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Interesting -

■ NOTABLE: With Greg Monroe missing the first two games because of a suspension and Aaron Gray out because of a cardiac episode, there is an opportunity for camp invitee Hasheem Thabeet.

Despite the Pistons being at the league limit of 15 guaranteed contracts, Van Gundy said the backup center those first two games will be Thabeet or Tony Mitchell, who has a guaranteed deal.

"I don't really look at Thabeet as just a camp guy," he said. "He's a veteran NBA guy."

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/p ... /16995989/

Given the roster has 16 guaranteed contracts, assume Mitchell vs Thabeet for one spot, but that still leaves another cut needing to be made. I guess that means Datome vs Bynum for the last roster spot which probably comes down to Dinwiddie's health and percieved readiness by the coaching staff.

I can't imagine Thabeet making the team unless Gray is out for a long time. Because once Gray comes back we'd have Drummond, Monroe, Gray and Thabeet with the first two getting all the non-garbage PT. If they believe Mitchell could spell some time at center in real NBA games, he's fine as the fourth emergency option when Gray is back, and can also get minutes at the four (albeit behind Smith, Monroe and Jerebko, along with small ball Singler getting some minutes there).

Is SVG planning to buy out some guys or trade them? If vwe guarantee Thabeet that brings us to 17 guys on the roster.

^I'd guess it's Mitchell vs Thabeet for one roster spot and Datome vs Bynum for the other. I think Bynum would have some trade value in the league, Datome probably would head back to Europe unless some team like the Spurs have a roster spot open to give him a looksee.

Datome declined an offer from the FC Barcelona to stay in Detroit. I don't think he wil be waived.

^He did so without any guarantees or promises - he just wanted another shot at the NBA, knowing Euroball would always be there as a Plan B for him.

Yeah maybe. But I feel like Bynum will be cut or something.

Brandon Jennings #2 APG
D.J. Augustin #9 APG

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #6 PPG
Greg Monroe #11 PPG

Andre Drummond #8 RPG
Greg Monroe #15 RPG

Id rather have Thabeet than Mitchell.

But we have alot of dead weight on this team that needs to be trimmed before the season starts

Our (12/13 man) roster should be:

Jennings / Augustin - Dinwiddie
KCP / Meeks
Martin / Butler
Smith / Jerebko
Drummond / Monroe - Gray/Thabeet

Singler, Bynum, Mitchell, Datome are making a combined 6.6M and they all are expiring

I would love to take on a bench player for that kind of money. It would be better to get some production (even if you have to pay someone for an extra year) than to watch 5 guys eat almost 7M and not contribute a minute

There has to be somebody that a team wants to dump, if we added a few 2nd rounders and Boston was not winning many games I still feel like we can get Green with those 4 players mentioned above and probably Jerebko thrown in

It would be much easier if the Pistons could do a package trade of Datome/Bynum for 2nd rounder.

Problem solved. Then, keep Mitchell and Thabeet for depth.

You pretty much always want a 3rd pg, but Bynum is a bit pricey. Should be a draft pick or vet min. Unfortunately Dinwiddle isn't healthy. I guess we could always pick up a d leaguer or trade for 1 if there is an injury or something, but I kinda feel like Bynum is more important than Datome right now, even if in a vacuum Datome is the guy is rather see grab that roster spot.

Cowology wrote:You pretty much always want a 3rd pg, but Bynum is a bit pricey. Should be a draft pick or vet min. Unfortunately Dinwiddle isn't healthy. I guess we could always pick up a d leaguer or trade for 1 if there is an injury or something, but I kinda feel like Bynum is more important than Datome right now, even if in a vacuum Datome is the guy is rather see grab that roster spot.

Nailed it. Unless Dinwiddie is healthy enough to play in an emergency, you can't cut Bynum without bringing in another option to play spot minutes. Unless SVG is ok with playing Meeks or KCP at PG or would be comfortable running some sort of point forward with Josh Smith, they need a 3rd PG.


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Tony Mitchell is the luckiest man on earth. I'd have cut his lazy butt after SL in Orlando.

It actually sounds like Dinwiddie is pretty healthy, the team is just being overly cautious. He's practicing in drills now, he should be able to scrimmage soon. His ACL surgery was 9 months ago.

Bynum is out of the rotation as it is, i wish we could ship him out for a second rounder. Also, I would rather we get rid of Mitchell over Datome given than Gigi is atleast a SF who can shoot, Mitchell has no skills. I have no clue how Mitchell generated such fanfare when he was drafted.

princeofpalace wrote:It actually sounds like Dinwiddie is pretty healthy, the team is just being overly cautious. He's practicing in drills now, he should be able to scrimmage soon. His ACL surgery was 9 months ago.

Bynum is out of the rotation as it is, i wish we could ship him out for a second rounder. Also, I would rather we get rid of Mitchell over Datome given than Gigi is atleast a SF who can shoot, Mitchell has no skills. I have no clue how Mitchell generated such fanfare when he was drafted.

Mitchell is horrible, he needs to be cut no question

Thabeet and Gray put up identical stats but id still rather have Thabeet (few years younger, still a good veteran presence)

princeofpalace wrote:It actually sounds like Dinwiddie is pretty healthy, the team is just being overly cautious. He's practicing in drills now, he should be able to scrimmage soon. His ACL surgery was 9 months ago.

Bynum is out of the rotation as it is, i wish we could ship him out for a second rounder. Also, I would rather we get rid of Mitchell over Datome given than Gigi is atleast a SF who can shoot, Mitchell has no skills. I have no clue how Mitchell generated such fanfare when he was drafted.

This fan base has anot irrational love affair for anyone under the age of 22 onot the roster at any given time. Doesn't matter if said player can't play.

Bynum will make the team to rack-up DNP-CD's while Dinwiddie is getting 30mpg in Grand Rapids the first half of the season. Come the trade deadline we'll try and find a taker for Will, asking a future second rounder for him from a contender looking to shore up their pg depth to make room for Dinwiddie to be our third guard the second half of the season.

I think Datome is a goner. And I think Mitchell is a goner and Thabeet will make the team - he could spend time in in Grand Rapids right? When Gray is back healthy whenever that may be.

And then come next season when Monroe leaves we'll have Gray and Thabeet backing up Drummond at center.

sfballa13 wrote:Thabeet and Gray put up identical stats but id still rather have Thabeet (few years younger, still a good veteran presence)

I don't know about Thabeet, but Gray is said to be a helluva lockerroom guy and a guy who does a lot of tape watching/studying. He's also a big body that Dre could bang up against working on his low post game in practice - Gray is said to be a good man-on-man defender. Gray seems to get the most out of limited natural abilities (other than being a seven footer, whereas Thabeet seems to be athletically gifted but never put it all together.

To answer my own post about Thabeet's lockerroom presence/attitude -

While he's widely considered one of the biggest draft busts of the 21st century--Thabeet has started only 20 games in his first five seasons--he's developed a reputation as an excellent locker room presence and seemingly found a home in Oklahoma City.

Kevin Durant, who thanked every teammate in his 2014 MVP speech, highlighted Thabeet's ability to make him laugh--whether intentional or not.

"I can walk in and have a terrible day and I can see Hasheem smiling at me, at 7'3", with small pants on, and that will change my day," Durant told reporters at the time.

The Oklahoma City community also came to adore him for his enthusiasm, which typically included being the first person off the bench to celebrate after a big play.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201409300473.html

Is he too happy-go-lucky though? Seems like a guy loving life, but nba is hard work as well - is his lack of success at the nba level maybe because he's just happy to be there, and not willing to put in the work, have the intensity and drive to be impactful? Is he happy to be the unofficial lockerroom "mascot"?

Kilo wrote:Bynum will make the team to rack-up DNP-CD's while Dinwiddie is getting 30mpg in Grand Rapids the first half of the season. Come the trade deadline we'll try and find a taker for Will, asking a future second rounder for him from a contender looking to shore up their pg depth to make room for Dinwiddie to be our third guard the second half of the season.

I think Datome is a goner. And I think Mitchell is a goner and Thabeet will make the team - he could spend time in in Grand Rapids right? When Gray is back healthy whenever that may be.

And then come next season when Monroe leaves we'll have Gray and Thabeet backing up Drummond at center.

Sounds about right.

Kilo wrote:Bynum will make the team to rack-up DNP-CD's while Dinwiddie is getting 30mpg in Grand Rapids the first half of the season. Come the trade deadline we'll try and find a taker for Will, asking a future second rounder for him from a contender looking to shore up their pg depth to make room for Dinwiddie to be our third guard the second half of the season.

I think Datome is a goner. And I think Mitchell is a goner and Thabeet will make the team - he could spend time in in Grand Rapids right? When Gray is back healthy whenever that may be.

And then come next season when Monroe leaves we'll have Gray and Thabeet backing up Drummond at center.

I hope we get to see Dinwiddie play a little bit this season. Stan seems pretty cautious about his injury though and doesnt seem too interested in giving time to players who have missed training camp.