Joe Dumars……Genius?

November 18, 2008 By 11 Comments

Some people (read: fans of the Detroit Pistons) have regaled their GM Joe Dumars as a genius. The first thing that comes to mind is that SNL Weekend Update bit “Really!?…you think Joe Dumars is a genius…really”. Granted….he’s good. The Pistons have a championship this decade and they make the Eastern Conference finals every year. But, that’s over.

Joe Dumars Detroit PistonsDumars kept threatening to break up this team over the summer. He said no one was safe. Then he finally made his move. He finally did it in the first week of the season sending Chauncey Billups back to Colorado to play for Denver along with Antonio McDyess (who was later released) for former super star shooting guard Allen “Practice?” Iverson. Dumars wanted to get rid of Billups’s's’s big contract…I get that. Why not trade for another or maybe a bigger wingman (Carmelo Anthony)? Last time I checked, Rip Hamilton plays the same position as A.I. On top of that, Iverson is not really known as a team player or a leader….which is something they lost with the departure of Billups. I was already very skeptical of another Eastern Conference Finals run for the Pistons…now I’m sure they’ll be out in the second round at the latest. Even if Rodney Stuckey is the superstar everyone in Detroit thinks he is going to be.

Allen Iverson is in a contract year which will free up some cap space in the upcoming LeBron sweepstakes. But, do you really think any big time free agents are going want to move to dreary, cold and Matt Milleny Detroit….let alone LeBron James. Yeah…suuuuure, LeBron is going to leave Cleveland for division rival Detroit…not New York…or Miami. I could see James going to Greece before he goes to Detroit. Detroit will end up signing someone old for too much money…I don’t know who…but I just don’t see a young superstar in a Pistons jersey unless it’s out of the draft.

The funniest thing about all of this to all of me is that Detroit could really use a big guy that can slash his way to hoop and still hit the outside shot. Someone big that can create offense….someone like Carmelo Anthony. He would be a perfect fit for this team.

David Stern: “with the second pick in the 2003 NBA Draft the Detroit Pistons select Darko Milicic”

The very next pick? Carmelo Anthony to the Denver Nuggets.

Yeah…Joe Dumars is a genius. He had the second pick in one of the most talent rich drafts in history…and he took a risk on Darko? 4 of the top 5 picks from that draft are All Stars and Olympic Gold medalist. He passed on Carmello Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh for that pick.

So, yeah, Joe Dumars is good…..but this is not a great trade. And for that matter…he shouldn’t have run Larry Brown out to hire Flip Saunders.

The Pistons are getting older, and slower and the long season will catch up with them. Iverson will be gone at the end of his contract and the Pistons will have little to nothing to show for it.

Meanwhile Denver just got a tried and true real, actual PG and freed up another 1500 shots a year for Anthony and SG J.R. Smith. I think this was a great trade for them that will help them in their playoff push in the tight Western Conference.

Joe Dumars is a good GM…but he’s not the genius that Detroit fans think he is.

Sharing This Article Supports Operation Homefront -- Here's How

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Allen Iverson, Carmello Anthony, Chris Bosh, Denver Nuggets, Dwyane Wade, Flip Saunders, Joe Dumars, lebron james, NBA Trade
  • KVB

    You’re right on the Dumars front. And the only people who would dispute you are fans of teams who have inept management. One being former Piston Isiah Thomas. But I have issues with the management for the Cavs that is for sure. LeBron is super young, but one Eastern Conference series in prime so far. The only thing that can defeat that idea is a strong championship run this year or next. And I don’t believe in the team, not King James. He’s incredible.

    Shaq says it is possible he could be back in LA in 2010, when he is what? 40? I 2010 i can see the Cavs over paying Shaq before they extend LBJ but right after LeBron says, “You are lame” and bolts to NY. As a Laker fan i don’t want Shaq baq for anything

  • Nicholas Gerlach

    Maybe Shaq will just do a sign and retire thing with the Lakers so that he can retire with the team that he won 3 championships with. As a Lakers fan you have to appreciate the fact that they won 3 straight championships with him….and they haven’t won one since…and Kobe can win one by himself…even though he thinks he can.

