Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that the Pistons almost made a trade yesterday. They were close to acquiring Amal McCaskill from the Trail Blazers on Monday but the deal fell through at the last minute.

McCaskill would have gone to the Pistons in exchange for a 2nd round pick that wouldn?t be exchanged until 2009. Also, the Trail Blazers would have paid McCaskill?s salary.

The deal crumbled when MCCaskill refused to go on the Piston?s injured list.

The 29 year-old center was waived by the Blazes after the trade fell through. He will be a free agent after clearing waivers in two days. The Blazers already have a surplus of big men, including Zach Randolph, Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Arvydas Sabonis, Dale Davis and Rasheed Wallace.

"We will keep our eyes open and see if we can bring in another big man," Pistons President Joe Dumars said. "But it has to be the right kind of guy. Right now, we are looking to start the season with the group we have."

"It would really help if we could get another big body in here," Coach Rick Carlisle said. "It would help for practices and for insurance against another injury."

The bad-shooting disease that ravaged the Jazz's season a year ago already seems to have infected the new guys, too. Can't science develop a vaccine for the common cold-shooter?
   
The Jazz's off-kilter marksmanship, which reached a Utah-franchise low in 2001-02, plagued them again on Tuesday, and this time they faced a talented opponent which could take advantage. Making barely three of every 10 shots for much of the game, the Jazz limped to a 95-81 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the Rose Garden and fell to 1-1 on the preseason.

All the questions, all the controversies, all the speculation revolving around the Trail Blazers will head toward resolution tonight when the team opens its exhibition season against Utah at the Rose Garden.