With the results of the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery in, teams can begin to look forward to their selections in the upcoming draft. The New Orleans Hornets have won the lottery and will be picking first in the 2012 draft, but after the first pick the draft, decisions are a lot less clear cut. Kentucky's Anthony Davis stands to be drafted first overall, and the chips may not fall predictably from number 2 on out. There's a related question fans may begin asking themselves in Detroit-- should the Pistons, picking 9th, attempt to move up for a wider selection in this deep draft?

Trading up in the NBA draft is never a buyer's market. A high lottery pick is golden on the trade market for the seller, while buyers may mortgage a bit too much to attempt a draft-day blockbuster. The question to ask is simple-- would any of the top lottery teams consider parting with their picks for a Pistons asset? If Greg Monroe is on the table, they'd be wise to listen. If the Pistons are offering, they'd be wise to stop. Let's explore the top picks and see who might be open to a trade by draft day on June 28th:

1. New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets, having traded Chris Paul, are in need for the best, cheapest star player they can get their hands on. There is no greater promise to a team like the Hornets than Anthony Davis, and there is no one standing in their way for this pick. Unless Pat Riley makes a last minute call to Dell Demps, there should be nothing to make NOLA pause for a second on their draft day planning.

Will the Hornets trade down? As unlikely as it gets.

2. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats have a horrible roster with a world of promise. They've got a team full of expiring assets for next season and are in a position to rebuild better than most teams that need it. The fact that Anthony Davis is off the board might actually be a good thing for Charlotte. They need a dynamic scorer that doesn't suck on the other end, and Thomas Robinson might be the best draft option they could hope for. Things are about to change for the Bobcats, and by this time next summer they might become a fast-rising team to watch out for.

Will the Bobcats trade down? Very unlikely*.

*the only note is that Rich Cho is a smart MFer and I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled a trade of the #2 for two later lottery picks. This is the type of guy who walks out of the draft with Kendall Marshall and Jared Sullinger in tow.

3. Washington Wizards

The Wizards are in need of... everything but a point guard. They need cheap, potential star talent in a bad way, and that's precisely what will be available to them at number 3. If they choose Michael-Kidd Gilchrist, they're golden. I don't know why this franchise would over-think that. If they stick to their guns, they're due a dramatic improvement on the wing.

Will the Wizards trade down? As unlikely as it gets.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers made out brilliantly in the 2011 draft, taking Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. This team has needed wings for ages, and they're in a great position to fill that need in June. Bradley Beal, Harrison Barnes-- expect them to land right here on draft night. Sure, Cleveland could trade down or out, but why reach for a more expensive option for a squad so young and promising?

Will the Cavaliers trade down? As unlikely as it gets.

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The interest in looking at the top four picks and their likelihood to trade is telling. Beyond these four, is there any reason for Detroit to attempt to move up to pick between 5 and 8? At this point in the draft, Detroit would be looking at marginal wing players and combo guards that the team doesn't need. Andre Drummond might be selected in this range, but that's a great thing for the Pistons as it pushes other prospects lower. Even including Drummond, is there any reason the Pistons should seek to move up for a higher draft?

In short, no. There is no player in the 5-8 range that is attractive enough that Detroit should consider giving up an asset to pick higher. As far as trade assets go, we've been pretty explicit about who is a trade asset and who is not. Detroit would have to give up something real to move up, and chances are the price would be too high. Now if the Pistons can use a mid-tier roster player like Brandon Knight to acquire another pick, that's something to discuss on its own.

There's no real value in attempting to trade up this season. The top four picks are where the concrete value lies, and the teams that hold those picks should have no reason for moving down. After those picks, the next four don't hold a lot of value for the Pistons' roster needs.

While it has been very different in the past, this draft is different. There's no apparently greater opportunity or value in trading up in the 2012 NBA draft. There should be real value on the board at #9, and looking higher only complicates the very difficult job of player analysis. If you're picking 6th or 9th in this draft, you might be equally liable for an upset come November. Personally, I would have loved to have earned the 6th pick naturally-- but keeping this pick and holding on to the rest of the team's assets seems like the wise option today.

The results are in and the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery is complete. The New Orleans Hornets have won the 1st pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and are likely to select Anthony Davis from Kentucky first overall. The Detroit Pistons, given the 9th best odds in lottery seeding, will select 9th overall on June 28th.

Immediately, the reaction around the league amongst fans and sport personalities was to question the curiosity that the team the league currently owns has earned the #1 pick in the draft. The New Orleans Hornets, who are currently processing their sale to Saints owner Tom Benson, won the first pick with the 4th best odds in the draft lottery. Apparently, fans, players and sports writers are questioning whether or not there was a conspiracy behind this lottery.

Detroit didn't win the draft lottery, so an easy reaction would be to point the finger at the league for this coincidence. Players on lottery teams can be upset that their team didn't get the best help it could have in this draft, and they can tweet that something fishy is going on. Sports writers are going to hear this buzz from fans and write articles wondering if there is a conspiracy to generate pageviews. None of them, not fans, not players and not sports writers can do anything about it.

It's a coincidence, and Pistons fans would be best suited to focusing on what to do with the pick the team did receive-- number 9 in the 2012 NBA Draft.

There is amazing talent slated to be available at number 9 in the 2012 draft. Players like Kendall Marshall and Jared Sullinger may be on the board when Detroit is picking, which is a very, very exciting prospect. Anthony Davis could have been the perfect pairing to Greg Monroe, but there are guys who were playing like all stars in the NCAA who should be available when Detroit makes their pick.

Yes, the fact that the Pistons did not win the lottery sucks. Instead of blaming the NOLA conspiracy on David Stern, those meaningless April wins were what gave Detroit the 9th best odds. When we're ready to put blame aside, there's a lot to get excited about between now and June 28th. You may not know me as an optimist, but I'll celebrate optimism when it visits in such a tangible manner.

The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery is tonight, and this is your open thread to discuss the results (and/or hopefully celebrate). What happens tonight will drive much of the discussion amongst Pistons fans for the next month until the 2012 NBA Draft begins. Will the Pistons win the Anthony Davis run-off? Will a lower pick involve a harder decision about the team's future? We'll find out tonight at 8:00p.m. EST.

