Upgrade at SF is all that is needed for a contender

[vic]

Before they got Jose I was all about Burke. If they lose Jose, getting Burke is mandatory. Not MCW, not Smart, Burke.

But keeping Calderon means they need an upgrade at SF. Singler would be an adequate backup but you need a stronger defender on the wing to challenge all the dominant wings on contending teams. Otto Porter or Victor Oladipo would be best.

The best part is that the most important pieces are already here. Drummond, Monroe, Calderon to dominate the paint and run the offense. The next necessary piece is a dominant defender at 3 or backup 4 to compete with small ball rotations and Carmelo/Lebron/Durant when they play 4. To be honest there are a lot of viable options for competitive 3 and backup 4 to fill out a contender.

Otto Porter - starting 3
Victor Oladipo - starting 2/ backup 3
Tyreke Evans - 2/3
Tony Mitchell (this years Drummond) - backup 4
B Wright - backup 4

Absolute Dream Scenario is to trade Bynum while hes hot for an extra 1st rounder:
Calderon/Stuckey
Tyreke/Knight
Porter/Singler
Monroe/Mitchell
Drummond/kravtsov

Lesser situations are more likely, but they are still in good shape overall if they keep Calderon. If they adds defensively dominant 3 and or backup 4, they could be an immediate contender.

[princeofpalace]

^
That is a lottery team, not a contender. What this team needs is an upgrade at PG, SG and SF, they are not a SF away from being great, thats laughable.

The idea that a 31 year old PG is part of our future going forward simply doesn't make sense. Calderon will be retired before this team makes a serious run , if we ever do, which is not a given.

[Mr. Krabs]

^
That is a lottery team, not a contender. What this team needs is an upgrade at PG, SG and SF, they are not a SF away from being great, thats laughable.

The idea that a 31 year old PG is part of our future going forward simply doesn't make sense. Calderon will be retired before this team makes a serious run , if we ever do, which is not a given.

Yeah, Calderon has like a 3 year window for a serious run. He is OK to keep around for Knight, but if we are not getting a couple free agents to make a run (Mayo, Iguodala, Smith etc.) it will not make such sense. That is a top-10 lottery team you have there.

[vege]

Calderon is an elite PG, Drummond and Monroe are elite big man as well. All 3 are fringe all stars (all posting up 20ish PER). Bynum and CV are excellent bench players (~17 PER). They can score off the bench.

So I don't think he is too far off saying we're an upgrade at SF to be a good team. I think we need upgrades at both wings. We need defense and 3 point shooter from our wingers.

Maybe next season Knight will give us that at the 2 so I think we would be a good SF away and maybe an elite Head Coach from being a court advantage playoff team in the east.

[Piston Pete]

Can we stop using "Calderon" and "elite" in the same sentences?

Calderon is a very good PG offensively and has a good assist:to ratio. But he is not "elite."

I agree with PoP on this one. We have future cornerstones in Monroe and Drummond and just need to build around them.

[vic]

^
That is a lottery team, not a contender. What this team needs is an upgrade at PG, SG and SF, they are not a SF away from being great, thats laughable.

The idea that a 31 year old PG is part of our future going forward simply doesn't make sense. Calderon will be retired before this team makes a serious run , if we ever do, which is not a given.

The pistons would have been a playoff team this year, just by playing Monroe and Drummond together for 25+ minutes a game. Doing that next year, plus the upgrade at PG definitely makes to the playoff team not a lottery team. Calderon is a serious upgrade at PG, not because he's a sexy young PG of the future that can dunk, but the fact that he makes his team play better on the basketball court. If you can't see that, then there's no need for any further conversation about basketball.

Adding Otto Porter or Victor oladipo to that team makes it a threat, because they both bring good defense on the wing and efficient scoring. They help you make up for what Jose, knight, and Singler lack on defense.

Adding a small ball power forward like Tony Mitchell or Brandon right to the mix allows you to compete against the elite small ball teams in the league. That makes a contender.

Adding Tyreke Evans who has*ability to get to the hole put that team over-the-top as a contender.

[vic]

Can we stop using "Calderon" and "elite" in the same sentences?

Calderon is a very good PG offensively and has a good assist:to ratio. But he is not "elite."

I agree with PoP on this one. We have future cornerstones in Monroe and Drummond and just need to build around them.

My point exactly. I'm just pointing out the fact that those two pieces are bigger than we think, and that what is necessary to build around them is much easier to acquire then we think. It can be done in one summer.

