The Detroit Pistons are years removed from their NBA dominance and championship pedigree after resting in the cellar of the Eastern conference for a number of seasons, but after signing Josh Smith and bringing back Chauncey Billups, is Joe Dumars ready to turn things around?
The Pistons made one of the biggest moves in the offseason by signing Smith and while many aren't sold on him as an elite player, the team hasn't been able to attract free agents since Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva and now that could be turning around. Dumars brought back playoff hero Chauncey Billups to help provide depth and now reports have come out that the team won't amnesty Villanueva as many expected they would.
Dumars signed Gordon and Villanueva years ago to awful contracts and according to Pro Basketball Talk, despite his one year and $8.58 million contract, Villanueva will have the amnesty clause used on him. The report says that the team doesn't want to have to pay two players, since amnestying him means they would have to add another player afterwards. There is a chance that Villanueva could be moved in a trade due to his expiring contract and that could mean a deal for Rajon Rondo.
While that deal is likely not going to happen, it has been rumored about and the Pistons did inquire about him to the Celtics. The team also has been mentioned in trade talks for the Raptors Rudy Gay, but again, nothing is close yet and it has only been mentioned in rumors and nothing too concrete yet. Smith was a solid addition since he is a name player and now Dumars can work on building with Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond and Smith comes in after improving his defense over the past two seasons.
Last year Smith hit over 50 percent of his shots and he should help the team improve in scoring, as they ranked just 22nd in the league with 94 points per game and now they should be much more consistent. Adding Billups will help off the bench and his experience and leadership will be good for the younger players on the roster. Billups played in just 42 games the past two seasons with the Clippers and for his career he has averages of 15.4 and 5.5 assists in 16 seasons with the Pistons, Nuggets, Clippers, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks.
