Carlos Delfino sent Packing
Delfino never developed in Detroit
Hopefully this isn’t the only move Joe Dumars has in store. I don’t think trading a guy who averaged a little over 1 point a game in the Eastern Conference Finals and played just over 5 minutes a game is going to have much of an impact. The Pistons will get two second round draft picks in return so this just looks like it was a way to clear a roster space. It is yet another bad draft choice by the Pistons. This is a pretty clear pattern during Joe D’s tenure running the team.
The Pistons.com website suggests the trade could indicate that Alex Acker will play on the squad next season. If that is the case he would back up Chauncey Billups and might be able to spell Rip Hamilton as well.
The move clears almost $2 million in room under the NBA’s salary cap and would appear to make it even more likely that the Pistons will have a roster spot available for Alex Acker, a 2005 second-round draft choice who spent last season in Greece after playing his rookie year with the Pistons.
That’s dependent, of course, on Acker actually getting playing time. So we’ll see how that goes. Here is how the starter and backup rotations could work if this is the only change and if the team re-signs Chauncey Billups.
PG - Chauncey Billups - Alex Acker
SG - Rip Hamilton - Flip Murray
SF - Tayshaun Prince - Thaddeus Young?
PF - Jason Maxiell - Antonio McDyess - Amir Johnson
FC - Rasheed Wallace - Nazr Mohammed
The Pistons website suggests the team might have an interest in drafting Thaddeus Young. That would be a good move if he can actually play small forward. If so he’d be very similar to Tayshaun but would require some time to develop. If he did actually develop he’d be a great addition to the team. He wouldn’t be a good fit if his primary role would be as a power forward as the team has a log-jam at the 4 spot. Amir Johnson will probably get scraps next season but might be able to actually get some PT in the 2008-09 season.
Regardless, it’s pretty obvious that moving Delfino isn’t the cure for what ails this team. Unless the team re-signs Webber or finds a suitable substitute they are probably going to have to use Sheed at center. With Flip Saunders as coach that should go over really well. So this move should be a prelude to something that gives you reason to believe the team has put itself in position to advance past the conference finals. I don’t think anyone believes that moving Delfino for two second round picks is the move that is going to put the team over the top.
Carlos Delfino Pistons Thaddeus YoungNo Comments
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
