Nice tidbit from Chad Ford

[theBigLip]

In today's chat...

Jeff (Detroit)
Do you think the pistons will revisit trading Josh Smith- the rumored deal with the Kings seems appealing right now any chance we move him

Chad Ford (1:33 PM)
With the Kings chemistry seeming to click right now, I'd be shocked if they'd still consider that deal. But give it a month or two. If the Kings success lasts, they'll stick with this squad. If they revert back to the team they've been the last few years, they'll get interested. As for the Pistons, I'm surprised so many thought Stan Van Gundy was going to single-handedly turn this team around. I don't see it. Not until they move Josh Smith.

[princeofpalace]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

That said, I'm of the belief that even if we lose Moose, which would be stupid for this franchise to do, wed still need a better PF than Smith. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Smith is just a bad fit- he needs to go to a team where he's clearly the third banana.

[theBigLip]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

At first, I automatically agreed with your statement (and I've made similar ones myself). But the more I think about it, I don't know if that's true. If we are truly building around Drummond, wouldn't a good stretch four be what we need? So why hang onto either Smith or Moose, and since we're rebuilding, let's get what we need.

[dVs33]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

That said, I'm of the belief that even if we lose Moose, which would be stupid for this franchise to do, wed still need a better PF than Smith. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Smith is just a bad fit- he needs to go to a team where he's clearly the third banana.

Regardless of whether Monroe stays or leaves, Smith needs to go. He's just not a guy we need on this team.
If Monroe leaves, then we look at trades/draft/free agents to fix the PF spot.

[E-Z]

We tend to gravitate to things we want to hear and see... A confirmation bias.

[Kilo]

Sacto is our only hope. I think they could be emboldened by the success of their Rudy Gay reclamation project to think they can fix Smoove. Once they hit a rough patch Stan should look to pounce and offer up Smith. Sacto is desperate to make the play-offs this season, and Smith is better than any two of Thompson/Williams/Landry is helping them get there.

[Moose10Fan]

Wether Monroe is around or not next season, we need to get rid of Josh Smudge, he is terrible.

[ImHeisenberg]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

That said, I'm of the belief that even if we lose Moose, which would be stupid for this franchise to do, wed still need a better PF than Smith. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Smith is just a bad fit- he needs to go to a team where he's clearly the third banana.

Even if Moose leaves (which is likely), I still want nothing to do with Smith. Replacing him with a different PF who can't shoot and DOES NOT shoot bad shots would be a net positive.

[princeofpalace]

I agree that we need to upgrade to a better PF than Smith as I wrote in my initial post but I doubt SVG and the rest of the front office risk going in to the next season without a PF. If Drummond is our best player by a wide margin next season unless he makes an extraordinary leap, then we are a bottom 5 team. I expect SVG and the FO to exercise caution with Drummond.

Ideally our best bet is to ship Smith off for whatever we can get at this point, retain Monroe by giving him the 5 year max and I think this is actually most likely given that SVG lauds Monroe on both sides of the court, and then look for an upgrade at SF

I just do not see any competent GM or coach looking at Drummond right now and thinking “let me get rid of everyone to try to cater the offense and defense around this guy”.

[Snakebites]

I'd be fine with dealing Smith whether Monroe is leaving or not.

You can say we "need" a power forward, but I'd argue that no team ever "needs" a player like Smith.

I don't think we can move him though, for the same reason I just stated. No team needs him, and they know it.

[DetroitSho]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

At first, I automatically agreed with your statement (and I've made similar ones myself). But the more I think about it, I don't know if that's true. If we are truly building around Drummond, wouldn't a good stretch four be what we need? So why hang onto either Smith or Moose, and since we're rebuilding, let's get what we need.

Why do we need a stretch 4? Why does it specifically have to be a stretch 4?

[DetroitSho]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

At first, I automatically agreed with your statement (and I've made similar ones myself). But the more I think about it, I don't know if that's true. If we are truly building around Drummond, wouldn't a good stretch four be what we need? So why hang onto either Smith or Moose, and since we're rebuilding, let's get what we need.

Why do we need a stretch 4? Why does it specifically have to be a stretch 4?

[MotownMadness]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

At first, I automatically agreed with your statement (and I've made similar ones myself). But the more I think about it, I don't know if that's true. If we are truly building around Drummond, wouldn't a good stretch four be what we need? So why hang onto either Smith or Moose, and since we're rebuilding, let's get what we need.

Why do we need a stretch 4? Why does it specifically have to be a stretch 4?

A stretch 4 like a Teletovic or Anderson is a ideal pairing for someone like Dre who needs to operate right under the rim.

[theBigLip]

MotownMadness answered the question for me. We don[t need another center (Monroe) or an inside playing PF (Smith) to pair along Drummond. We need to open the floor on offense with a PF that can shoot at least midrange, but preferably all the way out to the 3. Then defenses need to come out, making even more room for Drummond and less likely to have him double teamed. Even if it just opens it up for offensive rebounding would be a big plus.

[jakebernat]

it's the same thing i've been saying for the past 2 years: i'd rather have average player who makes few mistakes than a talented one with little b-ball IQ.

[Ghost]

Agree with everyone, regardless of if we retain Monroe or not, Smith needs to leave. Smith being the #1 option on any team is a **** disaster, if he was like the 3rd or 4th... you might be okay. You'd need a very strong lockerroom too. Sacramento might come calling if they drop some games, I guess we can hope for that. Maybe some other team will shock us and come out of nowhere.

