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Who do you feel we could bring in to put us at dare I say a "championship" level next year. I know that's a big if but if all goes right we could be having that discussion. Great offseason no doubt. Smith and Jennings who could blossom as all stars and Jennings could be Chauncey 2.0. We were watching people sign and I figured this offseason was going to be another nail in Joe ds coffin. Instead we have plus starters at 4/5 positions with kcp being an unknown. We need more to get to the finals but who? Win total this year. 45 and fighting for the sixth seed.

We are NOT ready to win a championship, and there's nobody we can bring in that will change that, this season.

We're simply too young for that.

Most likely we cannot possibly contend for at least another two seasons. At least. However, we absolutely could move quickly to great young team status - the kind of club that will learn how to win after bitter playoff disappointments. Every team, except for cheaters and colluders like the Heat, has to go through the gauntlet and get beaten up before they learn to get over the hump. I think the Pistons are starting down that long road now.

Most likley we'll be making a couple major moves to get where we want to be. We might have a Stackhouse for Rip level move (or two) in us, plus another trade or FA acquisition to upgrade ourselves - sometime in the next couple seasons. Maybe Jennings or Monroe being traded - who knows?

I'm with you on a 45 win total - but as high as 52 wins if Drummond and Monroe have big breakthroughs this season.

Year one these guys win 48 games...

What if the Pistons let Stuckey and CV expire then sign a All-Star level SG or someone like Carmello or whatnot, this team would be instant Title Contenders 2014/15 season. Especially, after they already have a year to jell chemistry wise this year.

Times are exciting!!!

I'd ease up on the winning total for this year. I'll go with 40-45 and taking 6-7th seed.

And for us to be championship contenders, an all-star caliber SG would really help. Will be it enough? No. We also need to retool our bench, I cannot emphasize this enough, we just need it. If and when Stuck and CV are both gone next year, we will have Singler, Billups, Bynum, and JJ as our main contributers on the bench (Datome is still questionable). We need more talent in that department.

& most importantly, all of our starters need to step it up a notch and build a solid chemistry. In 2k terms, they should add at least +5 to their overall rating (except Dre, he should add at least +10 ).

Brapman wrote:We are NOT ready to win a championship, and there's nobody we can bring in that will change that, this season.

I respectfully disagree. If they got LeBron James, I believe they could claim a title next season.

But, if we're speaking of a scenario that could possibly be realistic? I don't think so. This team needs time to mesh together. The Heat couldn't win a title their first season together, despite having two of the top five players in the league in James and Wade.

If this team is going to challenge for a title, Jennings need to become a much more efficient scorer, and give more effort on defense. Smith will have to either iron on his shooting stroke, or stop shooting it all together. Drummond simply needs more experience, and Monroe needs to continue to extend his shooting range and defense (although he showed significant improvement at the Team USA scrimmage).

The current Pistons roster has enough talent to beat any team on any given night. But, talent alone won't win games. They need to come together as a team, form the defensive identity we predict them to adopt, and grow together. It doesn't happen over night, or over a month. They need to make the post season, and learn what it takes to win at that level and feel the sting of a playoff elimination. It's the natural progression for a young team on the rise.

2013 record/result: 42-40, 6th seed, first round loss to the Pacers/Nets

This team is going to start SLOW, as they're going to have no idea how to play together. Our only known leader isn't going to play much, and there are going to be some serious issues in sorting out the rotation, especially the bench. Expect some malcontent whispering, too, as some guys used to getting minutes are going to get shafted.

I fully expect this squad to get close to ten games under .500 in the first half of the year and then come on strong later in the season. A lot hinges on Drummond's improvement and conditioning, as well as guys accepting different roles than they've had in the past.

tmorgan wrote:2013 record/result: 42-40, 6th seed, first round loss to the Pacers/Nets

This team is going to start SLOW, as they're going to have no idea how to play together. Our only known leader isn't going to play much, and there are going to be some serious issues in sorting out the rotation, especially the bench. Expect some malcontent whispering, too, as some guys used to getting minutes are going to get shafted.

