Q: With the emergence of Rodney Stuckey as a solid point guard, what moves do the Detroit Pistons make in 2009 and 2010 to solidify this roster and return to perennial contender status?
— Steve, Loxley, Ala.

A: Obviously, everything is contingent on Allen Iverson being allowed to walk.

From there, the move could be as subtle as utilizing the 2009 cap space to add Carlos Boozer in free agency.

Yet by peeling away Ben Wallace and then Chauncey Billups, one gets the impression Joe Dumars is bent on a more radical makeover, one that also might mean allowing Rasheed Wallace to depart this offseason as a free agent.

Without Iverson and Wallace, the Pistons' payroll for 2009-10 will be down to $39.9 million, a figure that would allow for a max free agent in a class that doesn't necessarily boast a player worthy of such a commitment.

So, instead, Detroit could bide its time until 2010, when it would not only have the cap space in the summer of Wade, LeBron, Bosh and Amare, but also the enticement of being able to play alongside Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince (whose deal runs through 2010-11). Plus, in 2010, Kwame Brown's deal comes off the books.

Considering the success Dumars has had in keeping the Pistons afloat with the losses of Ben Wallace and Billups, figure on a series of subtle moves that keep the playoff payoffs flowing. Few have gotten it as right in recent drafts as Dumars, with Arron Afflalo also looking like a keeper.

The one wild card in all of this is Rip Hamilton, whose contract runs through 2012-13, with a partial guarantee for that season. If Hamilton stays, then there will be more of an orderly transition. But one can't also help but notice the success the team had in Hamilton's recent injury absence.

Q: Ira, will the NBA enter the market of the United Kingdom? If yes, how? If no, why?
— Jacky, United Kingdom

A: Not any time soon, at least not until the league gets around to a new collective-bargaining agreement.

It's one thing to tell a player he has been traded to Salt Lake City (and we certainly know of many who have balked at that). But how do you tell a player he has been traded across the Atlantic?

Face it, it has been difficult enough to attract free agents to Toronto, and that's basically northern New York. So how, exactly, are you going to have stable franchises in even more exotic and distant non-domestic locales?

A London franchise only works if there are also franchises in Paris, Barcelona, Rome and enough other European outlets to make scheduling feasible.

Right now, London has an NBA-caliber arena. The same cannot be said for many other European markets.

Even then, the NBA's current model, the one it is utilizing in China, is to brand an overseas league while keeping it separate from its U.S. product, perhaps unveiling an NBA Europe.

In more robust economic times, the lure of the U.K. might be too promising to bypass. But these are not those times.

Considering there are franchises currently struggling stateside, any type of European expansion would seem way down the line on the NBA's to-do list.

Q: Do you see the Miami Heat making any moves for rebuilding or for a playoff run? I was thinking Shawn Marion and Dorell Wright for Marcus Camby.
— Ben, Boca Raton, Fla.

A: Considering the ongoing injury limitations of Chris Kaman and Zach Randolph, I don't think that's a move the Clippers or Mike Dunleavy would consider at this point. In fact, with Al Thornton and Eric Gordon in place, Marion might only get in the way of the youth movement on the perimeter.

And with Randolph entrenched with his hideous salary at power forward, it's not as if the Clippers would have minutes there, either, in the long run.

Special feature The Sixth Man Click to see some of the best NBA players who don't start. NBCSports.com

No, the two most significant moves for the Heat, at least in the short term, will come in-house.

The first will be working James Jones back into the rotation, after the 3-point specialist missed the first two months of the season following preseason wrist surgery. With Jones on one side of the floor and emerging Daequan Cook on the other, it could open the court for Dwyane Wade to have to only play one-on-two or one-on-three instead of the current one-on-five.

The second move is Alonzo Mourning declaring himself ready to play after last season's massive knee injury. The Heat already have cleared the necessary space under the luxury tax with last week's accounting move of dealing Shaun Livingston's contract to the Grizzlies.

With Mourning, the Heat would get the combination of post play and shot blocking that they currently lack from Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire.

The most logical approach with Marion would be to retain him through the season and then address his free agency in the offseason.

If Marion proves amenable to a one-year deal, then fine. That would take the Heat into 2010 free agency with max cap space.

If Marion bolts, then it would make the Heat an instant player in 2009 free agency, possibly with a move toward Carlos Boozer to follow.

Either way, by retaining Marion past the Feb. 19 trading deadline it would allow the Heat to maintain continuity as they continue their playoff push back from last season's 15-67 record.

MORE FROM NBA

NBA Section Front

Oden matches career high as Blazers roll Shaq practices, hopes to return against Detroit Spurs stop Bucks' win streak behind Duncan   Court: NY can seize property for new NJ Nets arena Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is the league’s MVP Winderman: With strong class, point guard is back Senator urges Adidas to keep NBA uniforms in USA   Vote: Will Nets set mark for worst start to season? Fan ranker: Who will be MVP of the NBA? Live odds NBA Section Front   Add NBA headlines to your news reader: