded away Z-Bo, leaving their front court a lot less clogged. If you want to trust the sole center position to 40 year old Marcus Camby then you’d have to be stupid (Maybe the Clips will go for it then eh?).

Boozer isn’t a center and considering they just signed Charlie V, Boozer probably doesn’t want to play there.

Looks like they will try to trade Rip for somebody though.

I’d just as soon have Okafor and G. Wallace on my team.

by and1droid on Jul 2, 2009 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

Camby's only actually 35...

And he’s actually averaged over 70 games in the last three years. He’ll hold up fine.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 2, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope Camby does hold up

But there’s no way the Clippers are trading Kaman for Rip. They already have Eric Gordon at the 2, and Kaman is going to get another chance to prove he’s the long term solution at center. Camby will likely retire or sign elsewhere next year.

by ClipCat on Jul 2, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

The trade idea is terrible...

Was just making the point he’s kind of knocked off that injury-risk label in the last little bit.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 2, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

And you're completely right about Camby

He’s about as reliable as a 35 year old center can be, and he hasn’t really slowed down much. Kaman is one of my faves, and I get touchy with all the supposed Kaman trades. He is an enigma at times, and half the Clipper fans would like to run him out of town. He isn’t going anywhere though.

by ClipCat on Jul 3, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Gordon & Villanueva

Its time to let Chokafor hit the door and get a real center(I dont know why Nazr doesnt see any PT, hes the closest thing to a true center this team has if Ajinca doesnt pan out). Its frustrating watching him get bullied around all the time and end up in foul trouble before the 1st quarter even ends. Gordon is a better shooter than Wallace who really is one dimensional on offense and at his age his body should not be showing signs of wearing down.

by D.W.G. on Jul 2, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Can you explain “Chokafor” or is that the only negative nickname people can come up with?

Also I’d like to admit that I didn’t read anything you wrote after saying that Ajinca is a true center if he pans out.

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on Jul 2, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

That is alot of money for players that arent stars

by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 2, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

Nazr Mohammed is a joke of a center. I would much much much rather play small ball than throw him out there. Hell, even Diop is better than him and that is not saying much. It’s not like Mohammed is a young man, waiting to get his chance, he’s bounced around the league, NO ONE wants him and that horrendous contract.

He’s slow, doesn’t have a ton of low post moves. Not much to like about him other than he’s in a “true” center’s body. Okafor does a very good job defending though, so it’s not like we need a big body to clog the middle.

by artiscursive on Jul 3, 2009 7:45 AM EDT reply actions

sarcasm

I was being sarcastic when I said Camby is 40. Few players make it that far. 35 is old in the NBA. Camby missed like 20 games last season. It’s perfectly reasonable to expect that a team doesn’t want Camby as their primary center. He’s more suited to coming off the bench at his age.

by and1droid on Jul 3, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

Shaq is 37.

Did the Cavs just bring him in to be a backup?

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 4, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Shaq?

Shaq is Shaq. He doesn’t compare to the vast majority of the NBA. Having said that, even his numbers are significantly down as he ages. Apples and Oranges my friend

by and1droid on Jul 5, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions