New Pistons: Gordon and Villanueva

[Surfah]

So Charlie is getting a reported 5 yr/$35 mil deal and Gordon's is $5 yr/$50+ mil. I think they overpaid a bit for Gordon. Especially if his deal is closer to $55 mil. But still those salaries make me think that Ariza is around the $6 maybe $7 mil range like I stated in the Lakers thread. Not bad moves especially considering they have no coach. This effectively takes them out of the running next year though in the big FA sweepstakes I think. What happens to Rip though? Where does he end up?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4301111

[Sizzle]

So Charlie is getting a reported 5 yr/$35 mil deal and Gordon's is $5 yr/$50+ mil. I think they overpaid a bit for Gordon. Especially if his deal is closer to $55 mil. But still those salaries make me think that Ariza is around the $6 maybe $7 mil range like I stated in the Lakers thread. Not bad moves especially considering they have no coach. This effectively takes them out of the running next year though in the big FA sweepstakes I think. What happens to Rip though? Where does he end up?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4301111

I find it funny that Gordon basically screwed himself the last two years rejecting deals that are essentially the same. He could have made more money the last two seasons, but he got greedy. I like it when players get greedy and get burned.

I really don't know what to think about Detroit though.

PG: Stuckey
SG: Gordon
SF: Prince
PF: Villanueva
C: Kwame/McDyess?

Are you bringing Rip off of the bench now? Do you move Rip to the 3, Prince to the 4 and Villanueva to the 5 as a very, very undersized center? That lineup may create some matchup problems as a quick team, but really lacks rebounding and defense.

Not sure what the Pistons are thinking, but I don't think this makes them a contender. It'll be interesting to see what other move are coming. Maybe they are talking trade with the Clippers of Rip for Kaman/Camby. That type of a trade makes sense for both teams, although now that Randolph is out of LA, they may not be looking to move either big.

[Surfah]

I find it funny that Gordon basically screwed himself the last two years rejecting deals that are essentially the same. He could have made more money the last two seasons, but he got greedy. I like it when players get greedy and get burned.

I really don't know what to think about Detroit though.

PG: Stuckey
SG: Gordon
SF: Prince
PF: Villanueva
C: Kwame/McDyess?

Are you bringing Rip off of the bench now? Do you move Rip to the 3, Prince to the 4 and Villanueva to the 5 as a very, very undersized center? That lineup may create some matchup problems as a quick team, but really lacks rebounding and defense.

Not sure what the Pistons are thinking, but I don't think this makes them a contender. It'll be interesting to see what other move are coming. Maybe they are talking trade with the Clippers of Rip for Kaman/Camby. That type of a trade makes sense for both teams, although now that Randolph is out of LA, they may not be looking to move either big.

I don't know what they're thinking. Sheed is all but gone now too. Spurs, Boston, and Cavs seem to be courting him. Seems like those three teams are trying their damnedest to get a ring before those teams implode on themselves.

But you're right, no way Rip comes off the bench. They have to be looking to deal him. Where does he go though? Stuckey at the point too doesn't jive with Gordon. He worked with Rip because Rip would run around screens all day. Gordon needs the ball to score. Villanueva is an interesting player. The guy reminds me of LO. But they're thin in the frontcourt.

Dumars has turned into McHale.

[Sizzle]

Villanueva is an interesting player. The guy reminds me of LO.

I agree, and I actually like the Villanueva signing. I don't think he's a franchise player, and his contract doesn't get that vibe. But for a #3 option, which I think he can be, and at that price, I think that works out nicely.

I think Gordon is a great #2 option, even at that contract. But what Detroit lacks is a legit #1. And I don't totally buy the lacking a legit #1 when they won it all in 04... Sheed, Chauncey and Rip had all been go-to guys in their career on different teams and were all top 10 picks, so the talent was there. They easily had 3 quality #2 options AND had one of the premier role player/defenders in the NBA at the time in Ben Wallace. They're still a long ways away from being there with the current variation of their roster. Charlie V and Gordon may be nice pieces and a good start... but still a ways to go IMO.

[FN Phat]

I don't understand all the love for Ben Gordon. He is a shoot first, never pass guard. He is an average defender, at best. I don't see him helping at all. Detroit has to send Rip down the road. There is no room for essentially the same guy. I don't buy Villanueva, either. I have never understood the hype on this guy. He happens to be in the right place, at the right time.

Of coarse, it could be my pure hatred for all things UConn as well.

[Surfah]

I don't understand all the love for Ben Gordon. He is a shoot first, never pass guard. He is an average defender, at best. I don't see him helping at all. Detroit has to send Rip down the road. There is no room for essentially the same guy. I don't buy Villanueva, either. I have never understood the hype on this guy. He happens to be in the right place, at the right time.

Of coarse, it could be my pure hatred for all things UConn as well.

Yeah I think Calhoun is getting into your Boeheim underwear there.

Gordon is a 2 guard. They won't use him to run the point. Gordon is a scorer and they need some offense on that team. Villanueva is pretty solid. Like I said he's very much like LO to me. He's put together a pretty nice little career in Milwaukee of all places. He could be a 20 and 10 guy. He's almost there now. At the rumored 5 for 35 that's a pretty decent deal for them. If I figure right, that's not much over the MLE.

An intriguing part is as you mentioned former college teammates.

[FN Phat]

I am surprised that you see Charlie as LO.

Maybe LO is overrated

[Surfah]

I am surprised that you see Charlie as LO.

Maybe LO is overrated

Poor man's LO. They have similar bodies and styles. And they're both kind of head cases with tons of potential.

[Donuthole]

I see Villanueva as more Sheed than LO, at least in his body and playing style.

[FN Phat]

Poor man's LO. They have similar bodies and styles. And they're both kind of head cases with tons of potential.

And Lamar has eyebrows.

[Surfah]

And Lamar has eyebrows.

Charlie Villanueva is the caramel powder.

[Sizzle]

I don't understand all the love for Ben Gordon. He is a shoot first, never pass guard. He is an average defender, at best. I don't see him helping at all. Detroit has to send Rip down the road. There is no room for essentially the same guy. I don't buy Villanueva, either. I have never understood the hype on this guy. He happens to be in the right place, at the right time.

Of coarse, it could be my pure hatred for all things UConn as well.

I hadn't realized until now, but Gordon, Rip and Villanueva are all UConn guys. I it now becomes clear what Joe Dumars plan is... he's trading for Hasheem Thabeet, Ray Allen (that must be where the Ray Allen to Detroit rumors got started), and Caron Butler.

Look for the real surprise to be when he brings in Travis Knight and Khalid El-Amin in as cheap free agents and the new coach is... you guessed it...

Geno Ariemma.

[FN Phat]

I hadn't realized until now, but Gordon, Rip and Villanueva are all UConn guys. I it now becomes clear what Joe Dumars plan is... he's trading for Hasheem Thabeet, Ray Allen (that must be where the Ray Allen to Detroit rumors got started), and Caron Butler.

Look for the real surprise to be when he brings in Travis Knight and Khalid El-Amin in as cheap free agents and the new coach is... you guessed it...

Geno Ariemma.

You forgot 4 former teammates of Gordon and Villanueva...Emeka Okafur, Marcus Williams (FA), and Hilton Armstrong, and Rudy Gay.