"Size,'' club president Joe Dumars told the Detroit News. "You're talking to people that need it. We need size, so the timing of this draft for us is pretty good."

It's pretty good because the upcoming draft is loaded with players who have size. And, with a likely top 10 pick, the Pistons have a great shot at landing a solid player.

"You don't know the next time you'll have a draft when you have this many quality people coming out,'' said Dumars. "We haven't seen that in quite some time."

Scouts say that perhaps as many as 12 players standing at least 6-foot-10 will be taken in the first round.

Among those the Pistons, shut out of the playoffs for the first time in four years, will be eyeballing are Yao Ming, a 7-6, 265-pounder from China (who could be the No. 1 overall pick), two high schoolers (6-11 Eddie Curry and 7-foot Tyson Chandler), North Carolina's 7-foot Brendan Haywood, Arizona's 7-1 Loren Woods and Spain's 7-1 Pau Gasol.

In light of the possibility that zone defenses will be allowed next season in the NBA, finding a bona fide center becomes more imperative.

"All of a sudden,'' said Detroit's 6-8 Ben Wallace, "those guys who don't get much playing time are going to be starters. For teams with big bodies, it's great. For a team like us that really doesn't have a lot of size, it's going to be tough."

Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse, the league's second-leading scorer (29.8 points a game), said he would welcome a true center.

"I don't know how much it'll help me, just as long as he can rebound and be a threat to score,'' said Stackhouse. "You need a big guy where the opponents have to come out and starting doubling him early. That would be a good situation for our whole team."

Personnel File

SMITH SIGNING? Joe Smith, 6-10, is one player the Pistons would like to see at power forward backing up Wallace, rather than in the pivot, where he regularly overmatched. First, though, they must re-sign him.

Smith, who is averaging 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds, is a free agent at the end of the season.

"I really don't want this (free agency) to drag on,'' he told the Detroit Free Press. "I'm not planning a lot of tours or visits. I kind of basically know what's going on at other places."

Smith, signed by the Pistons as a free agent after his contract with Minnesota was voided, is looking for a six-year deal.

"I am not going to rush into anything,'' he said, "or make a quick decision. I want to be somewhere for a while, where I know things are going on the rise and the team is trying to get better. That's what I am looking for."

Noteworthy

QUICK STUFF: In an 81-69 victory over Atlanta, Stackhouse had his first career triple-double -- 28 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. He also topped Dave Bing's single-season scoring record -- 2,213 points -- set in 1970-71. ... Wallace is on target to become the first Piston to grab 1,000 rebounds and block 150 shots since Bob Lanier did it in 1973-74. ...

Stackhouse has scored 40 or more points eight times this season, a club record. ... The flu kept Irvine from coaching the victory over Atlanta, Detroit's fifth in six games. ... Rookie forward Brian Cardinal was placed on the active roster. Going on the injured list was Billy Owens (back spasms).

QUOTEWORTHY: "Other than scoring, Ben does it all for us." -- guard Chucky Atkins, commenting on Ben Wallace, who leads the team in rebounding, blocked shots and steals.