    As far as the Cavs: How can you not be sold on them as a team right now? They have the best player in the league…who is averaging over 30 ppg in the last 8 games. They play great team defense and they finally got him some help. Plus, they have a lights out shooter in Daniel Gibson. I really think they are going to win the Eastern Conference this year…and that’s not just because I am a fan of them.

    I was just thinking how awesome a Kobe/LeBron championship series would be. My only problem with the Lakers is they are soft and I don’t think they can make it all the way through the playoffs through teams like New Orleans.

  • http://www.midwestsportsfans.com JRod

    I think you both are jackasses. Joe Dumars is a great coach, a great man, and the greatest General Manager in the history of professional sports. What do you know?

    Sincerely,

    Flip “Captain Clutch” Saunders

  • Pingback: PistonsNationBlog.com » Blog Archive » Game #11: Come back win

  • Barry

    OOOOOO Why are you so bitter about the Pistons? You have 20-20 hindsight. Dumars screwed up on Darko and Okur and probably many others that a guy from Florida wouldn’t know about, but he must be a good GM or Detroit wouldn’t have been good all these years. I don’t see someone soft like Melo doing any good whatsoever for them, but then again AI is strange for them too. AI is a wild card, maybe he will be great or maybe he is just to try to get more people in the seats. Cleveland needs a shooting guard 10 pts ave? and a power forward 3 pts? (no matter how good his defense is.) A bench would be nice too.

  • Nicholas Gerlach

    Barry,
    I didn’t say he wasn’t a good GM. I just don’t think that he is the genius that the people of Detroit believe he is.

    Melo thing aside…he could have taken Chris Bosh in that draft instead. He is definitely tough enough to fit the Pistons style of play. He didn’t draft him either and will probably go after him in free agency now that he will have the cap space to go after him. Bosh won’t leave Toronto though…and you could have had him 5 years ago.

    The AI trade worked out pretty well last night though. I just don’t think it will be agood long term decision. But it’s still early. We’ll see…maybe I’ll be proven completely wrong.

    I appreciate your comments and your point of view and thanks for reading.

  • Pingback: The Demise of Isiah Thomas | Overdose - Sexual Harrasment - Folding of CBA

  • Jim

    “Why not trade for another or maybe a bigger wingman (Carmelo Anthony)?”

    Joe D actually tried to trade for Anthony first. Billups was quoted as saying that Joe D told him he offered Billups and Prince for Melo, but that Denver turned it down. Obviously Joe D messed up with the Darko pick, but at least he was able to trade Darko to the Magic for the draft pick that became Rodney Stuckey. I’m not sure if you’ve watched the Pistons a lot this year, but Tayshuan Prince is basically playing a point forward and initiating the offense, while Rip and AI work on the wings to get open and attack the basket, so the Pistons don’t need a “true pg” as much as some other offensive systems do. Chauncey was great for this team and I wish him the best, but look at his stats during the last 3 Eastern Conference Finals series when the Pistons needed him the most…they are pretty bad and way below his regular season averages these past 3 years. AI gives the Pistons something they desperately need in the playoffs, which is some one who can break down the other team with the dribble and create for himself and/or others.

    “The Pistons are getting older, and slower”…this is somewhat true since Rip, AI, and Sheed aren’t getting any younger, but they have a lot of young talent on the team with Stuckey, Maxiell, Afflalo, Amir Johnson, and even Kwame Brown is playing solid. Did you see the line up last night for the whole 4th quarter when Detroit broke away from Cleveland? It was AI, Stuckey (22), Afflalo (23), Maxiell (25) and Sheed.

    “But, do you really think any big time free agents are going want to move to dreary, cold and Matt Milleny Detroit”…obviously Detroit isn’t the most attractive city, but for players who want to win there isn’t a much better culture then Detroit. The thing is, the cap space isn’t only good for free agents, but it’s huge for trades as well. Usually you need salaries to match up (within 25%) to make a trade, but if you are way under the cap, then that doesn’t apply. That’s how the Clips got Marcus Camby for a second round pick.

