Detroit Pistons

Mejia's Offseason Grade The Pistons' primary concern this offseason has been distancing themselves from their former coach and courting a new, more stable replacement. Both objectives were accomplished. Was it the right move? Probably not. While they certainly had their reasons to terminate Larry Brown, especially with Flip Saunders waiting in the wings, everyone is going to scrutinize the decision and second-guess it if the Pistons don't end up right back in the finals, where L.B. led them in both his seasons. Grade: C-.   Key Players Ben Wallace: He's one of the best defenders ever to play the game. Richard Hamilton: Hamilton's ability to knock down that mid-range jumper reminds us of what Reggie Miller used to bring to the Pacers.   Role Playing Lindsey Hunter, Guard Mr. Steady: His contributions are invaluable, yet often go unnoticed. He's a superb defender, knocks down the open jumper and can play either guard spot. Flip Saunders is going to love having him at his disposal. Antonio McDyess, Forward Reloaded: He's not as explosive as he once was, but he's really found his new niche knocking down short jumpers and finishing in the post. He was brilliant in the playoffs and should play a large role backing up Rasheed Wallace. Darko Milicic, Forward Emerging?: Who knows how much time he'll actually get, but it's safe to say he'll play a lot more than he did under Larry Brown. He had a strong preseason and may surface as a quality shot blocker.   Burning Question Can Rasheed Wallace blossom playing Kevin Garnett's role? Flip Saunders envisions his offense running through 'Sheed in the post, taking advantage of the forward's court vision, passing skills and quality outside shot.Wallace's numbers have dipped since joining Detroit, but he could be in for a big season in this new regime.

Ben Wallace's ability to rebound and block shots makes him a valuable piece to Detroit's puzzle. (AP)     Team Projections Projected finish: 2nd, Central Division Projected win total: 50-56 Team MVP:Ben Wallace Leading scorer:Richard Hamilton Leading rebounder:B. Wallace Leading assists:Chauncey Billups Top defender: B. Wallace   Stat Rankings Stat Rank Total Pts Scored 24 93.3 Pts Against 2 89.5 Rebounds 4 43.4 FG% 19 44.4   PROJECTED STARTERS PG Chauncey Billups Mr. Clutch is getting better and better. SG Richard Hamilton It's hard to believe he's yet to make an All-Star team. SF Tayshaun Prince He's a happy camper after negotiating a new contract, ensuring he'll key Detroit's perimeter defense for quite some time. PF Rasheed Wallace His happiness will play a large role in the team's success. C Ben Wallace The anchor of the league's top defense. Team Depth Chart   Player Movement Movement Player Pos. Key extension Tayshaun Prince SF Player Movement Chart