For the record ... post-draft 5OA pick

[JerseyJungle]

With Murray (as well as the top 3) off the board, was Ivey your top choice?

If not, who did you have ahead of him?

I had Mathurin ahead as a better shooter, more willing defender, and near equal athlete. I had Ivey even with Sharpe as the next preferred option. I'm now hoping Ivey can elevate his passing, shooting and defense and turn out as the better player. He certainly has the tools. And its great that he really wants to be here.

[Manocad]

I'm pretty sure the draft thread and big board thread had everyone's preferences covered but I'll play along.

Assuming the Big 3 went 1-3, I wanted whoever was left between Murray and Ivey at 5, period. And happy with either one if both wound up being available. Murray replaced Grant and Ivey could hopefully be a force next to Cade.

[Jsindto]

He was my #1 choice since I prioritize ceiling over the sure thing when drafting this high, combined with being in a non-destination market. Is there a chance Ivey becomes a slightly better version of Diallo, and not a star, while Mathurin becomes a very solid #3 option on a championship team? Of course that's a possibility. But if I'm in Detroit, and I have a chance at a talent who I think has the chance to be a #2 option next to Cade, I take the swing.

[A_dub06]

I don’t think I posted in the big board thread but I valued Sharpe highly and I’m still a little salty we passed on him. Outside of being faster I don’t see what potential Ivey has that Sharpe doesn’t, and I think Sharpe has all the tools and skills to build on to become a consistent 22-25ppg scorer in 3 years his shot is far more advanced, has better footwork and I think he will become a better defender. On potential alone I’d say he’s top 3, with a much clearer path to become a force in the league. He was just too unproven at anything close to this level. I even think he is a better fit next to Cade than Ivey due to the shooting. I really hope I’m wrong in my assessment of him now though.

[mike06181]

For culture alone i wanted ivey. That detroit connections and want to be here with both picks is underrated. The connections to bad boys to going to work to whatever this next group of winners is called is very important to instill. Thats how the pistons have won and will win in the future.

[Kalamazoo317]

I was a Mathurin guy and could still see him ending up the better player. Definitely rooting for Ivey to be it now, though! Mathurin's post about being better than Lebron or whatever also makes me question him as a culture fit, so I'm pretty happy with Ivey.

[zeebneeb]

I think Ivey has a good chance of being the best player in the draft, or in that conversation, but I absolutely did not want him. I was fully aware of how good he could be way before the draft, I just question fit, and will continue to question fit until proven otherwise.

I wanted Mathurin, or Murray. I think Murray will end up better then 2 of the bigs chosen in the top 3, and Mathurin is an explosive athlete like Ivey, but does NOT need the ball in his hands to be successful.

I want nothing to interfere with Cades development as the teams leader both on, amd off the court and I feel Ivey is going to hamper that.

I hate this draft to be perfectly frank, except for Duren who I still cannot believe the team obtained for peanuts.

[mattao313]

After we got the 5 pick I was all in on Ivey felt like he was in the same tier as the top 3 guys. Happy we got him now hopefully he pans out in the league.

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[theBigLip]

Not only did I want Ivey at 5, if I were GM, I would have traded up to make sure we got him. I’m very happy we got him at 5 without giving anything up. I also thought there was a possibility that he could break into the top 3.

For reference, I had our likely options ranked Ivey, Mathurian, then Murray.

[buzzkilloton]

Ivey was a tier above the next guys for me. I would of traded up to secure him.

I had Duren ranked 8th right behind Sharpe. Draft was a A+.

[mattao313]

I think Ivey has a good chance of being the best player in the draft, or in that conversation, but I absolutely did not want him. I was fully aware of how good he could be way before the draft, I just question fit, and will continue to question fit until proven otherwise.

I wanted Mathurin, or Murray. I think Murray will end up better then 2 of the bigs chosen in the top 3, and Mathurin is an explosive athlete like Ivey, but does NOT need the ball in his hands to be successful.

I want nothing to interfere with Cades development as the teams leader both on, amd off the court and I feel Ivey is going to hamper that.