    In the last 5 days the Pistons have beaten LA, who had won 8 straight, and Cleveland, who had won 7 straight. This is without much practice (yes, AI is consistently talking about how he actually looks forward to more practices with the Pistons so they can continue to get better) with a guy who completely changes the dynamic of their team. Once these guys get more time with AI and Dyess returns (it appears to be a lock) Detroit will be even more dangerous.

  • Nicholas Gerlach

    Jim-
    You make some pretty valid points there. I know that they have been using Prince as a point forward. I just really think that you need a good true PG to win a championship in the NBA. That’s just my opinion. They had that young lineup in when they pulled away and beat Cleveland…but, the Cavs shot really poorly…and I don’t really think that you can argue that Detroit is a young team. Of the three players you mentioned, Stuckey is the only one I can really see becoming a star player in the NBA. But, like I said, you make some pretty good points.

    Also I know that he tried to get Melo in the offseason. Of course he wants Melo instead of AI…he’s a lot younger and probably a better player right now. I just don’t see this AI trade really working out this year and I don’t see them getting as far in the playoffs as they usually do…maybe second round.

    The salary cap thing: They will be able to get anyone they want with trades and stay under the cap, but, what will they have to offer? The only way I can see them getting a star player is if they find some team that wants to cut costs so badly that they will trade their best player for a past-his-prime ‘Sheed or Rip Hamilton.

    You say once this team gets more time with AI they will even more dangerous…and I know that Iverson SAYS he is looking forward to more practice. But, doesn’t part of you think that the old AI is going to come out sooner or later and the other veterans on that team aren’t going to put up with that? Just part of you….maybe a little…huh?

    That being said…they have beaten Cleveland and LA in the last week. It’s really too early to tell.

    My whole point to this article is to say that Joe Dumars is a good GM. But, he’s not the genius some people want to think he is. Still a good team…not a great team.

  • Barry

    I think you know that there are only two elite teams at this point in time, but who knows what will shake out later, the night is still young. I think Detroit is a very good team. Easily on par with Cleveland if not a bit better.I see both teams with basically the same problem now that AI is there.A superstar without enough supporting cast to catch the big two.
    Cleveland’s superstar is a little more super now that AI is older, but Detroit’s supporting cast is better. Hamilton is a star albeit fading, Prince has his good points and Sheed is Sheed. I don’t see a star on the Cavs roster to support LeB. Williams is close, I guess. BigZ is fine, but West and Ben are pretty weak.You’re going to say something about Ben’s leadership, but I believe I read where BigB refused to reenter the game in the finals during his last year with Detroit. Maybe I am wrong, but It seemed like both Wallace’s were a problem.
    Don’t rub it in, Jim, about Dumars screwing us out that 15th pick. Orlando’s my team and I would rather have Kwame’s hands of stone than Darko.
    Is the city of Cleveland an upgrade on “dreary Detroit”? Just wondered.
    We don’t get snow and all down here. Doesn’t the Detroit river flow into Lake Erie?

  • Nicholas Gerlach

    Barry,

    You make some good points again. I’ve enjoyed the banter. But, I don’t think that you can say that LeBron James is a little better than AI right now. He is a lot better. James is leading the league in scoring and is 8th in assists….Can you say MVP this year.

    and yes Kwame Brown > Darko

    I didn’t know that Orlando was your team. I can dig it. They should win the the Southleast division title this year.

    Delonte West is a much better player than you give him credit for and you forgot about Daniel Gibson. You know what the Cavs are goign to able to do a lot better than the Pistons all year?…Shoot from outside.

    As far as the Cleveland vs. Detroit as a city debate is concerned. I’ve been to both cities and I can assure you that Cleveland, while not the hotspot, is a lot better than Detroit…just based on roller coasters and museums. Add to that the fact that Cleveland isn’t in Michigan and you have a slam dunk case.

    But, the point is, the Cavaliers don’t need to be a destination team in 2008. They just need to keep what they already have.