2012 NBA Draft Lottery Required Reading:

• Kevin Sawyer's 2012 NBA Draft Ranking
• Our official defense that the Pistons should win tonight's lottery
• Pistons 2011 draft pick Brandon Knight will represent Detroit tonight in New Jersey
• PistonPowered's Patrick Hayes completes his DraftDreams series with a look at the top prize in the lottery tonight

If you have a lucky rabbit's foot, t-shirt or beer coozie, tonight's a good night to pull it out. There's a whole lot of promise at the top of the 2012 NBA Draft, and boy could this team use a stroke of luck.

With the NBA Draft Lottery just hours away, SB Nation's Tom Ziller asks "who deserves to win the NBA Draft's Anthony Davis sweepstakes?" Each NBA team's SBN counterpart was invited to defend their own team and explain why they deserve the big prize. I weighed in for the Detroit Pistons:

If there truly are basketball gods, they should be smiling on the Detroit Pistons for the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery. Why? Detroit's ninth lottery placement belies just how difficult this season was -- instead it reflects how hard the Pistons fought until the very end.

The 4-21 start in Detroit was worse than those numbers indicate. After pacing the Bobcats for the worst record in the league, Detroit ultimately figured it out and ended up ninth in the lottery standings. But those 21 losses to start the season were worse than they appeared. Despite standing ninth in the lottery, Detroit matched Washington for the fifth worst margin of victory in the league. The pain for the Pistons was worse than the standings suggest, as the team tallied demoralizing loss after demoralizing loss.

After that 21st loss, the Pistons started figuring things out. While the schedule helped, the change was undeniable. After that 4-21 start, Detroit played .500 ball to finish the season.

When Detroit was finally playing playoff-caliber basketball, the rest of the lottery teams were figuring out how to lose. Toronto, Cleveland, New Jersey, and Golden State were all ahead of the Pistons in the standings at the trade deadline. They all leap-frogged Detroit on the gold rush of lottery-driven losses. Should they be rewarded for their failings, or should the basketball gods honor the team that went down to the lottery fighting its hardest in years?

Does Detroit need to win the lottery as bad as the Bobcats? No. Does Detroit deserve to win the lottery? Absolutely. It may go against common thought to reward a lottery team for winning, but the lottery was designed to prevent losing strategies. For a team so riddled with bad contracts, bad decisions and a rocky recent history, I think it's about time they deserve a break. And can you imagine a better pairing for Anthony Davis than Greg Monroe? Basketball gods, are you listening?

Aside from the aforementioned Greg Monroe, the basketball gods have been pretty rough on the Pistons over the last several years. While there are teams that are clearly in worse shape than the Pistons (see: Bobcats, Charlotte), it's hard to argue that there is a team as deserving as Detroit when the lottery balls drop tonight, homer or not.

Some may recall the involved debate here on DetroitBadBoys about whether or not the Pistons should sacrifice games to achieve a higher draft standing. I talked through my opinion in an article about How to Tank Properly, suggesting that the Pistons rotation experiments should have began weeks before the end of the season. Instead of adjusting and potentially losing games, Detroit soldiered on to the last possession of the year.

I feel this team does deserve to win the lottery. It's been through hell for the last three years and its about time that lady luck paid this franchise a visit. The fact that the Pistons fought from an abysmal start and changed into a .500 team overnight is pretty telling. The fact that the team did not tank when it probably should have is as much of an appeasement to the fates as you could ask for. Maybe the Detroit Pistons will finally catch a break tonight...

The other SB Nation bloggers presented some pretty solid cases themselves. Check out Ziller's article if you want to see the league-wide perspective.

It's the off-season. There's little to talk about for Pistons fans while we wait for lottery balls to fall, draft picks to happen and Summer League to begin. Well, there's little to talk about for most Pistons fans. Not us. This is when we dive in to the totally awesome WTHIT_____GA series. To start it up again, we needed a legendary Pistons fan to participate. A far away Pistons fan in what might be an unlikely place. Ladies (well, Kriz) and Gentleman (well, few of us), I give you OK from J!!

MP: Out of every team in every league in every sport in the world, why choose the Detroit Pistons? Why basketball?

OK from J: I will start a basketball issue. I started play basketball from 12 years old, at junior-high school. There are many sports club in the school, but, the reason why I choose the basketball was so funny. I was short boy when I started play basketball, and then I thought I can be tall guy with playing BB.

HOWEVER, it was wrong absolutely! The tall guys playing the BB not grow up with playing BB at all. I could not be aware this truth until graduate the high school. Sad. But I love play and watch BB game for sure.

About Pistons. How I become Pistons fan is little weird. I was born near US air force base and there is the radio station as known as Far East Network. I love to listen the R&B and Doo-Wop music. I was reached Motown music and then I knew the Detroit. After that this is the simple equation, Basketball plus Detroit equal Pistons! So the Japanese Pistons fan was born.

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The Detroit Pistons released a teaser video about the annual "State of the Pistons" event held for season ticket holders last week. In the video, Tom Gores, Joe Dumars and Lawrence Frank spoke about the state of the team, its future and their aims to right the ship. The video precedes an hour-long special on Fox Sports Detroit at 7:00p.m. on Thursday, where the State of the Pistons event will be shared with a wider audience. In this video, Tom Gores had some praise to share about GM Joe Dumars:

"We might be able to figure out how to win and win big for one year, but that's not the point," Gores said. "The point is how do we deliver something that is genuine, that is real?

"I think we're fortunate to have (Dumars) as a GM, because he wants to deliver that every single day."

If Gores' comments reflect his "genuine, real" opinion of Joe Dumars' job as a GM, it's safe to assume that there won't be any changes at the top in the near future. One year ago, Gores presented fans with a results-driven approach to franchise management and a will to challenge Dumars to "think about every different way he can do something". Yet as soon as free agency opened, the old Dumars came right back to repeat the type of moves that damned the franchise in 2009.

These sales pitch platitudes are tough to swallow, since they signal a genuine pleasure with Joe's body of work one year in, or they suggest that Gores doesn't care much for the win/loss record. If Tom is truly pleased with Joe's "want" to deliver every single day, how can he be pleased with the lack of execution? The alternative might suggest that the "entertainment" wing of Palace Sports and Entertainment is pushing the revenue needle enough that the "sports" wing isn't a priority. It's hard to say that Gores is pushing the Pistons organization as a passion project when one night he's sitting courtside in LA and then he's praising an inactive GM a night later.

