Run it Back or Upgrade?

[the_l_train]

Saw an article yesterday that mentioned Portis as a potential agent candidate (https://pistonpowered.com/free-agents-detroit-pistons-should-attempt-buy-low-offseason)

Portis has a $13 million player option for next season that he has until the end of June to accept, and he might. He’d have to decline it to reach free agency and may find that there isn’t another payday that big coming his way……

If Portis opts out in search of a longer deal, something in the area of 2 years/$18 million would give Detroit more depth and eventually a veteran replacement for Tobias Harris.

[smann7]

I think we run it back, in fact I think we are doing this team a disservice if we don’t.

[Crymson]

Saw an article yesterday that mentioned Portis as a potential agent candidate (https://pistonpowered.com/free-agents-detroit-pistons-should-attempt-buy-low-offseason)

Portis has a $13 million player option for next season that he has until the end of June to accept, and he might. He’d have to decline it to reach free agency and may find that there isn’t another payday that big coming his way……

If Portis opts out in search of a longer deal, something in the area of 2 years/$18 million would give Detroit more depth and eventually a veteran replacement for Tobias Harris.

That article is nonsense. Portis could do much better than take $9 million per season to play small minutes for the Pistons, and he is not the long-term starting power forward for a good team in any case. Even if he weren't into his thirties already, he's nowhere near good enough for that.

[BadMofoPimp]

Saw an article yesterday that mentioned Portis as a potential agent candidate (https://pistonpowered.com/free-agents-detroit-pistons-should-attempt-buy-low-offseason)

Portis has a $13 million player option for next season that he has until the end of June to accept, and he might. He’d have to decline it to reach free agency and may find that there isn’t another payday that big coming his way……

If Portis opts out in search of a longer deal, something in the area of 2 years/$18 million would give Detroit more depth and eventually a veteran replacement for Tobias Harris.

That article is nonsense. Portis could do much better than take $9 million per season to play small minutes for the Pistons, and he is not the long-term starting power forward for a good team in any case. Even if he weren't into his thirties already, he's nowhere near good enough for that.

That is what they said about Harris.

[Crymson]

That is what they said about Harris.

What do you mean?

[Laimbeer]

We need to remember just how wide open the East is going to be next season. Tatum will be out much of the year and Giannis could be treated away. That leaves Cleveland, Indiana and New York. We aren't that far from any of those teams.

I have said let the team cook for another season or two but I really am taking another look at it. This conference is very winnable next season.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using RealGM mobile app

[Invictus88]

We need to remember just how wide open the East is going to be next season. Tatum will be out much of the year and Giannis could be treated away. That leaves Cleveland, Indiana and New York. We aren't that far from any of those teams.

I have said let the team cook for another season or two but I really am taking another look at it. This conference is very winnable next season.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using RealGM mobile app

Our young players are likely only going to get better than they were last year. They are on cheap rookie deals. Do we really want to sacrifice a big chunk of that so we can be more competitive in a down year for the East? Seems short-sighted. Pass.

[BadMofoPimp]

That is what they said about Harris.

What do you mean?

Harris is 3 years older

[Crymson]

Harris is 3 years older

Tobias was signed to a two-year contract as a veteran stopgap, not as power forward of the future.

Even if Portis were younger, he doesn't have the talent to start for a team that has championship aspirations.

[tmorgan]

If we want a real “PF of the future”, we’re going to have to get lucky and draft one or be prepared to part with a young piece.

[Kilo]

Run it back, re-sign Beas and then let the young'uns develop another year. Come next year's TDL or off-season is when Pistons make their big move.

[Mr Peanut]

Run it back, re-sign Beas and then let the young'uns develop another year. Come next year's TDL or off-season is when Pistons make their big move.

This should be the plan. See what the team can do with a healthy Ivey and another year of internal development. If we reach the trade deadline and we're not competing for a top 4 spot in the East then use expirings like Harris/Fontecchio + picks +/- young guys to go star hunting and try take the next step.

[Crymson]

This should be the plan. See what the team can do with a healthy Ivey and another year of internal development.

I think that barring a spectacular opportunity presenting itself, running it back is the only real option. The Pistons don't know exactly what they've got in their youth, and homegrowing star talent is always the best way. To the same point, other teams don't know what the Pistons have got in that youth either -- Ivey, Ausar, and Holland are still raw, and they could play their way into significantly higher trade value than they now possess.

That said, I'd love for Trajan to find a replacement for Duren. It was nice seeing Jalen upgrade himself from lazy to hardworking and all, but he's nearly hopeless from a defensive perspective; he's still drastically short of where he needs to be in terms of defensive acumen, and his injuries have made him non-switchable. He's a titanic leap away from providing the defensive value he needs to as a traditional big.

[Canadafan]

Run it back, with these jerseys oh yaaaa

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[SK21209]

Lakers fan here. Really enjoyed watching your team this year. I know we asked about Duren during the season, do you guys think there’s a Knecht for Duren trade that might make sense to revisit over the summer? We have our 2031 first to trade (when Luka is 31) and up to four swaps I think.

