Central Division Offseason Recap

[Smitty731]

Hey guys,

I wrote an article for the site going over each of the Central Division team's offseasons, complete with 2016-17 grade and a grade for the longterm future.

http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/243298/2016-NBA-Offseason-Review-Central-Division

Any feedback and thoughts are always appreciated.

Enjoy!

Smitty

[MotownMadness]

Nice read as your pretty educated on the team not being a fan and all. Only thing I seen you got wrong is that signed Boban cause Baynes had a disappointing season. Actually just the opposite as he had a good season and the front office believes he will opt out after this season to try and hit the crazy world of free agency. SVG basically thought ahead and signed his replacement before Drummond inked his deal and there was no more money in the future.


Pistons are locked into this young core now but they are young and should get a lot better and be a perennial playoff contender for years too come. A lot hinges on the development of Stanley Johnson and his potential. This kid has a chance to be a elite defender with his size and strength. I don't think I've ever seen a kid with such a competive thirst for the game.

[Smitty731]

Nice read as your pretty educated on the team not being a fan and all. Only thing I seen you got wrong is that signed Boban cause Baynes had a disappointing season. Actually just the opposite as he had a good season and the front office believes he will opt out after this season to try and hit the crazy world of free agency. SVG basically thought ahead and signed his replacement before Drummond inked his deal and there was no more money in the future.

That could be, but the word at Summer League is that they weren't happy with Baynes and his performance. They thought they would get more from him.

I haven't had a ton of conversations, but they were certainly happy with his Olympics performance. If nothing else, they now have the deepest C rotation in the league probably.

And I appreciate the kind words. I can't really write as a fan anymore now that I cover the league as a whole. So, it is kind of my job to follow everyone!

[zeebneeb]

I don't like your longterm outlook for the Pistons and to say they don't have the pieces for a championship is presumptuous at best.

7th youngest playoff team ever, and the youngest last year.

Also tying long term success to cap space? Trades if needed are what will get it done. In direct comparison to the Milwaukee bucks for long term outlook, you gave that collection of players and coach and front office an A, and Detroit a C? That makes no sense.

I agree with the offseason grade (a solid B seems more suitable) but the long term outlook is not a C.

[dVs33]

Good job Smitty.

The baynes mention was surprising because I thought he had a solid year, but I'll take your word for it since you mixed it up with some Pistons guys at summer league. He definitely got off to a rough start but he got better as the year went on. I'm sure they're very comfortable with the C rotation now tho.

As for the long term outlook I'm more optimistic than you (I'm a giant homer). We'll just have to wait and see who's right

Keep up the good work.

[tmorgan]

An entertaining read, Smitty.

I'd never heard anything about the Pistons being disappointed with Baynes -- I mean, how much better could the guy have played, realistically? Lead feet and limited hops means he's a positional defender and rebounder, and he did that well. I still think Boban gets about the same minutes as he did last year on the Spurs, even though I hope I'm wrong because he's super fun to watch.

I'd also point out that SJ likely isn't going to play behind KCP all that much. The organization seems to see him as a 3, and I agree. He may grab some backup SG minutes if they don't play Bullock or Hilliard much, but he's still a 3 for the future, most likely.

I'd also take issue with your assessment of our future, but that's an opinion, and you're entitled to it. We don't have cap space for free agents, certainly, but this team was built through the draft and trades, and there isn't a single poor contract on the squad unless one of the new bench guys doesn't play well. If we're going to make a big move, it'll come through a trade, and don't be shocked if it does -- SVG and Bower have done plenty of that already.

[DetroitPistons]

I don't like your longterm outlook for the Pistons and to say they don't have the pieces for a championship is presumptuous at best.

7th youngest playoff team ever, and the youngest last year.

Also tying long term success to cap space? Trades if needed are what will get it done. In direct comparison to the Milwaukee bucks for long term outlook, you gave that collection of players and coach and front office an A, and Detroit a C? That makes no sense.

I agree with the offseason grade (a solid B seems more suitable) but the long term outlook is not a C.

Amen

We are in one of the best positions of any young team in the league. We are loaded with young talent, have no bad contracts, have arguably the best center in the league and a borderline allstar PG, and one of the best coaches/GMs in the league... We should have an A in future outlook. Also, our flexibility is actually spectacular because we don't have any bad contracts and our core and bench players all have good value. We also have all of our first round picks too. You literally couldn't ask for a better future outlook than what we have...

[Pharaoh]

Jon, Boban, King Henry, Harris, Mook, SJ, Hilly, Bull, Ish, RJ

ALL have team friendly contracts!

Outlook is glorious from a cap standpoint

[hoophabit]

I'm not sure what makes Drummond a "good" rim defender. He's not as bad a defender as some like to make out, but I wouldn't consider him a good rim defender as yet. Given his athleticism and length he certainly has the potential.

KCP a good outside shooter? Clearly, you don't regularly read this board, or pour over the stats much.

I think the cap thing is overrated, as has been noted. If the players secured mesh well, nobody is going to be worried about how much we have tied up in Leuer, Marjanovic, etc.. Further, Baynes is gone one way or the other over the next year.

Overall, a nice write up with a lot of good observations.

[MotownMadness]

I'm not sure what makes Drummond a "good" rim defender. He's not as bad a defender as some like to make out, but I wouldn't consider him a good rim defender as yet. Given his athleticism and length he certainly has the potential.

KCP a good outside shooter? Clearly, you don't regularly read this board, or pour over the stats much.

