Dumars Makes Shrewd Move, Ready for Critics

Is he the answer? Gee, I sure don't know and don't think so. However, is he a step in the right direction? You bet he is. Oh, did you hear that the Pistons traded for Allen Iverson today? Yeah, I figured that's old news by now. First, a moment of thanks and praise for Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess for all they did for the organization, the franchise and the city of Detroit. It'd be impossible to say they won't be missed or that this moment isn't bittersweet.

That said, despite what the critics will tell you...this move simply had to be done. Let's face it, the Pistons weren't going to win the Championship with the current core intact. Are they going to win it with Allen Iverson at the helm? Um, probably not, but that hardly matters at this time. The Pistons had become a stagnant version of the Atlanta Braves. I'm sure you've heard such comparisons being uttered around. Always good enough to be in the thick of the chase, but never quite good enough to get over the hump.

The move hardly means suddenly that they'll be able to stop LeBron James from taking over the Eastern Conference or ending the feel good story in Boston. In a distorted view, most are on complete polar opposites of who benefited the most from this trade. The delirious Piston fans will proclaim that we finally have a crunch time scorer and Superstar to compete with the Celtics and the LeBrons. Uh, not so fast - this isn't 2001 folks. Allen Iverson's better days are well in the rearview mirror. Meanwhile, most analysts are claiming this is an admission of failure from Dumars and Denver clearly walked away with the better end of the deal.

If anything this makes the Pistons interesting again. The same old, same old had simply run it's course in Detroit. And sure, Iverson will make them pretty damn interesting. He'll fill some seats at the Palace and add a little swagger to a team that had run a bit dry as of recent years. And I mean positive swagger, not in terms of an overconfident swagger. Look, we all know Iverson is hungry, so that's a positive.

If anything this deal had to be done simply to move Billups. Yes, I loved and still do love Billups just as much as you do. However, the complacency and decline of Billups has been no more apparent than the past few post-season clunkers he's laid down. Everyone always wants to point blame at Rasheed and Flip for the shortcomings. However, the engine of the Pistons (Billups) was running on empty the past few post-seasons. If you missed it, you just weren't watching.

He earned the nickname Mr. Big Shot back in 2004, but arguably didn't deliver a Big Shot since 2004. Again, he will be sorely missed. As Iverson is also a player on the decline and can hardly hold a jock strap to Chauncey's intangibles, leadership and defense. Who really cares if the guy has the balls to take every shot down the stretch in the playoffs. Again, I simply don't think he's the missing ingredient that will put them over the top.

However, what most critics are missing in the bigger picture is that Joe Dumars wasn't trying to hit a home run this season. I'm not saying he isn't trying to win the title. However, in the bigger picture, Iverson's contract expires as does Sheed's at the end of this season. That's roughly $33 million in salary that the Pistons can toss off the books if they so desire. It also means they can toss their hats in the big Free Agent markets in 2009 or 2010.

Does it mean they'll automatically be a top destination? Maybe and maybe not. Look, they are NOT ever going to be in the LeBron sweepstakes - fine. However, it does give them financial flexibility and the hopes of adding a potential super star to a team well built and assembled to compete for many years. Of course, the big "ifs" in the equation will be the youth of the Pistons and that being Rodney Stuckey, Amir Johnson and Maxiell.

However, sometimes you just have to go for the change. Dumars promised change and delivered upon his promise. It might not seem like the most logical move in the book. Yet, when you stop and realize that as constructed they were simply remaining stagnant - it makes sense. Yeah, I realize that hardly anybody agrees with Dumars and his logic. He's got his fair share of critics that will continue to summons up the old Darko botched pick. Let's recall though that he turned Darko into Stuckey.

So, trust in Joe D. the man knows what he's doing. Bid farewell to a couple Detroit legends, but enjoy having a rented Super Star for at least one season. Yup, this is gonna be fun afterall. Oh yeah, and keep in mind McDyess is getting bought out by the Nuggets and he'll be coming back...maybe.

Either way, it's time to usher in an era of change. And change is a good thing.