AUBURN HILLS -- With Grant Hill out of the mix, the Pistons will have to
dig a little deeper to find a veteran small forward.
Hill accepted, in principle, a two-year, $3.8 million offer from the
Suns on Thursday. The Pistons would have paid him at least twice that,
but Hill believed Phoenix was closer to winning a title.

The Pistons have two options: They can buy a small forward using all or
part of their mid-level exception or make a trade.

Several intriguing players remain available:

-Morris Peterson: The former Flint and Michigan State player has been
courted by Utah, Cleveland, Denver, Miami and Sacramento. Peterson, a
seven-year veteran, will turn 30 in August. He would provide another
potent scorer off the bench.

-Ruben Patterson: Patterson is coming off his career-high scoring
season, but the Bucks want no part of him. He would provide defensive
toughness and present a nice change of pace subbing for Tayshaun Prince.
He's 32 and has baggage, but he wouldn't cost the Pistons the full
mid-level.

On Jul 8, 10:50 pm, pH_4...@webtv.net (pH 4C1D) wrote:

On Jul 8, 10:50 pm, pH_4...@webtv.net (pH 4C1D) wrote:

You need look no further than Amir Johnson to back up Prince at small
forward.....got damn how much personel do you need?

An entire second string of Maxiell, Davis, Dyss, Acker, Amir, Nazr,
etc.....could have legitimately contested teams like Memphis, Atlanta,
Orlando and New York.

AIN'T no other pieces needed except for a coach that knows how to deploy
them.

So much talent on the roster already it's stagnated and you're still
looking for players, incredible!

Amir Johnson should have been ALREADY the relief man for Prince.

On Jul 9, 11:11 am, r...@webtv.net wrote:

Is not Amir Johnson more of a power forward? Seems he would be coming
off the bench for Rasheed, not Tayshaun. I could be wrong, though?

On Jul 9, 12:21 pm, r...@webtv.net wrote:

I do want to FINALLY see Amir play in against the real NBA players not
just D-Leaguers and bench warmers. He has so much raw potential.

Here's what I got from the Pistons.com Mailbag
http://www.nba.com/pistons/chat_mailbox/pistons_mailbag.html

Eric (Greensboro, N.C.): Now that Billups is re-signed, who do you
think we'll get for that mid-level exception?

Peter wrote:

Seems to me Nazr might just be 'Sheed's backup in center next season if they want to move Dyess or
Maxiell into the starting lineup.

He played both forward spots in his few minutes last year.
Is he is ready or capable of being in the main rotation?.

On Jul 9, 3:46 pm, "Terraholm" hotmail.com>
wrote:

On Jul 9, 3:57 pm, jsla...@utnet.utoledo.edu wrote: