Pistons general manager Joe Dumars was able to keep Tayshaun Prince in Detroit with a four-year deal worth a reported $27 million. This was apparently a top priority for the rebuilding Piston, but it's a curious decision and one that did not sit well with many Pistons fans.
In fact, the news kind of sent Mike Payne off the deep end at SB Nation's Pistons blog, Detroit Bad Boys. Here's some choice words from Payne's post titled "Re-Signing Tayshaun Prince is a massive mistake..."
In a word? Buffoonery. Do you all know what that means? This is a waste of cap-limited resources, a hindrance on youth development, a reward for bad character and a poor investment in an already-declining asset. For a team that needed to break down before it could rebuild, the Pistons just took another step back toward continued mediocrity.
You know what stings so badly about this? Over the last year, Pistons fans have been waiting patiently for the sale of the team, the transition to new ownership and the resulting changes that could lead the team back to relevance. Pistons GM Joe Dumars "had his hands tied" and there was nothing he could do to clean up the mess of a roster he had constructed. Now, in the wee hours before post-lockout free agency begins, the first move of the Tom Gores era happens. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we have all been waiting for.
But tell 'em how you *really* feel!
Prince averaged 14.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season, but he also butted heads with head coach John Kuester, who has since been fired. Even with the coach gone, it's somewhat surprising to see Prince opt to stay in Detroit under any price tag.
For the latest news and fan perspective, visit our Pistons blog, Detroit Bad Boys.