The reason for some people wanting a stretch4 is the same as our team looking at other teams and "how do we defend that?" I think getting a prototypical stretch4 would be banking on Drummond's offensive game developing.

[DetroitSho]

MotownMadness answered the question for me. We don[t need another center (Monroe) or an inside playing PF (Smith) to pair along Drummond. We need to open the floor on offense with a PF that can shoot at least midrange, but preferably all the way out to the 3. Then defenses need to come out, making even more room for Drummond and less likely to have him double teamed. Even if it just opens it up for offensive rebounding would be a big plus.

Stretch 4 stretch 4 stretch 4. That term is so overused these days. Many basketball fans have been perverted into thinking this is a necessity for their basketball team. This team doesn't need a stretch 4. A power forward who can shoot is...........a POWER FORWARD. The prototypical PF is someone who can knock down shots, score a little inside, help with defending the paint/low post and help with rebounding. Your Horace Grants, your David Wests, your PJ Browns.

A stretch 4 is generally a guy who's not really even a PF but just a dude playing the position in a small ball lineup. Or if it truly is a PF with 3 point range, it's generally a one dimensional guy that is inadequate at either or all of rebounding, interior D or getting easy buckets inside. You're putting ALOT of pressure on Dre to basically cover the other 4 guys defensively if you have a stretch 4. He's not Dwight Howard and Rasheed Wallace (a guy who could do everything both a prototypical PF and a stretch 4 could do) ain't walking back through the door. So be careful what you ask for with this stretch 4 fad. I'll take prime Horace Grant over any of these other tomato cans.

[MotownMadness]

MotownMadness answered the question for me. We don[t need another center (Monroe) or an inside playing PF (Smith) to pair along Drummond. We need to open the floor on offense with a PF that can shoot at least midrange, but preferably all the way out to the 3. Then defenses need to come out, making even more room for Drummond and less likely to have him double teamed. Even if it just opens it up for offensive rebounding would be a big plus.

Stretch 4 stretch 4 stretch 4. That term is so overused these days. Many basketball fans have been perverted into thinking this is a necessity for their basketball team. This team doesn't need a stretch 4. A power forward who can shoot is...........a POWER FORWARD. The prototypical PF is someone who can knock down shots, score a little inside, help with defending the paint/low post and help with rebounding. Your Horace Grants, your David Wests, your PJ Browns.

A stretch 4 is generally a guy who's not really even a PF but just a dude playing the position in a small ball lineup. Or if it truly is a PF with 3 point range, it's generally a one dimensional guy that is inadequate at either or all of rebounding, interior D or getting easy buckets inside. You're putting ALOT of pressure on Dre to basically cover the other 4 guys defensively if you have a stretch 4. He's not Dwight Howard and Rasheed Wallace (a guy who could do everything both a prototypical PF and a stretch 4 could do) ain't walking back through the door. So be careful what you ask for with this stretch 4 fad. I'll take prime Horace Grant over any of these other tomato cans.

Ive always viewed the term stretch 4 as someone who can stretch the floor out to the 3 or close to it at a efficient rate. Which stretches the defense further then your typical 4 can. Seeing as pretty much every PF can shoot a little bit or decently anyways.

[DetroitSho]

MotownMadness answered the question for me. We don[t need another center (Monroe) or an inside playing PF (Smith) to pair along Drummond. We need to open the floor on offense with a PF that can shoot at least midrange, but preferably all the way out to the 3. Then defenses need to come out, making even more room for Drummond and less likely to have him double teamed. Even if it just opens it up for offensive rebounding would be a big plus.

Stretch 4 stretch 4 stretch 4. That term is so overused these days. Many basketball fans have been perverted into thinking this is a necessity for their basketball team. This team doesn't need a stretch 4. A power forward who can shoot is...........a POWER FORWARD. The prototypical PF is someone who can knock down shots, score a little inside, help with defending the paint/low post and help with rebounding. Your Horace Grants, your David Wests, your PJ Browns.

A stretch 4 is generally a guy who's not really even a PF but just a dude playing the position in a small ball lineup. Or if it truly is a PF with 3 point range, it's generally a one dimensional guy that is inadequate at either or all of rebounding, interior D or getting easy buckets inside. You're putting ALOT of pressure on Dre to basically cover the other 4 guys defensively if you have a stretch 4. He's not Dwight Howard and Rasheed Wallace (a guy who could do everything both a prototypical PF and a stretch 4 could do) ain't walking back through the door. So be careful what you ask for with this stretch 4 fad. I'll take prime Horace Grant over any of these other tomato cans.

Ive always viewed the term stretch 4 as someone who can stretch the floor out to the 3 or close to it at a efficient rate. Which stretches the defense further then your typical 4 can. Seeing as pretty much every PF can shoot a little bit or decently anyways.

So David West and Horace Grant hit 20 footers in their sleep wasn't stretching the defense? Nobody has ever called these guys stretch 4's. Because they were (are) doing what PF's do.

[treefi]

Realistically, we aren't moving Smith unless we are certain we can retain Monroe.

At first, I automatically agreed with your statement (and I've made similar ones myself). But the more I think about it, I don't know if that's true. If we are truly building around Drummond, wouldn't a good stretch four be what we need? So why hang onto either Smith or Moose, and since we're rebuilding, let's get what we need.