The circumstances are sad (in regards to JR), but Arron Afflalo will likely be allowed to take advantage of them.

Afflalo is the favorite to start in Smith’s spot during his suspension, according to the Denver Post.

The loss of Dahntay Jones and Linas Kleiza left a pretty damn big gap in the Nuggets rotation, especially defensively. Guess who fit right in? Our own Mr. Afflalo, who Karl practically picked up by saying ‘please’ with those big puppy eyes of his.

If you were with me earlier this summer, you may recall my “Please Joe, don’t give Arron away” rant that was posted about three hours prior to Afflalo’s departure. And wouldn’t ya know it, but everyone in Denver just loves the kid.

In almost a sick, twisted reversal of fortune, George Karl raves about Arron, calling him “tremendous” and saying that “the coaching staff loves him.” And of course, Chauncey had to throw his two cents in too, just to make it sting a little more.

Ugh, more depressing news from the Piston Post. I’ve gotta start popping Prozacs before I post or something.

The next post will be a happy one, I promise.

Portland is still trying to pry Tayshaun Prince out of Detroit in a three-way deal with Utah, but Pistons president Joe Dumars hasn’t shown an inclination to move Prince and extend Boozer’s contract, league sources say. Several league executives are dubious of Boozer as a $14 million-a-year player, which his agent, Rob Pelinka, has told teams it will take to sign him to an extension. Miami could be the suitor willing to pay it.

-Yahoo Sports

The Denver Post reported Sunday that the Nuggets and Pistons were arranging a deal that would send the Pistons’ Arron Afflalo to Denver to clear cap space, which brings me to my first point.

Afflalo’s paycheck this coming season would total all of $1.09 million. In the sports world, that’s pocket change. Not even pocket change. Walter Sharpe nearly gets paid that much, and the only time fans usually see him is during timeouts, where he can be spotted in the second row donning his finest designer suit.

What Afflalo brings to the Pistons is rare. He brings a work ethic, he brings backcourt defense, and he brings an ever-improving jump shot. The front office is always talking about how important a positive attitude and hard work is to becoming a contender, so why would they think about getting rid of the one guy that does those things best?

The answer: there is none.

Like so many puzzling moves the Pistons have made over the past five years, there’s a good chance this will become the latest cherry on top of the team’s Cupcake of Confusion.

Part of the disarray lies in Dumars’ fear of commitment: six coaches in ten years, letting valuable free agents go, and, in Arron Afflalo’s case, ousting young guys before they can come to fruition.

Ironically, that fear of commitment was briefly overlooked when he signed Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to respective five-year contracts. The contract lengths were head-scratchers, due to their streakiness and poor defense.

Newly-hired Pistons coach John Kuester, who was an assistant to Larry Brown, has already stated that he wants to emphasize defense. How many players on the current Pistons roster can boast about their defense? Two or three, tops.

Why not lock up 1/58th of your cap space on a player who meshes with Kuester’s system perfectly?

Joe only knows…

Also found at The Western Herald.

Can’t really put this one on Joe Dumars either, if Avery was really demanding a long-term contract at $4-5 million a year, it doesn’t really fit into the rebuilding equation.

It looks like the position will now be between Cavs’ assistant coach John Kuester and Celtics’ assistant Tom Thibodeau. Hope those assistant coaches don’t turn out like the last assistant coach Detroit hired.

By VINCE ELLIS • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • July 7, 2009

Pistons president of operations Joe Dumars confirmed this afternoon that Avery Johnson is no longer in the running for the Detroit Pistons head coaching vacancy.

The announcement was made after the two sides could not come to terms on a contract.

It is widely believed that Cleveland Cavaliers assistant John Kuester is now the favorite to get the job, but Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau remains under serious consideration.

Johnson, currently an ESPN studio analyst, has a career winning percentage of nearly 75% and was once two wins from an NBA title. It was believed that type of resume made his asking price a bit steep. There were also reports that Johnson, 44, wanted a say in personnel matters, something Dumars was unlikely to be open to.

It now appears that Dumars will turn to Kuester, 54, a longtime assistant who has never been a head coach at the professional level but was a member of Larry Brown’s staff in 2004 when the Pistons won the title.

I’m actually pretty surprised he signed with Boston, considering his playing time will be considerably lower compared to signing with the Magic or Spurs. The Celtics will likely use their mid-level exception and sign him for two years. $5.6 million is a bargain for Sheed will probably do when he’s on a Boston roster that actually motivates him.

I will remember Sheed like I remember Michael Jackson: blocking out all the “questionable” things he did in his career. I guess that includes signing with the Boston Celtics. Guess I should’ve seen it coming.

