Greg Monroe NOT seen as cornerstone to Pistons future

[retrolenny]

Frank does not mention Moose!!!


http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... Of_Pistons

[princeofpalace]

^
Likely because he was only asked about Drummond and KNight. If you read Franks quote he doesnt mention anything about "key to the franchise" or "cornerstone". All he says is Knight is improving bit by bit and he likes Drummond character.

[retrolenny]

^
Likely because he was only asked about Drummond and KNight. If you read Franks quote he doesnt mention anything about "key to the franchise" or "cornerstone". All he says is Knight is improving bit by bit and he likes Drummond character.

I'll go with that for now but my real hope is that Dumars abandons the going for Cousins and makes a play on Aldridge who's name has come up as potentially being on the block. I'd ship Moose & Maggs for Aldridge. I think it's a fair trade for both teams!!

[ComboGuardCity]

I read that yesterday and what's interesting is frank says Drummond is the most coachable player on the team. Good to hear.

Monroe needs to come back with another 20/10/5 game so fans will stop acting like he's reached his peak.

[retrolenny]

I read that yesterday and what's interesting is frank says Drummond is the most coachable player on the team. Good to hear.

Monroe needs to come back with another 20/10/5 game so fans will stop acting like he's reached his peak.

I don't think Moose has reached his peak. I actually like Moose a lot and think he will one day be an allstar. I just think he is too soft to be a Piston..

[ComboGuardCity]

I read that yesterday and what's interesting is frank says Drummond is the most coachable player on the team. Good to hear.

Monroe needs to come back with another 20/10/5 game so fans will stop acting like he's reached his peak.

I don't think Moose has reached his peak. I actually like Moose a lot and think he will one day be an allstar. I just think he is too soft to be a Piston..

Monroe is not soft. Are you equating rebounds to soft? He is not anywhere near the basket when operating out of the high post.

And he's the perfect Drummond compliment. When they are on the court together they are the 5th ranked defense in ppp. It's a small sample but its very promising.

[retrolenny]

I read that yesterday and what's interesting is frank says Drummond is the most coachable player on the team. Good to hear.

Monroe needs to come back with another 20/10/5 game so fans will stop acting like he's reached his peak.

I don't think Moose has reached his peak. I actually like Moose a lot and think he will one day be an allstar. I just think he is too soft to be a Piston..

Monroe is not soft. Are you equating rebounds to soft? He is not anywhere near the basket when operating out of the high post.

And he's the perfect Drummond compliment. When they are on the court together they are the 5th ranked defense in ppp. It's a small sample but its very promising.

He's a high IQ ballpayer, can score the ball, pass the ball, rebound the ball, and even steal the ball. He sucks at blocking shots, loses his man on D, & turns the ball over way too much. Hopefully that will all improve as he gets older!!

[need4detroit]

It doesn't mention Monroe because hes already assumed as a cornerstone of the franchise.

[retrolenny]

It doesn't mention Monroe because hes already assumed as a cornerstone of the franchise.

I think most people assume that Drummond is the cornerstone to this franchise right now. If only Ben Wallace can teach him how to play like Ben Wallace at 6'11" 270lbs. He'd be a 20/20 threat with 3 blocks every night!!!

[DocRI]

He's a high IQ ballpayer, can score the ball, pass the ball, rebound the ball, and even steal the ball. He sucks at blocking shots, loses his man on D, & turns the ball over way too much. Hopefully that will all improve as he gets older!!

You just perfectly described Pau Gasol, who is actually my best comparison for Moose. I think Monroe is an incredibly skilled all-star big man who could be the #1 option on a mediocre to bad team (like Pau was on the Grizzlies) or the #2 option on a great team (like Pau was on the Lakers). Considering their respective ages and playing styles, I'm really hopeful (even expecting!) that Monroe and Drummond become our version of the Gasol/Bynum combo that helped win the Lakers two titles.

And for the record, comparing Moose to Gasol is NOT a slight or an insult in the least. Plenty of truly great players were simply better suited as "Robin" to someone else's "Batman," and I think Monroe will thrive when the offense isn't so dependent upon him (just like Gasol in LA, or like Sheed when he came here in '04).

[Goldtop]

I honestly think the Pistons are unsure of Monroe because of his defensive liabilities. You know Dumars/Frank are trying to build a defense first team. So its only logical to assume that Monroe might not fit into those plans.

