Anyway you look at it, the Pistons are a much better team now than before they agreed to terms with free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.
Gordon is a hot and cold player. He is either exceptional or exceptionally mediocre. Little in-between. But you know those nights when he is really hot, Gordon is literally going to carry you to victory. The Pistons haven’t had a great streak scorer like that in awhile. It’s a good thing.
Villanueva isn’t very scrappy and doesn’t address the Pistons’ inside needs - unless he develops more of a toughness in the paint and on the boards.
The key with him isn’t skill - he can do it inside. The question is whether he wants to. He has a good outside touch, but the Pistons don’t need him firing up 3s too often like Rasheed Wallace.
The good part about Villanueva is there is an upside. There is a chance he could develop into a much better player.
I don’t know what they’ll do with Richard Hamilton. Three guards isn’t going to work. We saw that last year. Gordon shouldn’t be an $11 million per season "super sub" as some have suggested. Can Hamilton be traded for more size? Seems doubtful. Will be interesting how it plays out.

Random Thoughts

- No truth to the rumors the Lions are bringing back Bobby Ross, the Tigers Buddy Bell and the Red Wings Bryan Murray. Where is the love for George Irvine? Sorry, hate cynical people. And here I am being one.

- The Tigers better not look behind them, the Twins and White Sox are gaining on them. If Justin Verlander is going to be all that he can be, he has to do it on the road. How is that for a couple cliches.

- Red Wings’ worst value for a contract next season: Tomas Holmstrom at $2.25 million.

- Marian Hossa will be a fine fit for the Blackhawks, but they lost more than they gained in free agency Wednesday when Martin Havlat signed with Minnesota and Nikolai Khabibulin with Edmonton.

- Sign of the times: Just how much salaries were down for NHL free agents.