My hope is that Gores is doing his best to make nice with season ticket holders while holding Dumars accountable behind closed doors. There's no way of knowing Gores' true opinion on the matter, but if you take these comments at face value, Pistons fans can expect more of the same from this franchise. While new ownership brought with it the promise of change, the only difference under Gores is what happens at half-time, not during regulation.

Thanks to a lockout-shortened season, Detroit's Jonas Jerebko had little time to develop his game beyond finding his post-injury footing. After a torn achilles robbed Jonas of his sophomore season, his focus in 2011-12 was to return to the physical form and ability he showed as a rookie. In a recent interview with Pistons.com writer Keith Langlois, Jonas emphasized two key points of focus for his offseason workouts: handle and shot:

"For 18 months, I’ve been working on building this," he says, grabbing his injured right leg, "up to this," touching his left. "Now that I’m there, I can start working on getting stronger and on my game – handle, shot."

This should be music to the ears of Pistons fans that would prefer Jonas at his career-natural position of small forward. Before the draft and during much of his rookie season in the NBA, Jerebko spent most of his time on the wing instead of the frontcourt. Jonas' size and speed have made him an apt defender at the 3, but his limited offense has always seemed more suited to a power forward's playbook. As a result, Jonas has been stuck between positions-- defensively challenged against NBA big men but too limited to bring the isolation/perimeter play of an NBA small forward.

Much of Jonas' offensive game during his two NBA seasons has been based on off-the-ball cleanup. In 2011-12, three of his most common play types according to SynergySports were spot-up shooting, cuts to the basket and offensive rebound put-backs. Yet spot-up shooting, which dominated Jonas' usage, joins isolation as his two least effective plays. Out of 578 plays recorded this season, Jonas attempted 186 spot-up plays while scoring .85 points per possession-- good for 222nd in the league. Yet only 29 of Jonas' attempts this season came in isolation, an area where his 14% turnover rate didn't earn him much faith from the coaching staff.

It stands to reason that some work on his handles would help Jonas improve his isolation play, a trait which would add another weapon to a five man NBA offense. Fans may be weary of inviting iso plays from yet another Piston, but if Jonas can create his own offense when receiving the ball on the wing, this only adds to a team's versatility. Additionally, if spot up shooting is going to continue to be the offensive focus for Jonas, some work on fundamentals and form might pay dividends. His slow release has caused him problems in the past, and some work on footing and lift might give him a boost on the perimeter.

The Pistons are most likely to add a big man in the first round in the 2012 draft, and the power forward position could be crowded if Jason Maxiell opts in and Charlie Villanueva stays healthy. Another body up front might put pressure on coach Lawrence Frank to play Jonas Jerebko where he logically belongs-- at small forward. The real question is if Jonas shows the right kind of improvement, will Frank reward Jonas with play time at the 3? Or will the Pistons' baffling loyalty to Tayshaun Prince continue to derail a much-needed youth movement? If Jonas Jerebko forces Frank's hand, it will be a great thing for the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit's Brandon Knight has placed 8th in rookie of the year voting in a list honoring its winner, Cavaliers' guard Kyrie Ivring. Knight received 21 votes of the 1072 cast by a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout North America. Irving was far-and-away the clear winner, taking home 592 votes including 117 for first place honors.

With 21 votes, Knight ranks 5th amongst rookies who started at point guard in the 2012 season. Kyrie Irving, Ricky Rubio, Iman Shumpert and Isaiah Thomas all received more votes in a point-dominant rookie class. Of the 1072 votes cast, 847 went to players who started at point guard this season, enough for 79% of the vote.

Rookie of the Year voting, like other voting for annual NBA awards, is largely a popularity contest by sportswriters. That's not to take away their merit or value-- it's hard to cherish Ben Wallace's 4 DPOY awards while knocking the vote in another breath. However, in the same way that draft consensus is often established months before draft night, Rookie of the Year awards are often decided early on. In situations like this, real talent gets overlooked and under-rewarded to instead favor the flavor of the month. To compare and contrast, what do the advanced stats say about rookie talent in 2012? Let's take a look after the jump.

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The first round of the Western Conference playoffs was thrilling, dramatic, and at times... maddening. Four teams remain in the West while the Mavericks, Grizzlies, Jazz and Nuggets have been forced into early offseasons. The Thunder swept the defending champion Mavericks and the Spurs swept the young-and-big Jazz in swift contests, but the Clippers and Lakers were pushed to 7 games to close out each series. Round two of the Western Conference playoffs begins tonight.

Los Angeles Clippers (5) vs. San Antonio Spurs (1)

Regular Season Series: Spurs lead 2-1

Having just edged out the Memphis Grizzlies last night, the Clippers head to San Antonio for what will be a much more challenging match-up. The Spurs led the league in the regular season and easily dispatched the Utah Jazz in four games. If the Clippers hope to compete in this series, they'll need to do so on the defensive end, as the Spurs bring the most efficient, productive offense in the league to San Antonio tomorrow night.

Key Player for the Clippers: Blake Griffin

At this point, Chris Paul is largely a known quantity. The real question is what Blake Griffin is made of and what he can accomplish against Tim Duncan in a best-of-seven series. Griffin is dealing with a sprained left knee (not enough to warrant an asterisk, John Hollinger), but he may not be playing his best against Tim Duncan. If Griffin can't compete with Duncan and help LA control the paint, you might as well pen in a quick victory for the Spurs.

Key Player for the Spurs: Tony Parker

For the first time in 18 contests, the Clippers defeated the Spurs in San Antonio in January. Tony Parker was not present. Chris Paul has struggled against the Spurs in the past but he can control the series if Parker isn't playing at his best. So long as Parker is in uniform and on the court, he can hold his own against the player widely considered to be the best point guard in the league.

Verdict: The Clippers are tired, the Spurs are rested. And despite the Spurs age, they were the best team in the league in 2012. The Clippers have a bright future ahead of them but they are no match for this prolific, dynastic Spurs team that is hungry to put the 2012 Lob City story to bed. Spurs in 6.

