Is Bey bad at defense?

[bstein14]

Saw a graphic that put Bey as a top 4 rookie this year offensively, but it also has him near the bottom of all rookies when it comes to defense. I know he isn't Stanley Johnson good, but I never really have seen him as a liability on that end. Are the stats wrong, or am I just blind because I'm so happy with what he's been doing offensively?

[FloridaMan78]

No. He plays solid defense. If he didn't Casey wouldn't let him play lol. He always knows where to be on switches and rotations, never out of position. Good rebounder, he's first to the floor and hustles. He's a two way plus defender as a rookie. Special.

[bstein14]

Statistically Stewart is showing as a plus defender and 2nd highest PER of any rookie behind only LaMelo Ball. That all matches what we've seen from him. Stewart does a really good job defending pick and rolls (something Andre struggled with for years)... he knows just the right amount of show to prevent the guard from having an open jumper and is able to quickly drop back to cover the big who may be rolling towards the basket. Its really crazy how good he was at that even early in the year.

Bey on the other hand I think the effort has always been there but seemingly opposing players are scoring on him on an above average rate. Which seems a bit strange because you'd think Grant would get most of the tougher assignments defensively.

Bey's defense is something I'll for sure keep a closer eye on down the stretch these last 10 games now.

[LaSheed]

Nah he's fine.

Lol its crazy to me how bad Drummond is on Pnr defense. And how good Stewart is.

[SamFlow]

would you rather have dre on a minimum contract or stewart on a max contract?

[Manocad]

would you rather have dre on a minimum contract or stewart on a max contract?

Interesting hypothetical. I'm no Drummond fan but considering the impact of a max contract on a team relative to what you can do with other players I'd think Dre on a minimum would be more desirable than Stew on a max. If you pay a max contract you definitely need to have a max level player which Stew obviously at this point isn't. Dre is definitely of value on a minimum though.

[Snakebites]

Dre on a minimum contract doesn’t hurt the team.

So that.

As to the actual thread topic- his defense hasn’t developed like his offense has- the advanced metrics and eye test paint that picture. I see no reason he can’t get there though. Kid is still young.

[SamFlow]

would you rather have dre on a minimum contract or stewart on a max contract?

Interesting hypothetical. I'm no Drummond fan but considering the impact of a max contract on a team relative to what you can do with other players I'd think Dre on a minimum would be more desirable than Stew on a max. If you pay a max contract you definitely need to have a max level player which Stew obviously at this point isn't. Dre is definitely of value on a minimum though.

Dre isn't max worthy. Stats but empty stats.

Stewart isn't worth that much yet. But I imagine he will have a greater impact on our team and winning than Dre.

Maybe not this year, but Stewart would be my choice. Even on a minimum contract, I would not want Dre back in Detroit. Not even a minimum.
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[Manocad]

would you rather have dre on a minimum contract or stewart on a max contract?

Interesting hypothetical. I'm no Drummond fan but considering the impact of a max contract on a team relative to what you can do with other players I'd think Dre on a minimum would be more desirable than Stew on a max. If you pay a max contract you definitely need to have a max level player which Stew obviously at this point isn't. Dre is definitely of value on a minimum though.

Dre isn't max worthy. Stats but empty stats.

Stewart isn't worth that much yet. But I imagine he will have a greater impact on our team and winning than Dre.

Maybe not this year, but Stewart would be my choice. Even on a minimum contract, I would not want Dre back in Detroit. Not even a minimum.
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My logic is that a non-max player on a max contract hamstrings a team more than even a worthless player on a minimum contract. For example:
$30 million contract for a player at the level of a $20 million player = $10 million negative impact to the team
NBA minimum contract (roughly) $2.5 million = $2.5 million negative impact to the team if that player provides nothing, i.e. never gets off the bench

A team can do a lot with that difference of $7.5 million.

[Invictus88]

would you rather have dre on a minimum contract or stewart on a max contract?

I always cringe at nonsense hypotheticals like this. Too many people use them to try and skew perception from reality.

If Stewart keeps up with his offensive development then he'll be a bargain for the pistons for the next 3 years of his current contract. You'd have to presume that if we entertained giving him a max at that point that his play would warrant it. And a first max contract is lower than a second one.

Dre doesn't make sense for the Pistons at any salary level; unless by signing him to a minimum we could immediately flip him to another team. He won't want to fill the same role for us that he *says* he wants with LeBron and co.

Man I just wasted too much time replying to this. I should know better.

[Invictus88]

And as for the original topic: At the very least I like Bey's effort on the defensive end. As a rookie he doesn't always get the benefit of the doubt on calls but I've seen him frustrate opponents which is encouraging.

Stewart has been so aggressive on defense that he's sort of forced the officials' hand into getting calls. The can't very well call everything he does a foul as part of the "rookie tax" on D, so it seems they've kind of given up trying.

[SamFlow]

would you rather have dre on a minimum contract or stewart on a max contract?

I always cringe at nonsense hypotheticals like this. Too many people use them to try and skew perception from reality.

If Stewart keeps up with his offensive development then he'll be a bargain for the pistons for the next 3 years of his current contract. You'd have to presume that if we entertained giving him a max at that point that his play would warrant it. And a first max contract is lower than a second one.

Dre doesn't make sense for the Pistons at any salary level; unless by signing him to a minimum we could immediately flip him to another team. He won't want to fill the same role for us that he *says* he wants with LeBron and co.

Man I just wasted too much time replying to this. I should know better.

I

I typically go with extremes. I wouldn't have dre on this team in any way. stats? worthless, his attitude and work ethic and immaturity costs any team.