Mikey D

I love the hire.

From all that I've heard and read, Curry is "an extension of Joe Dumars". I cannot think of a higher compliment you could give a new coach in Detroit, and that is exactly the type of man I want leading the P's.

One of the things I'm happiest about is that the Pistons hired from within. They aren't bringing in an outsider that isn't familiar with the Pistons and how they operate. Curry used to play with Joe D and the Pistons back in the early 90s, and he played with some of these current players just a few years ago. Bottom line: he knows what Pistons basketball is about and he knows the personnel he's dealing with.

It will be interesting to see how the team responds to him. I hope that his word will carry weight, and that he is given the respect he deserves...unlike a previous coach got.

So I'm hearing some interesting trade rumors for the Pistons...This one scares me:
1) Billups, Prince, Wallace, and a first round pick (#29) to Denver for Carmelo Anthony, Chucky Atkins, Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Camby. I'm not sold on Anthony as a leader of a team, Martin has a HUGE contract (and is overrated), Camby is in the twilight, and Atkins again? This trade was rumored and reported by Woody Paige of the Denver Post. Soooo take it for what it's worth.

This one is a little more intriguing...
2) Chauncey Billups and a first round pick (#29) to Denver for Carmelo Anthony. If Stuckey is your point guard of the future, then pull the trigger! Assuming of course he can handle the load next year. Anthony would be the guy we could count on to score for us when we get in those lulls on the offensive end. Hey, it'd shake things up!

Or perhaps this one?
3) Rip Hamilton and Jason Maxiel to Atlanta for Joe Johnson. Okay, I think almost everyone agrees we need a new low-post presence and that Sheed should be the one to go. So losing Maxiel in this trade would inevitability mean Sheed for at least one more year...which also means relying on Sheed in the playoffs to come up big time. But...the way Joe Johnson ripped into the hearts of the Boston Celtics during the first round is still fresh in my mind. If he could take Atlanta to a 7th game with the Eastern Conference champs, imagine what he could do if surrounded by even more talent, leadership, and experience? Interesting thought...and again, it would shake things up.

I think ultimately I'd like Rasheed to get traded for a skilled SF that could come off the bench for Prince and another big body that could be used to rebound the ball. Like I said in a previous post, we need a Ben Wallace-type guy whose job is to wreak havoc on the defensive end. If we could get that and a suitable back-up for Prince, I'd be happy. Then the distractions of Sheed would be gone and we could let Maxiel and Johnson blossom into their own. I vote for that.

~Mikey D