Joe Dumars said the other day that he is doing his best to improve his aging team and there's "a 50-50 chance" something might happen in the coming months.

Aside from the Tracy McGrady rumor, nothine else significant has surfaced.

Personally, I don't believe T-Mac would be a wise long term investment for the Detroit Pistons because if you look at the Pistons' magic formula over the years, it has never been about a one-man show. And T-Mac is certainly a one-man show.

He averages about 25 per game while the Pistons' current leading scorer doesn't even top 20 per. Deeeetroit Basketball is all about spreading the wealth and team ball, and I'm not so sure T-Mac has the type of personality to stand up to guys like the vocal and enigmatic Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton because throughout his career McGrady has always been the number one option.

In addition, the Detroit organization prides itself on having players that play excellent team defense and nowhere in McGrady's resume does it state that he's a superb defender. He's an average defender, but certainly not one to lock anyone down.  And with T-Mac's propensity to go one-on-one and score in bunches, I don't think Wallace and Hamilton would be too happy. Considering Detroit's system on offense, wherein they set constant picks to free up Hamilton and allow Rasheed to operate in the low post as well as the top of the key, McGrady would only be frustrated by the lack of touches and isolations he would get as a Piston. Therefore, I don't see this trade happening unless a third team is involved.

If the Pistons are going to ship some players, they will want a reliable scorer, a top rebounder, and a big man in return who is adequate on defense and is a team player who fits the Detroit mold. One of the main reasons they lost to Boston in the ECF is because the aging Antonio McDyess was simply too inconsistent and he was often beat on the boards by Kendrick Perkins. And although Jason Maxiell was game, he just didn't have enough big game experience to make a resounding impact. Finally, Theo Ratliff is a free agent so there's no telling who the Pistons' backup center will be next year. It's plainly obvious Dumars needs some ammunition inside.

Detroit would probably also want a back up point guard since Lindsey Hunter is thiscloser to receiving AARP benefits. With Rodney Stuckey ready to blossom and Juan Dixon continuing to possess a shooting guard mentality, nothing is clear at point guard for Detroit. The same can be said at the small forward position, with Jarvis Hayes gone and Walter Hermann unsure about returning.

Enter the Los Angeles Lakers. With all the focus on Ron Artest coming to L.A., one thing is clear. No significant progress has been made. Yet.

And with Lakers' management doing a great job of keeping things under wrap like they always do, one would only assume that they're continuing to talk to other teams about potential trades.

On February 2007, I suggested that the Lakers go after Pau Gasol since he would be a perfect complement to the triangle offense with his all-around game. For over a year there were no significant rumors of the Lakers being even remotely interested in dealing for Pau, although they were probably keeping a close eye on him from a distance. All everyone talked about was that the Bulls were heavily interested in the Spaniard but nothing ever came of it. One year later the Lakers swiped Gasol as quickly as a debit card, withdrawing the Spaniard from the Grizzlies with no one expecting it.

With everyone talking about Artest, how do we know Mitch Kupchak and Magic Johnson aren't quietly making calls and sending text messages to Dumars in the morning and late at night? Every time I catch a glimpse of Dumars at the summer league in Las Vegas, he's always on his phone messing with his texts. Could it be possible the Lakers are saying Lamar Odom isn't available to Sacramento because he would be a better fit in Detroit playing alongside Wallace and Hamilton as the third option and number one rebounder on the team? Is L.A. native Tayshaun Prince secretly speaking with Olympic teammate Kobe Bryant behind closed doors after practice and being the undercover liaison between both teams?

Whatever happens in the coming months will be interesting and intriguing all at the same time. The trade that nobody has mentioned thus far is the one involving 2004 Finals combatants Detroit and Los Angeles. Both teams have recent history as trade partners when the Lakers acquired Maurice Evans from Detroit a few years ago for a couple of picks.

Prince and Chauncey Billups (approx. $20 million combined annual salaries) for Odom, Jordan Farmar,  Chris Mihm, and second round pick Joe Crawford (approx. $19-20 million combined annual salaries).

The Pistons get two expiring contracts, a highly sought after point guard, they address needs, and most importantly they get younger while still being able to compete in the East and clear much needed cap space for the future by relieving themselves of their long term obligations to Tayshaun and Chauncey.

Meanwhile the Lakers create a veteran-laden starting lineup of Billups, Bryant, Prince, Gasol, and Bynum and move the aging yet dependable Derek Fisher to the bench to create a stable lineup that will probably remain the same for the next three years minimum.

A Pistons' team source recently downplayed a rumor that T-Mac was close to being acquired, noting instead  that Houston was "just one of many teams to whom the club has spoken about potential trades." Is one of those teams the Lakers?

We shall see...

After a long layoff from FOXBLOGCITY, and after drinking my share of PURA VIDAS and enjoying beautiful COSTA RICA with friends and my sizzling Stephanie... THE DIZZLE is BACK!

The 2007 edition of TEAM USA Basketball is about to play Venezuela tomorrow to kickstart the quest for gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

We certainly have some top talent on this summer's squad, but I am not convinced that this should be the team to represent our country next year against the likes of France, Argentina, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Spain. I do believe, however, that this team is better than the team that lost to Greece last summer in Japan because this time around KOBE replaces AI. Mr. Bryant is the real answer.

But there are still questions. Will TIM DUNCAN or THE MATRIX be in the red, white, and blue next year? What about the CELTIC TRIO? Will D-WADE be healthy enough? Does SHAQ give it one more go 'round or will GREG ODEN take his place? We can dream about the real DREAM TEAM, but we must use what we have at our disposal right now...

AIR KOBE, J-KIDD, BRON BRON, MELO MAN A,  buh buh buh BILLUPS, AMARE, LEFTY REDD, HOWARD THE DUNK, DERON WILL.I.AMs, T-CHANDLER, MILLER MIKE and FRESH PRINCE OF COMPTON.

My crunch time starters are: PG- Kidd Magik, SG- Kobester, SF- Fresh Prince, PF- Amare, C- Howard the Dunk

Melo Man A, Chauncey, The King, and Lefty will head the second unit. Tyson, Will.I.AmS, and Miller Mike are there in case of foul trouble, much like THE LAKERS used Slava Medvedenko, Sasha Vujacic, and Devean George.

So tip off is tomorrow on NBA TV. Who are your STARTERS? Feel free to speak your mind.