Sammy Mejia waived

It may not have anything to do with "wanting Dupree", it's just that sometimes you need a salary to throw in the deal to make the numbers work. Dupree's salary is more useful in that respect than Mejia's would be. If you waive Dupree, you lose that salary "chip" that you may have needed to make a beneficial trade work.

The decision really had to be made on the basis of financial implications.

Good point KP.

The problem is Dupree will still be here at the end of the season as he has already killed one deal...:yukpuke:

I think the most reasonable explanation here is that Mejia may not be good enough to play in the NBA.

Let's not murky up the issue by bringing up his lack of talent.

Makes sense to me, especially that last part.

You kiddin me? According to 356 he's the next coming!

i think it came down to position. we've got chauncey/rip/flip/stuckey/afflalo, while for the 3 we have tayshaun/hayes/dupree. we can afford an injury at the 1/2 much more than the 3

To what deal are you refering?

I believe that Mejia had an ankle injury (another player with an ankle injury this pre-season, it must be the sneakers LOL) which slowed him down quite a bit and did not allow him to get much playing time. This is never good for a rookie, especially a late second round pick with only a partially guaranteed contract. It certainly did nothing to help his chances of sticking with the team even going to the D league.

Does anyone know if there is some kind of informal agreement among the teams as to how many rookies they can place on their D league team? It seems to me that most of the guys playing in the D league are not rookies but have been around for a few years, many undrafted, trying to get a chance at an NBA roster spot.

on a sidenote, this was pretty surprising. at the pistons crew member party last thursday, all of the players were there to sign autographs except stuckey (who had broke his hand the night before), and dupree. mejia was there signing with samb. seemed logical that they were keeping him.

sidenote 2, whoever was handing people's objects to sheed for him to autograph...refused to give him my gray marker to sign my dark blue basketball, so you can hardly read it. thanks lady.

"We know Dupree," president Joe Dumars said. "We understand what he brings."

That seems to be Joe's official explanation.


After Mejia's summer league, the Pistons must have thought he played well, which convinced them to sign him to a contract for half a million bucks.

Was that a total waste of money?


I liked what I saw of Mejia, but I also like Dupree. All in all, It's not that big of a deal.

Had to be Joe being guided by Billups agent. So now everybody is happy Billups was convinced by his agent he is being paid fairly. Sammy cashed a nice check and showed some skill. The agent proves he gets money for even second round players so he signs more players. Joe in essence paid a little extortion or insurance policy to the tune of 485K. Am I being a realist or cynical here?

About $200K, right?

I think it was "partially" guaranteed, which means that we pay him through 1/10/08, pro rata.

But my main man, Flip Saunders, said not to worry about him because he's got money now. He couldn't have possibly meant a couple grand.