AleksandarN
Starter
Come on Petrie work your magic. I would trade just about anyone on our team for Darko
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1136459405294520.xml&coll=1
AUBURN HILLS -- When you consider the Detroit Pistons' impressive record, it's hard to imagine they would try to change a thing.
However, standing pat, even in good times, has not been a given in recent years.
During the team's 2004 championship season, the Pistons pulled off a three-team blockbuster deal just before the trading deadline that brought them Rasheed Wallace. A year later, they added Carlos Arroyo via a trade from Utah that helped put them in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season.
The Pistons (25-4) aren't looking to move any players, but they are at least willing to listen to teams wanting to discuss potential trades.
"You have a responsibility -- every team has a responsibility -- to be on the phones talking with other teams, doing your due diligence to see what's out there," said John Hammond, Detroit's vice-president of basketball operations. "But with our team and the position we're in now, teams understand that we're not going to move any significant parts of our (playing) rotation."
However, there are at least two players -- Arroyo and Darko Milicic -- whose status with the team is far from secure.
Both have repeatedly said they love being in Detroit, although each has expressed a desire to be in a situation where they could play more.
Arroyo's status might hinge on the effectiveness of Lindsey Hunter, who is expected back later this month after having left ankle surgery in November. Hammond said a number of teams have called about Detroit players, most coming from teams interested in Milicic.
"It's been like that the last two-and-a-half years leading up to the trading deadline," Hammond said. "Teams see that he's not playing a lot here, but understand that he has tremendous upside for a young big man. We understand that with Darko, we have a valuable asset, so you want to be very careful in how you approach dealing with that asset."
While it's possible Milicic could be dealt by the Feb. 23 trading deadline, it's more likely the Pistons will keep him on the roster for at least another season. If the Pistons don't offer Milicic a contract extension by the start of next season, he will become a restricted free agent heading into the summer of 2007. At that point, the Pistons can match any offer he gets, or they can trade him for either a player, a draft pick or a combination of the two.
Guard Richard Hamilton understands that being traded is a possibility all NBA players must accept.
"Mostly everybody here has been in different situations," said Hamilton, who was traded to Detroit from Washington in 2002. "But you know you can only control what you do out on the floor. That's it."
It looks like Friday's game against Seattle won't be a happy homecoming for former Michigan State star and Flint native Mateen Cleaves. Cleaves was waived by the SuperSonics on Wednesday after appearing in 19 games this season.
"I showed enough in the games that I did play that I belong (in the NBA), so I'm not worried about getting picked up," Cleaves said in a phone interview moments after being waived. "The toughest part about all of this was the relationships I built with the guys on the team, and leaving all that behind."
Cleaves, a former Pistons draft pick, said the decision didn't catch him by surprise.
"I was the only guy (on the Sonics) without a guaranteed contract, so after the way we started, and the coach (Bob Weiss) getting fired, they figured they probably needed to shake up the lineup too," Cleaves said.
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1136459405294520.xml&coll=1
AUBURN HILLS -- When you consider the Detroit Pistons' impressive record, it's hard to imagine they would try to change a thing.
However, standing pat, even in good times, has not been a given in recent years.
During the team's 2004 championship season, the Pistons pulled off a three-team blockbuster deal just before the trading deadline that brought them Rasheed Wallace. A year later, they added Carlos Arroyo via a trade from Utah that helped put them in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season.
The Pistons (25-4) aren't looking to move any players, but they are at least willing to listen to teams wanting to discuss potential trades.
"You have a responsibility -- every team has a responsibility -- to be on the phones talking with other teams, doing your due diligence to see what's out there," said John Hammond, Detroit's vice-president of basketball operations. "But with our team and the position we're in now, teams understand that we're not going to move any significant parts of our (playing) rotation."
However, there are at least two players -- Arroyo and Darko Milicic -- whose status with the team is far from secure.
Both have repeatedly said they love being in Detroit, although each has expressed a desire to be in a situation where they could play more.
Arroyo's status might hinge on the effectiveness of Lindsey Hunter, who is expected back later this month after having left ankle surgery in November. Hammond said a number of teams have called about Detroit players, most coming from teams interested in Milicic.
"It's been like that the last two-and-a-half years leading up to the trading deadline," Hammond said. "Teams see that he's not playing a lot here, but understand that he has tremendous upside for a young big man. We understand that with Darko, we have a valuable asset, so you want to be very careful in how you approach dealing with that asset."
While it's possible Milicic could be dealt by the Feb. 23 trading deadline, it's more likely the Pistons will keep him on the roster for at least another season. If the Pistons don't offer Milicic a contract extension by the start of next season, he will become a restricted free agent heading into the summer of 2007. At that point, the Pistons can match any offer he gets, or they can trade him for either a player, a draft pick or a combination of the two.
Guard Richard Hamilton understands that being traded is a possibility all NBA players must accept.
"Mostly everybody here has been in different situations," said Hamilton, who was traded to Detroit from Washington in 2002. "But you know you can only control what you do out on the floor. That's it."
It looks like Friday's game against Seattle won't be a happy homecoming for former Michigan State star and Flint native Mateen Cleaves. Cleaves was waived by the SuperSonics on Wednesday after appearing in 19 games this season.
"I showed enough in the games that I did play that I belong (in the NBA), so I'm not worried about getting picked up," Cleaves said in a phone interview moments after being waived. "The toughest part about all of this was the relationships I built with the guys on the team, and leaving all that behind."
Cleaves, a former Pistons draft pick, said the decision didn't catch him by surprise.
"I was the only guy (on the Sonics) without a guaranteed contract, so after the way we started, and the coach (Bob Weiss) getting fired, they figured they probably needed to shake up the lineup too," Cleaves said.
