Free Agency

[LaSheed]

Malcolm brogdon would be the ideal nononsens guard along cade....strong, plays defense,career 39-40 % 3pt shooting....even a trio of malcolm, sheppard and cade would be playable

A veteran presence that could change everyting

Love that. Been obsessing over him and Jerami coming to us. Fixing our 2 glaring needs. Send them Ivey and our #5 and save them over$40million on their capsheet. And we'd still have a good chunk to sign a shooter or 2.

The biggest reason the Blazers are likely going to trade away one of their vets... they are just $4 million away from the luxury tax and just the #7 pick they own in the draft will put them over the luxury tax level before they even think about signing a FA this summer.

No one is going to want Ayton so its really at least one of Grant, Robert Williams or Malcom Brogdon that are going to be on the move.

I even think its entirely possible that we traded back from #5 down to #7 and get Grant back for doing so and that really solves all of Portlands money issues this summer.

They Blazers are also currently in a trust and will eventually be put up for sale its doubtful they want luxury tax on their books with a young rebuilding team about to be sold.

I agree. Giving up the #5 for Brogdon and Grant is a major overpay. But I'm awful at determining a players value.

[Canadafan]

Love that. Been obsessing over him and Jerami coming to us. Fixing our 2 glaring needs. Send them Ivey and our #5 and save them over$40million on their capsheet. And we'd still have a good chunk to sign a shooter or 2.

The biggest reason the Blazers are likely going to trade away one of their vets... they are just $4 million away from the luxury tax and just the #7 pick they own in the draft will put them over the luxury tax level before they even think about signing a FA this summer.

No one is going to want Ayton so its really at least one of Grant, Robert Williams or Malcom Brogdon that are going to be on the move.

I even think its entirely possible that we traded back from #5 down to #7 and get Grant back for doing so and that really solves all of Portlands money issues this summer.

They Blazers are also currently in a trust and will eventually be put up for sale its doubtful they want luxury tax on their books with a young rebuilding team about to be sold.

I agree. Giving up the #5 for Brogdon and Grant is a major overpay. But I'm awful at determining a players value.

I thought so too but on general board lots of Portland fans seemed to think they wouldn't do that move.
I'd be overjoyed to get Grant by just moving down 2 spots. Would luv to get brogdan as well somehow

[LaSheed]

The biggest reason the Blazers are likely going to trade away one of their vets... they are just $4 million away from the luxury tax and just the #7 pick they own in the draft will put them over the luxury tax level before they even think about signing a FA this summer.

No one is going to want Ayton so its really at least one of Grant, Robert Williams or Malcom Brogdon that are going to be on the move.

I even think its entirely possible that we traded back from #5 down to #7 and get Grant back for doing so and that really solves all of Portlands money issues this summer.

They Blazers are also currently in a trust and will eventually be put up for sale its doubtful they want luxury tax on their books with a young rebuilding team about to be sold.

I agree. Giving up the #5 for Brogdon and Grant is a major overpay. But I'm awful at determining a players value.

I thought so too but on general board lots of Portland fans seemed to think they wouldn't do that move.
I'd be overjoyed to get Grant by just moving down 2 spots. Would luv to get brogdan as well somehow

Yeah I'm not sure. I know Ivey fit would be questionable for sure in Portland.

I'm having such a hard time of putting my offseason plan together. Everybody I want has pretty long history of injury issues. The draft is questionable. Free Agency is blah.

I'm about to just say F it and draft Edey #5 and see what happens.

[Crymson]

I thought so too but on general board lots of Portland fans seemed to think they wouldn't do that move.
I'd be overjoyed to get Grant by just moving down 2 spots. Would luv to get brogdan as well somehow

Getting Grant in exchange for moving down two spots in this draft would be a major coup. Unlikely unless they just desperately want to dump his salary.

Brogdon is the same Brogdon whose bad health almost torpedoed the Porzingis trade last summer. He expectedly missed a huge portion of the season. I'd argue that $20 million for a guy who's likely to miss one-third of any given season is a poor value.

[A_dub06]

I thought so too but on general board lots of Portland fans seemed to think they wouldn't do that move.
I'd be overjoyed to get Grant by just moving down 2 spots. Would luv to get brogdan as well somehow

Getting Grant in exchange for moving down two spots in this draft would be a major coup. Unlikely unless they just desperately want to dump his salary.

Brogdon is the same Brogdon whose bad health almost torpedoed the Porzingis trade last summer. He expectedly missed a huge portion of the season. I'd argue that $20 million for a guy who's likely to miss one-third of any given season is a poor value.

Grants contract is going to be negative really soon. So improving for 1-2 seasons and then having large bad salary when we would need to be trying to take another step probably isn’t the right move here. Depending on who we sign this offseason, what is the ceiling of a team consisting of max extended Cade, incoming free agent, Ausur, Grant, Stew/duren? We will still be bottoms feeders and getting more expensive at that point which is a bad combination.

