Joe Dumars inexplicably believed that Rodney Stuckey was the hope for a revitalized Detroit, and Jason Maxiell had a 50% chance of becoming the next Ben Wallace of the 2010s, with a 30% chance of surpassing Big Ben. Then, Dumars, considering Stuckey and Big Ben's lack of experience, broke the bank to bring in Ben Gordon, and re-signed the wandering Big Ben.
In other words, Stuckey was to try and be the core player alongside a major player, whereas Maxiell clearly had an 80% chance of becoming, or even surpassing, Big Ben, but Dumars still wanted him to learn how to play basketball by Big Ben's side.
Sports observers always question why geniuses cannot fulfill their talents, but they cannot explain why some seemingly genius general managers prove themselves geniuses and then become miraculously foolish within a few years.
It's like the director of "Ming Dynasty" somehow managing to produce crap like "Martial Movement."