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Why Dumars is even considering drafting a big with the 8th pick?
How on earth does a team that has been in the lottery 4 years straight have the luxury to draft a backup big man 8th overall?
With our glaring perimeter need, not taking a wing would be absurd. Especially for a big man. With our CAP space, there is no reason in my mind that we shouldn't be competing for a playoff spot next season.
Drafting a Shabazz, and signing an Iggy/Mayo gives you plenty of CAP to bring in a veteran big (which is what we need). Drafting a bigman would be like spinning your tires in the mud. Just not going anywhere. And isn't a luxury we have.

In addition to that, the only PG we should even consider taking (outside of Burke falling) would be MCW. Only because he has the size to guard SGs which would allow to have Knight guard PGs. Though I am still a believer in Knight being able to play PG. However which means I don't think we should ever remotely consider drafting McCollum. Are you kidding me? Another combo guard. Would be an awful pick.

Please no Len, Zeller, or McCollum on draft night. I'd rather reach for a wing player than take any of those 3.

#1 Bigman FAs are always overpaid. Your paying MLE for your 4th big and more so for your 3rd. Drafting a big frees up about 5-7 mil in cap space.

#2 When your team that sucks and has been rebuilding as long as this team (Who also has traded away there 2014 pick) you need to take the best player.

#3 Stockpiling of assests. Most likely he would bring back more in trade or allow you to upgrade the roster with a trade of Moose.


Its not like our bigmen are awsome. Jason Maxiell was a starter and CV31, JJ were getting mins. None of those 3 guys are rotation players on playoff teams.


I personaly dont understand the whole argument that we need vet bigs and then want to draft a PG. If your drafting a PG your commiting to at least 3 more yrs of rebuilding. By the time Burke or MCW reach there prime Moose will be a FA again and looking for his vet Max contract.

If Zeller worked out very well for me and was the best player on my board I would take him.

If he plays great and makes Moose exendable then thats a huge bonus. If he plays well hes another chip I can use in trades.

I agree, that there are no scenarios in this draft that we should draft a big at #8. However, I could see it in other scenarios. Imagine there is a prospect you value at a Dwight Howard Level. As a GM/Scout, you think he's going to be a superstar. You already have Drummond/Monroe and you need a wing. However, this Dwight level prospect falls for some reason into your lap. Do you take him? Absolutely. He's an asset at the very lease and gives you flexibility with the other two bigs in trade scenarios. Do I think there is a big in this draft substantially better than the wings at #8? No. But most of the time you take the best player available...if its clear.

I'm convinced any news about us taking a big is just Joe's attempt to drum up trade interest in hopes someone in the 9-12 range will move up to get Len or Zeller.

#8 is a bit of no mans land for us, we stand to lose out on the top tier of wings and are likely stuck with BPA (Zeller or Len) or reaching a bit on a guy like KCP.


Personally we need a lot more than some people on here think we do. I'm ok with a big at #8 if that's BPA, it seems like lotto teams drafting for "need" is what drives a lot of bust picks (Wes Johnson over Cousins/Monroe).

@ Rip. In a draft which is viewed as "weak," with the 8th pick you select the best player available even if you have that position already solved. You can always trade that player for something of need. That wouldn't be a bad move IMO.

I think you guys covered it, Prince, war, and CGC. I'd just add that your first big of the bench usually plays 25-7 minutes or so while a decent starting wing plays maybe 32. If the difference is 5-7 minutes per night, seems like you're better off with a good backup than a mediocre starter.

I just completely fail to see how like Zeller has more upside than Shabazz.
I think Zeller will be a career backup.

#4 Smokescreen, throw people off on who you are really considering in the draft.

I understand anyone's reasoning for why we should not draft a big. I'd prefer a wing as well, in most scenarios.

But, like somebody else stated, even half-way talented big men come at a premium cost. If Detroit feels that the best player available where they pick at #8 is a big, they should probably take him, opposed to reaching for a player they feel will be inferior, regardless of what our opinions are. Speaking strictly from their perspective.

If Anthony Bennett were to fall to #8, we could pretty much call it then and there that Dumars would take him.

There's also the point that, Detroit needs help EVERYWHERE. They need better backups for Monroe and Drummond, and the PG, SG and SF starting jobs don't have any permanent players in them currently. That's why you simply take the BPA, and then address the other needs via trades and free agency.

I think we could easily trade for Thomas Robinson, who has as much upside as a Zeller, if not more.

RipCity32 wrote:Why Dumars is even considering drafting a big with the 8th pick?
How on earth does a team that has been in the lottery 4 years straight have the luxury to draft a backup big man 8th overall?
With our glaring perimeter need, not taking a wing would be absurd. Especially for a big man. With our CAP space, there is no reason in my mind that we shouldn't be competing for a playoff spot next season.
Drafting a Shabazz, and signing an Iggy/Mayo gives you plenty of CAP to bring in a veteran big (which is what we need). Drafting a bigman would be like spinning your tires in the mud. Just not going anywhere. And isn't a luxury we have.

In addition to that, the only PG we should even consider taking (outside of Burke falling) would be MCW. Only because he has the size to guard SGs which would allow to have Knight guard PGs. Though I am still a believer in Knight being able to play PG. However which means I don't think we should ever remotely consider drafting McCollum. Are you kidding me? Another combo guard. Would be an awful pick.

Please no Len, Zeller, or McCollum on draft night. I'd rather reach for a wing player than take any of those 3.

