Very few teams in NBA history have found an extended amount of success from drafting players that indeed return championships — the Detroit Pistons are one of them.
Most of the Pistons' success has come through offseason or mid-season trades along with doing exceptionally well in terms of drafting the right players. There have been, however, a few exceptions to their ability to land big names when it's time to simply convince a marquee free agent to sign on the dotted line.
Not all names that the Pistons have attracted have been to the needs of filling a star-player role, as some players have been brought over to fill a pivotal slot in aiding their chances of winning a championship.
Here are some of possibly the best free agent signing by the Detroit Pistons.
1. Chauncey Billups
Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups winded up having two stints with the Pistons, but this particular signing focuses on the summer of 2002. Prior to signing with the Pistons, Billups had an outstanding year with the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 12.5 points along with 5.5 assists while shooting a then-career high 42 percent from the field.
He had an outstanding first year with the Pistons during the 2002-03 season, averaging 16.2 points per game during the regular season. His success was cut short however, as the Pistons would go on to be swept by the New Jersey Nets in the playoffs.
Billups and the Pistons came back guns blazing in the following year, running through a hardy Eastern Conference before besting the Los Angeles Lakers in a five-game series in the 2004 NBA Finals.
2. Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace deserves just as much credit for leading the Pistons to their 2004 championship as does Billups. Wallace came over in a controversial sign and trade with the Orlando Magic for Grant Hill. Hill had become beloved by the Detroit area, making the move even harder for them to accept an unproven Wallace.
He quickly silenced the doubters though, as he averaged 13.2 rebounds during his first season with the Pistons. It was exactly five more than his rebounding average with the Magic just the year prior at 8.2. His scoring didn't jump off the page, but his defensive presence was where he was most valued.
He continued his rebounding dominance while also slightly upping his scoring average to 9.4 points per game when the Pistons won the championship during the 2003-04 season. He also averaged an impressive three blocks per game.
3. Antonio McDyess
Though not known for his flashiness and explosiveness by this point in his career, Antonio McDyess played an important part in leading the Pistons back to another championship appearance in 2005. McDyess was still coping with knee injuries that he'd suffered with both the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets.
He never got back to the 20-point, 10-plus rebounding big man that many had come to expect from him on a nightly basis, but that wasn't what the Pistons needed from him.
During his first year with the Pistons, he averaged 9.6 points along with 6.3 rebounds to help get the Pistons to the finish line in the NBA Finals once more before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game series. McDyess continued to be a beneficial part of the Pistons' rotation during his remaining years, nearly averaging a double-double in points (9.6) and boards (9.8) during his final season in Detroit.
4. Terry Mills
His name may not ring bells to the common crowd, but Terry Mills was one of the reasons the Pistons were able to survive some of the droughtful seasons in the '90s. During his first season with the Pistons, he averaged career highs in points (14.8), rebounds (5.8), and assists (1.4).
He put on a show for a Pistons fan base that had long craved excitement following the grimy days of the Bad Boys era.
Though he never saw the same success as the previously mentioned names, Mills was able to carry the torch of high-level production for the Pistons throughout his tenure. Through six seasons, he averaged 12.3 points per game with the Pistons before eventually signing with the Miami Heat.
5. M.L. Carr
Though most of his glory days will go down in history with the Boston Celtics, M.L. Carr's rise to fame started in Motor City. Carr demoniated during his time in Detroit, averaging 14.8 points along with 7.4 rebounds during three seasons.
He made one playoff appearance with the Pistons during the 1976-77 season in which he totaled 28 points and 17 rebounds through three games before losing to the Golden State Warriors.
Carr would go on to live out his best days with the Celtics where he won two championships while coaching there as well for two seasons.
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