Official Speculation Thread (Pt. XLVIII"Preseason"Ed.)

[arkknight1988]

Oh yeh, a thread on the Pistons board asks if they would trade Stuckey for Afflalo.

Comparison:

Stuckey makes $8.5 mil this year and next year. So, will be an expiring next summer.
Afflalo makes $7.5 mil for (4) more years.

Now, Stuckey played SG last year and first part of this year. But, he is now playing both PG and SG logging about 20mpg at PG. His first (3) years in the league, he only played PG. It is obvious at this point to the team that he is more effective playing the Point with the ball in his hands. He is a 6'5" PG who plays decent defense.

I am more hell no especially after last night. But, I am intrigued by a smaller contract with a player who is a huge upgrade over Moore that can backup both Meer and JJ. Then, Moore could also play more SG as he looks better at that position. Interesting, but I would mainly consider it to get out of Afflalo's long term contract. But, after last night, he may get better as he gets more acclimated. Thoughts?

no thanks

[OrlandO]

Not interested in Stuckey at all. The Pistons instantly started playing better with him coming off the bench and Singler starting. Playing out of position or not, he's playing like absolute garbage this year. It's not like he's ever put up impressive numbers either. He's a shoot-first PG like Nelson, but gets less assists and can't shoot the 3. That makes me appreciate Nelson's production even more considering the height discrepancy between the two. Also, Afflalo offers so much more. He's shot a great percentage for a SG the last three years, can shoot the 3ball and defends better. Those are valuable traits for a natural SG. I think we could get better if we were to trade afflalo. Stuckey does look like 50 cent tho.

[msmoore66]

not knocking on vuc any but i feel like alot of his baskets came from plays being made by other people (reddick and meer) he was just on the right end of alot of plays especially in the 4th. Don't get me wrong i think he's going to be a good player but i think he's getting alot of undeserved credit for last night.

Positioning and being able to finish is just as important as being able to create shots for yourself. What you saw is what team basketball is all about. Vuc did exactly what he needed to do in being in the right place at the right time.

Spot on. Also it is important to remember most big men don't get the ball in their hands much, their role is to be in the right spot to receive and score, it is not as easy as it looks. When I have coached team I make a point of rewarding my bigs more for their off ball than on ball play, or at least making a point of it when they are executing it well.

Those PnR passes etc were great from the guards, but Vuc timed his roll well.

[RookieStar]

not knocking on vuc any but i feel like alot of his baskets came from plays being made by other people (reddick and meer) he was just on the right end of alot of plays especially in the 4th. Don't get me wrong i think he's going to be a good player but i think he's getting alot of undeserved credit for last night.

Positioning and being able to finish is just as important as being able to create shots for yourself. What you saw is what team basketball is all about. Vuc did exactly what he needed to do in being in the right place at the right time.

Exactly. Being at the right place and at the right time is is a great skill for a big man.

[BadMofoPimp]

not knocking on vuc any but i feel like alot of his baskets came from plays being made by other people (reddick and meer) he was just on the right end of alot of plays especially in the 4th. Don't get me wrong i think he's going to be a good player but i think he's getting alot of undeserved credit for last night.

Positioning and being able to finish is just as important as being able to create shots for yourself. What you saw is what team basketball is all about. Vuc did exactly what he needed to do in being in the right place at the right time.

Spot on. Also it is important to remember most big men don't get the ball in their hands much, their role is to be in the right spot to receive and score, it is not as easy as it looks. When I have coached team I make a point of rewarding my bigs more for their off ball than on ball play, or at least making a point of it when they are executing it well.

Those PnR passes etc were great from the guards, but Vuc timed his roll well.

You know how hard it is to find decent big men that have great hands to catch those quick surprise passes. Well, we found one plus BBD is quick with the hands too. That bullet pass from BBD to Vuc was epic. Having good footwork, hands and BB IQ sometimes don't show up on the stat sheet.

[RickB-Orlando]

I think this was the game Vucci needed to push him to the level we want to see him playing at. I wouldn't be surprised if you see Nik playing harder and harder now after this performance. He's showed glimpses of the talent he has at his position and last was a true display.

Just to be clear - he's still going to have a LOT of bad games. He'll also have what look like breakout games. He's 22 and talented, but not a natural star like Dwight or Shaq certainly.

If he keeps working hard, he will have more games like last night than the bad games, and he's only 22. I'm not raving about him just because of last night, and it won't surprise me if tonight he goes for 8 points and 5 rebounds. It's going to take time for him to grow into a truly consistent player, but I do believe he can approach say the Rony Siekaly type of level, which would be quite good.

[RookieStar]

Ey guys..no GT?

[OrlandO]

Ey guys..no GT?

They're milking yesterday's win for as long as possible...
I just watched the 35pts in 7 minutes clip again... yup, still feels good.

