My Off-Season

[Pharaoh]

Since Joe is highly unlikely to get fired now I won't call this a dream scenario... more a realistic take on what I would hope for:

Hire Obradovic. Wins everywhere he goes, hoping that continues

Waive Stuckey... do not amnesty CV!

Team Salary is now $21,256,686 and I'll guess the cap is $60 mil

Draft... Lottery goes like this:

1 = ORL = Noel
2 = CHA = McLemore
3 = CLE = Porter
4 = PHO = Bennett (BPA)
5 = NOP = Zeller (fits with Davis and Vasquez)
6 = SAC = Burke (teams with Cousins)
7 = DET = Olapido

2nd round = #37 = Nate Wolters.... and with the other pick we draft some Euroe to stay over there for seasoning

Roster entering free agency and approx $24 mil spent.... leaving $36 mil available cap space!

Drummond, Slava
Monroe, CV, Jerebko
Singler, Middleton
Olapido, English
Knight, Wolters

Needs are obvious to me:

PG = Jose Calderon - runs the PnR extremely well, can drain the 3, can help Obradovic mentor Knight and Wolters. A 3-year contract paying him $8 mil per is more than fair and likely more than he can get elsewhere

$28 mil left to spend

Wings (SG/SF) Corey Brewer - quality defender that we desperately need. 4 year deal starting at $6 mil is more than fair and liekly better than he can get elsewhere.

Wings (SF/PF) Al-Farouq Aminu - not sure how much he'd play at PF but against certain 4's he'd be capable of defending the position. A quality defender that is unrestricted... 4 year deal starting at $6 mil should be enough to get him on board

$16 mil left to spend

Bigs (PF) Paul Millsap - veteran professional that would be guaranteed 30 minutes per game and be THE big man off the bench for us. A player to be respected and worth every dime of his 3-year $10 mil per salary

Bigs (C) Samuel Dalembert - veteran pro that can play when needed... a 2 year deal at $6 mil per season is likely more than he can get elsewhere and here he'd get to mentor Drummond/Monroe

Now I'll amnesty CV... it was either that or waive English and I'd rather keep English

We're $8.5 mil under the cap or thereabouts... if that doesn't get us to the minimum team salary I'd waive English and just give Bynum a 1 year deal worth whatever it took to reach the minimum level

Rotation =

Drummond 30/Monroe 18
Monroe 16/Millsap 32

Slava, Jerebko and Dalembert all here to fill in around those 3 depending on match-ups and/or foul trouble and/or injuries. All of them except Dalmbert would be dangled in trades up to the deadline. Aminu can play some PF if we need.

Aminu 30/Singler or Middleton 18
Brewer 30/Olapido 18

Singler/Middleton would be dangled in trades up to the deadline. What was once our greatest weakness (perimeter D) looks to be a strength of this team - with 3 guys "known" for their D.

Knight 28/Calderon 20

Wolters is here to back them up... watch and learn and let Obradovic school him

English or Bynum would be here too depending on the minimum team salary situation... or Maxiell but these guys aren't all that important

Roster:

Drummond/Dalembert/Slava
Monroe/Millsap/Jerebko
Aminu/Singler/Middleton
Brewer/Olapido (possibly English)
Knight/Calderon/Wolters (maybe Bynum)

Drummond, Monroe, Millsap, Aminu, Brewer, Olapido, Knight, Calderon is the core for the next 3 years with either Middleton or Singler in there as well.

No big name signings, no big name trades...

[ImHeisenberg]

Not a terrible plan. A couple concerns;

Obradovic has won everywhere he's coached, but he's never coached in the NBA. There's a huge difference, not just in the game, but in culture. Culture within the team atmosphere, and simply living in a different country, especially a hell hole like Detroit. I'm not nearly as high on a guy who immediately brings a language barrier with him, as well as running into the same situation Frank had, which is that he's never coached or played in the NBA.

Paul Millsap can find 10 million a year over three years somewhere else, and likely get the starting job while doing so. I doubt he comes to Detroit.

Dalembert is already talking about going to Miami this summer. He wants to chase a ring, which makes sense for him at this point in his career. I don't think he bothers with Detroit either.

I like Aminu and Brewer. Both could be good signings. Also, I hope we draft Oladipo. I love the kids game.

If Dumars could come out of the offseason with the team you've proposed, it would be encouraging. The only other issue I see is, where are they going to find the cash to sign Monroe to an extension next summer with all the cap space blown? This isn't a luxury tax team.

[scrop32]

i think brewer and aminu are very similar so either one is enough
where do we get perimeter scoring? knight is still very inefficient unless he explodes big time next season
i still rank shabazz over oladipo
let our FAs walk (bynum, maxiell, etc) we all know they SUCK

[Pharaoh]

I'll address your concerns:

Considering the coaches available Obradovic's history is more encouraging that the other realistic options. There are some issues (language barrier and no NBA experience) but the team I've assembled is completely different to the team Frank was handed and he'd arrive with Joe's backing - something Frank didn't have because Joe didn't want him here in the first place

Millsap not signing here is obviously a possibility but I'd like to think Joe can sell him on the organisation and the future of this team. There are other options for Millsap - but which teams can offer $10 mil per and have Monroe and Drummond to team him with? I don't think he cares too much about starting - playing time does matter to some extent but 30 minutes is 30 minutes even if you come off the bench.

Dalembert chasing is a ring is to be expected... and if he's not an option I'd look at a different option with that $6 million. Ideally I'd still get a veteran...

I spent $16 mil on Millsap and Dalembert... that's a lot of coin that I might have to spend elsewhere. There are some big man options available for us though. I'd be looking at ONE quality big that we could plug in for 30 minutes and then another that could probably play 20 if needed. But Monroe and Drummond are who we need to compliment so I don't believe a "star" free agent big will come here

As for Monroe's extension... I believe we'd go over the cap to extend him and we'd be pushing close to the luxury tax threshold... but there are plenty of spare parts we could part with to stay under it if we were desperate to do so:

Jerebko is the guy I would dump to stay under the threshold as he doesn't really have a role on my team and has a reasonable contract that some teams wouldn't have a problem with.

The long term payroll was a consideration though, which is why I only signed Calderon and Millsap for 3 years. As those deals end Drummond and Monroe would be getting PAID...

Long term replacing the role players would be the toughest thing to do, especially if Olapido and Middleton prove to be capable. They'd want deals at MLE type money or more... but by the time Olapido's rookie deal expires Brewer and Aminu would be free agents too.

I'm sure there is someone in the organisation who actually does this for a job - someone who is the cap expert and can plan the payroll long term. I think I did a reasonable job all things considered

[Pharaoh]

i think brewer and aminu are very similar so either one is enough
where do we get perimeter scoring? knight is still very inefficient unless he explodes big time next season
i still rank shabazz over oladipo
let our FAs walk (bynum, maxiell, etc) we all know they SUCK

I think Brewer and Aminu are similar to some extent but they turn our biggest weakness into a strength, without harming the one strength we already had: our bigs!

As for perimeter scoring: Knight, Calderon, Brewer, Olapido, Aminu, Singler and Middleton can all chip in... having so many reasonable options allows us to go with the hot hand depending on the game.

I realise that many believe that we need a "go to guy" on the perimeter, someone who can light it up and is a star or a star in the making. I don't think Monroe and Drummond would flourish with a guy like that. Teams with star perimeter players don't have 2 stud bigs... very few teams have 2 stud bigs... we should build around them

Looking at the team I assembled Bazz certain fits in better because he brings the perimeter offense but unfortunately the Draft comes before free agency and I thought Olapido's defense was a bigger need

And yes, I would let our free agents walk (except Calderon) because they suck - but reaching the minimum team salary is required and if I had to I would give Bynum a huge 1 year deal to reach that minimum. Dude deserves it more than Maxiell

[ComboGuardCity]

I'm all for 20mpg backup PG Jose. But He's a getting starter money and gives a new coach stability. I would rather not go down that path

[Pharaoh]

There are numerous reasons to sign Calderon... PnR, 3 point shooting, veteran leadership...If we can get him here for less money then what's the reason not to sign him?

