What does our future look like?

[LSV]

The Detroit Pistons haven't given us PLAY-OFF-level joy in too many years, and for a franchise that has won 3 NBA titles, that's a pain. Only 5 teams in all of history have won more titles than us (Celtics, Lakers, Bulls, Warriors and Spurs).

But this is coming to an end, because even if it's not this year, soon we're going to enjoy a team that regularly enters PLAY-OFF, and even becomes a contender over time.

At PG and SG, we already have 3 players for the future, Cade, Hayes and Ivey, with a fourth slot currently occupied by Burks. Here I think we can be happy.

In the SF position it is perhaps where the team is weakest. Right now we have Bojan and Bey, and this is where a large investment will have to be made in FA to be able to get a starting player with a good 3, and good defense. That could mean that Bojan goes to the second unit, or that if Bojan has to be included in a trade or S&T, it is Bey who goes to that second unit. Thinking about the future, the most logical thing would be to keep Bey for that position in the second unit.

In PF I think only Stewart will be part of the future, and if luckily Goddess Victor Wembanyama comes our way, Stewart would move to the second unit. Otherwise, we are going to need a level player for that position, and to compete with Stewart for being part of the first unit.

And finally in C, I only see Duren as part of our future, and what a future, because he is going to become an incredible player. Here we are going to need a substitute C to give him rest.

There isn't much time left to see each other again as a PLAY-OFF team, let's trust it.

[zeebneeb]

Love the optimism! I agree that SF is the weakest position right now, and I believe scoring out of that slot doesn't need to be a priority, just defense.

Going to be interesting to see what Weaver does this year, and offseason. It's a big one for him, and the future of the team. Draft position is going to determine some of what happens, for sure.

[SuperBad]

If we don’t get Victor and get Scoot does anyone think we could flip him for Scottie Barnes

[reanimator]

Literally all of our young guys are still works in progress to the extent that predicting the future is futile

[aad]

I honestly think this will be our last year in the lottery this team is better then there record they just so young but I think Casey is just a horrible coach and he cost this team a lot of losses with just bad coaching

[edmunder_prc]

If Duren, Cade and Ivey all hit - Pistons are great.

Or none become top 20 or 30 players in the league and its a treadmill team. We'll know in a few years.

Edit

Also if we get Vic, try Beef Stew at SF with Vic and Duren at the 4/5. Vic is so good with the ball, driving, shooting, that it covers Beef Stew being a 3&D SF basically.

A Cavs type set up heavy on defense with Cade/Ivey/Vic responsible for points.

[Manocad]

The future is quite bright. Some don’t see it or intentionally want to downplay it and that’s fine; let ‘em. This team has talent, cap space, and another high pick coming in. There’s nothing not to be optimistic about.

[vege]

Other than
- Cade - when healthy he proved he will be at least an all star, we hope he will be more than that.
- Stew - he is a hard worker, who's been improving, and despite of his limitations he is a valuable NBA caliber player.
- Duren - he earned his starting spot in the NBA and at 19 yo he is already a solid starter in the league, and should only go up from there.

Everything else we have are glimpses and hope. That doesn't guarantee anything.

Bojan is great but we are too far away from playoffs, he won't be here if we ever make the playoffs again.

[tmorgan]

Other than
- Cade - when healthy he proved he will be at least an all star, we hope he will be more than that.
- Stew - he is a hard worker, who's been improving, and despite of his limitations he is a valuable NBA caliber player.
- Duren - he earned his starting spot in the NBA and at 19 yo he is already a solid starter in the league, and should only go up from there.

Everything else we have are glimpses and hope. That doesn't guarantee anything.

Bojan is great but we are too far away from playoffs, he won't be here if we ever make the playoffs again.

I don’t mind the half-empty viewpoint at all — it’s valid if you want to see things that way. But there’s more than glimpses and hope in Ivey, he just has a lot to learn. Glimpses does apply to Killian, but that’s more than we’ve had before. Bey, i dunno, he needs a reboot or something.

The other stuff, sure. Joseph, Burks, Knox, Bagley, Noel, these are just pawns on the chessboard. At least none of them are significant commitments — except Bagley. That one hurts a little. I see Weaver as generally shrewd, with a few minor questionable moves around the edges, except that contract. That was just stupid.

[vege]

Other than
- Cade - when healthy he proved he will be at least an all star, we hope he will be more than that.
- Stew - he is a hard worker, who's been improving, and despite of his limitations he is a valuable NBA caliber player.
- Duren - he earned his starting spot in the NBA and at 19 yo he is already a solid starter in the league, and should only go up from there.

Everything else we have are glimpses and hope. That doesn't guarantee anything.

Bojan is great but we are too far away from playoffs, he won't be here if we ever make the playoffs again.

I don’t mind the half-empty viewpoint at all — it’s valid if you want to see things that way. But there’s more than glimpses and hope in Ivey, he just has a lot to learn. Glimpses does apply to Killian, but that’s more than we’ve had before. Bey, i dunno, he needs a reboot or something.

The other stuff, sure. Joseph, Burks, Knox, Bagley, Noel, these are just pawns on the chessboard. At least none of them are significant commitments — except Bagley. That one hurts a little. I see Weaver as generally shrewd, with a few minor questionable moves around the edges, except that contract. That was just stupid.