[JennetteMcCurdy]

Depending on who we sign this offseason, what is the ceiling of a team consisting of max extended Cade, incoming free agent, Ausur, Grant, Stew/duren? We will still be bottoms feeders and getting more expensive at that point which is a bad combination.

You’re making a great case to trade Cade and do it correctly this time…..

[GreekAlex]

I thought so too but on general board lots of Portland fans seemed to think they wouldn't do that move.
I'd be overjoyed to get Grant by just moving down 2 spots. Would luv to get brogdan as well somehow

Getting Grant in exchange for moving down two spots in this draft would be a major coup. Unlikely unless they just desperately want to dump his salary.

Brogdon is the same Brogdon whose bad health almost torpedoed the Porzingis trade last summer. He expectedly missed a huge portion of the season. I'd argue that $20 million for a guy who's likely to miss one-third of any given season is a poor value.

Grants contract is going to be negative really soon. So improving for 1-2 seasons and then having large bad salary when we would need to be trying to take another step probably isn’t the right move here. Depending on who we sign this offseason, what is the ceiling of a team consisting of max extended Cade, incoming free agent, Ausur, Grant, Stew/duren? We will still be bottoms feeders and getting more expensive at that point which is a bad combination.

2024-2025 $27.6M Age 29
2025-2026 $32M Age 30
2026-2027 $34.2 Age 31
2027-2028 $36.4 Age 32

I don’t think those cap hits will look bad if Grant maintains his current level of play.

No team will offer to absorb the contract without sending back salary besides us.

The contract will look more normal as the cap rises.

These are theoretically the most prime years of his career.

[Crymson]

Grants contract is going to be negative really soon. So improving for 1-2 seasons and then having large bad salary when we would need to be trying to take another step probably isn’t the right move here.

Grant's production is just fine against his salary as a percentage of the cap. If I'd been the FO, I'd have outbid the Blazers last summer. It'd have been an overpay, but worthwhile. The Pistons are unlikely to find anywhere near his equal in free agency.

Depending on who we sign this offseason, what is the ceiling of a team consisting of max extended Cade, incoming free agent, Ausur, Grant, Stew/duren? We will still be bottoms feeders and getting more expensive at that point which is a bad combination.

Ausar isn't starting next season unless he can shoot. Duren might not start, depending upon whom the Pistons pick up in free agency. Stewart certainly won't be starting, and might not be on the team.

Sorry to correct, but it's Ausar rather than Ausur.

[bstein14]

To me, Brogdon is a solid player but I think we could do better with the $22.5 million of cap space elsewhere. I think with Grant its worth giving up a slight asset for (like moving back from #5 to #7) but for Brogdon I wouldn't take him for free. I'd rather use that cap space on someone else, largely because Brogdon is already 31 years old and he'll be 32 for most of next season. He's also had a few injury plagued years. That said, if they were giving up Grant to get us to take Brogdon I'd do it.

So

#1) Pistons trade #5 to Portland for #7 + Grant
#2) Pistons trade a future 2nd round pick to Portland for Jerami Grant($29.8) + Malcom Brogdon($22.5) which leaves Detroit with about MLE $$ or just slightly above to spend on a FA and then they could spend another $8 million with the Room exception to get a player on a 1 year $8 or 2 year $16 million type contract.

[Snakebites]

Ausar isn't starting next season unless he can shoot. Duren might not start, depending upon whom the Pistons pick up in free agency. Stewart certainly won't be starting, and might not be on the team.

Seriously. Unless people want to see Cade get doubled every time down again. Personally I was sick of that.

I know we like Ausar but as is he’s not a starter in the modern NBA. I’m legit concerned he’ll never become a half decent shooter.

[bstein14]

KAT (32) / Duren (16)
Grant(32) / Stew (16)
Ausar(24) / Font(24)
Cade(33) / Grimes(15)
Tyus Jones(32) / Sasser (16)

That's the type of starting lineup that Ausar could start in. Even then he's really a 24 MPG player splitting time with Font but simply starting because we would need Ausar's D more in the starting lineup and Font's scoring more in the 2nd unit.

[7r5ur]

Zero reason Ausar can't start as long as he is the designated non-shooter in the lineup and everyone else can somewhat hit threes.

I am of the opinion that Ausar is far more capable of being a plus starter than Duren is at this point (neither shoot, one plays defense), so if it's one or the other, I'm taking Ausar and slotting in anyone that can hit shots for Duren (even if it means starting Stew at the 5).

[Kalamazoo317]

Problem with our team last season is we had a total of one starter (Cade) and one sixth man (Bojan and then Fonteccio) and a bunch of bench/developmental players.

I agree that Grant making $36 million at age 32 won't seem bad when Haliburton is making $80 million the same season.

[DetroitDon15]

Problem with our team last season is we had a total of one starter (Cade) and one sixth man (Bojan and then Fonteccio) and a bunch of bench/developmental players.

I agree that Grant making $36 million at age 32 won't seem bad when Haliburton is making $80 million the same season.

