Josh Smith, now set to jam with the Pistons after signing a four year deal, likely isn’t the final move Detroit will make this offseason, even though many assume so.
Here’s some breaking news. Contrary to a new but increasingly popular belief, the conclusion of free agency’s “frenzy period” this weekend doesn’t signal in the end of either the NHL or NBA offseason.
There’s still players to be signed, trades to be made and teams to be filled out. Thanks to the full-fledged media blitz that comes with signing day and heavily publicized decisons, everyone tends to forget that some of the best moves don’t come until after things quiet down in an offseason, or even during the regular season. Detroit has certainly seen this within some of their most beloved championship teams.
Take the 2002 Detroit Red Wings, normally casually thought of as a group of mercenaries hired to win the Stanley Cup in July of 2001. One of the defensive backbones of that team, Frederik Olausson, was signed on May 24, well in advance of the NHL’s free agency period in July. He would go on to be an underrated member of the defense. Boyd Devereaux, an important forward, was inked in August of 2000. Brett Hull, perhaps the most notable Hall of Fame member of that team’s free agency haul, was signed on August 22, 2001 after literally nobody else wanted him on the open market.
The Detroit Pistons were active in remaking their 2004 title team at separate times, as well. Ben Wallace was an August pickup from the Orlando Magic. Richard Hamilton was acquired from the Washington Wizards on September 11, 2002. Rasheed Wallace was a key midseason pickup, perhaps the best one according to Phil Jackson in his book The Last Season. The 2004 NBA champions came together in a variety of different ways, but the finishing touches weren’t just put on the team in early July.
While the beginning of the frenzy period of free agency, as it’s becoming known, can net teams a few important pieces, it’s the moves that happen in the later months when nobody is watching that end up making the biggest difference. Over the next few days, you’ll be tempted to complain that the Red Wings have too many forwards and not enough defense. After signing Josh Smith but losing Jose Calderon, you’ll be scared that the Pistons don’t have a capable point guard to distribute the basketball to their front line.
There is, however, plenty of time for corresponding moves. The trade market usually comes together much better after teams have jumped head first into the free agency pool. Teams know that the best time to get business done isn’t when big dollar contracts are getting tossed around, but when the dust settles and general managers are looking for the final pieces to complete their teams or shed more burdensome salaries.
Despite the big headlines each team made this week, the Pistons and Red Wings aren’t done because the frantic period is over. With the previously mentioned glut of forwards, salary cap and defensive concerns, trades will probably have to be made by Ken Holland and, after going all-in with Smith, you can almost certainly count on Joe Dumars to add a competent point guard. Because the team hasn’t made other moves just yet, though, doesn’t mean it won’t be happening in the coming weeks.
Of course, it’s always hard to remember that when early July’s overdriven free agent feeding frenzy, now more intense than ever, is constantly clouding your mind.
Max DeMara is a senior editor at The Detroit Sports Site. You can find him on Twitter @SportsGuyTheMax
