Grant Hill would make a lot of questions go away. Barring Grant, I think that these two have to be a the top of the list. Both defend. Both are best suited to bench roles. Age difference is a nonfactor here. Do we need a slasher or a shooter? Are we happy with either?

Discuss.

Definitely need a slasher to keep the drfense guessing. You are right as it relates to age as both turn 30 this year. Mason scored more last year, 13.7 to 8.9 but he also started where Mopete was a bench guy. What suprises me is that Mo is 2 inches taller at 6'7. Mo also has the three point game where as Mason does not. In this case I would have to go with Mo.

Desmond can only slash. His shooting is erratic at best. I like his athleticism but I would prefer mopete.

Was that a good gurgle, a bad gurgle, or just a random personal gurgle, completely independent of outside influence?

I don't want to think about FAs without upside. Yet.

I can't think of any free agent swingmen with "upside", brother. If you've got a name, then I'd love to hear it. Barnes can't defend, and I'm being kind when I say that he's a viable scorer if all your looking for is jumpshots. He does make some decent plays for looseballs, but is there an upside?

I can't see Stack coming back to play a bench role.

On a lighter note, I wouldn't discount the possibility of Joe using Nazr, Flip jr., picks, prospects, and other assorted trash for someone interesting. Honestly though, from a strategic perspective, a quality stop-gap at the 2/3 makes more sense for this offseason. A long term replacement can be found at a later date.

We've got a hell of a scorer at the 2 in Stucky (this kid can score the ball), and a rock-solid role player in Affalo (yes, he can defend the 3). I would like to see a solid slasher added, and a pivot would always be good, but pivots are hard to find.

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"I'm still glad that we didn't shake their hands," Bill Laimbeer said Wednesday. "They were whiners and criers. Piss on them."

Actually, Barnes is a pretty good defender. Mason is too erratic. Mo Pete would be an option if he'd agree to come in less than the exception which I highly doubt he'd agree to.

I'd have to say Barnes is a pretty good defender, just ask the Dallas Mavs, during the playoffs i counted him guarding 4 different positions and all pretty well. The guy comes with energy and can shoot the three, drive and finish, i think he'd be a good bench guy. But if you're going for these two cats i'd pick Mo Pete, he's got history here (Michigan) and i think he'd work better.

Peterson's a better offensive player and rebounder; Mason might have an edge defensively but both are pretty mediocre.

But why would the Pistons bring in either of these players? Is there a gap large enough to accomodate either of their skillsets, barring a trade of Rip or Tayshaun?