Joe Dumars built a champion-caliber franchise, transforming the Detroit Pistons from a 32-win team in his first season in charge to one good enough to win the 2004 NBA title during a six-year run of advancing to at least the conference finals.
Dumars didn't like what he saw last season, being relegated to watching the playoffs for the first time since 2001 — his first season as president of basketball operations — with Detroit's second-lowest victory total in three decades.
He's determined to do something about it.
When the NBA's free agency period opened Thursday, Detroit wasn't expected to be a major player, but that didn't mean Dumars planned to be idle.
"Our first order of business is to retain our own free agents, Ben Wallace and Will Bynum," Dumars told The Associated Press.
Dumars' best shot at making a splash this summer seems to be tied to trading Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, but he won't move one or both players just for the sake of looking busy.
The Pistons are about $10 million under the salary cap, including the midlevel exception that should help them sign a solid veteran.
Dumars was determined to add size in last week's draft and he did, taking Georgetown's Greg Monroe No. 7 overall.
The Hall of Fame player knows he still has work to do.
"Joe's juices are flowing," Detroit coach John Kuester said after the NBA draft.
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