Maybe letting Grant Hill leave wasn't so bad after all. In August 2000, the Pistons completed a sign-and-trade deal that sent Hill to Orlando for Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins. On paper, the Pistons seemed to be ripped off. But they might have gotten the better of the deal.

"Let's just say, Grant Hill is not healthy," Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse said when asked which team he thought fared better. Instead of bringing a championship-caliber presence to the Magic, Hill had surgery on his ankle, and missed all but four games of the 2000-01 season. This season, Hill has struggled with the ankle again. He left Monday night's game in the fourth quarter and did not return. He's averaging 16.8 points per game -- nine fewer than he did in his final season with Detroit -- and he has not regained the same superstar form. Meanwhile, Wallace has become the Pistons' best defender and arguably their most important player in Rick Carlisle's defensive-minded system. He leads Detroit in rebounding (10.9), steals (1.9) and blocks (3.5).

Atkins has been a solid backup point guard behind Dana Barros. He's shooting almost 50 percent this season, and he can hit big shots just as he did against the Magic, when he hit a three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining to help the Pistons hold their lead. What's better is the Pistons also saved some money in the deal. Combined, Atkins and Wallace were to make $8.8 million this season. Hill will make about $10.87 million.