New-look Pistons?

Chaunce has been injured. Sheed has been an enigma. And everybody else has been doing what they can, but it's clear that, at this point, the Pistons are not a championship caliber team.

That could all change in the next few weeks. Chris Webber could be suiting up in red, white and blue as early as Wednesday versus the Jazz. Chaunce is expected back soon, too. And with his return, it's likely Sheed will get out of his funk and start to assert himself like the All-Star he is.

If Joe Dumars is really feeling tricky, he might try to pull a few more strings in addition to picking up C-Webb. Jalen Rose has hinted he would love to return to Detroit, and if his former Fab Five teammate comes back home, well, no time would be better. I've also heard rumblings about Morris Peterson heading south, too. Assuming we'd lose Carlos Delfino, Flip Murray or Amir Johnson to get those guys (perhaps all three), let's just see what a potential playoff roster would look like, along with some career numbers...

PG 1 Chauncey Billups 14 ppg 3 rpg 5 apg
SG 32 Richard Hamilton 18 ppg 3 rpg 3 apg
SF 22 Tayshaun Prince 12 ppg 4 rpg 2 apg
PF 36 Rasheed Wallace 16 ppg 7 rpg 2 apg
C 2 Chris Webber 21 ppg 10rpg 4 apg

G 10 Lindsey Hunter 9 ppg 2 rpg 3 apg
G 42 Morris Peterson 12 ppg 4 rpg 2 apg
G 5 Jalen Rose 15 ppg 4 rpg 4 apg
F 13 Nazr Mohammed 7 ppg 6 rpg 1 apg
F 24 Antonio McDyess 15 ppg 8 rpg 1 apg
F 54 Jason Maxiell 4 ppg 2 rpg
F 34 Dale Davis 8 ppg 8 rpg 1 apg

Quite an experienced squad. And in the playoffs, that counts more than anything. While these three additions would make the Pistons one of the oldest teams in the league, I truly think they could help.

C-Webb sure ain't the C-Webb he used to be, but even on one wheel he's more effective than Nazr. I must admit, Nazr has exceeded my expectations of him this year. But he's a liability defensively, and his touch around the basket cannot outweigh his negatives. There's no reason to start him over C-Webb.

Jalen ain't what he used to be, either. He's not as intimidating a scorer as he was seven years ago, when he led the Pacers to the Finals. (He was the go-to guy for Indiana that year, not Reggie Miller.) But man, can Jalen still dish the rock. He and Linds could come off the bench together and really get guys like Maxiell, Dyess, Rip and ... Mo Pete going.

Yes, that's right: Morris Peterson. What the Pistons do not have this season is a dead-eye 3-point shooter off the bench. While Mo is only shooting 35 percent from behind the arc this year, in Toronto, he's asked to do a lot more than shoot. In Detroit, that would be his main -- and maybe his only -- responsibility: knock down the open trey.

I'll shed no tears saying good-bye to Los and Flip if these acquisitions somehow happen, but I will be sad to see Amir go -- if that's what Joe D chooses to do. I still maintain he could be the next T-Mac. Unfortunately, Pistons fans have had little opportunity to see him do much of anything in two years.

The boys are at Atlanta tonight, then back home tomorrow against Boston in what could be Chauncey's much-welcomed return. If we're lucky, it won't be the only return for Detroit fans in the next few weeks. I can hear George Blaha already...

And Jalen feeds C-Webb on the lob for the super slam! The Pistons lead by 12 with TWO and TWENTY-TWO to play! What a pass by Jalen!