I fully expect this squad to get close to ten games under .500 in the first half of the year and then come on strong later in the season. A lot hinges on Drummond's improvement and conditioning, as well as guys accepting different roles than they've had in the past.

That's a very realistic prediction. There's going to be a tough transition period to start the season, especially as they're integrating a new coaching staff in there as well.

I'll take a trip to the playoffs at this point. I don't care if we gotta be under 500 as long as we get there.

One thing we haven't talked about is whether the team can pull out more wins than we're using to seeing from the Pistons coming down the stretch of close games. I think it's entirely possible that we've got enough veteran talent to do better in that department.

I could see Chauncey finishing games for us if Jennings is struggling - but Jennings is coming into his fifth season, so we'll be stronger at the point position no matter who we have in their. With a better PG running things, and with Josh Smith in there, Monroe with another year of experience - we probably can execute better in crunch time than we have in recent years.

I am calling 50 victories on the button.

i think eric gordon is really one of the most realistic options right now. if we can keep it to just stuckey/cv and not much else, then we could be looking very nice. KCP could definitely be exactly what we need, and we dont have to worry.. we simply wait for them to expire and get 2 or 3 bench pieces in FA, rather than 1 big one before then, but if we can get gordon, i think KCP could definitely be extremely valuable as a 6th man scorer.

To add on to what Heisenberg said:

Jennings
Durant
Smith
Monroe
Drummond

Championship.

dan2314 wrote:i think eric gordon is really one of the most realistic options right now. if we can keep it to just stuckey/cv and not much else, then we could be looking very nice. KCP could definitely be exactly what we need, and we dont have to worry.. we simply wait for them to expire and get 2 or 3 bench pieces in FA, rather than 1 big one before then, but if we can get gordon, i think KCP could definitely be extremely valuable as a 6th man scorer.

I understand the desire to add Gordon. When healthy he's an elite player who would probably push us over the top and make us a legit threat in the playoffs. That said, I have quite a few problems with it.

His health is obvious, but his contract would immediately be our most expensive (14mil per) and it's for 3 more years. It's very possible we wouldn't even get a full season's worth of games out of him in 3 years. It would also cripple us financially. with him and Smith making about 28mil combined, and Monroe getting ready for a contract of probably 12mil+, and add Jenning's 8mil per, we'd be at 48 million with just those 4 players. I'd also be worried about the size and defense of a Jennings/Gordon backcourt.

Some people have suggested it (although some people hate this idea), and I agree that if we're going to go after a legit SG Afflalo would be a great player to consider. He's paid half the money EG is, and doesn't come with the injury concerns he does. Afflalo is known to be a very good defender (last year being the only year he hasn't been, but he was on the first non-playoff team of his career and it was the Magic...) and he can knock down 3s with the best of them (excluding last year, but once again, Magic). A trade of Stuckey for Afflalo straight up would probably work for both teams and it gives our starting lineup added defense and better shooting. Win-Win (imo)

Natopher wrote:Some people have suggested it (although some people hate this idea), and I agree that if we're going to go after a legit SG Afflalo would be a great player to consider. He's paid half the money EG is, and doesn't come with the injury concerns he does. Afflalo is known to be a very good defender (last year being the only year he hasn't been, but he was on the first non-playoff team of his career and it was the Magic...) and he can knock down 3s with the best of them (excluding last year, but once again, Magic). A trade of Stuckey for Afflalo straight up would probably work for both teams and it gives our starting lineup added defense and better shooting. Win-Win (imo)

Yeah im just as concerned as you on gordon, and youre right, financially it probably doesnt work. But SG is really the only position we would be looking to make an improvement on, and gordons maybe the only realistic option for us to improve at that position.

Afflalo really is nothing special. Youve been one of the main ones gunning for him, and i just dont see it. He is definitely no better than what i project KCP to be able to be, and for the 8mil or so i think he is getting, he is not someone who is going to significantly alter the direction of the team. He is a decent defender, and knock down 3 shooter, but he will never be a starter on a championship team, we can do better than that.

It makes more sense to me to let stuckey/cv expire, and get 2-3 pieces for 3,4,5mil each to form a view contributers off the bench.

