Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Pistons Ink Evans

This morning’s news:

“The Pistons are out of free-agency shopping mode, thanks to adding experienced center Dale Davis to the roster.” – Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News

Preconceived notions are dangerous things.

If only The Detroit News had a mulligan when it posted this statement on its website in the middle of the night.

It all started when the Pistons signed Dale Davis. Tuesday, Detroit President Joe Dumars inked the 36-year-old Davis to a two-year, $7 million contract. The team used part of its mid-level exception to sign Davis and cancelled its appointment scheduled for the next day with uber-amnesty adjunct Michael Finley.

It led Gerstner to be misled.

The statement was NOT made with evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. To say the team was “out of free-agency shopping mode” might’ve been a little too early, a little to preconceived.

Actually, the Pistons were in the very middle of their free-agency shopping mode. Signing Davis was just part of the plan. In the NBA, the middle level exception can go a long way and in several directions.

After Detroit chose to take a slice out of its MLE to ink Davis, all the pundits began posting. If followed very closely, Wednesday’s events could be pieced together to prove even news can be new to everyone…even Pistons executives.

Let’s piece this all together.

ESPN.com

Updated: Aug. 24, 2005, 12:25 AM ET

“The Detroit Pistons, believing they weren't high enough on Finley's list to wait on a maybe, passed on their Chicagoinvite after committing to sign Dale Davis.”

The Worldwide Leader was up late for this one.

In the middle of the night, ESPN’s Marc Stein updates his article on the Finley saga in just the smallest manner. A list of four suitors just was cut down by one. Wednesday, Finley has a day off in his home town.

Everyone close to the situation seems to believe Finley will be back in the Phoenix’s orange and purple next season. It’s just taking an NBA eternity to report with evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Detroit News

Updated: August 24, 2005, 1:19 AM ET