RealGM

Monte Morris is supposed to be re-evaluated within the next few days... then Livers and Bojan shortly after.

Lets assume everyone is good to go and heathy in about two weeks. What does your current 10 man rotation look like? Who's out of the rotation? It feels like Sasser has to be in for sure. It feels like Joe Harris is an easy exclude. Burks was playing incredibly well before his injury.

Burkes/ morris
Sasser/Ivey
Cade/hayes
Livers/ausar
Duren/Stew

AnnArborpiston wrote:Burkes/ morris
Sasser/Ivey
Cade/hayes
Livers/ausar
Duren/Stew

So no Bojan in the lineup? That seems pretty crazy.

Cade/Morris
Ausar/Ivey
Bojan/Sasser
Stew/Livers
Duren/Bagley

Big backcourt. Bojan takes pressure off Cade. And Stew is still my guy.
Then put Ivey out there with a buncha shooters and Bags in the middle.
Even if I wanted to be greedy and swap Bojan for Livers I'd still have the same 10.

Out: Harris, Hayes, Burks & Wiseman.

But In reality somebody will be hurt and Burks is still in that group for sure. And probably Hayes. And maybe the other 2....

Cade/Hayes-Sasser
Morris/Ivey
Ausar/Burks
Stew/Livers
Duren/Bagley

OUT: Bojan, Harris, Knox & Wiseman
Really Morris & Burks are my veterans.


More realist:

Cade/Hayes-Sasser
Morris/Ivey
Ausar/Burks
Bojan/Stew-Livers
Duren/Bagley

OUT: Harris, Knox & Wiseman

Cowology wrote:Cade/Morris
Ausar/Ivey
Bojan/Sasser
Stew/Livers
Duren/Bagley

Big backcourt. Bojan takes pressure off Cade. And Stew is still my guy.
Then put Ivey out there with a buncha shooters and Bags in the middle.
Even if I wanted to be greedy and swap Bojan for Livers I'd still have the same 10.

Out: Harris, Hayes, Burks & Wiseman.

But In reality somebody will be hurt and Burks is still in that group for sure. And probably Hayes. And maybe the other 2....

Is this what you would do or what you think Monty will do?
I just don't see any way that both Hayes and Burks are out of the rotation.

It's a real conundrum especially with Sasser showing out now. I don't think they expected this much from him so soon so it complicates the rotation when all the healthy return.

My guess is....

Cade/Morris
Ausar/Sasser
Bogey/Ivey
Stewart/Burks
Duren/Bagley

Out of Rotation
Hayes
Harris
Livers
Knox
Wiseman
Umude


****, I have no idea where Hayes fits and they just signed Knox as well for a reason.
Who knows if the team will ever be healthy at once but I think a move or two needs to be made. It's a weird lineup, there's a lot of NBA level players but it's such an odd mix. One of the guards has to go and one of Bogey or Burks should go as well. Lots of redundancy on this roster.
Weaver has drafted reasonably well but his idea of roster construction is, lets say, not very good to say the least.

cade/ivey
morris/sasser
ausar/burks
stewart/bojan
duren/bagley

out of the rotation: hayes, harris, wiseman, knox, livers

my thinking: if they're committed to a strong defensive lineup with ausar/stew/duren then i think they need a second reliable ball handler who can create advantages and morris fits that. to me the biggest question is if they start bojan or ausar, but i think cade/morris should be the starting guards and i'm like 99% sure stew and duren are the starting front court.

Ivey / Sasser
Cade / Morris
Ausar / Burks
Bogey / Stewart
Duren / Stewart / Bagley

Just going by what Monty has said, and what he holds dear, my best guess;

Cade/Morris
Ausar/Hayes
Bojan/Burks
Stewart/Livers
Duren/Bagley

Now the way he has spoken about Livers is what intrigues me. He may end up starting Livers at Bojans spot, which changes the rotation to a more normal one for Bagley;

Cade/Morris
Ausar/Hayes
Livers/Bojan
Stewart/Bagley
Duren/

But that leaves the team short a backup C, unless he goes small ball, or plays Wiseman, which i don't think he wants to.

The only thing I know for sure, is that;

Cade
Ausar

Stewart
Duren

Are going to be starting. Stewart has been exemplary on his role thus far, shooting. 429 from three, and playing solid defense. Ausar has been amazing in his role. He may start Bojan at the three when he and Livers returns, but may ease Livers into the starting lineup.

The team, as NY Elluded to is wonky, and needs trades to balance it out. NBA level players all over the place, but the fit is strange.

Cade/Morris
Ausar/Hayes
Livers/Burks
Stewart/Bojan
Duren/Bagley

That is my absolute best guess, based on what Monty likes.

This is what I want

Jalen Duren / Isaiah Stewart / Marvin Bagley / James Wiseman
Bojan Bogdanovic / Isaiah Livers / Kevin Knox / Stanley Umude
Ausar Thompson / Alec Burks / Joe Harris /
Cade Cunningham / Jaden Ivey / Jared Rhoden / Malcolm Cazalon
Monte Morris / Marcus Sasser / Killian Hayes /

But, Stewart probably start instead of Monte Morris, pushing Ivey out of the rotation.

Duren / Bagley
Stew / Livers
Bojan / Burks
Ausar / Sasser
Cade / Morris

Would be insane if Ivey is totally out of the rotation when everyone is back and healthy. Can't imagine Weaver would be happy about that.

vege wrote:This is what I want

Jalen Duren / Isaiah Stewart / Marvin Bagley / James Wiseman
Bojan Bogdanovic / Isaiah Livers / Kevin Knox / Stanley Umude
Ausar Thompson / Alec Burks / Joe Harris /
Cade Cunningham / Jaden Ivey / Jared Rhoden / Malcolm Cazalon
Monte Morris / Marcus Sasser / Killian Hayes /

I like that starting lineup. I'd replace Livers with Bagley in the 2nd string. Livers is 3rd string talent. Would also consider swapping Sasser/Morris.

