Detroit Pistons’ greatest gifts of all-time

2. Rasheed Wallace

The Detroit Pistons already had a good team when they traded for Rasheed Wallace, but they needed more. In 2003, the Pistons had made it to the Eastern Conference Finals but were swept out by the New Jersey Nets. Come 2004, the Pistons had another run through the playoffs on their minds, but they were somewhat scuffling through the season.

The team needed to shake things up and add some talent to get things back on track, and that’s exactly what they did in February by making the trade for Rasheed Wallace. In a three-team deal, the Pistons sent Lindsey Hunter, Chucky Atkins, and a first round pick to the Boston Celtics, as well as Zeljko Rebraca and Bob Sura to the Hawks.

This may seem like a haul for one team to give up, but when you think of everything that Wallace meant to the Pistons, it easily becomes worth it. Wallace was the life blood of the 2004 championship team. His energy and intensity pushed the Pistons to the next level. After the team acquired him, the Pistons ended the year on a 20-6 run.

His physicality and skill brought a lot to the team, but nothing meant more to them or the city than his brazen personality and his “I’m going to tell you how I feel whether you like it or not” attitude. Sheed was almost instantly a fan favorite and helped to take the Pistons all the way to their third title in franchise history.