Is there a bigger what if moment in NBA history...

[Neutrinos]

What if the Pistons had taken Carmelo instead of Milicic in the 2003 draft?

Denver was loaded upfront with the likes of Nene, Camby, Chris Anderson, Juwan Howard, not to mention the recently drafted Tskitishvili - the player they foolishly wasted the 5th pick on the previous year

With Carmelo off the board, it's quite likely Denver would've turned to Wade at #3, which means Miami likely doesn't win any championships

 

[Aladyyn]

What if the Pistons had taken Carmelo instead of Milicic in the 2003 draft?

Denver was loaded upfront with the likes of Nene, Camby, Chris Anderson, Juwan Howard, not to mention the recently drafted Tskitishvili - the player they foolishly wasted the 5th pick on the previous year

With Carmelo off the board, it's quite likely Denver would've turned to Wade at #3, which means Miami likely doesn't win any championships

Simmons explored this one in his Book of Basketball. He says Detroit wouldn't win the 2004 title if they took Melo and that Milicic was going top 3 no matter what.

 

[Voight]

Simmons explored this one in his Book of Basketball. He says Detroit wouldn't win the 2004 title if they took Melo and that Milicic was going top 3 no matter what.

Is Melo replacing Tayshaun Prince really that much of a deal breaker for a championship? I understand the experience part of it but Melo is quite the talent.

 

[Aladyyn]

Is Melo replacing Tayshaun Prince really that much of a deal breaker for a championship? I understand the experience part of it but Melo is quite the talent.

The argument is that it would f*** with the Pistons' chemistry, big-time. Melo was also never even close to the defender Prince was.

 

[dahrougem2]

Is Melo replacing Tayshaun Prince really that much of a deal breaker for a championship? I understand the experience part of it but Melo is quite the talent.

Absolutely. Tayshaun Prince was a monster defensively. His block on Reggie Miller and his lockdown defence on Kobe Bryant were huge reasons for the Pistons winning that year. If Melo replaces him in the lineup, you can make the argument that the Pacers might have beaten the Pistons in the playoffs.

 

[Neutrinos]

Simmons explored this one in his Book of Basketball. He says Detroit wouldn't win the 2004 title if they took Melo and that Milicic was going top 3 no matter what.

I don't care what Bill Simmons says, that's a tough pick for Denver to make one year removed from drafting Tskitishvili - especially given the makeup of their roster at the time

 

[Reality Check]

What if the Pistons had taken Carmelo instead of Milicic in the 2003 draft?

Denver was loaded upfront with the likes of Nene, Camby, Chris Anderson, Juwan Howard, not to mention the recently drafted Tskitishvili - the player they foolishly wasted the 5th pick on the previous year

With Carmelo off the board, it's quite likely Denver would've turned to Wade at #3, which means Miami likely doesn't win any championships

Carmelo would have never worked in Detroit. Period.

Prince breaking out in the 2003 playoffs, after not playing much in the regular season, helped them prevent a first round upset and all but sealed the draft Carmelo debate internally.

Another thing which few will factor in was the drafting of Rodney White a year or two prior. Nowhere near as talented as Carmelo. But he was another scoring SF with some of the same "issues" as Carmelo.

The biggest weakness the Pistons had at that time was another big man to play alongside Ben Wallace. With his skill and hype, it was no brainer unless Cleveland passed on LeBron. Unfortunately he was too immature and flamed out.

The guy Detroit obviously should have taken back then was Chris Bosh. But that's hindsight for you.

 

[Thenameless]

Bingo. He wasn't staying in Orlando no matter what.

And Anderson didn't lose them the Finals, he lost them game 1, they weren't taking four games from the Rockets, not a chance in hell.

This is true. But winning Game 1 would have given the young team so much confidence that it could have easily been the difference in the series. Remember, Orlando was a pretty stacked team too.

 

[Thenameless]

The argument is that it would **** with the Pistons' chemistry, big-time. Melo was also never even close to the defender Prince was.

Prince was an important part of that team. Role players allow the stars to be the stars.

 

[crobro]

What if Drazen Petrovic didn’t die

 

[Stylizer1]

What if Drazen Petrovic didn’t die

He would have been remembered as the white Reggie Miller.

 

[le_sean]

The argument is that it would **** with the Pistons' chemistry, big-time. Melo was also never even close to the defender Prince was.

Also he took twice as many shots at Tayshaun per game. That Detroit team spread the ball around. Melo’s insistence on playing ISO ball would have buried that team. But maybe Rasheed would have smacked some sense into him.

 

[kurt]

I'd prefer this in Sonics jerseys TBH

 

[Neutrinos]

It's not about "fit", it's about value

For having the #2 pick in a draft loaded with future Hall of Famers, the Pistons came away with 96 games of Darko Milicic