Portland gonna be the Pistons next season?

[Godymas]

I’d really like Portland to do an asset consolidation move for a young star in a bad situation.

Basically, if they can target LaMelo Ball

[brackdan70]

Unless one of Deni Avdija maintain his current star level production, Sheadon Sharpe develops enough became a true star, or they get Cooper Flagg, I don't view that outcome as very likely. Maybe they will end being a poor man's version of the the Houston Rockets, but with far worse coaching.That feels a 8-10 seed team in the West and getting eliminated in the play-in. I do like them as a potential Luka Doncic, Trae Young, or Jaren Jackson Jr Free Agent destination in 2026 to push towards them towards true contention if they become good enough team to make the play -in, while being several of games over .500.

Deni just turned 24. It’s more likely than not that he at least maintains his level of play and there is still upside.

[Billl]

It's nice to see portland playing good ball again.

The problem for them is that they have a lot of nice youngish guys, but no real star. And realistically, they are going to have to pay some people if they try to keep this bunch together. They need to hit big on a draft pick or make a consolidation trade before everyone gets locked in.

[TheNG]

The question is:
If Portland is gonna be Pistons,
Then who will be Portland?

[3ddman23]

So are the pistons the magic of this season then? Or is it Houston?

[hugepatsfan]

Tougher conference
No Cade level player
Even though JB Bickerstaff wasn't the guy for CLE to take the next step, he seems to be a good coach for a team in the rebuild/turn it around stage whereas Billups has drawn a LOT of criticism just as a coach in general rather than just bad fit for situation

[DusterBuster]

I feel like people kind of missed the bigger picture of the OP's point. He wasn't asking if Portland is going to be exactly like the Pistons in terms of play style - which everyone seems to be focusing on for no apparent reason... I think he's just asking if Portland will be the Pistons in terms of being a team that kind of comes out of nowhere to be a playoff team unexpectedly.

[tamaraw08]

I feel like people kind of missed the bigger picture of the OP's point. He wasn't asking if Portland is going to be exactly like the Pistons in terms of play style - which everyone seems to be focusing on for no apparent reason... I think he's just asking if Portland will be the Pistons in terms of being a team that kind of comes out of nowhere to be a playoff team unexpectedly.

It's difficult to make a jump into a playoff team if you don't acquire a legit floor general like Cade to seems to have a grasp of organizing their offense like setting up shooters etc.
Portland ranks 29th in TO%, 23rd in EFG% ,23rd in FTA which is bad because they also rank 28th in FT%.
What is challenging is that there are hardly available good PGs in the next free agency.

[tamaraw08]

I feel like people kind of missed the bigger picture of the OP's point. He wasn't asking if Portland is going to be exactly like the Pistons in terms of play style - which everyone seems to be focusing on for no apparent reason... I think he's just asking if Portland will be the Pistons in terms of being a team that kind of comes out of nowhere to be a playoff team unexpectedly.

It's difficult to make a jump into becoming a legit playoff team if you don't acquire a legit Floor General like Cade who seems to have a grasp of organizing their offense like setting up shooters, spotting cutters etc.
Portland ranks 29th in TO%, 23rd in EFG% ,23rd in FTA which is bad because they also rank 28th in FT%.
What is challenging is that there are hardly available good PGs in the next free agency.

[DusterBuster]

I feel like people kind of missed the bigger picture of the OP's point. He wasn't asking if Portland is going to be exactly like the Pistons in terms of play style - which everyone seems to be focusing on for no apparent reason... I think he's just asking if Portland will be the Pistons in terms of being a team that kind of comes out of nowhere to be a playoff team unexpectedly.

It's difficult to make a jump into a playoff team if you don't acquire a legit floor general like Cade to seems to have a grasp of organizing their offense like setting up shooters etc.
Portland ranks 29th in TO%, 23rd in EFG% ,23rd in FTA which is bad because they also rank 28th in FT%.
What is challenging is that there are hardly available good PGs in the next free agency.

I'm not disagreeing with that. I'm not saying I think they will either, I just found it odd how many people latched on to this play-style idea after the OP.