The 26th pick originally belonged to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Dennis Rodman/Sean Elliot trade also involved the swapping
of 1st round picks in either 1995 (if the pick was lower then #8)
or 1996.  Since the Pistons had the 8th pick last year, the swap
occured this year with the Spurs owning the rights to Detroits
18th pick.  The Pistons are represented by:

  Tim Bates
  
and he selects:

  Tony Delk, SG, 6-1, Kentucky  

=======================================================================

I. Team History
The Detroit Pistons finished the 1995-96 regular season with a 46-36
record, marking their best effort since the 1991-92 Pistons went
48-34. The Pistons have won two titles in the history of the team,
1989 and 1990. The Pistons had a steady decline in wins, from the
1989-90 season with 63 to the 1993-94 season with 20. The Grant Hill
era started in the 1994-95 season where the Pistons improved with 8 by
wins to 28. Detroit finished this season with 18 more wins, tying the
greatest one-year improvement in the organization's history. The
Pistons are poised to win 50 games next year. Either Grant Hill or
Allan Houston led the Pistons in scoring in 67 of the team's 82 games.
They have the following Free agents; Allan Houston, Lindsey Hunter,
Eric Leckner, Mark Macon, Don Reid, Lou Roe, Otis Thorpe. Detroit
finished the season as the NBA's second best defensive team, allowing
92.9 points per game. Three Pistons players saw action in all 82 of
the team's games - Allan Houston, Terry Mills and Otis Thorpe. Only
Thorpe started all 82 games.

Draft History
The Pistons recent draft history has been good. In 1995 they drafted
Theo Ratliff at #18, Randolph Childress at #19, Lou Roe at #30 and Don
Reid at #54. In the 1994 they drafted Grant Hill at #3. In 1993 they
drafted Lindsey Hunter at #10 and Allan Houston #11. Six out of seven
of these players are still on their active roster. Randolph Childress
was traded with Bill Curley to the Portland Trail Blazers for Otis
Thorpe on 9/20/95. The remaining 6 draft picks compiled 253 starts and
11,144 minutes this past season, which was 56% of the teams total
minutes and scored almost 60% of the team's points. Dumars, Thorpe and
Mills added 35% of the points last year.

Team Needs
The Pistons need help at Center and the Point, a lot of teams share
the same needs in this years Draft. The Pistons will have a hard time
improving their team drafting #26 . The best they could hope to do is
strengthen their bench. They are obviously not going to find an NBA
quality starting Center at this selection in the draft. They seemed to
survive this past season using a platoon of Mills, West, Leckner, Reid
and Radliff. The last thing this team needs is another mediocre big
man thrown into the mix. Hunter is the only true Point Guard on the
roster. They used a three guard rotation this past season with
Houston, Dumars and Hunter. I guess it works but they could use this
spot to find a back-up Point Guard. Once Dumars retires, some is going
to have to step up and spell Hunter and Houston. Marc Macon is not the
answer.

A. CENTER
The starting Center position for the Pistons last year was divided up 
by Don Reid  46 starts, Mark West 21 starts, Leckner 8 starts, and 
Mills 5 starts. It seems that Reid was the man down the stretch for 
them. His is listed at 6-8 and 250 pounds. He gives away 6 to 8 inches 
to a lot of centers in the league. Theo Radliff played in 75 games but 
only started in 2. He seemed to do all right but nothing to get to 
excited about. Terry Mills averaged 20 minutes a game and played in 
all 82. Terry averaged 9.4 points a game and 4.3 rebounds. I think 
that the Pistons can survive this season with these 3 players playing 
most of the minutes at the Center spot. They might be able to find 
some help in the free agent market. They will dump Macon, Leckner, and 
Addison and free up 2.5 million. Bill Wennington, Jim McIlvaine, ect....

