The Pistons were fined $200,000 last week for what amounts to little more than a miscommunication. The Pistons thought their two new players ? Rasheed Wallace and Mike James ? were eligible to play because they hadn?t heard otherwise from the league. The league said the onus was on the Pistons to call and find out whether the deal was complete. Is that really a $200,000 offense? It?s absurd. It presupposes that the Pistons were trying to pull a fast one, trying, in essence, to cheat.

McCoskey calls the fine "Garbage"

If the league wants to fine someone, why not fine New Jersey president Rod Thorn? Tell me this isn?t tampering:

Thorn, when he heard that the Hawks were about to send Wallace to the Pistons, made two phone calls to Atlanta General Manager Billy Knight, trying to talk him out of doing the deal. He told Knight that it was a horrible mistake for the Hawks and that they would be better served using Wallace in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer. Fortunately for the Pistons, Knight and Dumars have an excellent working relationship and Knight rejected Thorn?s self-serving advice. But isn?t that tampering? Isn?t that a finable offense?

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Eight days after they traded him, the Detroit Pistons re-signed guard Lindsey Hunter.

The Pistons also placed Mehmet Okur on the injured list with a lower back strain. Okur, averaging 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in 23.3 minutes, has missed five games due to back spasms this season.

Hunter was dealt to Boston in the Feb. 18 three-team trade that also sent Chucky Atkins to the Celtics and Bob Sura and Zeljko Rebraca to Atlanta in exchange for Rasheed Wallace and Mike James. The Celtics waived Hunter.

Pistons coach Larry Brown said the team needed some backcourt depth.

``Right now, we have three guards, and Mike (James) is scared to death, so much has come at him. At least Lindsey has some familiarity, he will give us some defensive presence that Bobby (Sura) gave us.

Hunter, 33, returned to the Pistons roster for the second time in his 12-year NBA career when he was acquired from Toronto in exchange for Michael Curry on Aug. 28.

Prior to the trade, the 6-foot-2 guard spent 39 games on the injured list with a strained left medial collateral ligament. He averaged 3.7 points and one rebound in 11 games.

NEW YORK (AP) The Detroit Pistons were fined $200,000 by the NBA on Monday for using Rasheed Wallace and Mike James before the league finalized the deal that brought them to the team.

The league said it was the first time a player acquired in a trade played for his new team before the NBA officially approved the move.

Wallace and James came to Detroit in a three-team trade with Atlanta and Boston on Thursday, and both played in the first half of the Pistons' 88-87 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

They were pulled at halftime when it was discovered that paperwork for two other players in the deal _ Lindsey Hunter and Chris Mills _ had yet to be completed. Wallace and James also missed a practice Saturday before the NBA said the trade was ``final and complete.''

``In accordance with league rules, each team was informed that none of the traded players could play with their new teams until all conditions of the trade had been met, including the signing of certifications by teams, players and agents involved in the deal,'' the NBA said in a statement. ``The Pistons violated this rule by playing Wallace and James in the first half of the game against the Timberwolves even though the required certifications were not yet signed.''

Pistons president Joe Dumars said the team wouldn't have used Wallace and James if it knew the other teams hadn't submitted the required paperwork.

``We are happy that this unfortunate situation is over and that we can get back to focusing on basketball,'' Dumars said before Detroit played at Philadelphia on Monday night.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Rasheed Wallace was cleared to play for the Detroit Pistons by the NBA on Saturday, one day after being pulled from a game because paperwork from a three-team trade had not been certified.

Wallace and Mike James, acquired in a three-way trade Thursday, were pulled at halftime of Friday's 88-87 loss to Minnesota and were not permitted to practice Saturday.

The holdup was the result of issues with the paperwork for two of the players involved in the deal: Lindsey Hunter and Chris Mills.

NBA spokesman Brian Flinn said Saturday the trade was ``final and complete,'' and all players were eligible to practice and play with their respective teams.

The league said in a statement that signed certifications from the teams, players and agents involved in the trade were not completed and received by the NBA on Friday.

Pistons coach Larry Brown was informed shortly after Saturday's session that all problems were resolved and that Wallace and James would be available for Sunday's home game against Orlando.

``Everyone is good to go,'' Brown said. ``Rasheed is going to start, but I'm not sure where yet, and Mike will give us some depth off the bench.

``Without him yesterday, we were down to two guards in the second half and all that changed the way we had to play.''

Wallace played 12 minutes in the first half of Friday's game and James also got into the game before team president Joe Dumars was informed that the players were not eligible.

Wallace did not speak to the media before leaving the building, but James was happy to be an official member of the Pistons.

``I only felt like half a Piston until now,'' he said. The rest of the Pistons are happy that they will have a full roster to go against Tracy McGrady's Magic.

``It hurt us when we lost Rasheed last night _ he's a great player,'' Richard Hamilton said. ``And Mike gives us a quality point guard off the bench who can come in and get us into our offense.''

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) The Detroit Pistons activated forward Tremaine Fowlkes on Friday, one day after trading four players and two No. 1 picks for Rasheed Wallace and Mike James.

