FanHouse NazrMohammed

I would love to be able to defend Charlotte coach Larry Brown's comments regarding his plot for new Bobcat Tyson Chandler. The Baseline's Sean Deveney jumped on Brown's post-trade conference call, where Brown told reporters he'd be using the 7'1 Chandler as Boris Diaw's back-up at power forward.

I really wish I were brave enough to applaud Larry's idea. But unfortunately, I didn't drop enough acid this morning.

Everybody remember Jamaal Tinsley?

The Pacers point guard often called "troublemaker" and "malcontent" hasn't been allowed to play or even practice for the team this season. While the Pacers are still writing his checks, they've made it clear to both Tinsley and his agent that there's just not enough room on the bus, if you buy what I'm selling.

There's a new wrinkle in this particular sale, though, and it seems to be expanding rather quickly. First the NBAPA today announced that they're filing a grievance against the Pacers on behalf of Tinsley. Both sides probably have a case, but the fact that the Pacers removed his nameplate from the locker and sent his stuff to Atlanta (I hope he lives there) does not look good.

Now there's a new development on Tinsley that has him headed to... Charlotte?

The Bobcats, 15-23 and three games outside the 8th seed, haven't exactly been on fire of late. They have won four of six, which is good for a non-playoff team but not notable when you consider the other hotness which has permeated the league's young teams. But the wins... they are a'something. At Boston, versus Denver, versus Orlando on Wednesday. Had a break or two came their way against Detroit a few nights ago, things'd look even better.

The reason for the reversal of fortune? Gerald Wallace, half man and half monster. (He's a 'manster.') His January per-games: 26.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks. Jason Richardson's also taken a larger load this month, and the Nazr Mohammed acquistion is working out (for now).

There's still a long way to go for real playoff talk to mean something in Charlotte; there's no reason the defense should be so inconsistent, not with plus defenders at both forward positions (Wallace and Emeka Okafor). But the Cats haven't been in this sort of hopeful position since franchise inception, and that means something. Year Four, the Charlotte Bobcats have (almost) arrived (sort of).

For some time, the Bobcats were the envy of GM's everywhere. Not because of their roster, although that's not so shabby -- it was their cap space. Charlotte's finest were once hording payroll in the negative, presumably to make some big move that would catapult them to legitimacy.

The Bobcats have made some moves. But with the acquisition of Jason Richardson, Nazr Mohammed, and Walter Herrmann, have they squandered their most valuable asset? From the Charlotte Observer:

Since the end of last season, the Bobcats have traded for two projected starters, Jason Richardson and Nazr Mohammed. Those deals mean the Bobcats inherit nearly $60 million in payroll responsibility for Richardson and Mohammed over the three seasons after this one.

Well, when you put it like that, the 'Cats blew it. Mohammed has never delivered consistently. And to paraphrase the article, Richardson makes Joe Johnson money without approaching that level.

Oh, and if you want the ultra-gloomy read on it:

Should the Bobcats be wary of clearing up other teams' cap problems? Golden State and Detroit were both in jeopardy of paying luxury tax. They were willing to give up these guys, without getting that much in return, to unload payroll. The Bobcats discarded two players with expiring contracts (Brezec and Walter Herrmann). Did they sacrifice future cap flexibility to improve marginally now?

Ugh. Good thing they're in the East.

It's December 15, ladies and germs, and we have a trade. Charlotte swapped out underused but saucy Germanic Argentine Walter Herrmann and defensive workhorse Primoz Brezec for Detroit's one-year-old mistake in Nazr Mohammed. Charlotte gets the big man not named Primoz they need; Detroit loses a contract they've wanted to lose since they drew it up while adding a potent bench threat. Win, win, win...

... except it seems Charlotte could've used Herrmann, too, but didn't. He was brilliant last season as injuries ravaged the Cats. And guess what? Injuries have ravaged Charlotte this year, too. But Jason Richardson's addition at the two has pushed Gerald Wallace into more frontcourt minutes, and Sam Vincent clearly prefers Matt Carroll to Herrmann as the substitute sniper. You'd think with Adam Morrison and Sean May on ice through April we'd have seen more Walter. No, he hasn't been shooting as well as he did last season. But you have to remember he really came on when he was getting big minutes last spring, not in miniature stints... bursts of playing time few players can excel in.

Mohammed's contract is the only major piece of currency in this deal -- both Brezec and Herrmann are unrestricted free agents this July. The move costs Charlotte about an extra $1 million this year -- much less than they would've spent on any replacement big out there anyways. But the real fiscal movement comes over the next three years, as Nazr is allotted another $18 million. No sweat for sane Charlotte; huge news for Detroit. Mohammed's contract has been an albatross for almost a full year. Slipping out of that noose gives Joe Dumars plenty of flexibility heading into the final year of Rasheed Wallace's contract. Joe Dumars with flexibility? Frightening.