Poor D? I've been through this before but I believe if you can't get quality on both ends of the floor then you should get quality on one end... as long as you don't overload the roster with offensive only or defensive only players you should be fine.

Providing our new coach with a stable option is a good thing! The bad part of it is that there is a chance the coach over-uses JC and doesn't persist with Knight.

But that's an organisation thing. You sign quality players to be part of the rotation and hope the Coach does the right thing and devlops the youth you have. If the Coach opts for the veteran too much then you have a conversation

Coaches are hired and fired based on results while GMs look long term. Obviously one works against the other but that's why the GM and Coach need to be on the same page. IF Knight is the guy we're going to persist with at PG then Obradovic would have to support that and work with that in mind.

Calderon not only provides him with a steady hand he can rely on but he can also be the example in practice and in games of certain plays Obradovic wants Knight to execute better. Long term I'd feel much more comfortable with Knight IF we'd given him a mentor or 2 as opposed to hoping he figures things out by himself.

As an organisation I believe we failed Rodney Stuckey because we didn't get him a mentor of any kind (and constantly changing his role and his coaches didn't help). We don't want to make the same mistakes with Knight, which is why Calderon and Obradovic would know from Day One that Knight is the guy we need to work with the most.

[Gokey Balboa]

Have been watching Obradovic's teams for 20 years now, and I think that I'm able to give some tips:

1) Obradovic loves SF's who can defend paremeter, who are lockdown defenders, can sink 3pt when they are opened, can pass and not some pure shooters (he has never liked Stojakovic, for instance).

2) he likes point forwards, e.g. Bodiroga - best point forward in euroball history was his product.

3) guy that could fill that position is, IMHO, no other than Luol Deng. He does know how to defend, seems like he's OK with strong coach who insists on tactcics like Thibodeau does, knows how to shoot or pass. If only Pistons could get him.

4) guys like CV should go by themselves or they will be sent out unpleasantly.

5) Obradovic's ideal PG isn't some athletic guy like Westbrook or D.Rose, but Ricky Rubio or Steve Nash - guy with great court vision, non-ballhogging egomaniac or undisciplined player (Obradovic calls that type of players "Native Indians", because they are unfamiliar with systems just like Indians were unfamiliar with western civilization in 17th century).

6) To lure RR out of TWolves would be highly unrealistic, unless Adelman leaves.

7) Brandon Knight could only play at SG.

8) Tony Allen from Grizzlies is Obradovic's ideal 6th man. Wouldn't be suprised if Zeljko demands him as 1st or 2nd reinforcement. And I think that he will be FA this summer.

P.S. Hope that you all do understand those points, because I lost 20 minutes for this piece of text. Damn unliteracy in foreign language.

[Minas]

I like this plan, plus it's the first realistic one I've seen. I like the way you have prioritized perimeter defence, the only problem is that with Brewer, Aminu and Oladipo we will still lack a scorer on the wing which is one of our biggest needs atm. I think Tony Allen is another semi-realistic guy we should go after, I'd love to see him as a Piston.

[Warspite]

Its realistic but it bascily means that we are 5 more yrs from a divsion title.


Its realy dependent on Knight/Monroe/Drummond being allstars in the future.


If you believe the core of this team is enough to get you to the Finals then this plan can get it done. It does remind me of what Trade Jack might do after he got Isiah/Laimbeer/Dumars and drafted Rodman/Salley.

[mercury]

Not a terrible plan. A couple concerns;

Obradovic has won everywhere he's coached, but he's never coached in the NBA. There's a huge difference, not just in the game, but in culture. Culture within the team atmosphere, and simply living in a different country, especially a hell hole like Detroit. I'm not nearly as high on a guy who immediately brings a language barrier with him, as well as running into the same situation Frank had, which is that he's never coached or played in the NBA.

Paul Millsap can find 10 million a year over three years somewhere else, and likely get the starting job while doing so. I doubt he comes to Detroit.

