2008-2009 Finish: 48-34

What went well

Detroit GM Dert had one goal in mind going into the 2008/09 season: get out of the first round of the playoffs. In his seven year history as GM, the Pistons failed to make the playoffs three times and never made it out of the first round the other four. While some other longtime GMs never made the playoffs (see Utah), it must be frustrating for Dert to bow out so early each and every year.

Dert has always been an active GM, whether it be trading or signing and releasing the same players numerous times over a season, but when this past season began, many of his key players were free agents. Luckily, Dert's longevity in the league has helped him accrue a good rapport with his players and the triumvirate of Carlos Boozer, Gerald Wallace and Mehmet Okur re-signed with the team. Gerald Green came back as well, but with limited coffers, Dert could only afford to sign no-impact guys Dwayne Jones and Jeremy Richardson.

The one thing that seems to keep the Pistons from being truly great is the lack of a quality starting point guard. Once again, the Pistons started the season strong but the lack of a true floor general never elevated them beyond good. But two weeks in the season, Dert pulled a trade that inched the team closer to meeting that goal. He sent Rashad McCants and Jason Maxiell to the Bucks for Delonte West and the rights to Stanko Barac. West, a huge improvement over Jordan Farmar and Marcus Williams, was ready to lead the team forth. And everyone around the league was thrilled to hear nothing more from McCants.


What didn't

The Pistons had a strong season, playing well despite Dert's constant tweaks to the lineup. Nene Hilario, recovered from testicular cancer, had a career season while Carlos Boozer found another reason to sit on the bench for most of the games. Though Dert brought in some inconsequential FAs as the season progressed, he did add Dikembe Mutombo, giving the big man an opportunity to win before he hung them up. Right before the trade deadline, Dert pulled off another major trade, shipping Wallace and Williams to the Bulls for Ron Artest and Thomas Gardner. Would Artest be enough to push the Pistons out of the first round? Nope. They lost to Toronto 4-2.

Stars

- Nene Hilario, FC-

Talk about turning it around! Hilario goes from being perennial goat to bagging a season that only the elite big men in the league can brag about. He jacked his scoring output up to 12.6 points per game after the medical nightmare of last season. Best of all, check out the games column. Nene played in 78! Let's hope his health problems are all over.


- Mehmet Okur, C –
Outside of 63 games with the Suns, Okur has played the rest of his NLL career in Detroit. Though he usually upstaged by flashier players, Okur may very well be the heart of this Detroit franchise. This past season was enough great one, as the big guy scored 12.4 points per game and grabbed 8.4 boards. He must love Detroit too as he just grabbed his player option for another year.


Goat

- Carlos Boozer, FC–

There is always something up with Boozer. Ever since he left Cleveland holding the bag in 2004, Boozer seems to be injured, upset or constipated enough to either a) miss games or b) complain about his current team situation. No one expected him to re-sign with Detroit, but when he did, he grabbed that $12 million and...sat on the bench. That's a lot of dough for 38 games. And though he is signed for another year, Boozer has already complained to the press about staying in Detroit, hoping for the warmth and palm trees of someplace like Miami. Welcome back to Goatsville, Booz.

Looking to the future

The Pistons wasted no time making changes after its annual early bow-out. They first shipped Nene (unwisely?) to the Bobcats for the youthful combo of Aaron Brooks, Brandon Rush and Denham Brown. Brooks showed flashes of brilliance and could be that starting guard the team hoped for. Brooks is much like Green, an enigmatic athletic freak that may never be more than that. The other big trade was sending Jason Richardson to Boston for goats Jamaal Tinsley and Eddy Curry. Though the league laughed at first when the deal was announced, Dert already has agreed with a buyout for Tinsley. Could Curry be next?

In the draft, the Piston grabbed Wayne Ellington at pick 22. The buzz has been strong surrounding the North Carolina junior with many other teams rumored to have considered him earlier. The pundits think another year in college could have helped the undersized guard, but now he will be a project for Dert.

So where do the Pistons stand? It looks like Okur and Brooks are locked into the lineup. Who knows what will happen with Boozer. West can hold down the 2 spot and Rush could be called on to start in the wing. Artest is a big question mark as it is likely he may leave. But Detroit has a good record with retaining players. It could be the beginning of a rebuilding phase for the team, especially if Curry is eating up $13 million of the cap. Right now, this team is barely ready for the floor without knowing what will happen with Artest, Tinsley, Boozer and Curry. Changes will need to come quick for Detroit if they even want to make to the first round this season.