FanHouse Walter Sharpe

LAS VEGAS -- Detroit cleared some salary cap space and increased its roster flexibility by sending guard Arron Afflalo and forward Walter Sharpe to the Nuggets for a 2011 second-round pick. Afflalo, a defensive ace, averaged 4.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 149 games while Sharpe, played in eight games for Detroit last season.

The Pistons signed Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon to free-agent contracts and drafted Austin Daye and DaJuan Summers and acquired Fabrico Oberto from the Milwaukee Bucks. The move saved $1.8 million in cap for the Pistons, who can fill other needs.

Detroit's retooling is far from complete but the Pistons will be a factor in the Eastern Conference after shedding veterans Rasheed Wallace and Allen Iverson, and moving Amir Johnson to Milwaukee.

FanHouse previews the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The Pistons and Cavs have a lot of history together, which is fortunate, because that's the only thing that makes this series the least bit compelling. The Cavs finished the season as the most dominant team in the NBA, leading the league with a franchise record 66 wins and terrorizing opponents with an 8.9 point differential. The Pistons, on the other hand, posted their first losing record since 2001, winning just 18 times in their last 50 games. This could get ugly.