OT - Pistons trade Prince, Daye to Memphis for more cap relief

Submitted by Butterfield on

In a move that can only be justified for cap relief, the Pistons have agreed to send Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye to Memphis for point guard Jose Calderon (recently aquired from Toronto). 

Calderon will join Rodney Stuckey, Will Bynum, and Brandon Knight to give the team four point guards.  Meanwhile, the small forward option is pretty much Corey Maggette. 

Good news is Calderon comes off the books this offseason and the move frees up an additional 25 million for Dumars to spend.  Bad news is Dumars will spend it on Ben Gordon. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--grizzlies-trade-rudy-gay-to-raptors-in-three-team-deal-230755012.html 

Tay, we'll always have your block on Reggie Miller in the '04 ECF. 

Butterfield

January 30th, 2013 at 7:06 PM ^

Memphis doesn't make that deal unless they get a player like Ed Davis.   Unless you are willing to include a Drummond or Monroe, the Pistons didn't have any pieces for Gay. 

And yes, it was a three team trade - but I was just reporting what most people around here would be interested in - which I think is the implications for the Stones. 

MGoBeer

January 30th, 2013 at 6:40 PM ^

I like Jose Calderon. I know it is as you describe it and it doesn't make sense to have four point guards but I think Stuckey should be a permanent two and Knight is more of a combo guard. Good move though, Gut this team; build around Knight, Drummond and Monroe.

SalvatoreQuattro

January 30th, 2013 at 6:41 PM ^

He is  turrible. It amazes me how poor of  a job he has done in the past 6 years. Dumars has achieved the unique distinction of being one of the Pistons worst and best GMs'.. 

 

As for cap space, I don't see why that matters. The Pistons haven't lured a decent free agent here since...um, well...

I Like Burgers

January 30th, 2013 at 6:55 PM ^

Ever since John Hammond left for the Bucks, Joe D has suddenly gotten dumber.  Most people in the NBA know Hammond was the real brains, but Joe D got all the credit.  I was really hoping when new ownership took over Joe D would get the axe too.  

Who knows, after clearing out this cap space, maybe he'll get the axe at the end of the season and give someone else a fresh start.

snarling wolverine

January 30th, 2013 at 8:54 PM ^

Come on.  He unloaded Jerry Stackhouse and got Rip Hamilton, traded a bunch of garbage for Rasheed Wallace, signed Billups as a FA for peanuts . . . he made a lot of great moves in his first 5-6 years.

His draft record isn't that bad.  He's drafted Prince, Mehmet Okur, Aaron Afflalo, Stuckey, Maxiell, Knight, Monroe and Drummond.  Everyone rips on him for the Darko pick but that considered the smart move by most analysts at the time.  Hindsight is 20/20.

 

Brodie

January 31st, 2013 at 12:59 AM ^

He's drafted a few talented players, but a lot of them haven't stuck. He's also drafted guys like Cleaves and Rodney White. I don't fault him for Darko, but those early drafts left the team in a shitty spot.



Hamilton for Stackhouse was considered an even exchange at the time, Billups was a quality player waiting to be given a place to shine. We gave up more to get Rasheed than Atlanta had.

West German Judge

January 31st, 2013 at 8:50 AM ^

We gave up two first round picks, Bob Sura, Zeljko Rebraca, Lindsey Hunter, and Chucky Atkins.  We gave up a lot in quantity, but seriously, all of those players were on their last legs and none stuck with the team that acquired them.  In fact, we got Hunter back a month afterward.

The Rasheed trade was nothing but a positive, brilliant acquisition by Joe and I'm really surprised to see it lumped in with other "negatives".

jmblue

January 31st, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^

A lot of trades look even at the time they're made - they have to, or both parties wouldn't agree to them.  But Stack for Rip was a pretty clearly good move off the bat.  You can't build a championship team around a high-volume, low-percentage shooter like Stackhouse, especially when he didn't play much defense either.  Rip was younger, a more efficient scorer and somewhat better defender.  Didn't the Pistons also get a draft pick?

bronxblue

January 30th, 2013 at 9:17 PM ^

If you aren't a Miami/LA/NY/Chicago team, you'll have a hard time attracting free agents.  But with enough money to overpay a bit, though, you might have a chance at nabbing someone.  And it isn't always about gettng a max guy, but having the ability to sign 3-4 "better" players than you currently have on the roster.  I mean, nobody on that '04 team was a major signing, and they won the title.  Dumars just has to be careful not to get a Charlie V or Gordon this time, or at least have the flexibility to rid himself of those bad contracts earlier.

turtleboy

January 31st, 2013 at 1:02 AM ^

The cool thing about Miami, Chicago, Boston, LA, the other LA, Orlando, Houston, Dallas,  New York, and Brooklyn is they already bet the farm on the players they have, and don't have a ton of money to pony up this year, or next. The teams we're likely competing with are Utah, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Atlanta.  We could essentially have Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, Tyreke Evans, Rudy Gay and a few others to ourselves, and an extra $50m a year to work with.

yoyo

January 30th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^

A three way with gay?

In all seriousness, this is a great deal.  Prince has been an average player since the "playoff dyansty" broke up and he isn't worth the contract.  I really hope we don't spend our new cap space on another selfish tweener pg/sg that needs 20 shots a game to be effective.  Bring back that Detroit defense we used to love!

Jack Daniels

January 30th, 2013 at 6:43 PM ^

What a great deal. Calderon is a pass-first PG who can knock down the 3....he and Drummond are going to be fun to watch. Getting rid of Tay's contract was also a win. Sets them up for some big moves this summer to complement Monroe, Drummond, and Knight, and with a good-looking free agent crop, I don't think Joe will mess up again.

I Like Burgers

January 30th, 2013 at 7:32 PM ^

Drummond is a solid builing block, but there's a lot of teams in the NBA with one good building block.  You need a lot more to reach the playoffs, let alone get back to conf champ contender status.  Do you have the confidence Joe D can add the remaining pieces to get them in the playoffs and then start to win in the playoffs?  I sure as hell don't.  They're at least 2-3 seasons away from being close to that.

Blue Bunny Friday

January 30th, 2013 at 9:48 PM ^

That's BS. The Pistons have to be one of the best organizations to play for in the NBA (Spurs... Pistons, then Jazz?). They're very loyal to their players, have won championships and reward success.

I really don't understand the comment above. The only thing that is positive about the other teams in the NBA are markets for endorsements and weather.

Doc Brown

January 31st, 2013 at 6:51 AM ^

I am surprised you were able to say that with a straight face. That must be why they need to book MC Hammer for halftime shows to get more than 1000 people to show up or why the payroll is a complete mess. 

I agree they are loyal to their players. Howver, you can only loyal for so long in a talent driven profession. Especially with a complete crap roster that wouldn't make the end of the bench for the Lakers/Miami/Spurs. 

BeatOSU52

January 31st, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^

Pistons don't need another PG.  My guess is the Pistons will go after a Small Forward.  And my guess is we'll get a pretty good one at that considering Prince is gone and so a lack of a foward will make us slide further and get a nice lottery pick.

And I think Knight is a very solid player, and I hope he stays for a while.