I've got a couple ideas for somewhat decent contingency plans should Ben leave. I've tried to pretend I am Joe D and make this all work.

It's ok to discuss these or poo-poo them, but please save the whining about Ben leaving to one of the many other threads.

#1 Kelvin Cato ~ The Pistons probably still hold his Bird Rights, until Ben is decided one way or the other. It now makes a lot of sense (in my mind) why Joe traded Darko and Arroyo for Cato. Since his contract expires, that frees up salary room. But if Ben slips away, Cato is a 6'11" veteran center who can be re-signed, likely for around $7~$8 million making it possible for the Pistons to spend both the Mid-Level and Bi-Annual Exceptions to add talent, AND so importantly, stay under the luxury tax.

#2 Trade for Jamaal Magloire ~ Now that Charlie Villaneuva is in Milk, the likely move is to put Bogut at Center, and start CV at the 4. With Dan Gadzuric signed for another 5 years, Magloire's $8 million dollar salary has to be on the block.

The Pistons could trade Rip for Magloire, and look to sign Bonzi as the new #2.

Your ideas?

Of those 2 options, I think I would pick Magloire. He is a tough guy who can intimidate in the post. Cato may be alright, but between injuries and the Pistons rotation, I haven't really seen the guy play in a few years. Maybe he's pretty good. Maybe he is all healed up and injuries aren't a concern. For my money (or Bill D's) I think I would replace tough guy Wallace with tough guy Magloire.

Since amateur GMing isn't my strength, maybe someone can tell me if the Mourning talk was just fantasy. Although it would be a short term fix, I could see Zo being a good replacement for Ben, provided his health issues allow him to play heavy minutes.

Joe's said that he wouldn't make major changes unless Ben leaves. If he does, I think we see a major overhaul. What I don't know is whether that would be a reloading that would keep us contending. IMO we should try to win now before LeBron takes over. Especially if Ben leaves, I'll be really disappointed if we don't try for Iverson.

Magloire is a decent post defender but he's even worse than Ben against Shaq, and his help defense is nothing special; he's a horrible shotblocker. He's also no better offensively than Ben. I think Rip is way too high a price for a player like him.

If Ben is signed outright by the Bulls, my choices would be:

0) Alonzo Mourning, UFA, pipe dream.
1) Joel Przybilla, UFA. He has a lot of things going against him, but he's still better than the alternatives. He lives in Wisconsin, so we might be more attractive than the Spurs and other WC teams.
2) Jackie Butler, RFA. He's a post scorer. He's had some good rebounding and shotblocking games. He can apparently hit his free throws. He's not a 35-minute starter, but with Dale Davis in a regular backup role and McSheed spending some time at C, he'd probably be serviceable.
3) Michael Olowokandi, UFA. He's big, strong, and has played for Flip before. His downside is obvious.
4) Try to sign a free agent power forward like Gooden or Wilcox.
5) Kelvin Cato/Scot Pollard/Mario Kasun/Jarron Collins/Cheick Samb

Doesn't look good!

Pryzbilla just doesn't get me excited at all. Maybe I haven't watched him play enough, but I have almost no recolection of him even being on the court against the Pistons.

I think I would rather have Cheick Samb start of the Candyman.

Mourning is the dream if you can't resign Ben.

Too bad the Clipps aren't giving up Kaman. He seems to have Pistons DNA.

Of those 2 options, I'd take #1.

I'd much rather have Rip than Magloire and Bonzi.

#1. I hope it doesn't have to come to this though.

Agree that Rip's too much to give up in that scenario, but I don't have any better ideas. I love Wilcox, but don't know how we can get him.

Isn't the MLE for $5 million? Won't Bonzi Wells command at least $7-8 million? Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't see how the Pistons can sign Bonzi.

Samb is our savior!!