Dalembert is already talking about going to Miami this summer. He wants to chase a ring, which makes sense for him at this point in his career. I don't think he bothers with Detroit either.

I like Aminu and Brewer. Both could be good signings. Also, I hope we draft Oladipo. I love the kids game.

If Dumars could come out of the offseason with the team you've proposed, it would be encouraging. The only other issue I see is, where are they going to find the cash to sign Monroe to an extension next summer with all the cap space blown? This isn't a luxury tax team.

I like this response... in fact it saved several keystrokes...
P, brought up several solid points to his ideal offseason... I can respect this... IMO "ImHeisenberg" is right on the money

[Pharaoh]

Its realistic but it bascily means that we are 5 more yrs from a divsion title.


Its realy dependent on Knight/Monroe/Drummond being allstars in the future.


If you believe the core of this team is enough to get you to the Finals then this plan can get it done. It does remind me of what Trade Jack might do after he got Isiah/Laimbeer/Dumars and drafted Rodman/Salley.

To be fair though I'm not really looking to win the division or win the Finals right now. I think it's unrealistic to build a division winner in 1 off-season, especially from where we currently are.

The roster is almost a complete mess and we're in dire need of:

Quality PG to run the offense. Maybe Calderon stays, maybe we get Jarrett Jack, maybe we trade for Andre Miller but the name doesn't really matter the fact is we all know we need help at PG.

Wings - no offense to any of our current SGs or SFs but... DAMN! We're terrible on the wing! I imagine everyone here can list 5 or 6 players they want and are likely to be available at both positions instead of what we currently have!

Bigs - other than Monroe and Drummond we have nothing!

IMO this off-season is all about building a foundation that can bring us back to "respectable" and I believe I made moves that would do that. Assuming Joe could somehow get it all done (or simply replace the names I mentioned with other similar players) I believe we'd put up a good fight against every team in the league...

and IF this team took the floor, played quality D and fought to the death each and every night I wouldn't be as annoyed as I have been for the last 4-5 years

For me this off-season isn't the end of the rebuild, it's the end of the beginning

This off-season IS the rebuild... 7 new players in one off-season is a huge difference and unlikely to yield immediate results. But I do think we'd be much better defensively and could start to bring back that reputation

And while I'm here: looking at the team I assembled we obviously lack scoring on the perimeter. Not sure how I could address it. Just a pity Free Agency comes after the Draft because if we knew we had Aminu and Brewer on board we could take Bazz in the Draft

[Pharaoh]

Have been watching Obradovic's teams for 20 years now, and I think that I'm able to give some tips:

1) Obradovic loves SF's who can defend paremeter, who are lockdown defenders, can sink 3pt when they are opened, can pass and not some pure shooters (he has never liked Stojakovic, for instance).

2) he likes point forwards, e.g. Bodiroga - best point forward in euroball history was his product.

3) guy that could fill that position is, IMHO, no other than Luol Deng. He does know how to defend, seems like he's OK with strong coach who insists on tactcics like Thibodeau does, knows how to shoot or pass. If only Pistons could get him.

Dorell Wright kind of fits... he's multi-skilled and he'll be a free agent. Not saying he should be the #1 priority or anything, just that he's someone we could look at. People tend to forget him since he is glued to the bench in Philly and the only memories they have of him are from his time playing for the Golden State Warriors.

Iguodala also fits... and would be a huge signing!

4) guys like CV should go by themselves or they will be sent out unpleasantly.

Good! I'll be happy to see CV gone. IMO he's just not driven to succeed in the NBA.

5) Obradovic's ideal PG isn't some athletic guy like Westbrook or D.Rose, but Ricky Rubio or Steve Nash - guy with great court vision, non-ballhogging egomaniac or undisciplined player (Obradovic calls that type of players "Native Indians", because they are unfamiliar with systems just like Indians were unfamiliar with western civilization in 17th century).

6) To lure RR out of TWolves would be highly unrealistic, unless Adelman leaves.

Rubio, Nash.... Calderon?

7) Brandon Knight could only play at SG.

