Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but here we go. Sadly, this offseason is not replete with meaningful opportunities for the Pistons to improve. And there's little cause for a team in the position of this one to sacrifice anything of the future for the sake of being a below-average team rather than a bad one. I think that anyone who's expecting major improvement is likely to be disappointed. Unless, that is, the incoming PoBO is directed by Gores to emphasize the now. In that event, we're looking at a possible return to chasing mediocrity.
I think it's also worth mentioning that other teams have the same agenda of serving themselves as the Pistons do. They're not going to go out of their way to help the Pistons become a better team by making disadvantageous trades.
theBigLip wrote:So when I look at this offseason, I’m looking at getting 2-3 starters with our cap space. Maybe 2 at $30M each, or 3 at $20M each. Guys like Monk we don’t have to trade for, just spend some money. If we add 3, plus Sarr or Risacher, that’s 11 players that are playable. So I’m not so eager to just trade everyone to get Lauri or Ingram. We need to be wise with our assets.
Have you looked at the list of available free agents? Free agency is nowhere near as good a source of talent as it was ten or even five years ago, and this is an especially weak class. And though the Pistons will have the most cap space, they'll be competing for the few plum free agents with teams which are in substantially better straits (that is, they've really got something going for them right now whereas the Pistons are the league's prominent disaster team).
Ainge has placed so high a price on Lauri that he's unlikely to be going anywhere. And when he sets an asking price, he doesn't budge.
theBigLip wrote:I have mixed opinions on KAT. Even though he fills our PF hole, I hope we don’t take on monstrous contracts. $30M range is ok. $50M for multiple years is so risky - if it doesn’t work out, you’re stuck for years.
The Timberwolves have no cause to get worse, and this would make them worse. Unless Taylor is simply unwilling to pay the tax, expect KAT to stay where he is unless he can bring back a comparable talent in a trade. The second apron is nowhere near as punishing as uninformed opinion believes it to be.
theBigLip wrote:Atlanta is 5 minutes from the end of their season. Tray Young is not worth his contract. Him or Murray (or both) are gone for sure.
Hunter? Murray?
Hunter improved this season as a player but is chronically injured. Murray wouldn't be worth the cost given his overlap with Cade. The issue with he and Trae as a duo is that they're both best by far on the ball. Acquiring him would mean recreating that problem in Detroit, and the Hawks have every reason to not dump him at a bargain price. They don't own their first-round picks until 2028, so they've got nothing to gain and something to lose by simply becoming a worse team.
Snakebites wrote:If you’re confident in Cade you don’t want to trade for Trae Young.
Trae would cost a king's ransom, especially given Atlanta's draft situation. And aye, he'd be a dreadful fit with Cade.
ComboGuardCity wrote:I want the pelicans to miss the playoffs and then go after BI.
Overlap with Cade. Guaranteed to miss at least a quarter of every season due to injuries. Questionable attitude. Expiring contract. And the Pelicans have no reason to get worse by selling him for cheap. Better to keep him and have a greater chance of contending next season.
dVs33 wrote:I’d be happy with grant if he’s happy to be the 3rd option. His shooting and defence would be ideal next to duren
Grant would be a good get, but there's no telling what Portland would ask. They've got no reason to sell cheap on a strong two-way veteran who's as ideal a stabilizer for their youth as he was for ours.
Simons might be a more realistic get, but he's a poor defender and struggles to stay healthy.
Canadafan wrote:Me too. I'd still love to poach him and Brogdan into our cap space. Cade and Ivey really need a vet presence at PG to settle the team down and provide that leadership we desperately need.
Brogdon's health issues are of such major concern that they almost torpedoed the offseason trade in which the Celtics sent him out, and he yet again missed an enormous amount of time due to injury. He's of very limited use if he can't stay on the court.
Canadafan wrote:Yes to Tyus Jones and ew to Drummond lol
Tyus has made it clear that he's intent on being a starter. And his assets best suit him to serve as a primary handler.
Anyone asking for Drummond probably hasn't paid attention to how he's aged. He's now a slow, below-average backup who can't defend in space and can't play above the rim. He was already too immobile to play reliable minutes in the postseason two years ago. And he's still just as bad as ever as a scorer.