AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Pistons went into the summer in enviable economic shape. By moving Nazr Mohammed's contract last December, Pistons president Joe Dumars had his mid-level exception in play to sign a valuable veteran reserve. Early in the summer, it looked like he would use the biggest chunk of it to land a competent backup to Tayshaun Prince.

That all changed when the market for that type of player proved a little too hot - but also when a 7-footer with something to prove expressed interest in signing on.

Kwame Brown might never realize the expectations that come with being the No. 1 pick in the draft, as he was in 2001, but he's a big, strong, 26-year-old with the ability to defend and rebound and eat up a lot of space. With Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess both having turned 34 this month, the chance to grab a young big man who could turn into a long-range solution - and to do it at the relative bargain price of a reported $8.1 million over two years - was irresistible.

"One of the attractions to making a run at him was that he's endured a lot of criticism after the lofty expectations of being drafted No. 1," Pistons vice president Scott Perry said. "But his reputation around the league is he's been able to defend the low post and rebound the basketball and play with a physical presence. Those are the things we look forward to him bringing to the table here.

"Offensively, he'll be able to play off of the other guys on our team. He'll be surrounded by good talent, by guys who'll share the basketball and give it up to him and will figure out where to get him the basketball where he's most effective. It will be new for him, playing with these guys, but he is really excited and looking forward to it. He has a group who'll be willing to help him get to the point where he's really able to help us."

The Pistons have no questions about what McDyess brings to the table. After coming off the bench for his first three seasons with the team, McDyess averaged 29 minutes a game as a starter last season, scoring 8.8 points and grabbing 8.5 rebounds a game while also alternating with Wallace in guarding the opposition's top post threat.

"Dice is one of those consummate professionals," Perry said. "You expect solid defense, strong rebounding. You just look at him as being that veteran glue, that steady presence. You know what you're going to get every night. He's a pro."

With three young big men looking to grab larger roles and a wide age disparity between the starters and bench, Dumars and Michael Curry decided over the summer that returning McDyess to the bench would be beneficial all around. Not only does it lend a veteran presence to a second unit that otherwise averages 23 years of age counting Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell and Brown, but it gives the bench a little more scoring punch.

"If he's coming off the bench," Perry said, "he's a guy who can anchor the low-post scoring for that second unit. He has the ability to shoot the basketball away from the rim, too."

Before the surprise acquisition of Brown, Curry spoke of the possibility that 7-foot-1 Cheikh Samb could force his way onto the floor occasionally. It's now more likely that Samb's second season will resemble his rookie year, when he split time between the Pistons and the Development League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants. But Samb showed in limited time last year that he wasn't awed by NBA-level talent and his shooting touch and unusual length give him a shot at making an impact at some point.

"This summer he showed the ability to shoot the basketball away from the rim," Perry said. "He just needs a lot of five-on-five basketball, keep developing his strength so he's better at holding his position in the low post, rebounding the basketball, blocking shots. Getting that exposure every day in practice and whatever game action there may be and just progressing like a young player needs to do."