B. POWER FORWARD
Otis Thorpe. I could just go on to the next topic, but I won't. The 
only Piston to start all 82 games. Thorpe played 35 minutes a game 
averaged 14.2 points, and 8.4 rebounds. He has a few more years of 
strong basketball left in him. He has 10 years experience and is a 
good role model to have in the locker room. They Pistons have a pile 
of young big bodies that could use Thorpe as a teacher. He is steady 
and strong NBA player. The 13 minutes a game that Thorpe is not on the 
court is covered by either Loe Roe or one of the other the Piston big 
bodies on the roster. Most of them are being used to take up minutes 
at the Center spot, but one of them could be the replacement for 
Thorpe when he hangs them up. Lou Roe riding the pine. He may blossom 
in the NBA after a few years of work, but at 6-7 220 it would take a 
lot of work. Lou Roe is more of a Small Forward than a Power Forward. 
For the 1996-97 NBA season, I would ink Thorpe in at the number 4 
slot.

C. SMALL FORWARD
Hello, Grant Hill! Mr. Everything. He leads the team in; PPG 20.2, RPG 
9.8, APG 6.8, Steals with 100, MPG 40.8, and endorsements. The Piston 
game goes through Hill, with the ball in his hands good things happen. 
Hill only missed 2 games last year. They have 2 back-ups for Grant 
Hill, Lou Roe is considered a small forward and they have Michael 
Curry. Anyone who holds the job of Grant Hill's back-up is going to 
see less action than the Maytag Repairman. Curry played in 46 games 
logging 17 minutes a game and Lou Roe got into 49 games with an 
average of 7.6 minutes per game. I would safely say that the Pistons 
are set with Grant Hill at Small Forward for the next 10 years.

D. SHOOTING GUARD
This position is very strong, Dumars and Houston. Houston is becoming 
the permanent number 2 on this team. He is doing what he was drafted 
to do, take over the spot formally owned by Joe Dumars. Dumars is 
losing his importance to this team. Houston is taking over his spot as 
a player and Hill is sure to become the captain and the leader of this 
team. I hope for the Pistons sake that Joe passes the torch gently and 
quietly. Joe has been the Pistons since Thomas retired. Now it's time 
for Joe to step aside and let the youth run the show. I wouldn't trade 
or get rid of Dumars but I would play Houston most of the minutes at 
number 2 next year. In fact, Houston did start 75 games and Dumars 
only 40, but Hunter only started 48 games out of the 80 he played in. 
So for almost half of the Pistons games last year they started two 
Shooting Guards. I am sure that has something to do with Hill leading 
the team in assists. Let Dumars continue to be the captain of the 
team, bring him off the bench for a spark and to spell Houston, Hunter 
 and maybe even Hill. The days of Dumars Starting at number 2 should 
be over. This past season Houston lead Dumars in the following 
Categories, PPG 19.7 to 11.8,  RPG 3.7 to 2.1, FG% .453 to .426, and 
STL's  61 to 42. They were even in FT% Houston shot .823 to Dumars 
.822. Joe did Have more APG 4.0 to 3.0. I am not saying put Joe out to 
pasture but I am saying it is time for Joe to let the kids take over. 
Joe was one of the keys to the Pistons back to back titles and that 
counts for a lot in my book. I would love to see Hunter, Houston, and 
Hill run wild this season, with Joe coming off the bench and spelling 
all three.

E. POINT GUARD
This is the year that Lindsey Hunter needs to step up and take this 
position over. He is not the next Isiah Thomas, we know that and he 
knows that, so let's get beyond that. Isiah was the number a #2 pick 
in the draft the year he went. He would have went number 1 if he 
didn't let everyone know he was not interested in playing in Dallas. 
Isiah was special player and he is missed but let's let Hunter see 
what he can do. Hunter's only concern should be creating easier 
scoring opportunities for Hill and Houston. Houston has had the luxury 
to learn, watch and play with the legend he is replacing. Hunter only 
had one year to learn before Isiah left and Hunter was expected to 
step in. Isiah is gone, he is a GM for a city in another country, his 
number has been retired, so close the books on him and let 
Hunter see what he can do. This team only had 3 guards on the roster 
going into the playoffs. Macon is out, he is a free agent this year 
and I would only resign him for the league minimum. Last season he got 
paid a cool 2 million for playing 12.5 minutes in 23 games. I would 
try to get a back-up Point Guard in the draft or from free agency.

