Detroit says not so fast

[Fez Hammersticks]

With Boozer out of the picture, the NBA source said small forward Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic is now the Pistons' first choice. Detroit can free up about $18 million in salary-cap room, and probably would have to overpay Turkoglu to get him to leave a contending team for a rebuilding team.

If the Pistons can't sign Turkoglu, they would turn their attention to Gordon, who is the second-best scorer in this year's class behind Turkoglu. Exactly how Detroit's firing of coach Mike Curry on Tuesday will affect its pursuit of free agents -- or the free agents' perception of the Pistons -- remains to be seen.

It also remains to be seen how the economy will affect teams' willingness to dole out big contracts -- especially with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Paul Pierce among those who can become free agents next summer.

Besides Turkoglu and Gordon, the most attractive free agent this year are point guards Jason Kidd, Mike Bobby and Andre Miller.

This year, the only teams besides the Pistons that can free up significant cap room are the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings. Neither is expected to make a significant push for Gordon, so his only hope for getting the contract he seeks may be a battle between the Bulls and Pistons.

- Chicago Sun Times

Turkoglu - plan A
Ariza - plan B?

The Pistons have twice the cap room we have and Hedo is their #1 target, it'll be hard to compete with that.

 

[B-Roy]

Go ahead and overpay for him...

 

[illmatic99]

My thoughts:

-Prince AND Hedo??
-Fuck you, Chris Wallace. (I need to sig this).

 

[Tince]

- Chicago Sun Times

Turkoglu - plan A
Ariza - plan B?

The Pistons have twice the cap room we have and Hedo is their #1 target, it'll be hard to compete with that.

They're going to want to sign two major pieces, so they won't throw $60 million at Hedo.

If Hedo wants to play for us, he'll take whatever it is we can offer. If he wants cash, then he'll end up in Detroit.

We can just trade for Prince, sign a PG, and be better off.

 

[barfo]

What the hell do they want turkeyglue for? Don't they have Prince? Or are they planning to trade Prince to us?

barfo

 

[alex42083]

Joe Dumars might be going insane. The guy is wasting the money on this FA class when he can just save it all for next summer.

 

[B-Roy]

Joe Dumars might be going insane. The guy is wasting the money on this FA class when he can just save it all for next summer.

IIRC, there was some provision that made it so a team has to spend a certain amount of money on players each year. It was somewhere around 40 million last year. Not sure what it will be this year. Either way, they gotta spend some of it.

 

[Da_O]

Not only that but they just draft Daye.

So they're going to have Turkoglu/Prince/Daye?

 

[alex42083]

IIRC, there was some provision that made it so a team has to spend a certain amount of money on players each year. It was somewhere around 40 million last year. Not sure what it will be this year. Either way, they gotta spend some of it.

Hmm, good point. But I'm sure there's some way Detroit could reach that threshold so they could be players in the 2010 market as well. Or maybe they make a play for Paul Millsap now?

 

[B-Roy]

There is a growing belief around the league that Charlie Villanueva has moved ahead of Hedo Turkoglu on Detroit's wish list. Chicago's Ben Gordon remains the perimeter player deeply coveted by the Pistons, but the prospect of a Gordon-and-Villanueva combo would be cheaper than trying to sign Gordon and Turkoglu with their nearly $19 million in projected salary-cap space. So look for the Pistons to take that approach -- or pursue a Gordon-and-Paul Millsap combo -- while they also decide between Doug Collins and Avery Johnson as their next coach.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=Chatter-090701

 

[Draco]

IIRC, there was some provision that made it so a team has to spend a certain amount of money on players each year. It was somewhere around 40 million last year. Not sure what it will be this year. Either way, they gotta spend some of it.

To help the Pistons salary cap plans I'd be willing to sign a 1 year deal at 12 million.

 

[axs88]

[...] probably would have to overpay Turkoglu to get him to leave a contending team for a rebuilding team.
[...] This year, the only teams besides the Pistons that can free up significant cap room are the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings.

I say this paper doesn't know squat. Doesn't even mention us as a player in FA.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Detroit is in charge at the moment.

 

[hasoos]

My guess is this article is full of shit. As stated up above, Prince is already there, and if anything, they are lacking a PF type. Villenueva can actually play both. Hedo isn't a PF. If I had to take a guess, I would have to say that Hedo would look at that situation and give it thumbs down anyhow.

 

[andalusian]

To help the Pistons salary cap plans I'd be willing to sign a 1 year deal at 12 million.

.. and we have thus finally answered the questions generations were pondering - DES = 12 * Stevenson.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What the hell do they want turkeyglue for? Don't they have Prince? Or are they planning to trade Prince to us?

barfo

What the hell do they want Gordon for? They have Hamilton.

 

[Iwatas]

I hope anyone lands Turk instead of the Blazers. He is not the player we need - we need Sessions far, far more.

iWatas

 

[B-Roy]

I hope anyone lands Turk instead of the Blazers. He is not the player we need - we need Sessions far, far more.

iWatas

Please tell me why? Is it because he's younger?

Sessions is a decent playmaker, not a good shooter, and definitely not a good defender. Right now, he's like a worse Andre Miller.

 

[hasoos]

I hope anyone lands Turk instead of the Blazers. He is not the player we need - we need Sessions far, far more.

iWatas

Then your not paying attention to current events. Milwaukee just cleared space so they could sign him, including releasing Villenueva. There is no way they are not matching his offer, especially an offere from a team that only has it's salary cap space to use like us. When Mo Williams was a RFA they matched his offer, even though he didn't want to come back. All of the moves they have made up until now point towards them matching. You are wasting your time if you go after Sessions.

 

[bigbailes]

i agree that we don't need turk and that PG is the glaring weakness but i'm not so sold on sessions. he's another young guy, when many on here are screaming for a vet. this is ignoring the fact that it seems the bucks are hellbent on keeping him.

my wish list goes more like; kirk, kidd, miller. i'd be fine with any of the three.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Supposedly Detroit is going to offer Ben Gordon a deal worth about 50 million today. They also want to get Charlie V. They have about 18.5 in salary, so I would assume that if they want those two then Hedo is not at the top of their list.

Toronto is another team that has said to be interested, but it looks as if they are turning their attention to Kleiza.

Memphis (the fuckers) are set to offer Lee a 50 million dollar deal. That would take them out of the running for Hedo as well.

Like him or not, Hedo looks to be in Portland.

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

 

[LittleAlex]

Supposedly Detroit is going to offer Ben Gordon a deal worth about 50 million today. They also want to get Charlie V. They have about 18.5 in salary, so I would assume that if they want those two then Hedo is not at the top of their list.

Toronto is another team that has said to be interested, but it looks as if they are turning their attention to Kleiza.

Memphis (the fuckers) are set to offer Lee a 50 million dollar deal. That would take them out of the running for Hedo as well.

Like him or not, Hedo looks to be in Portland.

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

Don't you mean Lee is going to sign for the NBA farm team for a couple years, then be given to a contender for 10 cents on the dollar?

The other mystery here is that Detroit will have turned Billups into Gordon and C-Nuv. Doesn't really speak to Dumar's genius does it?

If Detroit does that, can we start calling the Billups/AI trade one of the worst ever. It got the coach fired, alienated Detroits best remaining player, stunted the development of their point guard of the future and only resulted in them getting a one dimensional gunner and a powerless forward.

Sad day for Detroit fans if you ask me.

 

[RickyRubio]

I heard Hedo is far down on Detroits list.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Gordon to Detroit for 5 years 55 million. Cross Detroit off the list of suitors for Hedo

 

[B-Roy]

Charlie V to Detroit for 5 yrs/35 Million.