KCP + Morris

[Canadafan]

Were they the main characters that called that players meeting last year? Coincidence SVG jettisoned both?
I feel like our defence will be even better with SJ and Bradley replacing them. Offensively too with better ball movement and shooting. SJ moves with and without the ball much better than isolation specialist Marcus. Bradley better shooter than KCP

[ChuckVanBrown]

My assumption is both KCP and Morris were decent locker room guys for the most part. I don't think either was a toxic personality.

It's an open question though how team chemistry will be without these guys. It could be better or worse for all I know. The shooting should be better though. KCP and Morris both shot below 42%. I could see a situation like when Smith was waived where the offense clicks better without them in the rotation.

So what will the starting lineup be? I see SVG rolling with RJ, Bradley, Harris, Leuer, and Drummond. Assuming RJ is 100% or at least healthier than last season, that's a better shooting lineup on paper. I just don't see SVG giving SJ a starting spot at the beginning of the season, but I like the potential of Bradley and SJ from a defensive standpoint.

[Pharaoh]

Were they the main characters that called that players meeting last year? Coincidence SVG jettisoned both?
I feel like our defence will be even better with SJ and Bradley replacing them. Offensively too with better ball movement and shooting. SJ moves with and without the ball much better than isolation specialist Marcus. Bradley better shooter than KCP

I never really thought the loss of Morris & KCP was related to locker room meetings or issues.

I think we were all in on KCP @ $18 mil per and when Rich Paul said no they went to work on other options.

AB really fell from the sky since Utah didn't accept whatever S&T offers Ainge threw at them...the Hayward deal was ready to sign...seems Boston ran out of time more than us deliberately trying to move Mook or KCP for locker room stuff.

All that said:

AB - when healthy - is a better player and leader than KCP

Mook moving on opens up a spot for SJ - and in his 3rd season he needs to deliver something.

Win win for us all things considered
As far as line ups go I think Tobias is better served off the bench playing with Ish so:

Dre, Jon, SJ, AB, RJ as the starters

Harris & Ish are the key bench guys

Everything else is up for grabs IMO:

Bobo, Tolliver, Galloway likely get first crack at minutes

Henry & Kennard will have to supplant their opposition in camp if they wanna log more than spot minutes early

Once Bullock comes back I can see him logging minutes on the wing. He's shown he can contribute...dude just needs to stay healthy

[hoophabit]

IMO, neither KCP or Morris was a locker room problem. Moves were simply player/roster management. Time for SJ to show us whether he's an NBA player. KCP was all about the giant payday, and AB was available. Additionally, team drafted a 2. I can't find great fault with any of it from a franchise management POV. Both KCP & Morris were professional, but neither was a consistent impact player.

[Canadafan]

Yes I may have gotten a little carried away with this suggestion . Maybe the basketball God's helped us out though

[Blkbrd671]

Were they the main characters that called that players meeting last year? Coincidence SVG jettisoned both?
I feel like our defence will be even better with SJ and Bradley replacing them. Offensively too with better ball movement and shooting. SJ moves with and without the ball much better than isolation specialist Marcus. Bradley better shooter than KCP

WTF?? KCP and Mook and the team meeting had absolutely nothing to do with anything. What a reach

what exactly is the point of this thread?

[RasheedTupac]

I honestly think we are better without them. Kcp was a good defender but he was very inconsistent on offense which hurt us more than he helped. Trading Marcus Morris is an addition by subtraction IMO. He was also inconsistent and a black hole on offense


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[zeebneeb]

It is an upgrade at the SG position [I]right now[i/]. Long term I feel Pope is going to be the better player.

What I find interesting about all this is that the whole damn thing will rest on Johnson's production. Mook was fantastic when the team needed a bucket, but, he was a HUGE ballstopper which at the same time stagnated the offense.

I have zero faith in Johnson either starting, or coming off the bench and picking up the now massive slack.

If Johnson steps in and steps up(along with Reggie being healthy of course)this team can win 50. If he,plays like he has, it is going to be one long ass season.

I'm not confident.

[Blkbrd671]

It is an upgrade at the SG position [I]right now[i/]. Long term I feel Pope is going to be the better player.

What I find interesting about all this is that the whole damn thing will rest on Johnson's production. Mook was fantastic when the team needed a bucket, but, he was a HUGE ballstopper which at the same time stagnated the offense.

He was like our 4th or 5th option most of year, and because nothing else will work , we started going to him more often. Our offense was sh*.......period. Mook was maybe the only bright spot at times. i never got this notion that Mooks playing style hampered us when SVG clearly valued his ability to ISO.

I have zero faith in Johnson either starting, or coming off the bench and picking up the now massive slack.

based on these past 2 season, i agree, but i also think SVG saw enough of Johnson to feel comfortable moving on with mook. i predict that he struggles at the beginning of season and about 15-20 games in all of a sudden "adjusts"

[hoophabit]

Zeeb, I agree with you except for Mook being "fantastic" when the team needed a bucket. I recall him being that a few times, but never with great consistency. Too many changes and ?s to feel real confident. I still find the coming season interesting as there have been enough changes that the impact on team chemistry can't be easily predicted. Who saw the Heat going on the tear they did last season after their injury "bad luck?" Maybe this group will like playing together?

[Cowology]

Whether we miss Mook or not will largely be predicated on RJ's play and to an extent even Dre's development as a low post threat.

I don't have super high hopes for either, but the fact our fate is tied to them isn't exactly a secret.

[Blkbrd671]

Whether we miss Mook or not will largely be predicated on RJ's play and to an extent even Dre's development as a low post threat.

