Rasheed Wallace is set to become a free agent this year, and being one of the premier big men available it is no suprise that Detroit are hoping to keep him.

The Pistons are hoping for a long playoff run this season, and the team is hoping that such an action would increase the team's chances of re-signing Wallace this offseason.

While Joe Dumars states that this is the idea, he is quick to add the playoffs won?t make or break the deal.

?I have dealt with a lot of free agents, and there is a list of about four or five things that they all want,? Dumars said Saturday night in Orlando. ?They want to go to a contender. They want to play for a really good coach. They want to be around good guys. And they want to know if you can pay them."

?Now, if those things were posed to me in regards to Rasheed, the answer is yes, yes, yes and yes. Based on what guys are looking for in a situation, we meet all of the criteria. If somebody is looking for something outside of that, then it is outside my control.?

Since the Pistons own Wallace's Larry Bird rights, they can exceed the salary cap to sign him, meaning they can pay him more than any other team. He could become the first maximum-salary player in Pistons history.

Wallace and Dumars have agreed to put discussions of his future on hold until after the playoffs.

?We?ve had a couple of conversations,? Dumars said. ?He knows how I feel about him. He knows we want him here. I think our team, our players, our coaches and our situation here speaks for itself. That?s what?s going to sell him, one way or another. There?s no Knute Rockne speech from me that?s going to do anything. We have a great situation here.?

Wallace agrees. He has said repeatedly that he is enjoying himself, loves the team, loves his teammates and coaches, loves the fan support. But, ultimately, the decision on where he plays next season will be a family decision, based in equal parts on the basketball environment and the quality of life available for his wife, Fatima, and his four young children.

In the meantime, he just wants to focus on winning a championship.

?This isn?t about me or my future,? Wallace said. ?My whole focus is, I?m not worrying about anybody offering me a contract or whatever. For the time being, that?s null and void. My main focus is to go out there and win a championship. I think we have the caliber of guys in here to do that.?