To start off, I am a full believer in the WIN NOW mentality. I sometimes question the effect of having a starting five as good the Pistons and the WIN NOW approach has on rookies sitting on the bench. This Pistons team will continue to be very good for the next couple of years so how do the Acker's, Maxiell's and Johnson's of the world get a chance to develop. Practice is fine but their hard work needs to be rewarded with playing time to work through mistakes and develop their skils.

Are the starting five over empahsized to the detriment of young talent?

Isn't their a happy medium somewhere or can the Pistons only "afford" to play rookies of the caliber of Wade or Bosh i.e. ready for prime time?

I have been thinking about that all season.

Historically other teams have done it like the Lakers with Kobe and the Spurs with Parker. With the Pistons there are no openings. We had one upfront in 04 but Dumars sealed it by signing Dyess.

If we had drafted Wade or Melo would they have beaten out one of the starters? If never given more than 15 MPG could they have beaten out one of our starters? If we drafted Bosh would Dumars have still signed Dyess?

You have to have some opening a rookie can use and take a chance on him. We do have some opening on the bench from time to time. Dumars left one open for Delfino last season. Unfortunate that he was injured because that also put us in a spot. This seaon Mo Evans is sort of an insurance policy and it looks like Delfino is comming along.

The other rooks? The only guy with a chance now is Acker. Maxiel - Forget it. Unless Dumars is willing to take a chance on him as the 3rd big next season and not sign anyone else. Here his height can be an issue. Amir Johnson will be fine since he can wait a few seasons.

When on a championship hunt, WIN NOW rules! That window don't stay open that long. Any rookie that breaks into the rotation is gravy.

The object of "developing rookies" is to win down the road. On a legit championship contender, rookies are best used to carry luggage, run errands, and compete in practice. They make too many rookie mistakes.

The best thing about rookies is that they grow up to be 2nd year players. That's when they should be able to contribute.

The reasons why this team isn't simultaneously developing a young player or two are

1. Joe has done a lousy job bringing in young talent (not Darko specific)
2. Joe has done a great job adding veteran talent
3. The team is at a level that allows for few mistakes

Realistically, you have to look at the Pistons objectively and wonder if the potential payoff is worth the relative risk. Because there is not such thing as a rookie or sophmore player whose game is all upside, all of the time. There is always a risk of a mistake, and in today's low scoring NBA, are you gunna risk a crucial turnover, bad foul, clock management brain cramp?

I don't think so.

__________________
Competition is merely the absence of oppression.
- Frédéric Bastiat

No surprise, put me down on the side that says they are not mutually exclusive.

I believe that there is no way to keep the team playing at a high level year after year, except by introducing new blood into it. Developing a player for 10 minutes a game does not mean you lose that game. And you can train and work with a player at practice but he does not validate what he is learning unless he gets to use it in game situations, meaning players who are not on his own team.

Also, the rookie who does not get this attention goes into his second year still a rookie. He does not magically develop into a second year player who can help you. Same after the second year and on and on.

And winning championships on other people's hard work is not what young players need. They need to earn their own championships. A player who gets his rewards too early loses some of his initiative.

At least, that is the way I see it.

All this talk about development. I know its because we threw away a #2 pick. Depends on your thoughts of Darko as to when it was thrown away on draft night or last week.

Looking at our roster we only have 2 rookies that we developed Prince and Delfino. Anyone see the Irony in this? Did we develope Sheed, Ben, Dyess? Ben was already about to break out when he came here. Same can be said of C-note and Rip.

If we snag someone like Bosh in 07 its going to fast forward over all that development time.

Teams like the Clippers have been developing for quite some time...

It wasn't until recently when the Clips decided to spend some money in free agency did they begin to see the light at the end of tunnel.

The Bulls are another example with all those high picks they have had.

I'm surprized at the lack of faith coaches and GMs have in NBA rookies. Football is diff.
As for our situation, playing the bench as a unit seems perfect. Why ruin the starters unit? Or can't they play all 48 minutes and still blow the doors the off the comp?
They do need help. But just a rest. I'm wondering if our team has been very greedy with their PT. And why have the coaches bought into it?

the young guys will have a chance, but there is no starting spot that has a weakness which won't allow as many chances. i think we should put these guys in the d-league. is there a reason why we won't do that?