I think that Grant on the Pistons can justify the salary more than on the Blazers. Pistons need a guy who can provide secondary scoring and guard multiple positions.

Additionally, I think that if the Pistons believe in Thompson. They will need to move Duren to the bench and start Stewart to the SL. This team concerns me with their spacing issues right now.

[7r5ur]

Grants contract is going to be negative really soon. So improving for 1-2 seasons and then having large bad salary when we would need to be trying to take another step probably isn’t the right move here.

Grant's production is just fine against his salary as a percentage of the cap. If I'd been the FO, I'd have outbid the Blazers last summer. It'd have been an overpay, but worthwhile. The Pistons are unlikely to find anywhere near his equal in free agency.

Depending on who we sign this offseason, what is the ceiling of a team consisting of max extended Cade, incoming free agent, Ausur, Grant, Stew/duren? We will still be bottoms feeders and getting more expensive at that point which is a bad combination.

Ausar isn't starting next season unless he can shoot. Duren might not start, depending upon whom the Pistons pick up in free agency. Stewart certainly won't be starting, and might not be on the team.

Sorry to correct, but it's Ausar rather than Ausur.

The issue with Grant is that if he's in a role that matches his salary, his team is going to be terrible. You really want him to be that #3 or 4 option and not the ball-stopping iso guy that gives half the effort he used to on D that he wants to be.

He also has missed a ton of games in the last 4 years, which is another thing to consider when looking at his salary. Is he worth that number for 55 games/year?

[Kalamazoo317]

He'd be the second best player on this team immediately. This team is *already* terrible. And his cap number would not cripple us or stand in the way of other significant moves. I'd do #5 for Grant and #14, draft a stretch big prospect at #14, then look to free agency or other trades to add more assets. Heck, maybe we could still do #14 and Ivey or Duren for Ingram (I suspect NO would get better offers, though).

[7r5ur]

He'd be the second best player on this team immediately. This team is *already* terrible. And his cap number would not cripple us or stand in the way of other significant moves. I'd do #5 for Grant and #14, draft a stretch big prospect at #14, then look to free agency or other trades to add more assets. Heck, maybe we could still do #14 and Ivey or Duren for Ingram (I suspect NO would get better offers, though).

Tobias Harris would be the 2nd best player too, so the bar isn't high. And for as much as people don't like him, Tobias has actually been a #3 guy on quite a few teams that won more than like 25 games, which seems to be where Grant's teams average out with him as a main scoring option. Hell, Tobias was the #2 option behind Reggie Jackson on a team that made the playoffs.

Gotta compare Grant to anything we would get for straight cap space (and likely cheaper), while staying at #5.

I'd consider dropping from 5 to 7 for a Grant salary dump but that's about it, and I probably wouldn't if Risachier or Sheppard were on the board. Just take one of those guys and sign Tobias to a shorter/smaller deal than what Grant is owed.

[theBigLip]

Zero reason Ausar can't start as long as he is the designated non-shooter in the lineup and everyone else can somewhat hit threes.

I am of the opinion that Ausar is far more capable of being a plus starter than Duren is at this point (neither shoot, one plays defense), so if it's one or the other, I'm taking Ausar and slotting in anyone that can hit shots for Duren (even if it means starting Stew at the 5).

Maybe Duren doesn’t shoot 3s, but he shoots 61% from the field, 79% from the line. Does our center/best rebounder have to shoot 3s?

[bstein14]

Zero reason Ausar can't start as long as he is the designated non-shooter in the lineup and everyone else can somewhat hit threes.

I am of the opinion that Ausar is far more capable of being a plus starter than Duren is at this point (neither shoot, one plays defense), so if it's one or the other, I'm taking Ausar and slotting in anyone that can hit shots for Duren (even if it means starting Stew at the 5).

Maybe Duren doesn’t shoot 3s, but he shoots 61% from the field, 79% from the line. Does our center/best rebounder have to shoot 3s?

The big thing is the lane closes down if you don't have at least four guys who can shoot the ball. It's fine to have a big that can roll to the basket but playing Ausar and Duren together isn't ideal for an offensive system to work in today's NBA.... unless one starts shooting well enough to keep the defense honest.

[7r5ur]

Zero reason Ausar can't start as long as he is the designated non-shooter in the lineup and everyone else can somewhat hit threes.

I am of the opinion that Ausar is far more capable of being a plus starter than Duren is at this point (neither shoot, one plays defense), so if it's one or the other, I'm taking Ausar and slotting in anyone that can hit shots for Duren (even if it means starting Stew at the 5).

Maybe Duren doesn’t shoot 3s, but he shoots 61% from the field, 79% from the line. Does our center/best rebounder have to shoot 3s?

If he doesn't defend, he has to stretch the floor. That's how I see it, in today's NBA. Really, the game-changer is a C that does both, but I don't think you can settle for neither.

That's not to say he can't improve at both, he may be able to, but we haven't seen a lot of signs there. Which would have me prioritizing Ausar as the designated non-shooter (you can only have one), who we've seen projects as an elite defender.