Basketball-Detroit Pistons 2009 Draft Preview

Pistons president Joe Dumars is coming off a disastrous year in which he jettisoned the underrated Flip Saunders for the untested and unproven Michael Curry and compounded that mistake with the ill-conceived Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade.

Gone was Detroit's legendary balance, defensive prowess and chemistry, not to mention the run of six straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals. So, needless to say, this is a big summer for Dumars.


Trading for Iverson did give Dumars plenty of cap space and the team seems to be targeting Chicago sharp-shooter Ben Gordon. As for the draft big man Rasheed Wallace isn't likely to return and Antonio McDyess could also leave via free agency meaning Dumars will be in line for a big body with the 15th overall pick.

Options could include Gonzaga forward Austin Daye and Ohio State Center B.J. Mullens.

Mullens has the size and soft hands to develop into a legit center and help Curry start rebuilding his frontcourt. A number of sources say the Pistons have a promise in place to take Mullens, so if anyone else has designs on the big man, they will have to move up past No. 15.

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