Fowlkes missed 26 games with a back injury. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.7 steals in 18 games after Detroit signed him as a free agent on Oct. 28.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Rasheed Wallace's debut with the Detroit Pistons was brought to an abrupt halt.

After playing 12 minutes in the first half Friday against Minnesota, Wallace and Mike James were not able to play.

``All the necessary paperwork was not received by the league,'' Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek said late in the third quarter. ``It will probably be cleared up (Saturday).''

Wallace scored four points on 2-of-6 shooting and had two rebounds. James, who joined Detroit from Boston in a three-team trade also involving Atlanta, had one foul in five minutes.

In Miami where Atlanta was playing the Heat, the Hawk's acquisitions in the deal, Bob Sura and Zeljko Rebraca, were kept out of the game when the team was told by a league representative that none of the players involved in the trade should play.

The night started much differently for Wallace.

He walked into his new locker room Friday and was greeted with hugs, handshakes and smiles by his Detroit Pistons teammates.

``There he is!'' Darvin Ham said. ``Welcome!''

Wallace was moved to Detroit in a three-team trade Thursday after playing only one game for Atlanta, which acquired the temperamental player from Portland last week.

``It's definitely a fresh start for me,'' Wallace said before he made his Detroit debut against Minnesota. ``This is where basketball has taken my journey. It's pretty much revamped my career. I'm looking forward to it.''

When Wallace stepped on the court with 4:31 left in the first quarter, he was welcomed with a rousing, standing ovation. After missing his first shot, he made two straight baskets, the second a long jumper over Kevin Garnett.

Wallace, a two-time All-Star, has averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds during nine NBA years, and 17.1 points and 6.6 rebounds this season.

Pistons coach Larry Brown said Wallace is one of the top five players in the league, but he tried to downplay expectations for Wallace.

``I don't want anybody to think he's coming in here to save us,'' Brown said.

Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said Wallace gives Detroit a chance to contend for the NBA title.

``They were already one of the top three teams in the East, but now they have to be considered a serious threat to go all the way,'' Saunders said.

Brown agreed.

``If I don't screw us up, we have a chance to make a run,'' he said.

In a deal put together shortly before the NBA trading deadline on Thursday, Detroit sent reserves Rebraca, Sura and a first-round draft pick to Atlanta. That pick will come from Milwaukee this year if the Bucks make the playoffs.

Detroit also sent reserves Lindsey Hunter, Chucky Atkins, its first round pick this year and cash to Boston, while the Celtics shipped Chris Mills, who is injured, to the Hawks and James to the Pistons.

Besides adding Wallace for the rest of the season, the deal will put Detroit about $10 million under the salary cap this summer.

Wallace, in the final year of a contract that pays him $17 million this season, was called for a league-record 41 technical fouls in the 2000-01 season. Last season, he and former Portland teammate Damon Stoudamire were cited in Washington state on marijuana charges while returning from a game in Seattle.

Wallace was also suspended by the NBA for seven games for threatening an official on an arena loading dock after a home game. That was the league's longest suspension for something that didn't involve physical contact or substance abuse.

``I remember when I was a player and a young coach, when things went wrong, I did crazy things because I wanted to win so badly,'' Brown said. ``It's taken me over 30 years to calm down, for the most part, and I'm still fighting that every day.

``When you see him go nuts on the court, it's because he cares about winning. I want to fight his battles.''

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Wallace's past problems never entered into his decision-making process.

``Everywhere he has been, his teammates and coaches rave about him as a teammate and as a guy to coach,'' Dumars said. ``I don't think you've ever seen him have issues with his coaches or his teammates. It's always been officiating and getting upset about calls.

``This is a situation where he is going to be surrounded by high-character guys and it is going to be a great environment for him.''

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Rasheed Wallace walked into his new locker room Friday and was greeted with hugs, handshakes and smiles by his Detroit Pistons teammates.

``There he is!'' Darvin Ham said. ``Welcome!''

Wallace was moved to Detroit in a three-team trade Thursday after playing only one game for Atlanta, which acquired the temperamental player from Portland last week.

``It's definitely a fresh start for me,'' Wallace said before he made his Detroit debut against Minnesota. ``This is where basketball has taken my journey. It's pretty much revamped my career. I'm looking forward to it.''

When Wallace stepped on the court with 4:31 left in the first quarter, he was welcomed with a rousing, standing ovation. After missing his first shot, he made two straight baskets, the second a long jumper over Kevin Garnett.

Wallace, a two-time All-Star, has averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds during nine NBA years, and 17.1 points and 6.6 rebounds this season.

Pistons coach Larry Brown said Wallace is one of the top five players in the league, but he tried to downplay expectations for Wallace.

``I don't want anybody to think he's coming in here to save us,'' Brown said.

Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said Wallace gives Detroit a chance to contend for the NBA title.

``They were already one of the top three teams in the East, but now they have to be considered a serious threat to go all the way,'' Saunders said.

Brown agreed.

``If I don't screw us up, we have a chance to make a run,'' he said.

