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 re-sign. Kwame Brown has a player option on his contract but will probably stay put. Will Bynum has a team option on his deal. Given that the option is less than $1 million, the Pistons will accept the bargain.
PLAYER NEWS:
--G Richard Hamilton doesn't need the money, but he sued his former business manager on May 18. Hamilton has accused Josh Nochimson, who is also at the center of a recruiting scandal at Hamilton's alma mater, the University of Connecticut, of stealing approximately $1 million from him.
--G Will Bynum was a second-half surprise and was rewarded when the team exercised its option on his contract for next season. Bynum, who will make $825,000, reached double digits in points 12 times in the last two months of the regular season.
--C Kwame Brown could opt out of his contract this summer and leave $4 million on the table, but Pistons president Joe Dumars expects Brown to remain with the club. Brown probably wouldn't find a better deal in a tight financial market, and the Pistons like the way Brown performed in the second half of the season. Brown provided a strong defensive presence while Rasheed Wallace battled leg and foot injuries.
MEDICAL WATCH:
No significant injuries.