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After suggesting that the Detroit Pistons' 2004 championship deserves an asterisk for "key injuries" to players on the Nets, Pacers and Lakers, John Hollinger doubled-down on his comments in a follow-up tweet:

Since apparently I upset some Detroit fans: Kidd: 0 pts in game 7, microfracture after; Tinsley, O'Neal hurt in ECF; Malone in Finals.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) May 4, 2012

I hate to belabor an unfortunate issue, but I won't ever tire of defending a championship which should not need to be defended. Yesterday, we examined the rosters of each team Hollinger listed, the contributions of each injured player and determined that these injuries did not provide a significant advantage to the Pistons title run. Given Hollinger's latest tweet, he didn't read our analysis. Dan Feldman of PistonPowered, however, read the article and defended Hollinger in a piece of his own, "Sticking up for John Hollinger":

"...it’s worth pointing out that Hollinger is right. The Pistons benefited from injuries. I don’t think that takes away from the Pistons’ title – their training staff deserves credit for keeping everyone healthy, and unlike their opponents, they didn’t rely on as many older players – but Hollinger is right."

Feldman defended Hollinger by citing news reports about injuries to players the Pistons faced on the Nets, Pacers and Lakers. I take issue with Feldman's defense due to two significant flaws-- first, a misunderstanding of the context of Hollinger's comments, and second, for ignoring what happened on court in favor of one-sided, inconclusive news reports.

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ESPN's John Hollinger, the D-League of NBA statisticians, has suggested that the 2004 Pistons won their championship thanks to a string of key injuries to the Pacers, Nets and Lakers. Hollinger's comment related to an article by Bill Simmons about NBA champions whose success was impacted by key injuries to playoff competitors. Simmons premise is that whoever wins the 2012 championship should have an asterisk on their title mentioning Derrick Rose's ACL. Simmons listed 20 teams that have benefited from injuries like this one, and Hollinger chimed in to mention one Simmons didn't include-- our own 2004 Detroit Pistons.

One more for @sportsguy33 asterisk list: '04 Pistons. Nets, Pacers, Lakers all had key injuries against them.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) May 3, 2012

The one time Bill Simmons doesn't trash the accomplishments of the Detroit Pistons, John Hollinger has to chime in with the assist. It's a frustrating continuation of ignorance by ESPN writers that appears to suggest a bias against this team. The same people who counted out the Pistons in the 2004 playoffs are now discounting their title in hindsight.

It's not just insulting, it's factually incorrect. Did key injuries to the Nets, Pacers and Lakers gift wrap a title for the Detroit Pistons in 2004? Let's take a look back and explore whether or not Hollinger's claim holds any water, or if it is just as insulting and short-sighted as it appears at face value.

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Oklahoma City Thunder (2) vs. Dallas Mavericks (7)

Regular Season Series: OKC Leads 3 - 1

One of the league's most exciting young teams faces off with the defending NBA champions in what is destined to be a dramatic playoff series. If you're the champions, this is the last team you want to face in the opening round. The Oklahoma City Thunder are entering the playoffs with the regular season's third best record, built on the MVP-caliber play of Kevin Durant, the superstar-caliber play of James Harden and the All Star level performances of Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. On the other side of the court, the Mavericks have taken a giant leap back from the team they were last season, with Dirk Nowitzki putting up the worst numbers he's had in many, many years.

Speaking of numbers, the Thunder dominate the Mavericks in just about every statistical category. Dallas has a slight edge in defense, and if they can commit their full focus to that side of the court, they might be able to snatch a win or two. Part of the problem is that Dallas can't defend the Thunder at the free throw line, and OKC's big three average 20 tosses a contest alone. Dallas' starters, on the other hand, only account for 12. It's going to be a difficult margin to work against, especially if Dallas' only real hope of making some noise is on the defensive end.

Key Player for the Thunder:

Kevin Durant, of course. The NBA's 2012 scoring champion (28 ppg) is having the most efficient season of his career. The question in the past is just as pertinent now-- can he maintain his regular season efficiency in the playoffs? His 42% shooting average in the playoffs might be a thing of the past, should Durant extend the career-high 50% shooting he established in 2011-12. If Kevin Durant can even split the difference, it'll be hard to imagine how the Mavericks can even hope to stay in this series beyond five games.

Key Player for the Mavericks:

Dirk Nowitzki. The 33-year-old Nowitzki has had a challenging season, one of his worst in many years. However, it's hard to call what Dirk does "bad", given that he still averaged 22 points on 46% shooting. Given what little scoring help Nowitzki has around him, he's going to need to step it up in the playoffs or the Mavericks will go home early. If the Thunder can contain Dirk, this might be a quick contest. If Dirk can channel his strength of old, he might be able to carry the Mavs on his back for a win or two.

The Verdict: It's a battle of the old guard vs. the new, and the young guys finally have the experience and cohesion to neutralize any veteran savvy the Mavericks hope to bring to this contest. Thunder in 5.

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The Detroit Pistons season-ending win over the Philadelphia 76ers was one of surprising statistical importance. This game marked not only the potential retirement of Pistons great Ben Wallace, it also reflected a season of progress over the troubled year that came before. The Pistons finished the season with a 37.9% win record, a slight improvement over the 36.6% record earned in 2010-11. Had the Pistons lost to the Sixers, they would have ended the season with a worse record against the season prior. While this might seem a bit arbitrary, it's an important point of note for a community that values objectivity-- the Detroit Pistons improved this season, and hopefully the worst is behind us.

Who was responsible for the team's improvement in 2011-12? Which players helped improve the team, and which players held it back? As we do each season, we'll explore the contributions of each player and grade their performance with fresh eyes. Since both coach Lawrence Frank and GM Joe Dumars played a part in this team's play in 2011-12, we'll take a look at their performance as well.

Greg Monroe | Center | 21-Years-Old

Grade: A-

Sophomore center Greg Monroe was the story of the season, a genuine Most Improved Player candidate and an All Star snub from the 2012 reserve list. Right out of the gate, Monroe showed significant improvements over his rookie season in so many areas. His rebounding, passing, jump shot and free throw shooting all improved, as his averages climbed to 15 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and nearly a block a game.

After absolutely dominating before the All Star break, Monroe's production quieted down a bit to close out the year. While his offense and rebounding improved this year, his defense still appeared to stagnate. Despite these flaws, the improvements Greg Monroe showed in 2011-12 were remarkable, to the point that awarding him with anything less than an A- would be a crime. Fortunately for fans of the Moose, the growth isn't done yet. This 21-year-old is years away from his prime, and three or four more attempts per game might push Monroe into the coveted 20/10 territory that is so hard to come by in the NBA.