I don't have super high hopes for either, but the fact our fate is tied to them isn't exactly a secret.

yes but when you say it out load its a reminder. fffffff

[zeebneeb]

Whether we miss Mook or not will largely be predicated on RJ's play and to an extent even Dre's development as a low post threat.

I don't have super high hopes for either, but the fact our fate is tied to them isn't exactly a secret.

Before the start of last season I wouldn't have agreed with you, but after having seen how,poorly the team played without Reggie, if he is not healthy it doesn't matter how well Johnson plays the team is gonna suck.

This season hinges on so many variables making any kind of informed prediction is nigh impossible as just one problem and the whole thing just falls apart.

Hell even the teams newest player who is steller defensively, has a history of injuries and missing games. What if he,misses 15-20 games? What if RJ isn't 100%?
what if Johnson continues his terrible play? What if Boban just can't play proper backup center minuets? What if Andre plays like he did last season, not the season prior? It goes on and on.

*sigh* If Johnson finally gets it and,plays his ass off at least that will be something to be happy about. Everything else is guesswork.

I'm rooting for Johnson all the way, but I have such little confidence in him I'm appalled at myself. No faith Pistons fan and it sucks.

[Billl]

I don't think the meeting was the reason, but...

KCP was a pretty quite guy. We worked hard, but he didn't seem to impact the overall character of the team. If he was the type of team leader that policed the locker room and held guys accountable, he would have been worth the contract he was looking for. There is a big value difference between guys who defend and guys who get the whole team to defend with them.

That type of "it factor" defensively is why some are still high on SJ. When he's pumped up and locked in defensively, there is something infectious about it. Maybe it's his aggressive style or maybe it's just his personality, but it seems to get his teammates fired up. Of course, he hasn't shown the ability to do that consistently. If he does though, it's a game changing quality.

[dVs33]

Kcp wanted too much money and in order to cover the SG position SVG made what he called the hardest decision he's had to make in Detroit and trade Morris.
I don't think there's anything else to it.

[Canadafan]

I don't think the meeting was the reason, but...

KCP was a pretty quite guy. We worked hard, but he didn't seem to impact the overall character of the team. If he was the type of team leader that policed the locker room and held guys accountable, he would have been worth the contract he was looking for. There is a big value difference between guys who defend and guys who get the whole team to defend with them.

That type of "it factor" defensively is why some are still high on SJ. When he's pumped up and locked in defensively, there is something infectious about it. Maybe it's his aggressive style or maybe it's just his personality, but it seems to get his teammates fired up. Of course, he hasn't shown the ability to do that consistently. If he does though, it's a game changing quality.

Yes....hopefully him and Bradley can lead us and get Tobias Drummond and RJ to show up defensively too!
Those 5guys are gonna have to lead us

[theBigLip]

I don't think the players meeting had anything to do with this.

It is unfortunate that we lost KCP without getting anything in return. Or in some weird way we can think that we traded KCP and Mook for AB on a 1 year deal. Not sure if that is a good deal.

[Uncle Mxy]

It is unfortunate that we lost KCP without getting anything in return. Or in some weird way we can think that we traded KCP and Mook for AB on a 1 year deal. Not sure if that is a good deal.

You can't forget Langston Galloway -- much as you might want to.
He doesn't get signed if we keep KCP.

[Blkbrd671]

I don't think the players meeting had anything to do with this.

It is unfortunate that we lost KCP without getting anything in return. Or in some weird way we can think that we traded KCP and Mook for AB on a 1 year deal. Not sure if that is a good deal.

well lets assume that we do trade KCP and not rescind him. History tells us our return wouldn't have been great for S&T.


i really think the Pistons attitude towards KCP's contract changed when SVG got to see LK,HE & SJ at practice and in SL. When you combine LK's future, KCP's asking price, SJ's & HE improvement and AB's current contract. it makes some sort of sense.

Let KCP go, free up minutes for LK, and have AB replace KCP
Let Mook go, free up minutes for SJ and HE, and have a rotation of HE, SJ, TH at the forward spots

I think overall our roster is more balanced


I'll never get why we let KCP go for nothing, it makes 0 sense other the fact that there's wasn't anything available that woulodn't require the pistons to buy out a player.

[Pharaoh]

I don't think the players meeting had anything to do with this.

It is unfortunate that we lost KCP without getting anything in return. Or in some weird way we can think that we traded KCP and Mook for AB on a 1 year deal. Not sure if that is a good deal.

well lets assume that we do trade KCP and not rescind him. History tells us our return wouldn't have been great for S&T.


i really think the Pistons attitude towards KCP's contract changed when SVG got to see LK,HE & SJ at practice and in SL. When you combine LK's future, KCP's asking price, SJ's & HE improvement and AB's current contract. it makes some sort of sense.

Let KCP go, free up minutes for LK, and have AB replace KCP
Let Mook go, free up minutes for SJ and HE, and have a rotation of HE, SJ, TH at the forward spots

I think overall our roster is more balanced


I'll never get why we let KCP go for nothing, it makes 0 sense other the fact that there's wasn't anything available that woulodn't require the pistons to buy out a player.

We let him go because even in a S&T you gotta take back salary and we're too close to the tax line to take back much.

At that point Galloway was signed too so we already had AB, RJ, Ish, Luke & Galloway on the roster.

Assuming we take back minimal salary - the guy would be a forward and roadblock SJ & Henry

I understand people being irked about losing a "asset" for nothing but sometimes you just gotta roll with the circumstances you found yourself in.