Let's Start a "Mike James to the Pistons" Rumor

A blog, by its very nature, is an irresponsible and potentially dangerous form of journalism -- at least if you ask Jay Mariotti. But even so, I'm going to throw caution in the wind and willingly engage in some high-risk behavior: I'm going to try to create a trade rumor out of thin air. Here goes ...

Since the Pistons want to trade one of their big men for a combo guard, and since Mike James apparently wants out of Minnesota, I predict Joe Dumars and Kevin McHale will be spotted in Las Vegas talking about a potential deal this weekend. Who would Detroit give up? I'm thinking Nazr Mohammed, with a throw-in player (Flip Murray?) and/or second-round draft pick to sweeten the pot.

My logic: James is unhappy about losing his starting job to rookie Randy Foye this weekend, admitting that he might not be the best fit for the Timberwolves since the team is obviously grooming Foye for the future. While James would likely prefer to be traded to another team where he could resume starting, it's possible he'd welcome a return to the Pistons, with whom he won a ring in 2004.

And as they discovered last month, the Pistons don't have a legitimate backup for Chauncey Billups. Not only would James fill that role off the bench this season, he'd provide a legitimate insurance plan in case the bidding for Billups (who, barring catastrophic injury, will opt out of his contract at the end of the year) gets out of hand this summer.

Dumars is on the record saying money won't be an issue when it comes to resigning Billups, but Ben Wallace's Chicago defection proves that Pistons fans should be ready for anything. And if Billups does in fact re-sign with the Pistons, Dumars will have plenty of time to make James happy by dealing him to another team who needs a starter.

Yes, I pulled this out of thin air, but seriously, why shouldn't this happen?