Rodney Stuckey | Guard | 25-Years-Old

Grade: B

It was finally looking like the break-out season we were all hoping for. For a period of about a month and a half, Rodney Stuckey was playing like a top five shooting guard, scoring at will from every panel on the floor and involving his teammates accordingly. Throughout a stretch that saw Rodney score 20 points on 49% shooting in March, he was second only to Kobe Bryant in free throw attempts amongst guards. For a moment, it looked like this streaky, never-quite-turned-the-corner guard had finally advanced to the next level.

Our collective excitement about Rodney Stuckey may have come a little too soon. After struggling with injuries in the middle of March, Stuckey never regained the heat he showcased for an unfortunately short stretch of games. Looking back at it, that strong stretch between January 21st and March 16th was punctuated by the long droughts of inefficiency we've seen in the kid since his rookie season. Stuckey's fifth year averages ultimately ended worse than his last, save for a slight uptick in 3-point efficiency that lost its sizzle thanks to 5/26 shooting in April.

Stuckey still showed promise this season, and despite the pedestrian individual numbers, he was one of a few net gain players for the Pistons this season. The team was much better with him on the court, and this was more true this season than it has been in the past. As is reflected in the advanced stats, Stuckey's "leadership" is finally starting to pay off.

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It's time to forget about the standings, the lottery and the ups-and-downs of the year behind the Detroit Pistons. In fact, it's a good time to forget about the hardships this team has seen since the summer of 2009. There have been free agent failures, draft disappointments, coaching catastrophes and a breakdown of brotherhood. But throughout these last three seasons, there has been one figure that has carried the torch of Pistons pride through times of trial and turmoil. As Ben Wallace hands off that torch tonight, fans will reflect on the unlikely, incredible career of what may be the greatest player to ever wear this jersey.

Game Tips at 8:00p.m. EST

Philadelphia 76ers: 35 - 30 (16 - 16 road)

Detroit Pistons: 24 - 41 (17 - 15 home)

The Situation:

Win or lose, Detroit's lottery chances remain the same. That is, unless Sacramento beats San Antonio, in which case there would be a tie in the event of a Detroit loss. But Detroit isn't losing tonight, so it really doesn't matter.

The Sixers will be without Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand tonight. While one might think that would render them ineffective, they've still got Lou Williams, Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner, all of which are capable of doing some damage on their own. As is true with the Sixers at full force, the same will be true tonight-- this team will iso you to death before you know what to do about it. The best way to handle this would probably be to start one of the greatest defenders in NBA history in the middle. Hey, we can actually do that!

Keys to the Game:

Stay in Front of Your Fella: That aforementioned iso game is not easy to stop, so do Ben a favor and prevent your man from getting to the paint in the first place. Philly is welcome to take contested jumpers all they want, but if they decide to drive to the hoop, at least give them trouble so The Benaissance can finish the job.

Feed the Moose: I started the season saying this and I'm ending the season saying this. Little has changed, nor will it change until Greg Monroe is given the proper diet. It should be noted that Monroe has one of the best isolation games in the league, and that is also Philly's lone defensive weakness.

Treat This Game Like the Playoffs - For our retiring hero, this is a must-win. Treat every possession like your last, and don't let any of Philly's bench players (Vucevic, Meeks, Lavoy Allen) make fools of you. Every single Piston owes Ben Wallace their best performance tonight, the respect to send him off in the same glory he brought to this franchise.

Question of the Game:

Is Ben Wallace the greatest player to wear this jersey? Has anyone who has worn this jersey been more representative of the spirit of this franchise?

According to the Detroit Pistons PR department, and our own Benjamin Gulker's analysis, the Pistons will not use the CBA amnesty provision this summer. The two prime cases for contractual amnesty, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are likely to start the 2012-13 season in Pistons uniforms (barring a rare act of Jod). Given that the Pistons currently have 14 players on the roster and are likely to add five more this summer, how will Detroit fit these 19 players into a 15 man roster limit? Let's explore...

Current Roster

Greg Monroe
Brandon Knight
Rodney Stuckey
Tayshaun Prince
Ben Gordon
Jonas Jerebko
Jason Maxiell
Will Bynum
Austin Daye
Damien Wilkins
Walker Russell
Charlie Villanueva
Ben Wallace
Vernon Macklin

Potential Summer Roster Additions:

Previous Draftees: Kyle Singler - 33rd Pick in 2011 NBA Draft

2012 NBA Draft Picks: One 2012 First Round Lottery Pick, Two 2012 Second Round Lottery Picks

Potential Free Agent Additions: The Pistons are over the salary cap, but they will be able to use the full mid-level exception. They can also sign veteran's minimum players for every empty roster spot available.

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Right around the trade deadline, the Cavaliers were above the Pistons in the standings and they were in a potential fight for the 8th seed with Milwaukee and New York. Then they lost 10 of their next 11 games. Then Kyrie Irving injured his shoulder. The Cavs are in no rush to bring him back. With a loss to the Pistons tonight (and another W by New Orleans), the Cavs will climb to the 3rd best odds in the 2012 Draft Lottery while the Pistons fall to 10th. If you're curious about how to tank properly, this is how you do it.

Game Tips at 7:30 PM EST

Cleveland Cavaliers: 20 - 39 (10 - 19 road)

Detroit Pistons: 22 - 38 (15 - 14 home)

The Situation:

No Irving, no Varejao, no Boobie and no Semih. Most importantly, no Ramon!! That leaves Cleveland with a starting lineup of Donald Sloan, Anthony Parker, Alonzo Gee, Antawn Jamison and Tristan Thompson. And it leaves me with very little to talk about. So let's ignore Cleveland, yeah? That's what everyone has done since The Decision anyway...

Let's talk about Detroit. Apparently, Larry Frank and Joey D finally read the report I wrote for them in March. Frank will play Jonas Jerebko at the 3 tonight. Macklin will appear, logging some time up front along with our pal Charlie. Larry Frank has said that he's going to be doing some experimenting in these last six games, but I have a feeling these experiments will pay off in terms of wins, not lottery balls. I'm conflicted.

The sad thing about these experiments is that the outcome is predictable. The team will likely perform better with Jonas at the 3, which just about every DBBer has been calling for since he's been healthy. The problem is that Frank will likely start the 2012-13 season with Tayshaun Prince right back in the starting lineup at small forward. That's like running a successful drug trial and then refusing to hand that drug out to patients.

Personally, I'd love to see a starting lineup with Rodney Stuckey, Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko, Vernon Macklin and Greg Monroe. That's 6'5", 6'11", 6'10", 6'10" and 6'11". TALL BALL FTW.

