[1] The Pistons received the fourteenth overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft, and selected Mateen Cleaves out of Michigan State University.
[2][3][4][5][6] During the off-season, retired All-Star guard and Pistons legend Joe Dumars was hired as General Manager,[7][8][9] as the team acquired Ben Wallace and second-year guard Chucky Atkins from the Orlando Magic,[10][11][12][13] acquired Cedric Ceballos, Dana Barros and John Wallace from the Dallas Mavericks,[14][15] and acquired Billy Owens from the Milwaukee Bucks.
[16] The team later on signed free agent Joe Smith during the first month of the regular season.
[21][22][23][24] At mid-season, the team traded Jerome Williams, and Eric Montross to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Corliss Williamson.
[40][38][39] Following the season, Smith re-signed with his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves,[41][42][43][44] while head coach George Irvine was fired, Cleaves was traded to the Sacramento Kings,[45][46][47] John Wallace was dealt along with Jud Buechler to the Phoenix Suns,[48][49][50] and Owens retired.