The Celts are the champs, the Cavs have a lot of money to offer, the Lakers are the West’s leading contender, etc.

But none of them are the Pistons in McDyess’ heart.

Before the trade, McDyess considered the Pistons to be his basketball family. They were the team he wanted to win a championship with and retire with.

Whether that still holds true, only McDyess can say.

Too bad he doesn’t have a blog.

Other players in McDyess’ position who let slip they wanted to get back to their old teams were forbidden by the League to rejoin them, though. Thus far, McDyess and his agent, Andy Miller have been unavailable for comment.

McDyess also lamented the Pistons’ lost championship chances and knew that Joe Dumars was committed to shaking up the Pistons’ core, which had underachieved for the last 4 years. If he is intent on going back to the Pistons, he will take the Iverson trade in stride and see his month in limbo as a necessary sacrifice to help make his basketball family better when and if he returns.

And moneywise, the Pistons will be able to compensate McDyess for the money he lost in the Denver buyout with a new contract next year should they resign him this season.

The surest way of knowing McDyess’ intentions will be seeing whether he is still unsigned by late November/early December.

I don’t have a crystal ball, but I won’t be surprised if McDyess is a Piston again come December 12, 2008.