Empty the Bench

It’s almost like the 2003 NBA Draft didn’t happen from the perspective of Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons. Gone is Darko “Mailing It In” Milicic, the #2 overall pick, and yesterday, the Pistons moved their other first-round pick from ‘03, sending swingman Carlos Delfino to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a second-round picks in 2009 and 2011.

Milicic accomplished little more than a few bad haircuts during his tenure with Detroit, and though the 24-year-old Delfino made some positive strides during the 2006/07 season–particularly with his overall hustle and man-to-man defense–he was never able to cement himself as a consistent threat off the bench who could always be counted on to produce. When he was on, he was capable of making an impact; when he was off, he resembled a high-school JV player.

Joe Dumars sent him off with this classic by-the-book quote: “We appreciate everything Carlos did for us while he was here, and we wish him all the best with Toronto.” Yep, it was clearly a sad, sad day for Dumars to depart with Delfino.

The three-year veteran from Argentina gets a new lease on life in Toronto, a team that’s building itself into a modern-day Baskin Robbins with something like 31 different nationalities on the roster (instead of ice-cream flavors. Our favorite was always the chocolate and peanut butter). He will likely come off the bench like he did in Detroit, competing for minutes with Joey Graham, Juan Dixon, and Kris Humphries. This likely means the end of Morris Peterson’s up-and-down career with the Raptors.

For Detroit, this move wasn’t so much about scoring two more future draft picks as it was freeing up cap space and a spot in the rotation for someone more reliable and/or a clearer future as a part of the franchise. One possibility could see 2005 second-round pick Alex Acker, a 6-5 shooting guard, return from Greece’s Olympiacos, where he averaged 16.5 points and 7.5 boards boards last season. Although he will be a power forward in this league, this could open up more minutes, by default, for Amir Johnson. These picks could become part of a larger trade package. But one very legitimate rumor making the rounds is that Joe Dumars will now make a heavy pitch to one-time Piston Grant Hill to sign for part of the team’s mid-level exception and return to the site of his glory days:

Friday’s trade cleared $1.86 million from next year’s books and opened a spot for a backup swingman. The Pistons have interest in speaking with at least one — former Piston Grant Hill — when he becomes a free agent from Orlando on July 1.

We could not confirm reports that Hill could be further persuaded to come back to Detroit strictly because he wouldn’t have to wear those *ugly* turquoise or teal or whatever jerseys the Pistons rocked for a spell in the 90s. There have been a lot of cries for this team to “get younger” in the wake of their embarassing playoffs loss to the Cavaliers, and they will with two first-round picks in the draft and Johnson and Jason Maxiell taking on more minutes.

But Hill would be a real nice addition behind Tayshaun Prince. Health will always be an issue, but unlike in Orlando, where he was heavily counted on to carry a good part of the offensive load and log more minutes than he really should be at this point in his career, Hill would play a complimentary role in Detroit, likely playing no more than 20-22 minutes a night. Last season, in averaging about 30 minutes per in 65 contests, Hill put up 14.4 points, 3.7 boards, 2.1 assists, 51% FG, and almost a steal a game. The Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs are also rumored to be interested in his services, but we feel his best option is with the Pistons, where he will be guaranteed consistent playing time.