Not sure how to feel about this. I don't think Knight can succeed in the NBA as a SG. As a PG he needs work but that's why you hire a good coach and sign a good mentor.

8) Tony Allen from Grizzlies is Obradovic's ideal 6th man. Wouldn't be suprised if Zeljko demands him as 1st or 2nd reinforcement. And I think that he will be FA this summer.

Allen, Brewer, Aminu.... will any perimeter do? I love the fact Obradovic values perimeter defenders

P.S. Hope that you all do understand those points, because I lost 20 minutes for this piece of text. Damn unliteracy in foreign language.

I'm sorry it takes such a long time for you to post but I hope you know that it is appreciated! Your insight into "Zo" is awesome and I thank you for it

[Joe Berry]

I know you are in love with Milsap and if we can get a proven quality player like that we should go for it, because we need A LOT of new quality players to get back to respectability. But a more defensiv minded 4 would be a better fit in my opinion.
Also Monroe will get MAX next offseason, spending almost 30 mio on PF alone (Monroe, Milsap, Jerebko) seems like a little bit too much.

Is Aminu considered to be a good defender? because he cant shoot at all. Our Spacing with Dre/Monroe/Aminu would be terrible, but i would take a chance on him.(the rebounding would be great with these 3) Other than Aminu/Brewer the free agent market for SF is just terrible.

No matter what you think about Knight, if you cant get an upgrade to Calderon, we need to keep him...period, he is a quality player and right now the Pistons have 2 and 1/2 of them, you cant get to the playoffs without a lot more veteran talent...especially on the perimeter.

My ideal roster for next season would just be a little bit different:

Drummond/Dalembert/Slava
Monroe/Speights/Jerebko
Brewer/Singler/Middleton
T.Evans/Oladipo/English
Knight/Calderon/Bynum

Speights or lets say C.Landry should cost half what Milsap will get, and i feel that would be more realistic.
Evans would be a good fit next to Knight, he did improve this season and is still young, i think he still has some "star" potential, 4 years- 9-10 mil could get it done, its more high risk, high reward if the Kings let him go.

[ImHeisenberg]

Have been watching Obradovic's teams for 20 years now, and I think that I'm able to give some tips:

1) Obradovic loves SF's who can defend paremeter, who are lockdown defenders, can sink 3pt when they are opened, can pass and not some pure shooters (he has never liked Stojakovic, for instance).

2) he likes point forwards, e.g. Bodiroga - best point forward in euroball history was his product.

3) guy that could fill that position is, IMHO, no other than Luol Deng. He does know how to defend, seems like he's OK with strong coach who insists on tactcics like Thibodeau does, knows how to shoot or pass. If only Pistons could get him.

4) guys like CV should go by themselves or they will be sent out unpleasantly.

5) Obradovic's ideal PG isn't some athletic guy like Westbrook or D.Rose, but Ricky Rubio or Steve Nash - guy with great court vision, non-ballhogging egomaniac or undisciplined player (Obradovic calls that type of players "Native Indians", because they are unfamiliar with systems just like Indians were unfamiliar with western civilization in 17th century).

6) To lure RR out of TWolves would be highly unrealistic, unless Adelman leaves.

7) Brandon Knight could only play at SG.

8) Tony Allen from Grizzlies is Obradovic's ideal 6th man. Wouldn't be suprised if Zeljko demands him as 1st or 2nd reinforcement. And I think that he will be FA this summer.

P.S. Hope that you all do understand those points, because I lost 20 minutes for this piece of text. Damn unliteracy in foreign language.

Thank you for your insight, Gokey.

The problem with his PG philosophy is that those "native indian" guards have the games ruled bent towards them being more effective. That's why Derrick Rose won an MVP, and Westbrook is a regular allstar.

Despite my red flags, I would still prefer him to any of these second tier coaches that have been rumored.

[Snakebites]

I like this plan from a general personnel perspective.. All of the free agents we sign are fairly realistic given the situation, and it gives us a deep and vastly improved rotation with the Drummond/Monroe combo still as the focal point.

