Dumars Will Add at Least One Post Player

Friday, July 31, 2009
Joe Dumars will add at least one post player
Terry Foster / The Detroit News

Auburn Hills -- Pistons President Joe Dumars said he will add at least one more big man to the roster before fall training camp, and former Piston Ben Wallace remains in that mix.

But Dumars said the team wants to keep its options open before making a final decision.

"Ben Wallace is someone we're discussing, but no decision has been made," Dumars said Thursday via text message.

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Wallace (6-foot-9), 35 next month, has expressed interest in returning to the Pistons, for whom he played from 2000-2006. He left after signing a four-year, $60 million free-agent contract with the Chicago Bulls. Wallace was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers but was released after the season and remains an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any team. The Pistons and Wallace have been in contact; no deal has been offered.

The Pistons seem to have soured on Boston Celtics center Glen Davis (6-9). The Celtics say they will match any offer up to $5.3 million, and the Pistons cannot offer that type of cash without working a sign-and-trade or getting a third team involved. Power forward Joe Smith (6-10) is a good shooter as a big man and could be signed along with Celtics power forward Leon Powe, who is not expected to play until February because of a knee injury.

Former Piston Terry Mills has studied the landscape of big men and said the pickings are slim. He predicts Wallace will return to the Pistons unless they work a major trade, which he said is not likely. But Mills warned fans they won't see the same Wallace, who was voted NBA defensive player of the year four times and was made the all-defensive team six times.

"He can help them out as far as leadership is concerned in trying to develop the younger guys," Mills said.

"The Pistons are in a situation where their hands are kind of tied. Who is out there? You are in a situation if nothing happens now you have to wait until 2010. And you are in an ugly situation because all those guys who are all projected to come out their teams are working hard to sign them and keep them."

As it stands, free-agent signee Chris Wilcox and journeyman Kwame Brown would compete for the starting center position. Jason Maxiell is undersized at 6-7 but has defended the post at times. Dumars said he likes to have 5-6 interior players and believes he needs at least one more.

The big-man addition is likely to be Wallace or a veteran.

"Usually what you're looking for out of a veteran big man is leadership, toughness and professionalism," Dumars said.

Mill said he does not expect the Pistons to swing a trade because their big trade bait is guard Richard Hamilton and small forward Tayshaun Prince. Normally, NBA teams are reluctant to trade big men for small players.