What The Pistons Need To Do To Be A Winner Again

For the first time since the 2000-01 season the Detroit Pistons have failed to make the playoffs most likely due to the lack of defense that they've had their dominate years. Pistons fans knew that after all the winning years we got to see of the Pistons that we would have to see one losing year and have to suffer a little bit for all the winning. Obviously that has happened Chauncey Billups was traded and Rasheed Wallace signed with Boston the team from 2004 was pretty much blown up not to mention the players were getting old. What we've seen this season in this 27 wins and 55 losses team in the Detroit Pistons is a team that desperately needs big men or at least a big man, they are missing a true center. Last summer the Pistons made moves to sign Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon for big contracts and obviously it hasn't necessarily paid off yet.

Charlie Villanueva or Charlie V for that matter has been a total bust not only hasn't he been able to play defense but when it came to hitting clutch 3s he wasn't up to the task either this move was a huge fail for our team. Ben Gordon also seemed like a fail however he averaged 20 points per game when he was starting for the Pistons which means if we want him to show his greatness we'll have to start him. Obviously on this team we have too many shooting guards Ben Gordon, Rip Hamilton, Dajuan Summers, Rodney Stuckey, who I don't consider a point guard but more of a combo guard. So obviously what they need to do first this summer is to trade Rip to clear up cap room or get some type of player in return who can help out this team as long as its not a guard. It might be time to say goodbye to Tayshaun as well as it clearly looks like Austin Daye will take his place since he's the same exact size however is a righty and can shoot better than Tay right now.

My first solution is obviously trading Rip and Tayshaun to one team or 2 separate teams for players in return or cap room to sign a big name free agent. For example perhaps trade Tayshaun to Denver to get J.R. Smith in return somehow a player that can bring so much energy off the bench something the Pistons have been missing these past seasons a legitmate 6th man. Once the Pistons have moved Tay or Rip or both then hopefully they will have made the cap room to sign Carlos Boozer in the offseason a big man they desperately need. As we saw in the playoffs against Denver, Boozer can hit that shot from the top of the key he can post up and get rebounds for his team when needed. Boozer would be an improvement from the big men that the Pistons had this past year as he is full of heart and effort.

Obviously what the Pistons do this offseason will be determined on where they land in the draft lottery today. If the Pistons can beat the odds of their 5.3% chances of getting a top pick and somehow land a top 3 pick I expect them to draft DeMarcus Cousins center out of Kentucky. The Pistons need a big man and the play of Cousins reminds me of another big man preferrably that one in LA playing alongside Kobe Bryant right now, Andrew Bynum. Like the play of Bynum, Cousins can throw it down on a putback and score inside at will just like Andrew. Cousins is definitely an improvement over the big men the Pistons had last year as well. Even if it takes Cousins time to become great it will be worth the wait he's only 19 and I am certain that that man will flourish in this league!

So obviously if the Pistons got Cousins, traded Rip and Tay and signed Carlos Boozer the team would look a little something like this. At point guard you would still have Rodney Stuckey, at shooting guard you would know have Ben Gordon, at small forward you would have Jonas Jerebko, at power forward you would have Carlos Boozer and at center you would have DeMarcus Cousins. Just thinking about that front line can give you the chills because honestly thats a damn good front line especially compared to last years as the line improves offensively and defensively! As you have 3 players in the front line who can score at will and have the size to give other team's front lines problems! These moves the Pistons make now making their team better and making cap room might not only help them out now but might help them out in the future especially if they have a winning team to land probably the biggest free agent name in the 2011 summer, Chris Paul.

Now if the Pistons do land Chris Paul imagine him playing in the backcourt for the 2011-12 season with Ben Gordon. Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars anyone? Speaking of Joe Dumars if everything falls into place get these moves done! Go Pistons!