Three straight empty trips to the Eastern Conference finals. Four of five starters are 30 or older. Despite being mentioned in numerous potential trades this offseason, all Detroit ended up with was former No. 1 pick Kwame Brown, whose confidence is shot – technically, it was gone when Jordan called him a faggot as a rookie – but will give it a whirl nonetheless with his fourth team in eight years. The draft and its aftermath netted a couple of guys who might make the team – F Deron Washington and F/C Trent Plaisted – but aren’t expected to significantly contribute.

It must be frustrating to be Detroit GM Joe Dumars, knowing he has a 50-win team that will make the postseason but not the FInals, and also knowing that other teams – the 76ers, who surprisingly took two from Detroit in the playoffs last year, improved, as did the Raptors – improved, while Detroit couldn’t pull the trigger on anything significant.

Or is it? Here’s an absolute best-case scenario: Rodney Stuckey, who had a nice rookie campaign, and looked real strong in the Boston series, has a massive breakthrough, and is an Iverson/Chris Paul hybrid who suddenly makes Billups expendable. If the Pistons were able to deal Billups for a legit post player – Rasheed isn’t a power guy, Maxiell doesn’t have the moves, nor does McDyess – think a Boozer or Amare-type presense, Detroit could make a run at another title. And yes, we’re fully aware that Amare isn’t getting dealt, Brand isn’t either, and the Jazz already have a PG in Deron Williams.

Detroit: Anywhere from 47-53 wins, seeded somewhere in the 2-6 range in the playoffs, and an elimination in probably the second round.