This Summer

Master Shake · Post #1 » by **Master Shake** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:31 pm

I'm bored and we're in a little rough patch right now. So just for **** and giggles and I just wanted to see what moves the Pistons intend to make this summer.

I think its a serious reality Joe won't look to move the starting 5 and Maxiell and Stuckey. I think its a real possibility Joe looks to extend Rip this summer much like he did with McDyess.

Is Maxiell worth extension too? He's eligible this summer, and I don't think we can pay him Tay like money, which he may want seeing as he could hold value around the league with run and gun teams.

We probably let Hayes, Hermann, Brezec, and Murray walk unless we move them at the deadline... Giving a bigger role to Afflalo?

Free agents out there are pretty solid this summer in terms of good role players, and teams seem to be getting cheaper and not throwing Jerome James type deals around anymore.

Kurt Thomas is a guy that comes to mind.

Other guys of interest that'll be free agents are:
Delonte West
J.R. Smith
Craig Smith
Kwame Brown
Diop
Patrick O'Bryant
Eduardo Najera

Some will be restricted, but there seems to be less money to go around, and if we use the MLE we could grab a solid rotation player... not another Nazr Mohammed.

Low-Ki · Post #2 » by **Low-Ki** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:41 pm

It might be wishful thinking, but if we fail to at least get back to the finals, I think there will be a shake-up with at least 2/5ths of the starting rotation traded away and Saunders will probably be fired. As crazy as that may sound to the other 28 teams in the NBA(SA excluded)...

Master Shake · Post #3 » by **Master Shake** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:45 pm

I don't necessarily think that this franchise really cares if we get back to the finals or not. They like winning 50-55 games a year, going deep in the playoffs and makin lots of money...

I don't think Joe's ready to make a firesale while this team is still playing at his "high level." It would be crazy to take a step backward, bad for business. I know we as fans want championships... but that may not be the real case here.

Low-Ki · Post #4 » by **Low-Ki** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:58 pm

The thing is that if you hold on too long to past glories the players will deteriorate to a point where they have little trade value.

Rasheed will also be heading into the last year of his contract and either could make a stink about getting extended this off-season or walk for the MLE if we have him play though his last season with us.

We're in a tough spot with Rasheed because we have no youngsters ready to replace him. This is why I was so pissed we passed on Tiago Splitter last draft.

chrbal · Post #5 » by **chrbal** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:00 pm

I think Max is a must keep. I think Hermanns hustle will be a better fit then Hayes game. Hunter will finally get an office gig, so that a year later he'll be one of the billion names being tossed around for the New York gig. Brezec and Murray are gone.

I think they'll probably look to add a young 6'10"+ big man to maybe play center down the road or sooner; either through the draft, free agency, or both.

It'll be nice to see a burnt out Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals in spite of Brian Scalarbines one night of greatness "the Stanislav Medvedenko Factor".

Low-Ki · Post #6 » by **Low-Ki** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:06 pm

6'10"+ big men are damn hard to find picking 29th overall in the draft. We passed on a lottery level talented bigman because we'd have to wait a year to draft a depth guard who can only back-up the 2-guard in the NBA.

Yes, I'm back beating that horse carcass. Dumb Joe. Dumb.

Gar4man · Post #7 » by **Gar4man** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:28 pm

i pretty much like samb the most.

Post #8 » by **theBigLip** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:55 pm

Our summer totally depends on our playoff run. If we get to the NBA Finals (or win it), I think you can pretty much expect the same team next year. If we lose, Flip and a couple of starters can probably expect to be playing elsewhere.

Future core:

Stuckey
???/Affalo
Tay
Max/Amir
???/Samb

We need to get a younger SG and C (I don't consider Affalo and Samb as future starters - just role players).

the_l_train · Post #9 » by **the_l_train** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:28 pm

is josh childress a FA? I think he would be an awesome addition. It was mentioned in one of the other threads.

Master Shake · Post #10 » by **Master Shake** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:30 pm

SG is the easiest postion in the league to fill, we need to target young bigs. And who's to say Afflalo can't be a starter someday? If Stuckey can develop into a Baron Davis type point guard (I know he has to get there first) then why can't Afflalo's game improve too?

If both players do develop, Stuckey could be that Davis type scorer with less range and who's to say Afflalo couldn't be as good as a guy like Raja Bell? A Davis and Bell backcourt would be solid... It's a long shot at this point, but 3 or 4 years down the road you never know...

HeroicKennedy · Post #11 » by **HeroicKennedy** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:05 pm

You know, you could solve so many problems if Maxiell could learn to play SF. Of course, he's not quick enough to guard the slashers, and not physical enough for guys like LeBron.

But, if he could, and you bring back the team sans the expirings.

Billups/Stuckey
Hamilton/Afflalo
Prince/Maxiell
McDyess/Johnson
Wallace/Samb

And then use the MLE to bring in a solid bench player and possible bring back Meija. I'd be pretty happy with that lineup.

Low-Ki · Post #12 » by **Low-Ki** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:21 pm

You'd have a much better chance at making Amir a SF than Maxey. Heck even Amir was talking about himself as a small forward in the mould of Tayshaun over the summer.

HeroicKennedy · Post #13 » by **HeroicKennedy** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:25 pm

The idea of a 6'9 small forward on the court with a 6'7 power forward just doesn't seem right.

Low-Ki · Post #14 » by **Low-Ki** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:43 pm

...and Boston wanted to make Ben Wallace into a shooting guard.

BadMofoPimp · Post #15 » by **BadMofoPimp** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:54 pm

I got an idea. After Chicago buys out Ben Wallace, we can sign him for the Mid Level. That way we would have never gotten stuck with him at 12 mil per year we would have given him. LOL!

Master Shake · Post #16 » by **Master Shake** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:57 am

After I just made a thread about Salmons I didn't want to make another one about another trade idea. And didn't really know where else I could put this, but:

David Lee is another guy we should target out of New York while Isiah is still in office. Lee's grumbled a bit lately about inconsistant minutes, and he was a double double guy off the bench last year. Again, the price would be high, and I have no idea what New York wants in trades because the team Isiah assembled is weird as hell. But if we want to target a young big, this might be the one to go after.

Big Steak · Post #17 » by **Big Steak** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:02 am

Regardless of what happens, I don't expect us to make any major moves over the summer. If we win the 'chip or make the finals, we will keep the core and sign someone for the MLE. If we lose, teams are going to try to fleece us, which Dumars will not go for. In other words, the same situation we were in last off-season.

If we do break up the team, I suspect it will be during next year's trade deadline when teams are more apt to overpay. Any one of our starters could serve to help a team get "over the top." The fact that 'Sheed will also be an expiring will further increase his value.

Joe Berry · Post #18 » by **Joe Berry** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:15 am

Pistons still need a legitimate scorer on the wing who can get to the basket at will...i am still pissed Grant signed for the minimum with the Suns, he would have been a great addition off the bench :-?

<3AmirJohnson<3 · Post #19 » by **<3AmirJohnson<3** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:33 am

Master Shake wrote:
David Lee is another guy we should target out of New York while Isiah is still in office.

Lee for
Maxiell and a (way) Future 1st round pick?
or do you think we could him for less? Maxiell and Brezec/Murray/Hermann/Hayes + 2nd/s?

Master Shake · Post #20 » by **Master Shake** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:39 am

If they wanted McDyess, they can have him. If they want all of our 2nds which I doubt, its theirs. 1sts, take those too. Maxiell, Amir, whatever. If New York wants any of those I'll do it. David Lee would be that good of an addition, we love Maxiell, but Lee would be an instant fan favorite.