Ivey will likely be very good, he could be our best player in a few years, but right now he is terrible.

Anything from Killian would be more than he gave us before, he was the worst player in the league, the bar was super low. He is still a bad player, but at least looks like he might belong in the NBA.

Bey was brilliant, and now he is the new Killian Hayes. I was hoping he would be our 3rd or 4th best player.

Cade/Bey/Grant was looking like a great foundation with us needing to add a couple of very good players to that to be competitive. Now we have Cade/Duren with Stewart also being way more relevant than before, which is great.

[joedumars1]

Ivey duren killian and this years pick
Hopefully wembanya. Would love cade to be in it, I’m just not sure tho, really sucks he got
Hurt, but if he gets back and is 100% he probbaly is part of it, but could
Also see us trying to get a haul for him if Ivey looks great by end of year (unlikely). I’m down on cade being hurt was excited for watching Ivey and cade develops chemistry and how to play together

[Kilo]

Murky at best. Cade isn't a franchise type player, he doesn't have the Mamba Mentality. He worries too much about being liked.

[buzzkilloton]

Murky at best. Cade isn't a franchise type player, he doesn't have the Mamba Mentality. He worries too much about being liked.

Well yeah Kobe was a stone cold killer. Cade lives the vegan lifestyle he doesnt even want to kill a animal.

If Cade gets back healthy I think he can be a really good multi all star type player. The guy I've seen this year in some articles and heard on some pods as his comp thats makes tons of sense is DDR. DDR is also 6'6 220 and has some pretty good passing and like Cade does his best work in the mid range. Their also two guys Casey developed so makes since their similar.

I think the problem is many people thought he would be a Luka type player so expectations were very high. Him being a DDR is a completely fine pick. DDR is a 5 time all star and a ALL NBA player. I think Cade if healthy can end up better then DDR but similar style of game.

[breezypeezy]

Something to consider in these mock lineups for next season if we do get VW, I believe he can work at any of the 3, 4, or 5.
He is not necessarily just a PF so that could provide us with multiple lineup combinations.

As for drafting, trading and free agents, I think we absolutely need to be in "best player available" mode and coach versatility into the rotations.

Not entirely sold on Bey or Killian being part of the future, but havent given up on them.

Cade, Duren, Ivey im ride or die and i like Stew he belongs somewhere in a 8-9 man rotation.

[vic]

I agree the future is bright.

3 guards got offense, defense, and leadership covered.
Stew & Duren have big man duties covered.

Even if we don't get Wemby as a 2nd star, any one of these:
Cam Whitmore
Amen/Ausar Thompson
GG Jackson
Jarace Walker
Taylor Hendricks
Could fill the hole at SF. My favorite SF is Cam Whitmore.

We could even pickup a 2nd first rounder and end up with Wemby/Cam AND Jarace Walker or Taylor Hendrix. That would be ideal.

I don't think we need any free agents. I say keep the vets we got and build from continuity within.

If Cade comes back healthy, this should be the last bad season.

[reanimator]

Not saying he won't become that because there are certainly tools to get there but penciling in Cade as a star and huge floor raiser seems wild to me from what we've seen so far.

[mattao313]

Not saying he won't become that because there are certainly tools to get there but penciling in Cade as a star and huge floor raiser seems wild to me from what we've seen so far.

He looks like a definite Allstar but a lower level 2nd or 3rd star type. Him not having an elite skill and kinda sucking around the rim really hurts his ceiling.

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[edmunder_prc]

I agree the future is bright.

3 guards got offense, defense, and leadership covered.
Stew & Duren have big man duties covered.

Even if we don't get Wemby as a 2nd star, any one of these:
Cam Whitmore
Amen/Ausar Thompson
GG Jackson
Jarace Walker
Taylor Hendricks
Could fill the hole at SF. My favorite SF is Cam Whitmore.

We could even pickup a 2nd first rounder and end up with Wemby/Cam AND Jarace Walker or Taylor Hendrix. That would be ideal.

I don't think we need any free agents. I say keep the vets we got and build from continuity within.

If Cade comes back healthy, this should be the last bad season.

With how poorly the team looks sometimes and my lack of faith in any of the guys on the team (including Cade) being a superstar - I would be willing to punt again next year.

Trade Bojan for another 1st round pick during the draft.

Take on a big, terrible contract for a good 1st round pick.

Pistons are not a the 4th pick overall another Bagley signing from the playoffs.

[reanimator]

Not saying he won't become that because there are certainly tools to get there but penciling in Cade as a star and huge floor raiser seems wild to me from what we've seen so far.

He looks like a definite Allstar but a lower level 2nd or 3rd star type. Him not having an elite skill and kinda sucking around the rim really hurts his ceiling.

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I think his efficiency/3 pt shooting has to significantly improve before I could buy the inevitability of him being a star.

[treefi]

Not saying he won't become that because there are certainly tools to get there but penciling in Cade as a star and huge floor raiser seems wild to me from what we've seen so far.

He looks like a definite Allstar but a lower level 2nd or 3rd star type. Him not having an elite skill and kinda sucking around the rim really hurts his ceiling.

Sent from my SM-A528B using RealGM mobile app

I think his efficiency/3 pt shooting has to significantly improve before I could buy the inevitability of him being a star.

Yeah, I thought most analysts expected Cade to be 35-40% or better 3-point shooter by year three.