Flip on the other hand is not exactly known for his ability to handle problem cases. If we had Brown as coach, I would say fine. Brown would give a good kick in the butt or two or three or whatever is needed to make sure that he didn't misbehave. Flip on the other hand will not be able to handle him.

If we did not have the rookies then I would say go for it. At some point the Pistons have to start developing players again and Smith would be harder to resist playing over the rookies than Murry would be.

In short we don't need a Smith or a Murry. Certainly not a Dupree. They should just buy him out and be done with it.

Talent is talent. Joe can turn J.R. into a lot more than Flip Jr if he doesn't work out.

If the Nuggets are wanting to make this trade happen I would have to wonder if Joe is crazy for not pulling it off for the upside alone.

Waive Dupree. Buy him out. Don't let him hold up a trade of this potential magnitude.

I do not want to have to give Super Dupe the nickname "dealbreaker" for the rest of the season.

Smith could be big help in the scoring department. Even if he runs into problems his contract is only for 1 year, so the risk is not great. It could even cost Flip his job.

That would be the max upside, according to many of us Pistons' fans.

Au Contraire, Flip is sketchy when it comes to guys that he has to play (because they are the most talented players at their positions), like Wallace and Wallace.

But compared to LB4LB, Flip let the likes of Darko and Delfino fizzle out like bad farts. Not half the drama from the bench warmers that we were treated to with Brown around.

The acquisition of Smith would be akin to spending your change on a lottery ticket instead of tossing it into the ashtray of your car. Upside is you hit the lottery, downside is a few quarters less in the ashtray.

Smith's situation in Denver and with the Hornets is completely different from what it would be here. He was expected to be their starting 2 guard with those other teams. Here he'll be lucky to come off the bench.

That's quite a kick in the pants and Flipper won't have to do anything for it to land square in J.R.'s behind.

The way I look at it, Flip can challenge Stuckey for minutes at both guard positions, Smith cannot. If anything this move would effectively help the youth movement.

I like your thinking on this one.

Yep. I remember once last year seeing him jump up over the back of some big guy, reach down and grab a rebound from him, reach up and dunk, land, and was halfway down the court before anyone knew what happened.

Yeah, he's a loon.

And Slippy has a good point about the point.

I don't really like the logic that by taking away options, it helps the youth. If that is such a good thing, then just get a coach who understands. Then you can keep the vet on the bench and insert them when necessary.

We are basically hoping for a lineup that takes decision making away from Saunders.

Actually, I'd really be hoping that J.R. Smith could realize his full potential were he ever to wear a Pistons uniform.

That's the upside IMO. The downside is that he could be just as useless as Flip Murray will probably be when May '08 comes around.