Will Dumars Make A Trade Before Deadline?

With the trade deadline less than four weeks away (Feb. 19), Pistons president Joe Dumars is doing what he typically does -- keeping his eyes, ears and phone lines wide open. Though, truth be told, he's not likely to make another major deal, if even a minor one. "We will be open until the trade deadline," Dumars said. "We won't shut it off and say there's no possible way we can make a move. I don't think you can do that." But there is no urgency to deal. Dumars has made one blockbuster trade this season, acquiring Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups. The Pistons took the court Friday against the Dallas Mavericks with their ninth different starting lineup, three-fifths of which was different from last year. What Dumars is looking for in the second half of the season is stability, not another adjustment. So a major rotation-busting deal is unlikely. "You can look at your team and feel you have a need for one more piece, but unless you can get that specific piece, it doesn't make sense to just go out and make a deal," Dumars said. "It would have to be a specific piece." And it would have to come at a specific price. The Pistons are roughly $700,000 over the luxury-cap threshold, and that number could increase at the end of the year if some player incentives are met. Unless an irresistible player becomes available, Dumars isn't going to take on more payroll. That said, the Pistons could probably do with a small forward to back up Tayshaun Prince. With Walter Herrmann out of the rotation, the Pistons have been using shooting guards Richard Hamilton and Arron Afflalo to spell Prince. Dumars probably wouldn't turn away from another frontcourt player or perimeter shooter, if the price is right.