Looks like there will be no Spree and no Finley in the D.
Or is it Auburn Hills? Whatever.
The Pistons have offered restricted free agent 6'5, 220-lb. swingman a multi-year deal, and now Sac-town has a chance to match.
Coupled with the signing of Dale Davis, this could be it for the Pistons in the free agent market.
I've heard from some Sacramento fans about Evans and they call him a rugged defender and rebounder who can also drive to the basket, and he's very strong and athletic.
Then again, Christian Laetnner might look like Charles Oakley that buttery-soft Kings lineup.
All kidding aside, Mo Evans is definitely a Joe Dumars type of player. He's consistent, hungry, and hard-working.
So is Dale Davis, who will add a lot of toughness and keep Detroit's big man rotation as strong as it's been the past two years and provide disaster insurance against Hurricane Shaq (though it may be weakening a bit with age, let's hope so anyway) down in Miami.
The question is, do the Pistons really need more ham-and-eggers/lunch pail guys/ blue collar guys/whatever other kind of cliche you want to use type of players?
Or was a talent upgrade necessary to assure home court in the vastly improved East, which may be needed to get through Indy and Miami?
Evans still doesn't address the need for a long-range shooter, especially in the Flip Saunders era where shooting threes won't get you chewed out and/or a seat on the bench. Not many other candidates either, unless Alex Acker somehow finds his way into the rotation (long shot) or Carlos Delfino has a breakthrough.
But if he (or Devin Brown or whichever other thrifty 3-man the Pistons end up bringing in) can keep Tayshaun Prince rested and ready to go for the playoffs, that might be all the Pistons need to get back to the Finals.
MIGHT...
The East is no joke this year, that's for sure.
Hopefully, Flip will put more trust in the bench and let these guys develop into a unit, while resting the starters.
That could go a long way.
Oh, and let's keep our fingers crossed that the Heat don't land Finley.
Listen, I hate the Heat, and Shaq's smugness, and Pat Riley, and Antoine Walker as much as the next guy...but you can't deny the Heat gave us EVERYTHING we could handle last year, and represent a major threat.
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2 comments:
Okay, the Sacramento Bee is reporting that the Kings can't match the offer because they have less than a mil. to offer.
One overlooked aspect of the Evans acquisition is his ability to defend the bigger, tougher small forwards in the East.
He can be useful against the likes of LeBron, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, and even Ron Artest (although Tayshaun Prince made the self-absorbed, delusional Artest his bitch in the 2004 Playoffs...even though Artest would never admit it!).
To reiterate, I think Joe D realized how important it is to keep Tay fresh for the playoffs.
Remember, Tay had a breakout regular season but played heavy minutes and seemed to wear down (and also tweaked his ankle) in the playoffs.
Look, on paper the Miami Heat are the best team in the East. However, paper doesn't win you championships. Even with Big Diesel in that locker room, don't you think they is a great chance for a revolt? Damn, you know Wade is going to start ball hogging a little, it is just the nature of the beast. Crap, Shaq was already complaining about not getting enough shots in the fourth quarter of Game #7 against the Pistons last season... and that was with an injured Wade! Now add in Antoine "I shoot from anywhere" Walker, Jason "White Chocolate/ out of control" Williams, I mean, I can already hear the whining now! The slogan for the season should be the Miami "We all want to shoot fifty times a night" Heat. Oh, and I forgot, what about the shots Finley will demand, assuming he does sign.
Am I thrilled that all the Pistons got was Davis and (assuming again) this Evans guy? No, but paper doesn't win titles. The Pistons starting five is STILL THE MOST TALENTED IN THE EAST!! The road to the Finals still goes thru Auburn Hills, I don't doubt that. The road is tougher, but I still take the Pistons in seven over the Heat - to many ball hogs spoil the bunch.
Later.
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