i think the point of the article is that since Darko has finally been stepping it up, Dice becomes a tradeable commodity. given JoeD's history of trading away players he is close to (Hunter, Stack), it shouldn't be assume that he will keep Dice just for sentimental reasons. if someone approaches JoeD this season with a great trade for Dice, he'll definitely consider it.

I see your point, but I'm still with Micro with the thought that I like having him as an insurance policy in case one of our other bigs take a fall which is pertinent with most BIGs in this league (Gotta love Arnie). Plus he fits in ("chemistry" as mentioned by Crastinator) very well with our team.

That's what I got from the article too.

I don't see a big log jam. Darko is still unproven. He deserves to have playing time this season but I would not deal anyone until he can produce on a regular basis and stay out of foul trouble. Isn't foul trouble what hurt us in the Finals?


Dice should not be logging more than 20mins a game anyway so I don't see the need to move him. There is plenty of room for Darko to get 10 to 15 mins a game also.

It's funny and amazing that we're even discussing this in harmony. With the play of DMC nobody is saying that HE will be the one to leave. As silly as it sounds this is all a testament to Darko. The fact that he is showing enough on the court to raise discussion of how to get him more PT is amazing. Alas the fact remains that this year we're set, BUT!! going into DMC's 5th year, where he'll be under a new contract someone has to depart. so let's see the options

#1) Ben (6'9"-yeah OK), we LOVE Ben, Ben is PISTON basketball, we owe Ben as much as Ben owes us. That leaves DMC (7'), Sheed (6'11"), & Dyess (6'9") and J-Max. That leaves us 4 deep up front with good length, and talent.

#2) Sheed, leaves us with 3 players under 6'9, if he goes that leaves us pretty small up front.

#3) Dyess, leaves us with 2 players about 7' and Ben and J-Max.

Yeah, I get that and I agree that's what ASB was trying to say. What I didn't get was how it was possible to trade Dice now because I didn't understand the nuances of the no trade clause. Because he has to agree to it, trading him is really contingent upon his concern over losing minutes because of Darko's continued improved performance. The thing is, none of this is going to happen before the 15 man roster needs to be finalized. Therefore a Dupree vs. Dice conversation makes no sense (implied in my confused mind by his setup, I get it now that he didn't mean it right way). I don't want to see Dice go anywhere, but I get how it might be in his best interest next year.

Keeping Dyess this whole season is a no brainer to me. I'd entertain a few things going into the 06/07 season, and I'd definitely move him going into the 07/08 season. Dyess' contract expires after 07/08, more attrcative to teams more than the player himself. In the the 07/08 season ideally we would have Ben and Tay making around 10 mill per. Assuming all that we would be looking at around a $75 mill payroll with this roster and a new Darko contract that pays him around $10 mill. That year Dyess, Arroyo, and Chauncey have expiring contracts worth about $17 mill. The next season you have Sheed's expiring deal of $13,680,000.00. Ol Billy D is going to have to pay some lux tax in 07/08 whether he likes it or not.

If the youth of this team really develops, Joe can do something that only 2 other teams have done, The old Celts and Lakers. A situation where you stay in contention for years with different team cores. Pretty nice company Joe. Chi didn't do it, Utah only did it because Stocton and Malone played for like 100 years, you could argue Portland, but c'mon, did anyone ever expect those teams to win it all vs the Pistons, then Bulls, then Lakers....NOT.

Dice can't/won't be traded unless he requests a trade...
the only way that happens if he get no PT... he's not working towards his next contract... If Darko improves to the point where he's more productive than Dice then Dice becomes our injury insurance
I think DMC's next natural progression is to squeeze minutes from Dice... he could easily get 22-24 minutes in 06/07
Then we start talking about pushing the other bigs...
But for now let's see if he can rebound...stay out of foul trouble and consistently hit his shots.

__________________
With politicians the future lies ahead

It just dawned on me...
This is the first year we've had a healthy and in shape Ben & Sheed to start a season... scary huh