[MagicTownBaller]

@DJRaj

When we going to play some 2K13 man? We haven't played in a month lol.

[ADRajX]

@DJRaj

When we going to play some 2K13 man? We haven't played in a month lol.

just been busy with grad school homie... probably sometime during the holidays i'll be on eventually... i wish i had time to play more lol... i have other priorities/responsibilities though, you know.

[Ducklett]

Boy does Vuch look good. What a great prospect. However, the more I watch Harkless, the more I think he is gonna bust. Nothing about him screams NBA player to me.

[MagicTownBaller]

just been busy with grad school homie... probably sometime during the holidays i'll be on eventually... i wish i had time to play more lol... i have other priorities/responsibilities though, you know.

[MagicFan32]

Boy does Vuch look good. What a great prospect. However, the more I watch Harkless, the more I think he is gonna bust. Nothing about him screams NBA player to me.

I think Mo is having trouble fitting in without getting any touches, i wish we would run a couple plays for him a game coming off screens, his defense is going to be good and he can finish at the rim he's only 19

[RookieStar]

Boy does Vuch look good. What a great prospect. However, the more I watch Harkless, the more I think he is gonna bust. Nothing about him screams NBA player to me.

You have to understand that Vuc is more polished than Harkless. He was already playing in the league last year and Harkless just got back from injury.

We can properly judge him if he has the potential or not after AS game i think.

[Bensational]

There is a seriously strong correlation forming between this team winning, and Baby and Afflalo carrying the brunt of the scoring load/taking a lot of FGAs. And, consequently, it's in those games that Vucevic is performing much, much better.

[RYgoBOOM]

Vuccci is a beast

[Cigamodnalro]

Boy does Vuch look good. What a great prospect. However, the more I watch Harkless, the more I think he is gonna bust. Nothing about him screams NBA player to me.

You have to understand that Vuc is more polished than Harkless. He was already playing in the league last year and Harkless just got back from injury.

We can properly judge him if he has the potential or not after AS game i think.

Vucevic is also 22, while Harkless is 19. Harkless will play in nearly 240 NBA games and participate in 300+ NBA practices between right now and when he is Vucevic's age. By the time Harkless is 27, the age many consider peak, he will have played in 640+ NBA games and participated in 800+ NBA practices. Just something to think about. A LOT of opportunities to improve and grow as a player.

[Optimus_Steel]

Boy does Vuch look good. What a great prospect. However, the more I watch Harkless, the more I think he is gonna bust. Nothing about him screams NBA player to me.

Harkless is def an NBA player. He has already shown that, the NY game comes to mind. He is still very raw and still trying to find his role and how he fits in. He is out on the floor with veterans so he is the 5th option on offense. I think it means alot that Coach Vaungh has a lot of confidence in him to start him and to give him more minutes, he seems to be playing more and more minutes lately. He is still playing hesistant but thats understandable with no training camp/preseason and a injury. What he needs to do more is find ways to make himself open and not waiting for things to come to him.

[KingRobb02]

Boy does Vuch look good. What a great prospect. However, the more I watch Harkless, the more I think he is gonna bust. Nothing about him screams NBA player to me.

Harkless is def an NBA player. He has already shown that, the NY game comes to mind. He is still very raw and still trying to find his role and how he fits in. He is out on the floor with veterans so he is the 5th option on offense. I think it means alot that Coach Vaungh has a lot of confidence in him to start him and to give him more minutes, he seems to be playing more and more minutes lately. He is still playing hesistant but thats understandable with no training camp/preseason and a injury. What he needs to do more is find ways to make himself open and not waiting for things to come to him.

Ron Artest blowing by him for a dunk comes to mind. He probably shouldn't be starting. Seems like more of an energy guy than someone you count on for 30 minutes every night.

[Optimus_Steel]

Boy does Vuch look good. What a great prospect. However, the more I watch Harkless, the more I think he is gonna bust. Nothing about him screams NBA player to me.

Harkless is def an NBA player. He has already shown that, the NY game comes to mind. He is still very raw and still trying to find his role and how he fits in. He is out on the floor with veterans so he is the 5th option on offense. I think it means alot that Coach Vaungh has a lot of confidence in him to start him and to give him more minutes, he seems to be playing more and more minutes lately. He is still playing hesistant but thats understandable with no training camp/preseason and a injury. What he needs to do more is find ways to make himself open and not waiting for things to come to him.

Ron Artest blowing by him for a dunk comes to mind. He probably shouldn't be starting. Seems like more of an energy guy than someone you count on for 30 minutes every night.

He also shut down Carmelo and blocked him 4 times. He still very raw and has alot of learning to do so you are right we cant count on him yet. With his lack of experience, veterans are going to take advantage of him at times. You cant count on many rookies. The most important stat about him is this: 1993. Thats the year he was born. This is a real young guy.