********************************

Review
The Pistons need to sign 5 out of 7 free agents. Thorpe made 2.6
million last year and I think they can get him again for those
numbers. Houston made 1.17 million last year and I think he is going
to want about twice as much as that per year. Hunter made 1.44 million
last year and I think the Pistons could keep him at that price. Don
Reid made 200,000 last year and he showed signs that he could play a
little, He will be looking for about 500,000 more this year. Lou Roe
is also someone they could afford to be patient with. Lou made 200,000
last year and that is about all that he is worth. If they can keep Lou
for 200,000, why not? The Pistons got some work to do to keep who they
have got.

As far as the draft goes, the Pistons needs are basic. They need some
back-up Point Guard help. They should look for someone willing to be
patient, work hard, and learn the game. Someone who is intelligent and
an unselfish player. I think a player like this will be available at
#26. The Pistons like to play all the options that are available to
them, so it is hard to say what they will do in the real draft, trade
up or down or stay where they are.


II. My Selection
Tony Delk, SG, Kentucky.  This team needs a guard. I wanted to go with
a point guard but with Alan Houston talking about not signing with the
Pistons, I decided that they should get someone who can put the ball
though the hoop. He's got a good inside-outside game. He's very
strong. He's got rangy body and can run the court well. He can play
the point in a certain offense where he can bring the ball over
halfcourt and he can beat you off the dribble with his quickness. He
is a good long range shooter which will help open things up for the
Pistons.


III. Others Considered

Drew Barry, PG, Georgia Tech. I had decided to take Drew Barry with
the 26th pick the day after I found out I was going to be the pistons
GM. I was shocked when he wasn't available. This guy is going to
around the NBA for a long time.  The Pistons needed a versatile guy
like this.

Travis Knight, C, Connecticut.  I said I wasn't going to throw another
average big into the front court soup that the Pistons currently have,
but did consider this guy. I think he can be taught to play the NBA
game. This guy would have fit nicely in with the Pistons. He does need
a few pounds, at 235 he will get moved around the paint a lot but some
second helpings at the buffet table and some weight room work could
make this guy a player.

Jeff McInnis, PG, North Carolina. I just couldn't pull the trigger on
this guy.  I just don't like him for this team. I don't think he could
have an immediate impact for the Pistons. I think he will struggle in
his first few years in the NBA. He needs to go to a team with a strong
point guard to learn from. I thought that the Jazz were going to take
him.

Ronnie Henderson, SG, LSU. He was my second choice to Delk. I just
thought that Delk would provide better leadership for the Pistons in
the long run. Henderson has a shoot first mentality and I am not sure
that would work out with Grant Hill on the same court.


IV. Who will the team take.

I really think this team will take Drew Barry, PG, Georgia Tech. I
think he is a good fit on this team. He is smart and can shoot. He
could play one or two and log some good minutes for the Pistons. His
whole family has NBA experience and he could relate to Grant Hill who
grew up with a pro athlete father. He is also used to not being the
star of the team. He has played in the shadows of Marbury and Best at
Georgia Tech. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if the
Pistons went big depending on who is available.


V. Other moves they should make.
**The Pistons need to lock in a few of their own free agents before they go
shopping.
1. Resign  Alan Houston
2. Again I say, resign  Alan Houston
3. Resign Thorpe, Hunter, and Reed.
4. Get some guard help
5. Resign Mark Macon for league minimum only(He made 2+ million last year)
6. Resign Roe at league minimum only.