Detroit don't need no stinking Chris Webber -- or any other center, apparently. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News relays word from Pistons coach Flip Saunders that Rasheed Wallace will tentatively begin the season as the starting center, with Antonio McDyess lining up beside him. FanHouse's own Matt Watson is pleasantly surprised, as he details at Detroit Bad Boys.

Honestly, that's my ideal starting lineup, I just figured it'd never happen given Wallace's reluctance to play center and McDyess' preference for coming off the bench. Plus, the news that McDyess has a head start on his conditioning should help him avoid opening the year ice cold until he plays himself into shape as he's done in the past.

McDyess isn't the only one with a jump start on the new season. McCosky also reports Sheed has dropped 25 pounds and looks better than he has in two summers. Last season was the first time since the start of the team's run among the elite there were ongoing injury problems for the Pistons (a few aggravations for Sheed, some longer-term problems for Chauncey Billups). As the core of the team ages, you assume the frequency of those will increase... so by theory, seeing everyone getting in the best shape in the offseason (a la Steve Nash) is a boon.

My one question: Looking at potential playoff matchups -- Miami and Shaq, Cleveland and Big Z -- aren't the Pistons going to need someone bigger than Sheed and McDyess? Or does Flip think Sheed's superior offense can balance the scales? May's a long way off, but it wouldn't hurt to consider it before you sell Nazr Mohammed for a plate of beans.

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that the Pistons signed Antonio McDyess to a two-year extension on Monday. The $14.46 million extension will keep McDyess, who had a year remaining on his current deal, in Detroit through 2010.

There's no doubt that McDyess has been the team's most valuable reserve in his three years with the team, but retaining him does nothing to change the public perception that the Pistons are an aging team. But even though McDyess will be 35 years old by the time the deal expires, is that perception really accurate? Maybe not.

Considering the Pistons also announced the signing of second-round pick Sammy Mejia today, this year's roster will feature four rookies: first-round picks Rodney Stuckey and Aaron Afflalo, Mejia and last year's second-round pick Cheikh Samb. Plus, 20-year-old Amir Johnson, who recently signed a three-year deal to stay in Detroit, and Jason Maxiell, 24, are also expected to factor into Detroit's rotation this year. That's six players who are all under the age of 25, including four expected to see a lot of playing time this year. And of the starters, only two are on the wrong side of thirty: Rasheed Wallace is 32, and Chauncey Billups is 30. .

It's been said that the addition of McDyess in 2004-05 was one of the reasons Darko Milicic never had a chance to develop in Detroit. Will keeping McDyess around prevent Maxiell and Johnson from breaking out? It's possible, but the lack of a true center on this roster outside of Nazr Mohammed often results in McDyess seeing time at the five. Besides, if Johnson fills out, he could end up seeing time at center, and if Maxiell keeps the 30 pounds he shed this summer off, he could see at least some time at small forward.

Crystal Ballin' takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 28th NBA Draft.

The Pistons are at a crossroads. With just one NBA title to show after five trips to the Conference Finals, they're now one of the league's oldest teams in a division with two of the league's up-and-coming-est teams (the Bulls and Cavs).

To re-tool on the fly and preserve their place among the league's true contenders, the team needs to get younger and more athletic -- and soon. Fortunately, they have two first-round picks: the 15th (courtesy of the Magic) as well as the 27th.

Needs: Pretty much everything but power forward. The team hasn't had a legitimate backup point guard in years, and considering there's at least a chance Chauncey Billups leaves, they might be in need of a starter. Following the Carlos Delfino trade, the team could use a swingman to backup Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince -- though there's always a chance Joe Dumars plans to address that need via free agency (Grant Hill? Morris Peterson?).

Oh, and a starting center would be nice, considering Chris Webber isn't expected to return and the only other option currently on the roster is Nazr Mohammed.

Though he was probably hoping to be traded before the deadline, Nazr Mohammed is still a member of the Pistons, which means he's still the fifth big man in a crowded front court. He knows that he has little chance to play any significant minutes, but if he had his way, he'd rather not be bothered with the "insignificant" minutes, as well. From the Detroit News:

"I don't like the garbage minutes, I can tell you that," Mohammed said. "If he calls on me, I will play. But they might as well have Amir (Johnson) out there. He would get more out of those minutes than I would."

Saunders understands that. But he doesn't accept it.

"My dad wasn't keen on getting up at six o'clock in the morning to get to work, either," Saunders said. "We all have jobs and there are things you just have to do. When you are called upon to play, whether it's the first quarter or the last, that's what you have to do.

"As I have told players before, if you are willing to pick up your paycheck, then you should be willing to play when you are called upon to play."

While most Pistons fans are itching to see what teenager Amir Johnson can do as well (especially after the front office deemed him untouchable in trade talks), he's still a bit of a project and not quite ready to contribute to a championship contender. Mohammed, on the other hand, is a veteran who should know his role on the team, even if it's just to prevent an injury to one of the starters late in the game.