(My Sportsbook) - Detroit has made some big noise, as it completed a major deal before the NBA trading deadline passed at 3 p.m. (et) on Thursday.

The transaction of the day was a three-team trade that included two Central Division squads and an Atlantic Division team. The Atlanta Hawks traded forward Rasheed Wallace to the Pistons as part of a three-team deal that also included the Boston Celtics. In addition to Wallace, Detroit also received guard Mike James from the Celtics. Meanwhile, Atlanta acquired forward Chris Mills from Boston and center Zeljko Rebraca and guard Bob Sura from Detroit. Also, the Hawks obtained the rights to Milwaukee's 2004 first- round draft choice, which Detroit previously acquired from Denver.

The Celtics received guards Chucky Atkins and Lindsey Hunter, both of whom were with the Pistons, Detroit's 2004 first-round selection and cash considerations.

Wallace, who was dealt to Atlanta along with Wesley Person by Portland for forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, center Theo Ratliff and guard Dan Dickau on February 9, played just one game for the Hawks, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds in a loss to New Jersey on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Wallace will be a free agent at the end of the season. But that didn't stop Detroit from taking a chance at acquiring a player that could be the difference in the playoffs in the East.

Detroit president of basketball operations Joe Dumars did say that he would like Wallace to have a future with the Pistons.

"We'd like to (sign Wallace)," said Dumars. "If he decides he's going to walk, or we can sit down and talk. We'll make it very clear when he gets here that we'd like to have him here and that we'd like for there to be a long-term relationship."

Dumars also said that Detroit head coach Larry Brown was happy to have Wallace in the fold.

"He (Brown) was very happy," said Dumars. "He's a Rasheed fan, he's a Carolina guy, and you know how Larry is partial to those guys. He's a big-time talent, and then you hand him over to your coach and giving him a chance to win more games - Larry was very happy to say the least."

With the addition of Wallace, who has averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds over 610 games in his career, Detroit will have a potent starting lineup that consists of Ben Wallace at center, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince at the forwards and Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton in the backcourt.

According to Dumars, Rasheed Wallace is happy to be a member of the Pistons.

"He (Rasheed) was very happy," said Dumars. "He's looking forward to it. He knows what type of guys we have. He and Larry talked on the phone, they got caught up, and he sounded very excited to be coming here. We clearly feel like he's a guy that can fit. We think he's a guy that can come in and give us some juice. We're not looking at him as the guy that's going to save us; we just think that he's an incredible piece to add to the mix that we already have."

The highly volatile Rasheed Wallace should be able to fit right in with Detroit. He can pass, rebound, score and runs the floor very well. Rasheed will have to pick up his defensive intensity, but he is a welcomed addition.

Detroit hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, which could mark Rasheed Wallace's debut in a Pistons' uniform.

"There's a chance that he will play tomorrow night (against Minnesota)," said Dumars. "There's one physical that has to be taken. Once the physical is taken, if it's taken between tonight (Thursday) and 8:00 tomorrow, he'll have a chance to play. We'll wait and see what happens. Tomorrow wouldn't be a bad game to play."

The Indiana Pacers, who are without All-Star Ron Artest for an indefinite period of time because of a thumb injury, and the New Jersey Nets have to be a very concerned with Detroit's move.

With the acquisition of Rasheed Wallace, Detroit is now the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference and play in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1990, when they won the second of back-to-back championships.