The Pistons made a splash with their first two free-agent signings in July. Their third free-agent acquisition barely caused a ripple, though that player may be their starting center next season. Chris Wilcox signed a two-year, $6 million contract to compete with Kwame Brown for the starting job in the middle. While guard Ben Gordon and power forward Charlie Villanueva are expected to be impact players, Wilcox has the look of a stopgap.
The Pistons still appear to be one top-notch frontcourt player away from rejoining the elite in the Eastern Conference. Wilcox plans to disprove that notion. "This is a great opportunity to show what I've got," he said.
After playing for a series of bad teams -- the Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle/Oklahoma City and New York -- Wilcox expects to finally get a taste of the postseason with Detroit. Wilcox, who turns 27 in September, played his first four seasons with the Clippers. He had his most productive years with Seattle, averaging 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in 2006-07 and 13.4 points and 7.0 rebounds the following season.
Things went sour for Wilcox last season, after the franchise moved to Oklahoma City. Wilcox lost his starting job before getting traded to New York. He only played an average of 13.2 minutes in 25 games with the run-and-gun Knicks.
Wilcox has played power forward most of his career but he's unfazed about the prospect of banging in the low post with opposing centers.
"I'm ready for it," said Wilcox, who is entering his eighth NBA season. "In Seattle, I played the five, so it's basically the same situation. I've just got to come to camp ready to go and everything else will work itself out."