Ideally, Monroe starts to become a consistent defender, but how long should the Pistons be expected to wait to see those results?

This is his 3rd year, and while I do see SOME improvements in flashes, like he gets blocks and draws charges this year that I would never see him make last year..... overall, if we're being truthful, he really hasn't made much improvement in terms of being a consistent defender.

So, considering pretty soon they have to make a decision on whether to give him a big longterm contract, eventually you'd think they'd want to see some consistency from him defensively - if thats the type of team they are trying to build.

And if not by year 3 or 4, you have to start questioning if you are ever going to see it, given that he's never been known for defense. Its not out of the question for them to start to consider alternatives, imo, if a better option arises that better fits their plans longterm.

[Goldtop]

Really the main factor in all of this probably relates to why they never play Drummond/Monroe together.

The answers you get from Frank and the media is basically that they don't fit together right now, because Monroe has been unable to make the transisition to PF.

So if its starting to look like Monroe CAN'T play PF, then they WILL eventually have to make a decision onh which Center to keep. I think the choice is obvious to everyone that you would keep Drummond and trade Monroe for someone who CAN play PF.

If that ends up being the case, wouldn't you rather make that decision early, when you have a chance to get an equally talented big man in return like Cousins, than wait a year or two when their might not be that good of a replacement available?

Not to mention you never know what Monroe's trade value will be in a year or two. Part of his great value right now is his youth and rookie deal. If we wait until he's 24 and give him a big contract ext, and he ends up plateauing as a 15-10 big man, then suddenly he's not as attractive at that price.

[joseph mamah]

at this point Moose is a nice piece, but I dont consider him a cornerstone.

[ComboGuardCity]

Monroe at PF is just fine. He's at the high post already. I think tomorrows game we will see Monroe play well against the bucks front court. Hopefully Frank realizes that skinny fc would be demolished by moose and dre on both ends.

[vege]

Worst threat title I've ever seen around this boards.

[Spider156]

I don't get all this hate on Moose. Moose IS the leader of the team and WILL on the stay team. He's our best player and will only get better playing with Drummond.

I think Drummond has overshadowed Maxiell recently which has affected Monroe because that's who he plays with. Sooner or later, Drummond will start and Monroe can get back to his domination. He's great. He just needs to find another move other than that spin move of his. Give me a hook or fadeaway. He'll be back to his consistent self. I promise.

[FluLikeSymptoms]

I assumed the comment was just a shot at Monroe's D, but then I read the article and it was just Frank saying nice things about Knight and Drummond. He didn't say, "cornerstone" at all. Just another stupid wiretap headline. If anything, Knight and Drummond need Monroe on offence and can make his life easier on D.

[retrolenny]

I don't get all this hate on Moose. Moose IS the leader of the team and WILL on the stay team. He's our best player and will only get better playing with Drummond.

I think Drummond has overshadowed Maxiell recently which has affected Monroe because that's who he plays with. Sooner or later, Drummond will start and Monroe can get back to his domination. He's great. He just needs to find another move other than that spin move of his. Give me a hook or fadeaway. He'll be back to his consistent self. I promise.

I'd be quite happy if Moose become Kareem Abdul Jabbar 2.0.. Bring on the sky hook:)

[Goldtop]

I don't get all this hate on Moose. Moose IS the leader of the team and WILL on the stay team. He's our best player and will only get better playing with Drummond.

I think Drummond has overshadowed Maxiell recently which has affected Monroe because that's who he plays with. Sooner or later, Drummond will start and Monroe can get back to his domination. He's great. He just needs to find another move other than that spin move of his. Give me a hook or fadeaway. He'll be back to his consistent self. I promise.

I'd be quite happy if Moose become Kareem Abdul Jabbar 2.0.. Bring on the sky hook:)

He could call it the Moose-Knuckler

[retrolenny]

I don't get all this hate on Moose. Moose IS the leader of the team and WILL on the stay team. He's our best player and will only get better playing with Drummond.

I think Drummond has overshadowed Maxiell recently which has affected Monroe because that's who he plays with. Sooner or later, Drummond will start and Monroe can get back to his domination. He's great. He just needs to find another move other than that spin move of his. Give me a hook or fadeaway. He'll be back to his consistent self. I promise.

I'd be quite happy if Moose become Kareem Abdul Jabbar 2.0.. Bring on the sky hook:)

He could call it the Moose-Knuckler

It's a lot better than moose in the headlight!!!