Dumars is in a no win situation this offseason

The NBA draft, as they say, is an inexact science. I still remember every draft analyst praising the Pistons for drafting Darko and Carlos Delfino back in 2003. How did that work out? I also distinctly remember Dick Vitale screaming into the camera ripping Orlando's selection of Dwight Howard over Emeka Okafor. Yeah. If nothing else, it provides us with good entertainment.

Another thing I noticed about the NBA draft or drafts in general is that the fans reaction to the picks is directly correlated with how that team or organization is performing. The Detroit Lions, regardless who they pick, will always be questioned and criticized by their fans. The Red Wings, on the other hand, could pick a 27 year old math teacher from Topeka, Kansas and the fans would claim that Ken Holland had done it again and this player was going to revolutionize hockey. That is the way it goes, I guess. Of course, in two years, if the Wings are only a middle-of-the pack team, then Holland will be scrutinized like no other. I still remember the countless fans who thought he was overrated, helped out by Illitch's pocket book and that he could only make trades with our draft picks. Then, 2008 happened and everything is gravy.

Now, I guess, it is Joe Dumars turn to be questioned. For a few years the man walked on water. I still remember the deal that brought Carlos Arroyo to the Pistons and fans were ecstatic. Why? B/c our recent success had clouded our judgment, and we trusted everything he did. Maurice Evans, Carlos Delfino, Flip Murray, etc were all brought in to be our top wing player off the bench. Other than Delfino, none had a chance to work out but we were blindly loyal in Dumars and because our team was a threat to win it all, we believed in him. Now, the tables have turned.

So, no matter what Joe D. does this summer he will be questioned. He was ridiculed for passing on Blair, an undersized and overweight PF with troubled knees. The other picks were scrutinized because they were not big men and played more of the 3/4 hybrid position. Did the Pistons need help on the front line? Sure, but there was no one available other than maybe B.J. Mullens who would have fit our need. This was what it was. A terrible draft with a lot of flawed players. So, Dumars grabbed a couple players who can fill multiple roles and shoot the lights out of the gym. But, the criticism will rain down regardless who Dumars picked in the draft and regardless who he signs in free agency.

That is fair in some respects. No one is above criticism or questioning. There are some who want the Pistons to sit on their money and save it for 2010. Of course, if we do that, we will be a lottery team next season and what free agent would choose to go to a lottery team when plenty of other viable teams are out there to choose? Unlike this offseason, most teams next year have positioned themselves to be big free agent players in 2010. This offseason, we can almost pick and choose which free agents we want to play for us. That will not be the case next year.

Then, as you go down the list of potential free agents, how may do we have a realistic shot at if we stand pat this offseason and become a lottery team?

• Would Joe Johnson come here? Atlanta will definitely have a more attractive roster.
• LeBron James and Wade are not coming here. Scratch them off the list.
• Dirk Nowitzki is not leaving Dallas.
• Yao Ming or Chris Bosh will team up with LeBron. You can scratch one of them off our list.
• Steve Nash would certaily not be the answer at his age.
• That would leave us with Bosh or Ming, Amare Stoudamire, and a washed up Tracy McGrady or a guy like Josh Howard.
  
• Bosh/Ming/Stoudamire- Why would they come to a lottery team when they could go to Miami with Wade and Beasley? Answer: they wouldn't. So, one of these guys goes to LeBron, another one goes to Miami, and then we are left with the leftovers? Not bad, still, right? Well, Chicago has a more attractive roster than us. So, would Portland and Oklahoma City. They would be a more viable candidate than us. Tough reality, but its the truth.
  

That leaves us with Howard or McGrady. The leftover of the leftovers. Not good, folks. Bottom line is, we have to get the free agents from this year's class.

With that established, even when Dumars does that, he will be scrutinized. Boozer? Too injury prone and not worth the money they will say. Gordon? No defense and a turnover machine. Turkoglu? 30 years of age and at the tail end of his career. Regardless what he does, he will be criticized. That is the nature of sports and that is why Dumars is getting paid the big bucks. What do I think happens?

• We sign Gordon and trade Rip for a big man. Chandler, Camby, Kaman, and Randolph are just some of the free agents available.
• I think we sign either Boozer or Milsap.

That leaves us with a lineup that looks like this:
PG- Stuckey/Bynum
SG- Gordon/Aaflalo
SF- Prince/Walter Sharpe
PF- Boozer or Milsap/Maxiell
C- Chandler/Kwame Brown

• Or I think Turkoglu is signed, Rip is kept, Prince is traded for a big man, and Milsap or Boozer are signed

Are these championship contending lineups? Probably not. But, it would be good for 4th or 5th in the East, at worst. And, it would be a young lineup that could continue to improve as they all reach their primes (with the exception of Prince). To me, and probably to Dumars, that is a better alternative than going into the lottery with no hope of getting better.