Have you spoken to Joe to know he is thinking of taking a big? In the draft you always take BPA over need so I dont care if all we had was bigs if a big was the BPA you take him. Luckily this draft has next to nothing for bigs so I doubt we take a big.

The "not another..." argument is just as asinine as it always is when people use it.

My understanding is that most GMs draft using tiers. For example...

Tier 1: Noel, McLemore
Tier 2: Oladipo, Bennett, Porter, Burke
Tier 3: Len, McCollum, Zeller, MCW
Tier 4: Bazz, KCP, Shroeder (I purposely put these guys in this tier for the example)

So by the time we pick at #8, if anyone, regardless of position is available from the first two tiers, we take them. They are BPA and we take them regardless of position.

But most likely the first two tiers are totally depleted, so we are now looking at the third tier. The players have been rated as the same, so now we choose by position for best fit. But if Len and Zeller are the only two guys left, we choose one of them. Otherwise, we'd be getting a lesser player and not getting full value out of #8.

Obviously setting up the tiers is where the heavy analysis is, but once they are done, it makes draft night a bit simpler. And if we get stuck with a Len or a Zeller but don't want them because of position, then see what you can get with a trade, but passing on them actually hurts your team.

theBigLip wrote:My understanding is that most GMs draft using tiers. For example...

Tier 1: Noel, McLemore
Tier 2: Oladipo, Bennett, Porter, Burke
Tier 3: Len, McCollum, Zeller, MCW
Tier 4: Bazz, KCP, Shroeder (I purposely put these guys in this tier for the example)

So by the time we pick at #8, if anyone, regardless of position is available from the first two tiers, we take them. They are BPA and we take them regardless of position.

But most likely the first two tiers are totally depleted, so we are now looking at the third tier. The players have been rated as the same, so now we choose by position for best fit. But if Len and Zeller are the only two guys left, we choose one of them. Otherwise, we'd be getting a lesser player and not getting full value out of #8.

Obviously setting up the tiers is where the heavy analysis is, but once they are done, it makes draft night a bit simpler. And if we get stuck with a Len or a Zeller but don't want them because of position, then see what you can get with a trade, but passing on them actually hurts your team.

^ Best. Post. Ever. (Or at least during this draft season ...)

Not only is this a clear and concise explanation of how teams balance BPA versus need, it's also exactly how Dumars has drafted for the past few years. Everyone thought we'd go big in 2011, but we took Knight because he was a top tier prospect who slid. Same thing happened last year, when we took Dre even though we already had one of the best young centers in the NBA because he simply shouldn't have been available when we picked (granted, it helps a lot that Moose can play PF). If one of those top six guys is available at #8 this year, I have no doubt he'll be wearing a PIstons hat when he's shaking Stern's hand.

Great job, Lip. Can you abuse your "Mod Powers" to permanently post this into every draft thread from now until draft night?

We havw a legit need for a third big for our rotation. Jerebko is the 4th big leaving us a huge hole at back center. Krastov looks like a 3 string darko/victory cigar type. I agree that back cs going for the mle is too much for our needs. There are onky 5 wing/back court guys who can help us. If Oladipo, McCollum, Muhammed, Porter, & Burke are all gone we should go big.

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DocRI wrote:

theBigLip wrote:My understanding is that most GMs draft using tiers. For example...

Tier 1: Noel, McLemore
Tier 2: Oladipo, Bennett, Porter, Burke
Tier 3: Len, McCollum, Zeller, MCW
Tier 4: Bazz, KCP, Shroeder (I purposely put these guys in this tier for the example)

So by the time we pick at #8, if anyone, regardless of position is available from the first two tiers, we take them. They are BPA and we take them regardless of position.

But most likely the first two tiers are totally depleted, so we are now looking at the third tier. The players have been rated as the same, so now we choose by position for best fit. But if Len and Zeller are the only two guys left, we choose one of them. Otherwise, we'd be getting a lesser player and not getting full value out of #8.

Obviously setting up the tiers is where the heavy analysis is, but once they are done, it makes draft night a bit simpler. And if we get stuck with a Len or a Zeller but don't want them because of position, then see what you can get with a trade, but passing on them actually hurts your team.

^ Best. Post. Ever. (Or at least during this draft season ...)

Not only is this a clear and concise explanation of how teams balance BPA versus need, it's also exactly how Dumars has drafted for the past few years. Everyone thought we'd go big in 2011, but we took Knight because he was a top tier prospect who slid. Same thing happened last year, when we took Dre even though we already had one of the best young centers in the NBA because he simply shouldn't have been available when we picked (granted, it helps a lot that Moose can play PF). If one of those top six guys is available at #8 this year, I have no doubt he'll be wearing a PIstons hat when he's shaking Stern's hand.

Great job, Lip. Can you abuse your "Mod Powers" to permanently post this into every draft thread from now until draft night?

Thx for the props. Maybe a good solution would be to start a thread on what everyone thinks their top 3-4 draft tiers are.

I believe Mac and Noel are in teir 1 but after that its anyone's guess, Bazz could be better than Porter, Schroder could be better than Burke, Crabbe could be better than KCP, Gobert might be better than Zeller and Len etc.

RipCity32 wrote:I think we could easily trade for Thomas Robinson, who has as much upside as a Zeller, if not more.

I agree, but you're asking a question within a vacuum of what the Pistons are doing at the draft.

Also, nice Monroe sig.

Really it should be Noel in one tier & then everyone else.

From McLemore down to Shabazz all have significant question marks.