Editing Detroit Pistons (section)

====2000–2002: Building a contender====
After being swept by the [[1999–2000 Miami Heat season|Miami Heat]] in the [[2000 NBA playoffs|2000 playoffs]], Joe Dumars, who had retired following the 1998–99 season, was hired as the team's president of basketball operations.<ref>{{cite web|first=Susan|last=Martin|title=Pistons Name Irvine, Dumars|url=https://buffalonews.com/2000/06/07/pistons-name-irvine-dumars/|website=The Buffalo News|date=June 7, 2000|access-date=March 5, 2020|archive-date=February 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229175059/https://buffalonews.com/news/pistons-name-irvine-dumars/article_2f779796-1059-5552-8c65-90f084ecec77.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He quickly faced what appeared to be a setback for the franchise, as Grant Hill elected to leave for the [[Orlando Magic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Report: Grant Hill Headed to Orlando|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100952&page=1|website=ABC News|date=July 5, 2000|access-date=March 5, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729234016/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100952&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Dumars worked a [[sign and trade]] with Orlando that brought the Pistons [[Ben Wallace (basketball)|Ben Wallace]] and [[Chucky Atkins]] in exchange for Hill.<ref>{{cite web|title=Magic's Strength No Illusion|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/magics-strength-no-illusion/|website=CBS News|date=August 3, 2000|access-date=March 5, 2020|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022094351/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/magics-strength-no-illusion/|url-status=live}}</ref> Both quickly entered the Pistons' starting lineup. Wallace in particular developed into a defensive stalwart in the coming years.<ref name="Teal Era"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Greg|last=Eno|title=Unwanted Ben Wallace Started Detroit Pistons' 21 Century Re-Birth|url=https://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/232333-unwanted-ben-wallace-started-detroit-pistons-21-century-re-birth|website=Bleacher Report|date=August 8, 2009|access-date=June 13, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010529/http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/232333-unwanted-ben-wallace-started-detroit-pistons-21-century-re-birth|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Hill played only 47 games in the following three seasons due to a recurring ankle injury.<ref name="Teal Era"/>

[[File:Larry Brown 2005.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Larry Brown coached the Pistons to the [[2004 NBA Finals|2004 NBA title]] and the Eastern Conference championship [[2005 NBA Finals|the following season]].]]
The Pistons suffered through another tough season in [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01]], going 32–50 despite [[Jerry Stackhouse]] averaging 29.8 points a game.<ref>{{cite web|title=2000-01 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2001.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-date=June 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620012637/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2001.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After the season, the Pistons fired George Irvine as head coach and hired [[Rick Carlisle]], a widely respected assistant coach who had been a contributor for the [[Boston Celtics|Celtics]] during the mid-1980s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Carlisle named Pistons coach|url=http://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2001/0520/1201914.html|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=May 27, 2001|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310074132/http://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2001/0520/1201914.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The franchise also returned to its traditional red, white, and blue colors.<ref name="Teal Era"/>

Carlisle helped lead the Pistons to their first 50-win season since [[1996–97 NBA season|1997]], and their first [[2002 NBA playoffs|playoff series]] victory since 1991 by defeating the [[2001–02 Toronto Raptors season|Toronto Raptors]] in five games.<ref>{{cite web|title=2001-02 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2002.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-date=June 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609160258/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2002.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stack Comes Through to Help Pistons Move On|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20020502/TORDET/recap.html|website=NBA.com|date=May 2, 2002|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805073059/http://www.nba.com/games/20020502/TORDET/recap.html|archive-date=August 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> They lost, however, to the [[2001–02 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]] in five games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Balanced Celtics Wear Down Pistons to Move On|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20020514/BOSDET/recap.html|website=NBA.com|date=May 14, 2002|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213222144/http://www.nba.com/games/20020514/BOSDET/recap.html|archive-date=December 13, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>