AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons put on a full-court press to recruit Josh Smith when they figured the top two free agents, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, wouldnt be interested in playing in the Motor City. Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars met with Smith for five hours in Los Angeles on July 1 when the NBAs free agency period began. "I was selling, selling hard," Dumars said. And, Smith was buying. The Pistons signed Smith to a $54 million, four-year contract Wednesday, when he raved at a news conference about his long talk with Dumars last week. "I felt comfortable, thats why the meeting lasted so long," Smith said. Smith is the only NBA player to average at least 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal per game since blocks and steals became an official league statistic four decades ago, according to STATS LLC. "Josh was the No. 1 guy we went after in free agency," said Dumars, who also acknowledged talking to free agent Andre Iguodala. "The primary reason for Josh being the No. 1 guy was because of his versatility. Hes a 6-9, athletic forward who can play both positions and at both ends of the floor." Detroit desperately needed to sign one of the top free agents because the franchise is mired in a four-year post-season drought, its longest since missing six straight from 1978 through 1983. Smith expects the Pistons will snap the streak next season. "I feel like we can definitely be a playoff team, and a contender," he said. Dumars, though, isnt ready to say his rebuilding project is complete. "Knowing a little bit about building championships, you know its a long road and you need multiple talented pieces and we just got one talented piece," said Dumars, who won two titles in Detroit as a shooting guard and led the franchise to a third championship from the front office. "By no means are we even remotely proclaiming (were a) championship contender." Next week, the Pistons plan to add depth by signing Italian forward Luigi Datome and re-signing backup point guard Will Bynum. "Well still have about $4 million of cap space left, so well keep working," Dumars said. The Pistons also confirmed Rasheed Wallace has rejoined the team as a first-year assistant coach on Maurice Cheeks staff. "Hes going to motivate guys, hes going to push guys and challenge guys," Dumars said of Wallace, a key player on Detroits 2004 NBA championship team. "We thought that would be great for our young bigs." The Pistons will likely start the 27-year-old Smith in their frontcourt with 23-year-old power forward Greg Monroe and centre Andre Drummond, who turns 20 next in August. The backcourt will include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. "I feel like we can be an elite basketball team," Smith said. Smith led Atlanta with 17.5 points per game last season, averaging 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals. He has played only for his hometown Hawks, who drafted him No. 17 overall out of high school in 2004, but he was ready to move on. "When I first met with Joe, he had me sold from the word go," Smith recalled. "This is an organization that is a successful organization. Ive always wanted to be part of a good organization that has a lot of die-hard fans." Takkarist McKinley Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Calvin Ridley Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Deion-Sanders-Jersey/ . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Chris Lindstrom Youth Jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Steve Bartkowski Youth Jersey . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans.Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday as Manchester City all-but sealed fourth position in the Premier League with their final-day draw at Swansea. Knowing they had to avoid defeat in south Wales to qualify for the Champions League, the 19-year-old put City into the lead on five minutes with a close-range finish.In what was manager Manuel Pellegrinis final game in charge, City were pegged back by Andre Ayews deflected free-kick in first-half stoppage time, but they held on for a vital 1-1 draw to pave the way for incoming boss Pep Guardiola. Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates his goal for Manchester City at Swansea Rivals Manchester United - whose game at home to Bournemouth was abandoned after a suspect package was found at Old Trafford - are still in with a chance of pipping the Blues into Europe. However, to do so they would have to beat the Cherries in their rearranged fixture by a whopping 19 goals - that game is live on Sky Sports on Tuesday night.dddddddddddd. Pep Guardiola will take over at Manchester City this summer Sundays goal proved to be the perfect ending to Iheanachos eye-catching breakthrough season at City, which has now yielded 14 goals in 35 appearances. Only Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne have amassed more goals than the Nigeria international, who has given Guardiola food for thought ahead of his imminent arrival at the Etihad Stadium.Hit the video at the top of the story to see Iheanachos crucial strike. Also See: Swansea 1-1 Man City Man City season review LISTEN: Super Sunday podcast Man Utd v Bmouth on Sky on Tues ' ' '