PMOTT3 and Chuck Texas Early Off-Season Review: Detroit Pistons
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 1:04 pm
PMOTT3's Review:
Losses:
Greg Monroe
Tayshaun Prince
Tuff Juice
Quincy Miller
Shawne Williams
Monroe is the big one here. Im sure he'll be missed but the Monroe/Drummond pairing just wasn't going to work in the SVG system.
Draft:
Stanley Johnson
Darrun Hilliard
I didnt hate the Johnson pick but i didnt love it with Winslow still on the board at #8. He's looked pretty good in SL though; I'm eager to see how he performs when the season starts.
Trades:
Shawne Williams and Caron Butler for Ilyasova
Quincy Miller for Steve Blake
2020 2nd for Marcus Morris, Granger, Reggie Bullock
Im not sure i trust Illyasova to return to the form he was at a couple years ago and be that stretch 4 big Stan wants but its hard to bash the trade when they gave up basically cap space for him.
Miller for Blake i dont really see making an impact either way you look at it.
I dont really get the Morris trade. Granger is washed up and Bullock is just a guy. So this boils down to Marcus Morris who is a decently useful role player. But why bring in a guy who is still in the process of going through felony charges? He's just not the kind of guy I'd want in my locker room and he doesn't bring enough to the table to justify keeping him in the locker room either.
Free Agency:
Aron Baynes
Reggie Jackson
Joel Anthony
Baynes was a slight overpay but they now have a center who can stay on the court to shoot free throws if the opposing team plays hack-a-shaq.
Jackson had to have been one of the most ugliest contracts given out. Hated it. Its right up there with the Asik contract for me.
Anthony shouldn't be making anything above the minimum.
Current Depth Chart (pretty rough):
PG: Jackson/Jennings/Blake/Dinwiddie
SG: Meeks/KCP/Hillard
SF: Johnson/Martin/Bullock/Granger
PF: Illyasova/Tolliver/Morris
C: Drummond/Baynes/Anthony
Needs:
They need for KCP to take the leap. Jackson needs to take a leap as well. Johnson needs to be able to stay in the rotation for the first season at the very least. Really they just need more talent though. Drummond is their star talent and he can't be your go-to scorer.
Additional Thoughts:
I hate that they got nothing out of Monroe and he just walked. I also dont really see enough talent on the roster to make the playoffs. I think if Detroit isn't in the mix for that 8 seed by the all star break then they really need to shut it down for that high lotto pick next draft.
Win/Loss Prediction: 31-51
Off-Season Grade: F
Would have gone with Winslow or the Boston package before Johnson. Jackson contract was gross. The rest of their FA moves ranged from slight overpay to overpay. Wasn't a fan of bringing in Marcus Morris. I dont trust Illyasova to be that stretch 4. Too many negatives this off-season for me.
Chuck Texas' Review:
Losses:
Greg Monroe
Tayshaun Prince
Tuff Juice
Quincy Miller
Shawne Williams
Monroe is obviously the big one. It will be interesting to see how much they miss him. Obviously he was one of their best players, but the fit might be better now.
Draft:
Stanley Johnson
Darrun Hilliard
I wasn't as high as most on the Johnson pick--particularly with Winslow on the board and Boston apparently offering the moon to get up in this part of the draft. But I know lots of you guys love Johnson so I'm going to conclude this was a good pick.
Trades:
Shawne Williams and Caron Butler for Ilyasova
Quincy Miller for Steve Blake
2020 2nd for Marcus Morris, Granger, Reggie Bullock
I am not a fan of Ilyasova, but I do get his fit here and on a one year trial that cost you nothing but cap space I don't mind it at all. Miller for Blake is kinda fine as a stopgap with Jennings injury, but it tells me that Dinwiddie isn't much in the plans. I didn't really understand the deal for Morris, Granger, Bullock at all. Morris is a semi-useful player at best and he's got felony charges hanging over his head, is a known knucklehead and its gamble if he can really even function without Kieff. And Granger and Bullock are just ballast.
Free Agency:
Reggie Jackson to crazy money
Joel Anthony
Aron Baynes
I hate the Jackson contract. I know the Pistons fans all love the guy, but this guy isn't even an average starting PG at this point and he just got huge money. And I have no idea why Anthony is still in the league much less getting over the vet min. Must be a great guy in the room--nothing else here makes sense as he's been done as a player for years. I like the Baynes signing tho it feels a bit rich. I do think he will help behind Drummond.
Depth Chart(rough):
Drummond/BaynesAnthony
Ilyasova/Tolliver/Morris
Johnson/Martin/Bullock/Granger
Meeks/KCP/Hillard
Jackson/(Jennings)/Blake/Dinwiddie
I would go ahead and start Johnson from the jump and for balance I would elevate Meeks over KCP.
Needs:
Talent, talent, talent. Drummond is their best player and only even average level starter at this point. Johnson needs to become a highly capable starter and quickly. But they need starters at PF/SG at a minimum.
Additional thoughts:
I just don't feel a lot of hope here. Either Jackson steps up and really becomes a top 12 PG and Johnson is for real or there just isn't much encouraging in Detroit. Too much dead weight on the roster right now and it feels like a long year.
Win-loss Prediction: 28-54
They might can get into the low 30's since its the East, but a lot of teams in the East have been making improvements. It's just hard for me to see any hope at the playoffs and if Johnson isn't ready this could be one of the worst teams in the league.
Off-Season Grade: D
Hate the Jackson money even with cap rising. The trades mainly seem like shuffling bodies with Ilyasova being the most significant addition. Again Johnson was likely a good pick, but that Boston package would have made infinitely more sense for a team that needs so many things. The whole Monroe situation was a loss of value. Just ugh.