I hate this draft to be perfectly frank, except for Duren who I still cannot believe the team obtained for peanuts.

So what if Ivey becomes better than Cade?

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[zeebneeb]

I think Ivey has a good chance of being the best player in the draft, or in that conversation, but I absolutely did not want him. I was fully aware of how good he could be way before the draft, I just question fit, and will continue to question fit until proven otherwise.

I wanted Mathurin, or Murray. I think Murray will end up better then 2 of the bigs chosen in the top 3, and Mathurin is an explosive athlete like Ivey, but does NOT need the ball in his hands to be successful.

I want nothing to interfere with Cades development as the teams leader both on, amd off the court and I feel Ivey is going to hamper that.

I hate this draft to be perfectly frank, except for Duren who I still cannot believe the team obtained for peanuts.

So what if Ivey becomes better than Cade?

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Better is subjective term that could mean various things.

Value to win a title.

Based on play styles at this point, its easy Cade. If Ivey can be more, then absolutely open to Ivey leading the team.

[edmunder_prc]

I like the Ivey pick - his upside is really high.

It will be interesting to see his role because he needs Hayes role. Some minutes with Cade but most of his minutes running the 2nd team PG position. Hayes as an SG doesnt work well.

This upcoming year will mostly be about growth I imagine.

[MrBigShot]

He was my pick even if Murray was still on the board. His potential is off the chart.

Watch on YouTube

Look at the first step and explosion off the bounce at 30 seconds. 2 dribbles from the logo to the rim, you simply can't teach that. Cade can't handle the ball 24/7, and he's very capable off the ball and in the post if need be. I'm generally opposed to drafting for fit in the lottery.

[Menace2Sobriety]

It’s was either Ivey or Mathurin for me and very pleased he was available at 5. Over the moon Troy was able to land Duren. I think our 3 guard rotation all fit well together.

[JerseyJungle]

I was a Mathurin guy and could still see him ending up the better player. Definitely rooting for Ivey to be it now, though! Mathurin's post about being better than Lebron or whatever also makes me question him as a culture fit, so I'm pretty happy with Ivey.

I hadn't seen that so I looked it up:

"In a pre-draft interview with the Washington Post, Mathurin had this to say of Lakers forward LeBron James: "A lot of people say he's great. I want to see how great he is. I don't think anybody is better than me. He's going to have to show me he's better than me."

I vividly remember Stanley Johnson saying something similar (nobody better than me). But he wasn't dumb enough to target one of the greatest players ever like LeBron while doing so. I don't like it. It must be an Arizona thing. It was very hard to get good info on the character of each of the players, but so far Ivey is getting very high marks, which is a big plus that I hadn't factored in. Mathurin not so much.

[Kalamazoo317]

Weaver does seem to have put together a pretty high character squad so far. (Giving Beefstew a pass on the whole LeBron thing last season, as I think it was a pretty dirty play by LeBron that set that off, even if Beef was showing some real concerning lack of impulse control there).

[chrbal]

Wanted Ivey or Mathurin. Wasn’t willing to pay to much to move up. I like to think i figured the kings were bluffing, but I wasn’t positive.

Like Duren or Mark Williams at 13 or 15. Of course that was when I figured we’d be getting Gordon Hayward with that pick. Reality when insanely better than I could have imagined.

Wanted to use 37 and the cap space to get a 20ish pick. Someone like Jovic or basically a lot of the guys we passed on at 37. Looking at the roster setup, I realize that’s to many rookies. The 2 two way contracts and 3 rookies is to much with the rest of the roster.

[whitehops]

if murray and ivey were both available i would've preferred murray to be honest. but yeah when we were on the clock ivey was definitely the top option for me.

ivey has upside but even looking at free agents or players to trade for, having talented wings is essential to building teams.

[440BB]

I wanted Mathurin over Ivey and Murray, but I'm fine with Ivey. I did find Duren attractive if we could swing a deal but didn't want him at 5.

Although Mathurin seemed like the most natural fit with Cade, I think Cade can make adjustments to take advantage of any teammates' strengths.