I think the cap thing is overrated, as has been noted. If the players secured mesh well, nobody is going to be worried about how much we have tied up in Leuer, Marjanovic, etc.. Further, Baynes is gone one way or the other over the next year.

Overall, a nice write up with a lot of good observations.

He completely alters the way teams play when he's out there. Go back and watch the playoffs just how much of a presence he was down there anyone tries to drive in.

Drummonds big problems right now keeping him from His star potential on that end is his motor of bringing it consistently, his backcourt teammate Jackson stopping giving up penetration and Drummond adjusting to being pulled away from the paint by these stretch bigs.

Could you seriously imagine if Drummond had Johnson's competitive nature to go with his physical gifts? Holycrap he would be a bigger BenWallace.

[hoophabit]

I'm not sure what makes Drummond a "good" rim defender. He's not as bad a defender as some like to make out, but I wouldn't consider him a good rim defender as yet. Given his athleticism and length he certainly has the potential.

KCP a good outside shooter? Clearly, you don't regularly read this board, or pour over the stats much.

I think the cap thing is overrated, as has been noted. If the players secured mesh well, nobody is going to be worried about how much we have tied up in Leuer, Marjanovic, etc.. Further, Baynes is gone one way or the other over the next year.

Overall, a nice write up with a lot of good observations.

He completely alters the way teams play when he's out there. Go back and watch the playoffs just how much of a presence he was down there anyone tries to drive in.

Drummonds big problems right now keeping him from His star potential on that end is his motor of bringing it consistently, his backcourt teammate Jackson stopping giving up penetration and Drummond adjusting to being pulled away from the paint by these stretch bigs.

Could you seriously imagine if Drummond had Johnson's competitive nature to go with his physical gifts? Holycrap he would be a bigger BenWallace.

Thank you for enlarging and reinforcing my points!

[zeebneeb]

I'm not sure what makes Drummond a "good" rim defender. He's not as bad a defender as some like to make out, but I wouldn't consider him a good rim defender as yet. Given his athleticism and length he certainly has the potential.

KCP a good outside shooter? Clearly, you don't regularly read this board, or pour over the stats much.

I think the cap thing is overrated, as has been noted. If the players secured mesh well, nobody is going to be worried about how much we have tied up in Leuer, Marjanovic, etc.. Further, Baynes is gone one way or the other over the next year.

Overall, a nice write up with a lot of good observations.

He completely alters the way teams play when he's out there. Go back and watch the playoffs just how much of a presence he was down there anyone tries to drive in.

Drummonds big problems right now keeping him from His star potential on that end is his motor of bringing it consistently, his backcourt teammate Jackson stopping giving up penetration and Drummond adjusting to being pulled away from the paint by these stretch bigs.

Could you seriously imagine if Drummond had Johnson's competitive nature to go with his physical gifts? Holycrap he would be a bigger BenWallace.

Your 100% spot on. I laugh a little when some call Andre a poor defender when he is absolutely not. As you already pointed out, just his mere presence changes how teams attack, something very few players can do just by standing there.

His motor is up and down, no one can denie that, but, it is something that can be fixed and even he recognizes it and that's half the solution right there. Could Andre block more shots? Of course. He could probably get 3 a game easily if he went at it. This comes with learning how to do that though. People have forgotten that last year, was his first as the "man in the middle" no Monroe, and huge expectations. He delivered and I expect even more out of him this year, especially his intensity, something he understands explicitly.

I expect Andre to be on the 2nd all NBA team this year minimum and in an all-nba defensive team, or at least talk of it. He gets it. His fouls per game were way down this year, trying to keep himself on the floor. I fully expect him to bring it hard next year, and with very little head down, or low energy moments.

He's the man, he's being paid to be the man, and most importantly, he knows it.

[mattao313]

Andre's rim protection was pretty nonexistent last season. His man defense is pretty lacking as well. PNR and rebound he was solid to great.

[MotownMadness]

Andre's rim protection was pretty nonexistent last season. His man defense is pretty lacking as well. PNR and rebound he was solid to great.

Non existent seems pretty harsh, I would say not consistent. He's still top 10 in the league in DRTG. He just takes to many plays off but to his credit he showed up in the playoffs and in big games like the beat down on the Warriors and stuff.

Drummond is just so young still and I really think he doesn't get enough credit for his 4 years in the league sometimes. His stats are pretty jaw dropping so far when compared to a lot of other players. Once he really figures out all the little things like positioning and just awareness he could flourish. Right now he's a man child but he hasnt quite figured out how to consistently do the little things to fully dominate.

[mattao313]

Andre's rim protection was pretty nonexistent last season. His man defense is pretty lacking as well. PNR and rebound he was solid to great.

Non existent seems pretty harsh, I would say not consistent. He's still top 10 in the league in DRTG. He just takes to many plays off but to his credit he showed up in the playoffs and in big games like the beat down on the Warriors and stuff.

Drummond is just so young still and I really think he doesn't get enough credit for his 4 years in the league sometimes. His stats are pretty jaw dropping so far when compared to a lot of other players. Once he really figures out all the little things like positioning and just awareness he could flourish. Right now he's a man child but he hasnt quite figured out how to consistently do the little things to fully dominate.

Drummond was better in playoff and I think he can improve, but it was tons of times last season were he would let guys have a clear path to the basket just to wait for a rebound. Even when you look at his rim protection stat this year they're lackluster, in that area he was better season before last.

Also DRTG isn't a good stat since it's heavily reliant on blks, reb, stl. Most defensive stats are pretty mediocre really, thats what I've learned anyway. IMO best way he can improve is his defense.