I thought Knecht could make some sense for you guys as a developmental shooter with Beasley and THJ as free agents and Ivey coming back. His defense is certainly a work in progress, but he has the size and athleticism to eventually be a passable wing defender IMO. His shot is legit and I think he’s going to get better and better at attacking close outs. I think it could work if he’s surrounded by athletes like Ausar and Holland. My impression from posts here and Reddit is that Stewart is considered a better player than Duren and the guy to be kept around long term.

But please let me know if I’m completely off on my assessment, I really try not to be the stereotypical Lakers fan demanding everyone’s good players lol. You guys have a fun, hard-working young team that I’d like to see become a mainstay in the East playoffs again.

[TPA]

Lakers fan here. Really enjoyed watching your team this year. I know we asked about Duren during the season, do you guys think there’s a Knecht for Duren trade that might make sense to revisit over the summer? We have our 2031 first to trade (when Luka is 31) and up to four swaps I think.

I thought Knecht could make some sense for you guys as a developmental shooter with Beasley and THJ as free agents and Ivey coming back. His defense is certainly a work in progress, but he has the size and athleticism to eventually be a passable wing defender IMO. His shot is legit and I think he’s going to get better and better at attacking close outs. I think it could work if he’s surrounded by athletes like Ausar and Holland. My impression from posts here and Reddit is that Stewart is considered a better player than Duren and the guy to be kept around long term.

But please let me know if I’m completely off on my assessment, I really try not to be the stereotypical Lakers fan demanding everyone’s good players lol. You guys have a fun, hard-working young team that I’d like to see become a mainstay in the East playoffs again.

Despite his flaws, Duren is a 21 year old big with a lot of room for improvement/growth. I think that a good portion of the fan-base is happy with the Duren/Stewart split for the time being, and there is no real reason or incentive to deal one or the other at this point. Duren would be very difficult to replace even if we were to consider trading him, as the 5 spot is probably the thinnest position on the team, currently.
I wont get into the other half of you proposal, Knecht, because I am not familiar enough with his game. But I will note that he's already 24 years old and plays a position where we have options and depth. I just don't see it for Detroit.

[whitehops]

The kid just plays winning basketball. He's not a good shooter, he has no range, he sucks at FT shooting, his handle is shoddy and yet...he just finds ways to make plays and impact the game.

We were dead in the water in both games 5 and 6 until he came in and made a series of big plays. He is an elite athlete and has instincts that you can't teach. The blood clots ended his season last year & derailed his start to this year. I wanna see how he continues to develop.

If we were gonna trade him it would have to be for a legit all star, not a guy like Jabari Smith who is a serviceable starter with a questionable motor.

there's a reason why he was always the mvp even when playing with amen. he just plays to win games. he's relatively unskilled but his insane athleticism plus his mentality is the kind of guy you want on your squad.

there was a huge difference in how they used him offensively between his second year and his rookie year. his rookie year year he was spotting up, nobody respected his shot and he missed almost all the ones he did take. he didn't affect the way the defense played and didn't make them pay for it if they left him open. this past season, they put him in the dunker spot or used him as a cutter when on the the perimeter (in the corner). i think the list is literally two long with both thomspon twins as viable guards/wings to put in the dunker spot.

basically, i think of ausar as an nfl offensive lineman who "looks for work". basically always looking to do something to help the team win.

[Snakebites]

Lakers fan here. Really enjoyed watching your team this year. I know we asked about Duren during the season, do you guys think there’s a Knecht for Duren trade that might make sense to revisit over the summer? We have our 2031 first to trade (when Luka is 31) and up to four swaps I think.

I thought Knecht could make some sense for you guys as a developmental shooter with Beasley and THJ as free agents and Ivey coming back. His defense is certainly a work in progress, but he has the size and athleticism to eventually be a passable wing defender IMO. His shot is legit and I think he’s going to get better and better at attacking close outs. I think it could work if he’s surrounded by athletes like Ausar and Holland. My impression from posts here and Reddit is that Stewart is considered a better player than Duren and the guy to be kept around long term.

But please let me know if I’m completely off on my assessment, I really try not to be the stereotypical Lakers fan demanding everyone’s good players lol. You guys have a fun, hard-working young team that I’d like to see become a mainstay in the East playoffs again.

I'm probably in the minority in that I'd be open to dealing Duren away for some sort of pacakge like this, but it's not a trade I could really justify in a vaccuum.

I'd need to see what else is going on at the center position for this roster- we realistically need someone who can capably replace those minutes to be coming in by some other means.

[Kalamazoo317]

I think it'd have to be more like Reaves for Duren and Fontecchio as a starting point for conversation. I like Duren and wouldn't want to part with him, but getting a young, secondary offensive option might make it worth considering.

[Snakebites]

I think it'd have to be more like Reaves for Duren and Fontecchio as a starting point for conversation. I like Duren and wouldn't want to part with him, but getting a young, secondary offensive option might make it worth considering.

There's absolutely no way they'd deal Reaves for Duren.

They can get decent bigmen more cheaply than that.