In a deal put together shortly before the NBA trading deadline on Thursday, Detroit sent reserves Zeljko Rebraca, Bob Sura and a first-round draft pick to Atlanta. That pick will come from Milwaukee this year if the Bucks make the playoffs.

Detroit also sent reserves Lindsey Hunter, Chucky Atkins, its first round pick this year and cash to Boston, while the Celtics shipped Chris Mills to the Hawks and Mike James to the Pistons.

Besides adding Wallace for the rest of the season, the deal will put Detroit about $10 million under the salary cap this summer.

Wallace, in the final year of a contract that pays him $17 million this season, was called for a league-record 41 technical fouls in the 2000-01 season. Last season, he and former Portland teammate Damon Stoudamire were cited in Washington state on marijuana charges while returning from a game in Seattle.

Wallace was also suspended by the NBA for seven games for threatening an official on an arena loading dock after a home game. That was the league's longest suspension for something that didn't involve physical contact or substance abuse.

``I remember when I was a player and a young coach, when things went wrong, I did crazy things because I wanted to win so badly,'' Brown said. ``It's taken me over 30 years to calm down, for the most part, and I'm still fighting that every day.

``When you see him go nuts on the court, it's because he cares about winning. I want to fight his battles.''

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Wallace's past problems never entered into his decision-making process.

``Everywhere he has been, his teammates and coaches rave about him as a teammate and as a guy to coach,'' Dumars said. ``I don't think you've ever seen him have issues with his coaches or his teammates. It's always been officiating and getting upset about calls.

``This is a situation where he is going to be surrounded by high-character guys and it is going to be a great environment for him.''

DETROIT (AP) Rasheed Wallace is headed to the Detroit Pistons, who only had to give up reserves and draft picks to land the frontcourt scorer they coveted.

Wallace was moved to Detroit in a three-team trade Thursday after playing only one game for the Atlanta Hawks, who acquired the temperamental player from Portland last week.

The two-time All-Star has averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds during nine NBA years and 17.1 points and 6.6 rebounds this season.

``It gives us a real shot to compete at the highest level in the NBA right now,'' Dumars said.

In a deal put together shortly before the NBA trading deadline, the Pistons sent center Zeljko Rebraca, guard Bob Sura and a first-round draft pick to the Hawks. That pick will come from Milwaukee this year if the Bucks make the playoffs.

Detroit also sent guards Lindsey Hunter, Chucky Atkins, its first round pick this year and cash to Boston, while the Celtics shipped forward Chris Mills to the Hawks and guard Mike James to the Pistons.

``That fact that we didn't have to break up our team and we were able to add the guy we did, it made it a no-brainer move for us,'' Dumars said. ``It created cap space and we didn't mess with our core, so it was a great deal for us.''

Besides adding Wallace, the deal will put Detroit about $10 million under the salary cap this summer.

Atlanta acquired Wallace from Portland to clear cap space and will now could be about $20 million under the salary cap after the season.

Sura has averaged 8.1 points and 3.5 assists during his nine-year career and Rebraca has averaged 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in three NBA seasons.

``I think this is what's best for the Hawks,'' Hawks general manager Billy Knight said. ``I'm trying to build a team for the long haul in the best way possible. Rasheed's a heck of a player, but I think this is best for us and best for him.''

Cleveland coach Paul Silas said he couldn't understand why the Hawks made the deal.

``That's going to make the Pistons awfully tough,'' Silas said. ``I just don't know what some people are thinking about.''

Atkins has averaged 6.3 points and 2.4 assists over five seasons while Hunter has averaged 10.3 points and three assists during his 11-season career.

Mills, whose contract expires after the season, has not played this season because of a heel injury after averaging 11.2 points during his first 10 years in the league.

Wallace, in the final year of a contract that pays him $17 million this season, was called for a league-record 41 technical fouls in the 2000-01 season. Last season, he and former Portland teammate Damon Stoudamire were cited in Washington state on marijuana charges while returning from a game in Seattle.

Wallace was also suspended by the NBA for seven games for threatening an official on an arena loading dock after a home game. That was the league's longest suspension for something that didn't involve physical contact or substance abuse.

Portland sent Wallace and Wesley Person to Atlanta on Feb. 9 for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff and Dan Dickau.

Dumars said Wallace's past problems never entered into his decision-making process.

``We know about all the issues,'' he said. ``We feel this is a guy who can help us make a run when it comes to playoff time. We've said for a while now that we wanted to add an impact player, and we feel he's the type of guy who can impact our team.''

Wallace is scheduled to have a news conference with Brown before the Pistons host Minnesota on Friday night.

ESPN's Chad Ford is reporting that the Detroit Pistons have acquired forward Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-way deal that also includes the Boston Celtics.

Here is how the trade breaksdown.

The Pistons receive Wallace and guard Mike James.

The Celtics receive guards Chucky Atkins and Lindsey Hunter along with the Pistons first-round pick this year.

The Hawks receive forward Chris Mills, center Zeljko Rebraca, guard Bob Sura and Milwaukee's first-round pick, which is top-15 protected this year and was previously owed to Detroit.

To make room on the roster, the Hawks will waive injured guard Terrell Brandon.