I agree that he won't significantly alter our team, but he is an upgrade and I still think he'd fit in well with who we have now. That said, I do think Afflalo could be a starter on a championship team. When you say that you don't think he's better than what you expect KCP to be, do you mean this season, or in the future? Because I agree with you if you're saying that KCP prime could be better than Afflalo prime. But if you're saying that KCP will be better this year then I'd have to disagree.

I thought we looked like a 45 win team and 6th seed before the Jennings trade. With Jennings we are looking more like a 45-50 win team that could even challenge for that 5th seed now. Aside from Miami and Indiana, the Nets, Knicks, and Bulls all have question marks. They weren't big enough questions to think any could drop from the top 5 before, against competition like the Cavs, Wizards, and Pistons (pre-Jennings), but now I'm not so sure we can't challenge those 3 teams for the 5th seed.

The Nets are going to have chemisty issues to sort out just like us, which could cause them to get off to a slow start, or even fizzle altogether considering Lawrence Frank is running things and the ages of Garnett and Pierce. The Bulls are very much an unknown as no one knows if Rose is going to return the same player or not, and he's returning to a weaker roster than he had pre-injury. The Knicks basically swapped all their smart, savvy vets (like Kidd, Sheed, and Camby) that played big parts in their success last year with their leadership, for Bargnani and Ron Artest. lol I'm not too high on this Knicks team for next year. There's also going to be lots of distractions all year about Carmelo's free agency. I could easily see Woodson losing that lockerroom midseason. I think if we can gel early enough we have a good chance to take that 5th seed now, and those 4-5 matchups are always a coin toss. I think at best we can get 50 wins, a 5th seed and 1st round win. Worst case is probably 45 wins, 6th or 7th seed and losing in the 1st round.

Natopher wrote:I agree that he won't significantly alter our team, but he is an upgrade and I still think he'd fit in well with who we have now. That said, I do think Afflalo could be a starter on a championship team. When you say that you don't think he's better than what you expect KCP to be, do you mean this season, or in the future? Because I agree with you if you're saying that KCP prime could be better than Afflalo prime. But if you're saying that KCP will be better this year then I'd have to disagree.

not right now, but given the minutes, in nothing more than a season or two he will be. afllalo is not someone worth stunting the growth of KCP with.

I'd hold off on saying we'll win 50 games. I'd be very surprised if we didn't win 41+ games this season, but 50 might be stretching it. I believe that the Bulls will be a top 3 seed a worst, but I could be wrong. That said, I completely agree with you about the Knicks. I fully believe they got worse this offseason. Andrea Bargnani is not an upgrade over anyone, he's probably one of the worst big men in the NBA. Ron Artest is washed up and can't hit a shot to save his life. They lost Kidd and Camby and have essentially no bench anymore except for JR. Brooklyn is clearly the better team between the two.

On paper Brooklyn should absolutely be a top 4 seed, the biggest thing that could hold them back (that I believe WILL hold them back) is their coaching, followed closely by their age. I don't expect Pierce or Garnett to play more than 24-28 mpg with that team. However, they are a pretty deep team which could very well make up for what their lack in age/coaching.

dan2314 wrote:

Natopher wrote:I agree that he won't significantly alter our team, but he is an upgrade and I still think he'd fit in well with who we have now. That said, I do think Afflalo could be a starter on a championship team. When you say that you don't think he's better than what you expect KCP to be, do you mean this season, or in the future? Because I agree with you if you're saying that KCP prime could be better than Afflalo prime. But if you're saying that KCP will be better this year then I'd have to disagree.

not right now, but given the minutes, in nothing more than a season or two he will be. afllalo is not someone worth stunting the growth of KCP with.

I agree with this, and I also agree that we wouldn't wanna stunt his growth. That said though, I feel like he's almost guaranteed to be coming off the bench this year so I figure it'd be better to get someone who fits the mold better than Stuckey. I'd also take someone like Courtney Lee too. I think he'd fit well, and he'd probably be open to sliding into a bench role when KCP is ready.