There are probably two opinions of him: He tore down a 50+ win team. He realized what he had wasn't going to cut it and it was time to rebuild. He might not be able to rebuild it, but I am glad he was willing to blow it up. He is the anti-astros.
That team was done before he moved Billups. They were getting a little easier to beat each season and a lot older. Unfortunately for them, even all that money they will have after AI is gone won't be enough unless Joe can pull off some slick trades too. That team needs a complete rebuilding except for it's 2-3 young guys who look to have promise. The Mask and Rasheed need to be moved ASAP if possible because they are both in serious decline and look to be nothing but locker room poison at this point.
sheed and AI are both off the books after this season. they will have incredible cap room to maneuver this year and next, if they play this wisely. they also have hermann, mcdyess and maxiell coming off. they probably want to resign maxiell, but none of the others. maybe mcdyess if he comes cheap. hamilton is off after next season for another 11mill+.. the amount of room they will have is insane. definitely enough for 2 max FA's. the problem will be next season. will they try to sign a big free agent this year, and try to compete? or will they just tank next season as well, not spend much money (1 year deals?) and just go for summer of 2010?
My impression is he's caught half-way between rebuilding and competing. If he's going to rebuild, he should have been more extreme in tearing down the team. But, who knows, Dumars is probably better at this than I am and maybe he can get the team competitive again without having to completely suck in the interim.
I wonder if they would still be a contender if he had drafted Anthony, Wade, or Bosh instead of Darko?
Rip was actually extended for 3 years at 34 million. And Maxiel got reupped for 4 years 20 mill. http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/contracts So they'll have max money for 1 FA with maybe a bit left over. Not bad but it could have been better. Rip's extension was probably a mistake. You figure that the market rate in two years will be lower for a guy like him.
Detroit has been chastised a little too often for the Iverson move given how it worked out for AI and Billups. But yeah, he blew up the team. He went into "rebuild on the fly" mode. Only 1 semi-down year hopefully where they were still in the playoffs. They have a ton of cap space now with AI and Sheed coming off. Stuckey gained valuable experience--even more important since he's their starting guard of the future. Prince is still in his prime, Rip is fine and productive. 2 young bigs in Amir Johnson and Maxiell (I don't know the stats, but they seem to be pretty solid aside from possibly foul rates?) Now they have a ton of space...and at least 4 solid starters (if you count Johnson/Maxiell as 1, which I certainly would).. I really think that's a solid job of realizing you're not in position to make a run and rebuilding quickly without going through the crappy years. (And let's not forget Will Bynum showing he can be a legit energizer guard off the bench in this league after AI departed for the season)