From Boston Globe:

An NBA source said tonight that Detroit free agent forward Rasheed Wallace has committed to sign with the Celtics on July 8 when free agents are able to sign. Wallace is expected to get a two-year deal using the mid-level exception (expected to be about $5.6 million to $5.8 million). Celtics All-Star trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, owner Wyc Grousbeck, coach Doc Rivers and president Danny Ainge met with Wallace last week. Wallace turned down overtures from Orlando and San Antonio to commit to Boston.
The Celtics also have interest in Suns free agent forward Grant Hill. Despite a Fanhouse report that Rivers was to meet with Hill today in Orlando, its uncertain if he did and Rivers declined comment. All Boston can offer is the $1.9 million bi-annual exception.

Regardless, in the amount of time it took for Magic fans to read the article, Rasheed did a complete 180 from a no-good cry baby to an impeccable team player and all-around great guy. Newly ordained Sheed-worshippers commented relentlessly, and 78% of the poll voters agreed that he would fit like a glove in Orlando’s system. He would put the Magic in a lock for the championship, they said. Despicable!

But wait. How many Pistons fans thought about Rasheed in the same manner before February 19, 2004? I’m willing to bet it was a good amount.

—

For many, when the Billups-Iverson trade was announced, A.I. was golden. Finally, an energetic superstar who could penetrate the lane and had the heart of a lion. He could do no wrong. We laughed when he made his press conference “practice” allusion and we couldn’t wait for Allen to take us to the next level.

By the end of the seaons, Allen Iverson was an old, greedy, washed-up NBA antique whom the Pistons should’ve stayed as far away from as possible. Many wanted Chauncey back.

—

Ever since Boston purchased their All Star team, I’ve despised the Big Three. Yes, I hate the way Ray Allen chews gum. Yes, I hate how good Paul Pierce is at mid-range fadeaways. And yes, I think Kevin Garnett needs to lower the dose of whatever medication he’s taking.

But the truth is, when the Celtics offered us Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen, I was all over it. Rondo…a flopper? Never. He’s a future All-Star! Allen…a lucky shot-hog? Never. He’s a future Hall-of-Famer! I’ve always found it disturbing that Rajon Rondo ends up on the ground after every lay-up, but to be honest, I’d be happy to have him do it in a Pistons jersey. If the offer wasn’t so lopsided, many would have thought the same way.

Call it desperation if  you will, the desire to have a team that’s on top again. But we’re all just hypocrites in the end…in the sports world at least.

Last season however, Carlos Boozer was injured for half the season. From November 24 to January 7, in Boozer’s absence, Paul Millsap scored a double-double every single game. his streak beat out Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, and all the other big names. All from a guy who was making $800,000 a year.

We could have 17 Paul Millsap’s for the price of one Sheed!

In all seriousness, there would be a pay increase, and a good one at that. But he’ll still be a bargain. Boozer got $12.5 million last season and that number will stay the same or increase due to his relative youth.

Millsap has four years on Boozer, he puts up around the same numbers when he takes his place, and he’s more explosive.

Heck, maybe Paul could even teach Kwame Brown a thing or two.

“The Celtics offered Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo to the Detroit Pistons for a package that included Richard Hamilton,Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.”

Mind you, the trade was rejected.

First of all, this is from a reliable writer and I believe it really did go down. This isn’t the usual summer rumor mill garbage.

Second, I’ve seen a lot of negative reaction from Pistons fans and to be honest, it’s puzzling.

Sure, if this trade was offered to you in NBA Live, it should be promptly rejected. However, this is the NBA. There are pocketbooks and salaries. The Pistons need to clear cap space.

Some key points:

• Rip is locked up until 2012 at over $11 million a year and he’s declining. He recovered nicely mid-season, but we all know he will never be the same without Chauncey Billups at his side. It’s time for Dumars to reverse the mistake of extending his contract that long.
• Tayshaun is almost 30 and let’s face it, he’s not very reliable. His glory days of successfully putting a body on Kobe or LeBron are behind him.
• I love Rodney Stuckey, but he is not The Messiah. Dumars blocked any offers in the 2008 offseason with the famous “sacred cow” bit. We gave him a year to show his stuff; he had some nice 30+ point games, but it was on-and-off all season, in true Piston fashion. Yes, he will improve, but how optimistic can we realistically be?
• Ray Allen is old, but he has an expiring contract. He’s off the books next summer, the “summer of love.”
• Rajon Rondo is overrated due to his surrounding cast. Regardless, he can penetrate better than Stuckey and has some ridiculous jets. I’ve heard that he’s a nuisance in the locker room, but we’ve dealt with Rasheed Wallace, how much harder can it be? Isn’t that what we hired Michael Curry for anyway?

I will concur that, in lieu of the apparent fan outrage, possibly one more decent body be thrown in from the Celtics’ side. I don’t think Leon Powe would have been too outrageous. But changes need to happen. How are the ever going to occur if our front office shoots legit offers down every time they surface?