The only thing I don't like about it is that the inconsistent Knight is the only starter with 3 point range. I feel like we're gonna need all the spacing we can get if we're building around two bigs.

[Gokey Balboa]

Thank you for your insight, Gokey.

The problem with his PG philosophy is that those "native indian" guards have the games ruled bent towards them being more effective. That's why Derrick Rose won an MVP, and Westbrook is a regular allstar.

Despite my red flags, I would still prefer him to any of these second tier coaches that have been rumored.

His PG philosophy is OK, because in FIBA basketball it's only one that works.
I don't know if you follow international bball, but if you do - I guess that you've watched WC 2010 in Turkey.
USA had much much lighter squad than at OG2012 (Durant, Iguodala, pre-thibs Rose, Westbrook, Odom, young Love, Billups, Chandler, R.Gay, Gordon, baby Curry, Granger), but they won it in dominant fashion.

Ruben Magnano, Brazil's coach (guy that was first one to defeat US NBAed squad ever at WC2002 in USA, with ARG) easily got out of game Westbrook and Rose if I recall well. You know how saved coach K's ass in that match? Yup, C.Billups did it. Because a cerebral PG knows how to read defences (mixed zones, pure zone D, exchanges and so on), but a "Native Indian" wins MVP (let's be fair here - DR won it just because everyone is full of LBJ, LBJ is easy perennial MVP because he's like Gretzky or Jordan in their haydays - best player by a mile). You're right, but MVP means nothing, because this game is team oriented and teams wins or loses championships. And PG is guy who can run offense, not a scorer machine or ballhog epitome.

[Gokey Balboa]

Dorell Wright kind of fits... he's multi-skilled and he'll be a free agent. Not saying he should be the #1 priority or anything, just that he's someone we could look at. People tend to forget him since he is glued to the bench in Philly and the only memories they have of him are from his time playing for the Golden State Warriors.

Iguodala also fits... and would be a huge signing!

Igoudala would be awesome, DW is also OK, but I thought ideal to fill that role player. So, I think that if someone puts that kind of choice, Obradovic would pick Deng as starting SF.

Rubio, Nash.... Calderon?

Calderon is good, Nash was exellent in his prime, but RR is something else. And he's still 22-3 years old.

Not sure how to feel about this. I don't think Knight can succeed in the NBA as a SG. As a PG he needs work but that's why you hire a good coach and sign a good mentor.

Maybe you're right, I don't know. Just ZO never had that kind of PG before.

Allen, Brewer, Aminu.... will any perimeter do? I love the fact Obradovic values perimeter defenders

They are all good players, so every choice is OK, but it seems like TA is kind of player Obradovic likes.

I'm sorry it takes such a long time for you to post but I hope you know that it is appreciated! Your insight into "Zo" is awesome and I thank you for it

Naah, it's nothing big (I speak it better than I write ), just it would be messy if it isn't written at least decently.

And there's no need to thank me, because idea of european coach at the helm of one NBA team eludes me for more than 10 years since - George Karl showed some inferior ways of looking at bball game. And I respected that man.

[Jodi]

Roster:

Drummond/Dalembert/Slava
Monroe/Millsap/Jerebko
Aminu/Singler/Middleton
Brewer/Olapido (possibly English)
Knight/Calderon/Wolters (maybe Bynum)

Drummond, Monroe, Millsap, Aminu, Brewer, Olapido, Knight, Calderon is the core for the next 3 years with either Middleton or Singler in there as well.

No big name signings, no big name trades...

Sounds like a defensive conservative plan...I would probably start Olapido and not sign Brewer...I like your Monroe/Drummond/Millsap 3-headed monster idea...Decent overall plan though...

[dVs33]

I like Pharaohs plans.

The only change i would make is not sign Aminu and use Jonas as a SF.
I've been a fan of Jonas at SF since he came to the team and i don't think he's being utilized at PF.
I like signing Brewer and using him with Middleton, Signler and Jonas to cover the position.

Also i'm not sure spending money on Dalembert is worth it when you have Drummond and Moose to cover the spot.
I'd think Kamen would be a cheaper option.