Clarity wrote:OneBadMutha wrote:
Nobody is drooling over Monroe. Outside of Detroit, he's not rated that highly. We over-value talent here because it's relative. Pistons fans haven't had much to compare competent players to. Bigs that are too slow to be 4s and not intimidating around the rim on either end when playing the 5 are not drooled over. For all the talk of Monroe's "skillz", his offensive efficiency is not so eye popping that it off-sets his defensive deficiencies. For all the talk of his great passing skills, he's hasn't been able to improve on his 1 to 1 assist/turnover ratio. For all the talk of all the moves and variety of ways he can score, his shooting percentage is pretty pedestrian for a guy who offers no floor spacing (which would help teammates) and only scores at the rim. For all the talk of his amazing basketball IQ, he misses the most basic defensive rotations and still has stupid habits that have plagued him since his rookie year (like holding the ball too low and getting constantly stripped). A 4th year player with this amazing upside should have shown more year to year progress. Guy is not getting better.
I believe Joe signed Smith with the intent on trading Monroe...knowing that Drummond was the center of the future and Monroe wasn't going to fit. I think the reason Monroe hasn't been traded is because the offers haven't been that great.
Every team in all of pro sports over values talent. Every fan base likes to act like its only them though.
Monroe's skill set is obvious & not really debatable. Multiple teams will line up this Summer.
I get youre clearly frustrated but overreactions are always silly, is Monroe Hakeem, no. Is Monroe Eddy Curry, no. Relax.
If Joe signed a 28 year old in order to trade a 23 year old whos arguably already better I dont know what to tell you. Joe also thought Ben Gordon was the next D Wade & a 55 year old Allen Iverson could somehow make a team first, chemistry based, consistent ECF team better.
There is no over-reaction. I've been saying this since I realized Drummond was the real deal last season. Monroe has always been a matchup reliant player. Fine if he's playing center complimented by a shot blocking 4 so he's not killing a team defensively when he can't get it going against an athletic defender. (To be fair to Monroe, when paired with Smith up front, that's been Detroit's most effective 4/5 combo so far this season.) But if Drummond is your future 5, it's kind of a moot point.
Age has been Monroe supporters biggest go-to. Age doesn't matter when 1) he's not improving 2) his strengths aren't Detroit's biggest needs and 3) his weaknesses are in areas that are amongst Detroit's main needs.
To best compliment Drummond long term Detroit should want a PF that...
1) can shoot (at least from mid range)
2) is athletic to get out in transition with Drummond. Fact that Monroe is so slow in transition mitigates Detroits athletic advantage at the 5.
3) is a good team defender. The more this guy can make his rotations, hedge pick and rolls, etc. allows Drummond to be forced to cover less ground and stay closer to the basket.
4) is a good one on one defender (specifically against athletes and face up 4s). Again having less leaks in a defense is an advantage to a rim protector as they can anticipate better.
Re-signing Monroe is just not an efficient use of the cap. Fit is as important as talent in trying to spend you cap money efficiently. Efficiency with contracts matters when your owner isn't willing to pay the luxury tax. Monroe's fit is a 6th man if Drummond is the guy to build around. Pistons aren't paying a 6th man 12 to 14 million a year.
