Tonight, before an adoring crowd at the Palace, Joe Dumars will accept the NBA's executive of the year award.

How did he earn it? Well, he lost his first big free agent, Grant Hill. His first coaching hire, George Irvine, did not succeed. His first draft pick, Mateen Cleaves, contributed nothing to the Pistons and was shipped to Sacramento. His next first-round pick, Rodney White, contributed nothing and was shipped to Denver.