Calderon is not elite as a complete package, but when your 4 and 5 are elite, all you need is what Calderon brings at pg, and efficient scoring and defense on the wing. and Calderon is elite at what he does.

[retrolenny]

I think Singler can be as good as Prince. Keep in mind he is only a rookie!!!

[Piston Pete]

Can we stop using "Calderon" and "elite" in the same sentences?

Calderon is a very good PG offensively and has a good assist:to ratio. But he is not "elite."

I agree with PoP on this one. We have future cornerstones in Monroe and Drummond and just need to build around them.

My point exactly. I'm just pointing out the fact that those two pieces are bigger than we think, and that what is necessary to build around them is much easier to acquire then we think. It can be done in one summer.

Calderon is not elite as a complete package, but when your 4 and 5 are elite, all you need is what Calderon brings at pg, and efficient scoring and defense on the wing. and Calderon is elite at what he does.

I don't care for Calderon. We will have to agree to disagree on him, specifically.

1) He doesn't fit in with the rest of the core here as far as age in concerned.
2) He can't play D
3) For every assist he gets, he seems to cancel it out on the defensive side.

[JustinSane]

Part of me quite wonders what would happen if they just re-signed Calderon and signed Iguodala. He's having an off-year, so he should come (relatively) cheap. Iguodala is an elite defender, and sort of an improved version of Tayshaun. Combine that signing with a good draft pick, hope either Knight works out at SG or Stuckey remembers how to play, and you've got a pretty promising team that, relatively speaking, matches up well with the Heat. Iguodala is closer than most to being able to inconvenience Lebron defensively, and the Heat have no particularly good counter to Monroe. If Drummond does take a leap forward next year and Monroe improves incrementally, that would be an interesting team.

[Piston Pete]

Part of me quite wonders what would happen if they just re-signed Calderon and signed Iguodala. He's having an off-year, so he should come (relatively) cheap. Iguodala is an elite defender, and sort of an improved version of Tayshaun. Combine that signing with a good draft pick, hope either Knight works out at SG or Stuckey remembers how to play, and you've got a pretty promising team that, relatively speaking, matches up well with the Heat. Iguodala is closer than most to being able to inconvenience Lebron defensively, and the Heat have no particularly good counter to Monroe. If Drummond does take a leap forward next year and Monroe improves incrementally, that would be an interesting team.

Who guards Wade?

NOBODY should be thinking we're a SF upgrade away from contending. We need so much more than that. And that includes further development of Knight, Monroe, and Drummond.

[Timmaytime]

Part of me quite wonders what would happen if they just re-signed Calderon and signed Iguodala. He's having an off-year, so he should come (relatively) cheap. Iguodala is an elite defender, and sort of an improved version of Tayshaun. Combine that signing with a good draft pick, hope either Knight works out at SG or Stuckey remembers how to play, and you've got a pretty promising team that, relatively speaking, matches up well with the Heat. Iguodala is closer than most to being able to inconvenience Lebron defensively, and the Heat have no particularly good counter to Monroe. If Drummond does take a leap forward next year and Monroe improves incrementally, that would be an interesting team.

Who guards Wade?

NOBODY should be thinking we're a SF upgrade away from contending. We need so much more than that. And that includes further development of Knight, Monroe, and Drummond.

This^

Development is the key here, Monroe has proven to be an offensive force and a skilled rebounder, but he still needs a consistent mid-range shot and a little help on defense. Drummond needs to develop an offensive game, and Knight needs a boatload of work. I think the factor here is Knight, we need to figure out what we're doing with him before we can move forward.

Now this doesn't mean we can't build for contention ala thunder, we could still use shooters, an all around wing, some more scoring.. We can get that, and maybe go for a 6-7-8 seed, but we won't contend anytime soon

[vege]

Can we stop using "Calderon" and "elite" in the same sentences?

Nope.

Can we stop hating Calderon and Monroe please?

[Pharaoh]

First mistake is trying to stop Durant/Lebron/Melo

You simply can not and will not stop them! So stop trying to build a team that can compete with those guys and build a team they can't compete with!

Miami have Wade, Bosh and Lebron - if you spend all your money on a SG and SF to "compete" with Lebron and Wade you're actually spending money at the wrong positions because regardless of who you sign you have an inferior player!