Losses:
Greg Monroe
Tayshaun Prince
Tuff Juice
Quincy Miller
Shawne Williams
Monroe is the big one here. Im sure he'll be missed but the Monroe/Drummond pairing just wasn't going to work in the SVG system.
Draft:
Stanley Johnson
Darrun Hilliard
I didnt hate the Johnson pick but i didnt love it with Winslow still on the board at #8. He's looked pretty good in SL though; I'm eager to see how he performs when the season starts.
Trades:
Shawne Williams and Caron Butler for Ilyasova
Quincy Miller for Steve Blake
2020 2nd for Marcus Morris, Granger, Reggie Bullock
Im not sure i trust Illyasova to return to the form he was at a couple years ago and be that stretch 4 big Stan wants but its hard to bash the trade when they gave up basically cap space for him.
Miller for Blake i dont really see making an impact either way you look at it.
I dont really get the Morris trade. Granger is washed up and Bullock is just a guy. So this boils down to Marcus Morris who is a decently useful role player. But why bring in a guy who is still in the process of going through felony charges? He's just not the kind of guy I'd want in my locker room and he doesn't bring enough to the table to justify keeping him in the locker room either.
Free Agency:
Aron Baynes
Reggie Jackson
Joel Anthony
Baynes was a slight overpay but they now have a center who can stay on the court to shoot free throws if the opposing team plays hack-a-shaq.
Jackson had to have been one of the most ugliest contracts given out. Hated it. Its right up there with the Asik contract for me.
Anthony shouldn't be making anything above the minimum.
Current Depth Chart (pretty rough):
PG: Jackson/Jennings/Blake/Dinwiddie
SG: Meeks/KCP/Hillard
SF: Johnson/Martin/Bullock/Granger
PF: Illyasova/Tolliver/Morris
C: Drummond/Baynes/Anthony
Needs:
They need for KCP to take the leap. Jackson needs to take a leap as well. Johnson needs to be able to stay in the rotation for the first season at the very least. Really they just need more talent though. Drummond is their star talent and he can't be your go-to scorer.
Additional Thoughts:
I hate that they got nothing out of Monroe and he just walked. I also dont really see enough talent on the roster to make the playoffs. I think if Detroit isn't in the mix for that 8 seed by the all star break then they really need to shut it down for that high lotto pick next draft.
Win/Loss Prediction: 31-51
Off-Season Grade: F
Would have gone with Winslow or the Boston package before Johnson. Jackson contract was gross. The rest of their FA moves ranged from slight overpay to overpay. Wasn't a fan of bringing in Marcus Morris. I dont trust Illyasova to be that stretch 4. Too many negatives this off-season for me.
Chuck Texas' Review:
Losses:
Greg Monroe
Tayshaun Prince
Tuff Juice
Quincy Miller
Shawne Williams
Monroe is obviously the big one. It will be interesting to see how much they miss him. Obviously he was one of their best players, but the fit might be better now.
Draft:
Stanley Johnson
Darrun Hilliard
I wasn't as high as most on the Johnson pick--particularly with Winslow on the board and Boston apparently offering the moon to get up in this part of the draft. But I know lots of you guys love Johnson so I'm going to conclude this was a good pick.
Trades:
Shawne Williams and Caron Butler for Ilyasova
Quincy Miller for Steve Blake
2020 2nd for Marcus Morris, Granger, Reggie Bullock
I am not a fan of Ilyasova, but I do get his fit here and on a one year trial that cost you nothing but cap space I don't mind it at all. Miller for Blake is kinda fine as a stopgap with Jennings injury, but it tells me that Dinwiddie isn't much in the plans. I didn't really understand the deal for Morris, Granger, Bullock at all. Morris is a semi-useful player at best and he's got felony charges hanging over his head, is a known knucklehead and its gamble if he can really even function without Kieff. And Granger and Bullock are just ballast.
Free Agency:
Reggie Jackson to crazy money
Joel Anthony
Aron Baynes
I hate the Jackson contract. I know the Pistons fans all love the guy, but this guy isn't even an average starting PG at this point and he just got huge money. And I have no idea why Anthony is still in the league much less getting over the vet min. Must be a great guy in the room--nothing else here makes sense as he's been done as a player for years. I like the Baynes signing tho it feels a bit rich. I do think he will help behind Drummond.
Depth Chart(rough):
Drummond/BaynesAnthony
Ilyasova/Tolliver/Morris
Johnson/Martin/Bullock/Granger
Meeks/KCP/Hillard
Jackson/(Jennings)/Blake/Dinwiddie
I would go ahead and start Johnson from the jump and for balance I would elevate Meeks over KCP.
Needs:
Talent, talent, talent. Drummond is their best player and only even average level starter at this point. Johnson needs to become a highly capable starter and quickly. But they need starters at PF/SG at a minimum.
Additional thoughts:
I just don't feel a lot of hope here. Either Jackson steps up and really becomes a top 12 PG and Johnson is for real or there just isn't much encouraging in Detroit. Too much dead weight on the roster right now and it feels like a long year.
Win-loss Prediction: 28-54
They might can get into the low 30's since its the East, but a lot of teams in the East have been making improvements. It's just hard for me to see any hope at the playoffs and if Johnson isn't ready this could be one of the worst teams in the league.
Off-Season Grade: D
Hate the Jackson money even with cap rising. The trades mainly seem like shuffling bodies with Ilyasova being the most significant addition. Again Johnson was likely a good pick, but that Boston package would have made infinitely more sense for a team that needs so many things. The whole Monroe situation was a loss of value. Just ugh.