Wilcox's Hot Play Coincides With Contract Drive
Chris Wilcox has made many emphatic statements recently about his desire for another contract. Those declarations come through power dunks, rather than words.
Wilcox's two-year, $6 million contract expires when the season ends Wednesday. He spent more time in the trainer's room than on the court during his first 1-1/2 seasons with the Pistons but with Ben Wallace bothered by a knee injury, Wilcox has been healthy and productive over the past month. He's averaging 11.9 points in the last 14 games while shooting nearly 68 percent. That's because many of his points have come on dunks and lay-ups -- he had four dunks against Charlotte and ranks among the top 10 in the league in dunks per 48 minutes.
"He's had spurts throughout the year," head coach John Kuester said. "We don't run a lot of plays for our bigs. That's why you have to be hungry to get the offensive rebounds."
When the Pistons signed Wilcox, they were hoping he'd be a short-term solution as the starting center. But Wallace outplayed him last season while Wilcox was bothered by back and hamstring injuries. With the emergence of Greg Monroe this season, Wilcox and Jason Maxiell fell in and out of Kuester's rotation backing up Wallace before Wallace's body started to break down.
Wilcox, who had a season-high 27 points against Milwaukee Friday, has enhanced his chances of getting an offer whenever the free-agent market opens.
"I hope so," said Wilcox, a nine-year veteran. "It helps me out but at the end of the day, I just want to make sure I've still got it, too. At the end of the season, we'll see what happens but I'll be ready for whatever happens this summer."
The Pistons, who played their home finale Monday against Cleveland, have not tipped their hands whether they'll be one of his suitors. Jonas Jerebko will return from an Achilles' tendon injury next season and with another lottery pick upcoming, the Pistons may look to go with younger frontcourt players. Wherever he ends up, Wilcox will continue to his rim-bending ways.
PISTONS 112, BOBCATS 101: The Pistons gave up 40 first-quarter points, then stormed back by shooting 55.6 percent while winning their third straight Sunday over the depleted Bobcats. Their only other three-game win streak came in mid-January. Their 32 assists were one less than their season best.
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