Keys to the Game:

Feed the Moose: Because good things happen when the Moose is fed.

Don't Pass to Tayshaun: Wouldn't that be hilarious if the other four on the court never let Tay have the ball? Ignore him when he's open, fight with him for rebounds, pretend like he's not even there. I think his head would explode.

Try Harder than the Other Guys: Yes, I'm totally mailing in these keys to the game. But so are all the lottery teams. A win tonight will pretty much go to whichever team tries harder, given that these teams are roughly equivalent in the talent department.

Question of the Game:

What's more valuable: the confidence gained from a couple more wins and the 10th pick, or no confidence gained and the 3rd pick?

There's been a lot said of this Bulls team this season, and very little of it has been about ex-Piston Richard Hamilton. Hamilton has only contributed a handful of games in 2011-12, grouped together in stretches that are punctuated with long rests due to injury. In 21 games (all of them starts), Hamilton has contributed only 11 points and a few rebounds and assists. This is unfortunate for the Bulls, as they spent $10 million to retain him for this season and next. Hopefully he'll pay off for them in the playoffs...

He probably won't, though. On a related, statistically advanced note-- for nearly every season in his career, Richard Hamilton has had the worst Defensive Rating of any player on his team. He either owns it himself or nicely shares it with another over-rated defender... like Tayshaun Prince, for example.

Game Tips at 6:00p.m. EST

Chicago Bulls: 45 - 14 (21 - 8 road)

Detroit Pistons: 22 - 37 (15 - 13 home)

The Situation:

After missing 13 of their last 15 games, Derrick Rose returned for the Bulls on Thursday night for a win over the Miami Heat. Rose didn't contribute much, scoring just 2 points on 13 shots. This is quite forgivable, of course, since Rose is still shaking off the dust and his Bulls still pulled out a win over their top conference rival (against whom they're 2-1 this season).

Rose is likely to start against Detroit tonight, and the two full days of rest since playing the Heat should help him see a return to form. The Bulls shouldn't feel a rush to push Rose into a full 36 minutes, however, since the first seed in the conference is theirs to lose. But enough about Rose, though. Let's talk about the Bulls best asset, its frontcourt.

Reaching back to those advanced metrics again and you'll see that Joakim Noah is a very close second to Rose in terms of productivity. He's not the guy you pick first when building a team from scratch (that honor clearly goes to Rose), but he is the type of guy you grab to quietly and effectively anchor your frontcourt. His numbers are just that-- quiet, but his impact on the game is registered statistically. The Bulls are at their best on both ends of the court when Noah is playing, as he individually presents a 23-point margin in offensive vs. defensive ratings.

Noah's defense largely neutralizes his frontcourt partner's greatest weakness. Carlos Boozer isn't effective on the defensive end, but he makes up for this with a fantastic low-post offense. Boozer is averaging 15 and 9 this season on 53% shooting, scoring with dead-eye efficiency at the rim and from 17 feet. The guy has taken a lot of heat throughout his career, but the Bulls have put him in the best position he could be in, paired with a defensive center and given the green light to score from all over the court (within the three point line, of course, like a power forward should).

There is a lot more to say about this team. It's bench is nasty (outscored Miami's bench 47-7), Luol Deng is deserving of a paragraph to himself, and their coach's name is a ton of fun. Thibodeau. Its like onomatopoeia for when you drop your remote.

Keys to the Game:

Feed the Moose: He's hungry.

Defend the Post: According to Synergy, the Bulls have the best post-up offense in the league. It might be a good time to let Ben Wallace enjoy the twilight of his career. Oh, and maybe we could get that beast of a rookie some burn? It's time to get cracklin'.

Eh, never mind. Lottery balls: This team has an upgrade over Detroit at just about every starter and bench position, and they're now at full strength. A win tonight would be exciting, but it's terribly unlikely (Detroit has lost 14 straight to the Bulls) and there are only six more games this season after tonight. There's a time to be a hero. There's also a time to try to find a hero in the draft when you really, really need one.

Question of the Game:

Remember when all those writers at ESPN and elsewhere were talking up Richard Hamilton like he was the missing link for the Bulls? They must not have been watching Pistons games last season.

The latest ESPN mock draft has the Detroit Pistons drafting Jared Sullinger at number 8 in the 2012 NBA Draft. Sullinger's draft stock has taken a hit after his Ohio State team lost to Kansas in the NCAA Final Four late last month. After returning for a sophomore season at Ohio State with the goal of a championship, the failure led Sullinger to declare for the NBA draft last week. ESPN suggests that the Pistons might select Sullinger to fill a hole next to Greg Monroe in the team's front line:

Analysis: The Pistons need a center. They could reach a little and bring in Tyler Zeller. Or they can be content with Greg Monroe at the center position and add Sullinger to the mix. Sully doesn't play above the rim, but he does rebound and has great hands. At this point, I think the Pistons would pass on trying to hit a home run and just get someone who could help a little.

The third version of ESPN's mock draft places Sullinger amidst a group of guards who have seen their value rise as we approach the 2012 draft. Point guards Damian Lillard and Kendall Marshall flank Jared Sullinger at 7th and 9th, respectively. Lillard is ranked lower by other draft news sources, sitting at 10th by NBADraft.net and 13th by DraftExpress. If Lillard's stock does indeed rise, it could be a boon for the Pistons should they wind up with the 8th pick in June. An over-valued Lillard could lead teams to pass on big prospects like Jared Sullinger, making another nice option fall into Detroit's draft position.

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Next month, the NBA's Board of Governors will meet to discuss a controversial topic that may have some fans fuming. Amongst other topics, the board will discuss whether or not to allow advertising on NBA jerseys. If approved, ads could arrive sooner than fans might expect, and every single player for every single team in the league would now wear an advertisement on their shoulders. It's a tough pill to swallow for some, but it's an easy bite for owners-- such ads could yield $31.18 million in ad revenue from TV exposure alone.

In other pro basketball leagues around the world, jersey ads are commonplace. Pistons draftee Kyle Singler is currently sporting an ad in Spain's ACB league for MMT Seguros, a Spanish insurance company. Most European-born NBA players featured jersey ads early in their career as they worked their way through pro and national teams. Players like Jonas Jerebko and Dirk Nowitzki are among them. In a recent article in the Detroit News, Nowtizki offered, "I think we all understand the NBA, by now, is one of the biggest businesses in the world, and if that's a business decision, I don't think it's a bad one."