.

BDM22 wrote:Would be insane if Ivey is totally out of the rotation when everyone is back and healthy. Can't imagine Weaver would be happy about that.

Then it becomes, who is tradeable?

If Weaver takes on Fournier, getting the pick back(gonna have to give them something in return. Take your pick of Bucks/Bojan/???)then Ivey plus picks could land the team a player that fits.

I've been giving this a ton of thought, and depending on who your going for, the Pistons absolutely have tradeable assets to land that player.

Markkanen seems to be a damn good fit, but the trade is gonna be a big one.

Ivey+Stewart plus picks, and it may take an unprotected to get it done, or even more as Markkanen was an all-star.

Cade/Morris
Ausar/Hayes
Livers/Bojan or Burks after Knicks trade
Markkenan/Knox
Duren/Bagley

Thats a really good starting group, but a lot of working parts.

The team has to many damn guards.

I want:

Sasser / Morris
Cade / Ivey
Ausar / Burks
Bojan / Stewart / Livers
Duren / Stewart

Bagley and Killian as injury backups.

I like Sasser's fit next to Cade a lot. He can dribble when Cade needs that relief valve, provide space, and is better on D than Monte and Ivey. Though, ultimately I think one of Morris, Burks, or Killian get traded if Sasser keeps playing well.

BDM22 wrote:I want:

Sasser / Morris
Cade / Ivey
Ausar / Burks
Bojan / Stewart / Livers
Duren / Stewart

Bagley and Killian as injury backups.

I like Sasser's fit next to Cade a lot. He can dribble when Cade needs that relief valve, provide space, and is better on D than Monte and Ivey. Though, ultimately I think one of Morris, Burks, or Killian get traded if Sasser keeps playing well.

I like that a ton, as Sassy is a scoring machine, exactly what the team needs next to Cade, as an outlet. You cannot double off of him.

That then makes Ivey a damn good trade chip...

Sasser Morris
Cade Ivey
Ausar Burks
Stewart Bojan
Duren Bagley

Beef Stew HAS TO START unless we get a new C. Duren is BAD defensively. Stew has to be there to help Duren. Bojan and Duren cant play. Per james edwards "Jalen Duren averages close to four fouls per game and Ivey averages over three fouls per game despite only playing 20 minutes per night."

Unless we got an all star in return for a deal including Ivey, I’m out for now. I’d rather move Burks, Bojan, Monte, and let the rest of the wings grow. Including Killian , we just need the right 4

NYPiston wrote:

Cowology wrote:Cade/Morris
Ausar/Ivey
Bojan/Sasser
Stew/Livers
Duren/Bagley

Big backcourt. Bojan takes pressure off Cade. And Stew is still my guy.
Then put Ivey out there with a buncha shooters and Bags in the middle.
Even if I wanted to be greedy and swap Bojan for Livers I'd still have the same 10.

Out: Harris, Hayes, Burks & Wiseman.

But In reality somebody will be hurt and Burks is still in that group for sure. And probably Hayes. And maybe the other 2....

Is this what you would do or what you think Monty will do?

What I would do. I have no clue what Monty will do, but it probably involves starting Hayes

It just depends on what we are trying to accomplish. Hayes is an upgrade defensively over Ivey, but both represent a secondary ball-handler. That seems important, especially considering how turnover prone Cade is. But can you really justify starting Hayes over a healthy Bogey?? I dunno, that doesn't track for me.

IF healthy then I think you can make a good case for Livers over Hayes, too. He plays solid defense, and makes relatively few mental errors in the Afflalo/KCP mold. He'll make the "right" play and can actually spread the floor with his 3pt shooting.

But like I said, these guys will NEVER all be healthy at the same time and Burks is solid depth so I doubt we ever actually see him out of the rotation. Killian could go from starter to out of the rotation though. Eventually they are going to decide to just pull the plug and his NBA career is going to die.

I just worry about that secondary ball-handler. Sooner or later it's going to have to be Ivey unless a trade happens.

Cade/Sasser(Killian for defense)
Morris/Ivey
Ausar/Burks
Bojan/Stewart(Livers for offense)
Duren/Bagley

The team is too deep to just play 10 because nobody has set themselves apart as 2-way players... so the best bet is for Monte is to play the most proven talent, and run the second rotation depending on if he needs offense or defense.

I know that's a pipe dream because Monty is in love with Killian and wants to treat Ivey like a stepchild...

Sasser/Morris/Hayes
Cade/Ivey/Burks
Ausar/Bojan/Burks
Bagley/Livers/Knox
Duren/Stewart/Wiseman

1st Unit: Sasser and Cade can both handle the ball, set plays, and get their own shots. Bagley as a starter because he's a good third option on offense, while Duren and Ausar can help side D the opposing wings that take advantage of him on defense. He's a plus offensive player to pair in that starting five, but you need to hide his defensive liabilities as best you can with plus defenders.

2nd Unit: No Stewart in the starting lineup because he excels in Duren's stead, operating as the biggest Piston on the court. Morris holds down the PG spot with pace and good shooting. Ivey in the second unit because I like Sasser's fit with Cade Better, and Ivey is free to operate as a primary/secondary scorer and/or ballhandler. Bogdanovic as a reserve because he's been MIA since halfway through last season, he's a good primary offensive option off the bench, and I don't know that forcing him 1st unit rotation minutes is a necessary or wise choice at this point(as he's a good trade candidate).