MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Antonio McDyess, who was included in the Allen Iverson deal, could have signed with just about any contender in the league after he gave back $9 million to have his contract bought by Denver. McDyess showed loyalty to the Pistons, then saw his championship dreams evaporate as the team imploded around him. But the season would have brought more misery without him. Though he didn't become a starter until mid-February, McDyess nearly averaged a double-double with 9.6 points and a team-best 9.8 rebounds.
MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Allen Iverson said he was hungry for a championship and would do anything the coach asked when the Pistons acquired him. On Thanksgiving, Iverson missed a practice, a signal he would only do what was best for himself. After Michael Curry informed Iverson that he was be a sixth man in late February, Iverson sat out nearly a month with a mysterious back injury. Upon returning, he complained after three consecutive games about his new role before he was shut down the remainder of the season. FREE AGENT FOCUS: Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Walter Herrmann will become unrestricted free agents. McDyess is the only one the Pistons will make an aggressive attempt to resign. Kwame Brown has a player option on his contract but will probably stay put.
PLAYER NEWS:
--G Will Bynum's 2009-10 option was picked up by the Pistons. Bynum averaged 7.2 points and 2.8 assists per game, mostly coming off the bench this season.
--F Tayshaun Prince kept playing during Detroit's playoff series with Cleveland despite a sore lower back. That kept his streak alive. Prince has started 441 consecutive games, the longest streak in the league. He's also appeared in 498 consecutive games.
--G Richard Hamilton is one of the league's top catch-and-shoot weapons, but running the offense through him isn't the way to go in the future. He averaged 13.3 points with a team-high 10 turnovers against Cleveland. He needs a point man who can utilize his off-the-ball skills. That's one area in which Rodney Stuckey must improve.
--F Amir Johnson is turning 22 on May 1. His youth, despite four NBA seasons under his belt, makes him potential trade bait. Johnson could not handle a starting role in Detroit but might flourish in a more free-flowing system where he can make better use of his athleticism.