Nowitzki added his thoughts in line with comments by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who is vocally lobbying to get ads on jerseys in the NBA. Of the process, Cuban said, "if somebody offers us $25 million, it's done. We just have to work out the split with all the teams so everybody gets the benefits." With talk like that, you'd think jersey ads are an inevitability. And you'd probably be right.

If jersey ads are an inevitability, the question will be how they appear on NBA team jerseys. Will they be as large as Euro League advertisements? Will they be a simple logo, or will they include a slogan? If it's going to happen, I hope they do it in a way that respects the sanctity of the NBA jersey. From my perspective, the only thing uglier than an ad on a Detroit Pistons jersey would be a teal horse...

This issue, at its core, is entirely controversial. Some fans, myself included, may not really object to the move. More money for the league is ultimately good for fans, insofar as it is tastefully retrieved and wisely spent. The question is whether or not this revenue comes at the cost of the fan experience. It's a point of pride that the largest and best basketball league in the world doesn't need jersey ads to survive. You can't say the same of many of the other leagues in the world.

What's your take on the matter, oh die hard Detroit Pistons fan? Hey, if it does happen, at least those collector's Iverson jerseys in your closet might get a nice bump in value...

I'm a bit disappointed. I would have assumed that if any of this year's match-ups were to be voted in to TNT fan night, it'd be Bobcats vs. Pistons.

Game Tips Off at 7:30 P.M. EST

Charlotte Bobcats: 7 - 42 (3 - 22 road)

Detroit Pistons: 18 - 33 (12 - 12 home)

The Situation:

Tonight's game is destined to be a quiet one. The NCAA Final Four series is held tonight, kicking off between Kentucky and Louisville as I type. Some of the top draft prospects will be shown tonight, as Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd Gilchrist, Jared Sullinger and more will be under the big lights. Meanwhile, a match between two of the NBA's worst teams won't register much interest from anyone.

Except for us, of course. This is a game that the Pistons have no business losing, especially since they've beaten the Bobcats by an average of 16 points in two games this season. Greg Monroe has largely dominated the series, averaging 19 points and 15 rebounds against Charlotte. If fans would like to see the Pistons run a cohesive offense and an effective defense, playing well on both ends of the court, they're likely to see it tonight.

But beyond this game, the real discussion will be about who from the NCAA Final Four games might be joining these teams this summer. Anthony Davis will likely be the top prize in the 2012 NBA Draft, and Charlotte has the best shot at retaining him. If the Pistons play their cards right, they might have a clean shot at a player like Jared Sullinger or Michael Kidd Gilchrist. Otherwise, hey, there are always white stiffs and combo guards.

Keys to the Game:

Feed the Moose: Yes. Run the offense through him. It's not like anyone else can distribute effectively.

Bench production would be nice: Detroit's bench was ugly against Chicago, and we'll need well-rounded production tonight if we want another blow-out.

Defend the Perimeter: While the Cats will likely get more scoring out of a frontcourt that does not include Boris Diaw, their offensive threat is largely on the wings. Contain Corey Maggette without fouling, and work to prevent dribble penetration from the young guards from Charlotte.

Question of the Game:

Which teams from tonight's Final Four game will face off for the NCAA Championship? Who is most likely to be the MVP from that game?

Over the last few weeks, the slow approach of the NBA draft lottery has inspired many a long conversation about the strategy of tanking. Sports writers, fans and possibly even NBA officials have discussed the tactic in opinions ranging from disgust to deference. Yet for as controversial as the subject is, its execution is not black or white. There are good ways to tank, bad ways to tank, even shameful ways to tank. To further the conversation, let's look at how an NBA team can tank properly, and use our Detroit Pistons as an example.

The Goal of Tanking

After the first, second and third worst NBA teams this season, there are five teams within three games of each other. The Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Sacramento Kings, the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors all share similar records. Throughout the regular season, these teams are likely to trade paint with each other until the playoffs begin.

The difference between the five lottery picks that will go to these teams is a 12% chance at the number one pick or a 2% chance in the worst case. The ultimate goal of tanking properly should not be in hopes of landing a number one pick, however, but to aim for the greatest opportunity at the widest selection in June. The 4th best lottery odds are weighted for a better shot at the 2nd and 3rd pick than the 5th best lottery odds. If losing three games could give Detroit the 4th best shot, but winning three games could earn them the 8th best shot, the difference is significant. Three games won't win Detroit the best shot at Anthony Davis, but it could be the difference of whether Andre Drummond, Jared Sullinger or Thomas Robinson are available or not when the Pistons draft.

The Bad, No-Good, Despicable Ways of Tanking

The draft lottery was designed to prevent the worst methods of tanking, those that few fans would ever want to see from their own team. Think of coaches playing reverse chess, subbing in their worst defenders when the other team has the ball in closing minutes of tight games. Think of players actively taking bad shots or skipping defensive assignments on purpose. Think of whole teams cancelling practice. Think of coaches running bad plays for the wrong players "push the ball up court, look for the extra pass for a spot-up three from Big Ben".

These methods of tanking are a myth. This, the world's best league for this sport is full of competitive players and coaches who wouldn't stand for these kinds of strategies and the media would be just as quick to expose them. When the "pro-tank" community suggests that their team attempt for a better shot in the lottery, this is the furthest thing from what they want.

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Having hit 9 of 9 three point shots on Wednesday night, Ben Gordon is in position to break an NBA record in consecutive three point field goals made. If he can hit four straight tonight, he'll match Brent Price and Detroit's own Terry Mills with the league record of 13. Any more, and he'll hold the record all to himself. Sadly, he'll have to do it against the Miami Heat in Detroit tonight, one of the league's premier defenders.

Game Tips Off at 7:30P.M. EST

Miami Heat: 34 - 11 (14 - 9 road)

Detroit Pistons: 16 - 30 (12 - 11 home)

The Situation:

Tonight could get ugly. The Miami Heat run the league's most efficient offense, connecting on 48.2% of their shots. They'll be running that offense against the league's second worst defenders, and a bad defensive effort tonight could push Detroit into the statistical basement of the league. Miami doesn't make it any easier on the other end, as they hold opponents to a stifling 42.4%. A win for Detroit will not be easy, and it will require a solid effort from every player in a Pistons uniform tonight.

