Sit wrote:Bosh was good in his rookie year, but not Sheed-good. So it's a tough thing to predict. But I don't think anyone will disagree that drafting either Wade, Melo, or Bosh would put the Pistons in a better situation now than they are in reality.
Do you really think that Wade/Melo/Bosh would have got minutes ahead of Prince/Rip/Billups? If Milicic couldn't get minutes in his position, the other three wouldn't have either because the Pistons were at least two deep at each guard/forward position (from memory).
Hell yes. Prince, though good, was still young and hadn't yet proved himself. And everyone knew what Melo was capable of. Wade and Bosh, maybe wouldn't have gotten minutes right away, but both are talented enough that they would have worked their way into the rotation. And doesn't Prince seem like a dream 6th man?
And isn't a roster of Ben Wallace, Billups, Prince, Hamilton, and Bosh/Wade/Melo in much better position to compete for a title than a lineup of Sheed, Billups, Prince, Hamilton, and who Nazr Mohammed?
If they hadn't traded away Darko, wouldn't the Pistons be in a better position with Sheed, Billups, Prince, Hamilton. Who's to say that Melo/Wade/Bosh wouldn't have disappeared into nothingness like Darko? As I've said before, you're thinking of those three players as they are after they landed on teams that needed them and could afford to give them shots, touches and minutes. Think about if they were drafted by Detroit and never got a chance to play. Would we know them as we know them now?
I depends on what you think of players mindsets. I think most guys are what they are, no matter the situation. Melo, as stated, was a well known commodity. everyone knew he'd be a big time scorer and a half-assed defensive player. Bosh's quickness and outside jumper would have given him opportunities to play, for sure. And Wade? Man, Wade could have easily knocked Rip or Prince to the bench, no questions asked. And no, I'm picturing these players as they were in their rookie seasons, and not how good their stats were then or now.
And it's not like Joe D knew Darko wouldn't live up to expectation and that he'd be trading for Sheed. So it was kind of a happy mistake.
What expectations didn't Darko live up to? It wasn't like he was drafted to contribute right away. He was a project drafted on potential. Both Detroit and Darko decided to end their relationship prematurely. Unfortunately, that bit the Pistons back up the ass when Ben Wallace left for the Chi.
Man, you don't draft someone #2 overall, even a "project" and not expect him to even crack the rotation in 2 and a half seasons. Like I said, Dumars had no idea he'd be trading for Sheed when he drafted Darko, so I'm not even convinced that he saw Milicic as a project. if he did, I don't think he'd have given up on him before his 3rd season, which is usually when players come into their own.