Same can be said of Westbrook/Durant - we can't get a PG "better" than Westbrook.. and certainly can't get anyone that is better than Durant! So why waste money buying second tier talent?

We have the bigs they can't handle.. so the first thing we need to do as a franchise is sign guys who make our big men more dominant... and you do that by signing shooters!

You sign guys that can drain the 3 while holding their own defensively... because offensively if you have quality shooters you provide the spacing our bigs need to wreck shop! Those shooters make teams pay for double teaming, they make players think twice before leaving their man... and once you make them hesitate you can take advantage

Also signing a quality PG that can run an offense means teams will pay for leaving Drummond un-manned anywhere near the paint... because that PG will get Drummond a bunny!

Calderon is that PG... retain him (or sign Jarrett Jack), add some shooters and BOOM! we're a much, much better team

Not yet a contender... but certainy on the right track.

[vic]

Who guards Wade?

NOBODY should be thinking we're a SF upgrade away from contending. We need so much more than that. And that includes further development of Knight, Monroe, and Drummond.[/quote]

Wade is older than Calderon and gets his shots at the rim.
So Drummond stops Wade. (Didn't you see the last game against the Heat.)
BK is just as fast as Wade, and speed is one of Wade's best advantages. What's Wade going to do, post him up? and get his shot blocked by Drummond.
Or Oladipo stops Wade.

And don't say that Wade dominated last game... the only reason they dominated last game is called "transition buckets off turnovers" and those come from subpar pg play.

[vic]

First mistake is trying to stop Durant/Lebron/Melo

You simply can not and will not stop them! So stop trying to build a team that can compete with those guys and build a team they can't compete with!

Miami have Wade, Bosh and Lebron - if you spend all your money on a SG and SF to "compete" with Lebron and Wade you're actually spending money at the wrong positions because regardless of who you sign you have an inferior player!

Same can be said of Westbrook/Durant - we can't get a PG "better" than Westbrook.. and certainly can't get anyone that is better than Durant! So why waste money buying second tier talent?

We have the bigs they can't handle.. so the first thing we need to do as a franchise is sign guys who make our big men more dominant... and you do that by signing shooters!

You sign guys that can drain the 3 while holding their own defensively... because offensively if you have quality shooters you provide the spacing our bigs need to wreck shop! Those shooters make teams pay for double teaming, they make players think twice before leaving their man... and once you make them hesitate you can take advantage

Also signing a quality PG that can run an offense means teams will pay for leaving Drummond un-manned anywhere near the paint... because that PG will get Drummond a bunny!

Calderon is that PG... retain him (or sign Jarrett Jack), add some shooters and BOOM! we're a much, much better team

Not yet a contender... but certainy on the right track.

my point exactly, but said differently. Your'e not going to beat Durant/Melo/Lebron, but you can at least compete with them (slow them down a little), and have your advantage in the other areas.

Add an SF that can shoot the 3 and defend better than Singler, and you have a contender.
The biggest advantages that they need, they ALREADY HAVE - 4 and 5.
And Jose is the PG that can run the offense.
The only thing left is 2 and 3.

I think Knight is sufficient at 2, so you need a talented 3 in the draft and you're on your way.
Add a backup 4 and/or a bigger 2 and you are in contention.

[ComboGuardCity]

Before it was 1 big man away. Then it was another big man away. Then it was a 20ppg SG. Now its a SF.

[Scout Taron]

As far as Calderon goes...the elite tag doesn't fit. Although I understand why people are thinking that. Calderon's been playing out of his mind since being traded to the Pistons. His win share per 48 as a Piston is .267. If that was Calderon's entire season, he would be the 4th best player in the league behind KD, Lebron and CP3...

Of course, he won't keep this up.

[Jodi]

Calderon should be coming off the bench, just like Singler...I don't see why people here don't want to give Josh Smith an opportunity at the 3 spot on our team...I think he could put our team in the right direction defensive wise and attitude wise...

[Scout Taron]

Calderon should be coming off the bench, just like Singler...I don't see why people here don't want to give Josh Smith an opportunity at the 3 spot on our team...I think he could put our team in the right direction defensive wise and attitude wise...

http://www.nba.com/advancedstats/player ... 3;season=r

Smith doesn't have the perimeter game to play the three. He can't shoot from mid range, and doesn't have a perimeter-level handle/passing ability. His three pointer also can't be depended on. And playing the three spot takes away his best skills. You want him down low, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds and finishing plays.

Do you want Andre Drummond to play SF?