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A couple of seasons later, they rolled the dice on a former All-Star who had undergone three major knee surgeries.

The Pistons struck gold on Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess but it would be unreasonable to expect a repeat performance in this season's free agent market.

For one, the list of unrestricted free agents doesn't excite anyone looking for a low-cost gem. Second, the Pistons are wary of the luxury tax and already have more than $60 million in salary commitments. Third, the Pistons really don't know what their needs are until president of basketball operations Joe Dumars exhausts all trade possibilities.

Like most teams, the Pistons are over the salary-cap threshold and thus are eligible for a mid-level exception, which is what they used to sign Billups and McDyess. The mid-level exception is approximately $5.5 million and can be used to sign one or more players.

The Pistons also have to make decisions on five of their own free agents. The contracts of Jarvis Hayes, Walter Herrmann, Juan Dixon, Lindsey Hunter and Theo Ratliff expired at the end of last season.

Hayes, a streak shooter, lost his rotation spot in the playoffs. It's unlikely he'll be offered a contract by the Pistons, even though he said just after the season he'd like to come back.

Dixon, acquired just before the trade deadline, didn't have a role in the postseason and will also have to look for another team. Herrmann will likely head overseas to play. Hunter and Ratliff could return with short-term contracts if they don't retire.

If Ratliff does hang up his uniform, the Pistons could be in the market for another big man. They also have a hole at the backup small forward position, even though they're high on top draft pick Walter Sharpe.

There's an extensive list of perimeter players looking for new deals, so the Pistons can afford to wait before making any free agent moves. James Posey, Devin Brown, Devean George, Mickael Pietrus, Matt Barnes, Michael Finley, Quinton Ross, Ricky Davis, Bostjan Nachbar, Bonzi Wells, former Piston Mo Evans and Roger Mason are all small forwards or swingmen who could claim a role behind Tayshaun Prince.

Finding a decent big man on the free agent market is a much more difficult proposition. DeSagana Diop, Kurt Thomas, P.J. Brown and Brian Skinner head that rather unimposing list.

Washington's fortunes could hinge on what happens with its unrestricted free agents. Two of its three stars, Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, will jump into the market. But players like Arenas and Jamison won't accept mid-level money, so the only way a team like the Pistons can acquired them would be a sign-and-trade deal.

Stuckey to play in summer league
Rodney Stuckey was one of the league's breakout performers during the playoffs but he is still willing to play summer ball.
Stuckey is one of 13 players on the Pistons' summer-league roster. They will play five games in the Las Vegas Summer League, beginning July 11.
Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson and Cheikh Samb are the other players from last season's roster who will play in the summer league. All three of the Pistons' 2008 second-round draft picks -- Walter Sharpe, Deron Washington and Trent Plaisted -- are on the team as well as Alex Acker, who has played overseas the past two seasons after spending his rookie season in Detroit.