Detroit Pistons: Do the Pistons win more titles with Carmelo Anthony?

What would have happened if the Detroit Pistons had taken Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony with the No. 2 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft instead of center Darko Miličić?

It’s a painful reminder every time it comes up.

This time, it was on the “All The Smoke” podcast,  as Anthony reflected on the Pistons’ decision to take Miličić over him – and it once again brings that painful reminder to the forefront.

So with another reminder of the massive blunder then-general manager Joe Dumars made, let me re-ask the question:

What would have happened if the Detroit Pistons took Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony with the No. 2 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft instead of Darko Miličić?

Detroit Pistons: Chemistry issues or more titles?

There’s the camp who says chemistry is the most important factor to success in the NBA, and that adding Anthony to a Pistons core that was running on all cylinders at the time of that draft would have ruined that.

Miličić wasn’t a factor in the rotation, playing in only 34 games. This kept the chemistry intact, and history shows it was successful with the Detroit Pistons beating the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals.

Anthony, what do you think would have happened?

"“I think if I was there, they (Detroit) win(s) another (title),” Anthony said. “I wouldn’t jump out there and say we three-peat. I think we’d go back-to-back if I’m there.”"

Guys, I think Melo was wrong…because it would have been more.

Chemistry is all fine and dandy, but last I checked talent rules the NBA. Teams are thrown together left and right to win a championship just like they are in today’s game.

Then head coach Larry Brown knew what he was doing, and despite his early 2000s spats with Philadelphia 76ers superstar point guard Allen Iverson, he commanded respect.

Anthony would have embraced his role with Brown leading the charge, and it wouldn’t have ruined the rotation…still leading to the Detroit Pistons winning it all in 2004.

Fast forward to the 2005 NBA Finals where the Lakers’ previous season implosion led to the San Antonio Spurs taking the reigns in the West Conference. The Pistons were a Spurs forward Robert Horry miss away from back-to-back titles, and even in the pivotal Game 7 the Pistons hung tough on the road.

The game was tied heading into the fourth quarter and the Pistons didn’t have a bucket-getter late. The team had balanced scoring and were still led by shoot-first point guard Chauncey Billups, but can you imagine having Anthony – a 20-plus point per game scorer that season – on the floor late with the ability to create his own shot? Pistons in seven, back-to-back champions.

The following season Brown left the organization, but the team still owned the No. 1 seed in the conference and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Looks like coaching chemistry didn’t matter too much, and the Pistons could have used an offensive weapon to keep up with Heat duo Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.

Three-peat? Why not.

Let’s not go any further – other than to say as the roster began to turn over, Anthony would have been the conduit to do it smoothly. As a star in the league, do others join him in their quest for a ring similar to today’s NBA? Likely.

As mentioned, it’s a painful reminder every time it comes up.