The 2000–01 NBA season was the Pistons' 60th season as a franchise, the 53rd in the National Basketball Association, and the 44th in the Detroit area. During the off-season, retired All-Star guard and Pistons legend Joe Dumars was hired as General Manager, as the team acquired Ben Wallace and second-year guard Chucky Atkins from the Orlando Magic, acquired Cedric Ceballos, Dana Barros and John Wallace from the Dallas Mavericks, and acquired Billy Owens from the Milwaukee Bucks. The team later on signed free agent Joe Smith during the first month of the regular season. However, Ceballos was traded to the Miami Heat in late November after 13 games, as the Pistons acquired Corliss Williamson in exchange for Jerome Williams and Eric Montross in a midseason trade with the Toronto Raptors.