The last time these teams met, that's precisely what happened. Greg Monroe played beautifully, punishing Joel Anthony with a 20 and 10 game in the middle along with a pair of well-timed takeaways from Lebron James. Rodney Stuckey scored 15 points on 5 field goal attempts (!) and, brace yourself, Austin Daye added 28 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Despite all of this effort, Detroit lost by 3 points to the Heat, 101-98. This is the kind of performance Detroit will have to repeat if it wants to handle the Heat. (oh and Feed-the-Moose fans, Greg Monroe attempted 14 more shots than Tayshaun Prince that night, the widest margin of his career! This is because Tay didn't play)

One thing to note about the Heat, is that beyond their big three, they're getting valuable contributions from just about every player on the roster not named Eddy Curry (touch it, Dave). The top nine in Miami's depth chart are all producing a net positive on the court. It's not difficult to do when you're playing with Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and... crap. What's his name... The funny-looking skinny guy that used to be the mascot for that team in Canada. Was it Whoopi Goldb-- no, that's not it. I can't remember his name for the life of me.

Keys to the Game:

Move the ball, spot up for threes: Miami's only defensive weakness is handling spot-up shooters (they're 24th according to Synergy). This poses a great opportunity for Ben Gordon, who should camp out on the wing while the other players move the ball. Look for the extra pass (I'm glaring at you, Tayshaun), run some inside-out plays with Moose, and allow Knight to penetrate and kick the ball out to Gordon or anyone else with a three-point stroke.

Feed the Moose: He was excellent in Miami in January, and he's in position for a repeat performance. Joel Anthony cannot handle Greg Monroe, so the team should look to feed the ball to Monrobocop early and often. Given Miami's weakness defending threes, allowing Monroe to direct traffic in the high post might get some spot up shooters the open looks they need.

Adjust the starting lineup: Go big tonight. Insert Jonas Jerebko into the starting lineup at the 3, with the responsibility of guarding Lebron James. Slide Tayshaun Prince to shooting guard to defend Dwyane Wade. Start Ben Gordon at point guard and split point duties between Gordon, Prince and Monroe. Bring Brandon Knight in to lead the second unit and pray that someone other than Greg Monroe can do some scoring up front.

Question of the Game:

I bet the Heat fan cashier at my grocery store $2 that Greg Monroe would dominate the frontcourt matchup between Detroit and Miami tonight. Am I going to be $2 richer tomorrow? If so, what should I spend it on?

Injury Update-- Rodney Stuckey will not play tonight, still hampered by his injured toe.

What a difference a trade makes. The LA Clippers have risen through the ranks of the Western Conference in a meteoric fashion thanks to a number one pick and a pre-season blockbuster. While the team was already improving on the shoulders of young Blake Griffin, the addition of Chris Paul made them relevant to the playoff picture and beyond. To get a better sense of what's going on in Los Angeles, I chatted with Steve Perrin of ClipsNation, our SBN counterpart. Welcome, Steve!

Head over to ClipsNation to check out my answers to Steve's questions on the state of the Pistons.

Mike Payne - As last season ended and this one began, did you have any idea that your team would ultimately make a move for Chris Paul? How exciting was it when the rumors started to arrive about a pre-season trade?

Steve Perrin - The Clippers were well-positioned to make a big move as the season ended last year. They offered a chance to play in a huge market, alongside an emerging young star in Blake Griffin, making the Clippers more attractive as a destination than at any other time in the franchise's history. They had enough room under the salary cap to add another piece (eventually used on Caron Butler). And most importantly, they had compiled a trove of trade assets, including Chris Kaman's expiring contract, some young talent and most importantly, the unrestricted 2012 first round pick of the Timberwolves. With the Carmelo situation having just played out and Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard all a year away from free agency, yeah, I had known for a while that the Clippers would be a player for one of those guys.

That Minnesota pick is a great story in itself. The Clippers acquired it way back in 2005 when they traded Marko Jaric for Sam Cassell. It was top 10 protected for the last six drafts, and the Wolves were terrible that whole time. Finally, the restrictions were all removed, and with the Wolves coming off another bad season and the 2012 draft completely loaded, that pick looked like solid gold. Unfortunately for New Orleans, Minnesota turned it around this year removing a lot of that value -- but in December, that picked looked a lot like Anthony Davis.

The first rumors I remember linked the Clippers to Howard, and I was thinking that Paul would be the much better fit. I mean, if you're going to pair an established star with Blake Griffin, wouldn't you rather have a pick and roll point guard than another guy who is scoring at the rim and can't make free throws? When the Lakers-Rockets-Hornets deal was first announced, I was crest-fallen -- I was sure the Clippers could have and should have beaten that deal, but instead it looked like Paul was headed to our dreaded nemesis. When that trade was later vetoed, I pretty much knew that Paul was going to be a Clipper. There weren't many teams on his list, and none of them could compete with what the Clippers had to offer. We even got a little greedy as fans, since the Clippers were more or less bidding against themselves at that point, and wanted to keep Eric Gordon in the deal. But in the end, if it took Gordon to get the deal done, it was still a no-brainer.

It was a great day to be a Clipper fan when the trade went down.

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Each year, after the passing of the trade deadline, NBA teams cut players that are close to expiring but didn't have traction on the trade market. For those players, NBA free agency comes a few months early. Playoff teams can shore up their rosters for a title push, while lottery teams can take calculated gambles on young but misunderstood free agents. This season, there are two players in particular that Detroit should at least have a conversation with: Greg Oden and Terrence Williams.

Oden and Williams were cut by their respective teams this week, and both could potentially find offers here in the NBA, if not in Europe. Oden is quite famously dealing with yet another surgery on his knee, and it could take until next calendar year for him to be healthy enough to practice, let alone play. Williams has never seemed to work out in the NBA, having played poorly in his four year career while bringing little more than attitude baggage to the table.

Greg Oden | Center | 24 Years Old

Sadly, Greg Oden is probably done in the NBA. He's had more knee surgery than most athletes would have in their life time, yet he's only contributed a total of 82 games across four NBA seasons. A lesser talent would have been cut from the NBA years ago, but Greg Oden's problem has never been talent. In his last season in the NBA, Oden averaged 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 24 minutes. Spread that average to 36, and he'd have registered 17 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Given this production as well as his college numbers, it's easy to see why Portland kept him around for as long as they did.

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