The Pistons will use their valuable salary-cap space - at least $20 million this summer - before LeBron, Dwyane and Bosh become free agents in 2010. Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars went on the record with that statement after not making any deals before Thursday's trade deadline.
“Given the fact we have to play a season next year,” Dumars said Thursday night prior the team's game against San Antonio, “I think I need to use that money. I think we’re going to tip it off next year, so I better put a hell of a team on the floor. You can’t wait. You can’t sit here and say we’re going to wait two years down the road and hope we get somebody. We have no idea what could happen (in 2010).”
Dumars didn't come close to making a deal, in part because he told teams he wouldn't take on any salary and give up any of that cap space.