More important to spend wisely rather than spend a lot

[theBigLip]

I don't think I'm too excited about free agency anymore. Of course I'm curious what the Pistons will do, but it seems like we could ruin our franchise for another 4-5 years if we overpay for players that don't really fit. Kings are really going to give Iggy 4/56? This seems to be the WORST time to get new players. We obviously still have holes, but I think we were going to the playoffs last year before Drummond got hurt, and I think we can make it next year without overpaying Josh Smith or giving up a ton to get Rondo.

We all pretty much agree that Monroe and Drummond are likely to be the best two bigmen on a team besides ZBo and Gasol. That's a good start. What if Knight and KCP can become a solid backcourt on rookie contracts without having to overpay someone? We could still use a shooter (or two or three), especially at SF, but realize to do it economically, it will likely be a tier 2 or 3 talent. But we'd still have big cap space for all this season that could help us pull off a trade, instead of overpaying now. And if we didn't get a good trade during the year, we'd haev Stuckey and CV roll off next summer and we'd have enough cap space to play this silly game again.

Bottomline, I'd be much happier if we didn't do anything substantial this summer rather than take a big risk on an older vet that locks up our cap space for the next 4 years. Joe needs to keep his cool and not get desperate. The next few days will likley decide the next few years...

[ajaX82]

I think that spending wisely is always advised. The problem is that Joe is under the gun. The team sucks and is completely uninteresting...we are arguably the most boring team in the league. And because of this, nobody is showing up. Joe needs to show the common fan that he wants to win and can put out a decent product.

Now being prudent, letting the core develop, obtaining more prospects and picks and spending on what we need and not just the "best" available sounds sensible, and is the right play probably, but that doesn't put fans in the seats. I think that plays a much bigger part than we give credit for.

He's going to pay someone big bucks this offseason, the only question is who

[triplet1984]

Also isn't there some number in salaries that we have to hit this season?

[theBigLip]

Also isn't there some number in salaries that we have to hit this season?

Yes, but we could absorb some one year contracts in some trades to get over the threshold (and get a few picks as a bonus).

[313 Professor]

I agree with this. Iggy I MIGHT be able to live with, but Josh Smith is terrible. It makes no sense to overpay for a less than ideal fit.

[roc]

Also isn't there some number in salaries that we have to hit this season?

Yes, but we could absorb some one year contracts in some trades to get over the threshold (and get a few picks as a bonus).

90% of the cap is the amount required but...

we do not actually have to get team salary to that, just team payroll.

what that means... IF we do not have that much salary being spent we then have to pay the difference to the players we have.

so yea, we could actually keep cap space for one more year and the guys we have under contract would get a bonus payday.

[dan2314]

if like you say, monroe and drummond become one of the best 4/5 combos in the league AND knight and KCP become a 'dynamic backcourt' theyre all on cheap deals, why would you not go out and try and fill that last spot, which happens to be one of the more shallow spots in the league, along with maybe SG, when you have the chance?
give me a list of all the great options you think might become available if we wait throughout the year? im going to get a list of all the starting SF's in the league, and you tell me which ones you think we have a good chance at picking up if we pass on iggy, (or potentially gay, and at worst, smith.) that could be a difference maker come playoff time.

[Sheedpocalypse]

I think there's merit to both sides of this story, but as of now, I tend to agree most with dan2314. There's no guarantee we can land some decent SF/PG next offseason either. All you would get in return is perhaps another year of being 'meh' and losing that pick to the Bobcats. Sooner rather than later you should actually try to make a splash and become at least decent again. Now is as good a time as ever, it's been four years of bringing the suck guys...

[dan2314]

Atlantic
pierce
jeff green/ gerald wallace
melo
rudy gay

Central
deng
paul george/ danny granger

Southeast
lebron
kidd-gilchrist
tobias harris/ turkoglu
ariza/ webster/ porter

Northwest
iggy/chandler/gallinari
kirilenko
durant
batum

Pacific
barnes
dudley
world peace
butler

Southwest
marion
parsons
prince
aminu
leonard


i think if you can get igoudala or gay out of those, youre doing pretty well. one that i didnt think of until i went through these is kirilenko though.. he opted out of minnesota, never been a big fan but hes an ok player.. would be an interesting piece.

[vege]

Joe D is in a contract year. He is desperate and will spend. Period

In a perfect world yes, always expend wisely. Not going to happen.

[Joe Berry]

Joe D is in a contract year. He is desperate and will spend. Period

In a perfect world yes, always expend wisely. Not going to happen.

Lets not forget, Dumars put himself in this position where he is forced to spend THIS summer. And when more and more trades are made, and more free agents are signed, he will get more desperate, he will spent a lot, not matter what. Gores public displaying impatience, and this ridiculous win now talk doesnt help because a weak free agent class and half the league having capspace is just sketched out for failure.

[DetroitSho]

Joe D is in a contract year. He is desperate and will spend. Period

In a perfect world yes, always expend wisely. Not going to happen.

Lets not forget, Dumars put himself in this position where he is forced to spend THIS summer. And when more and more trades are made, and more free agents are signed, he will get more desperate, he will spent a lot, not matter what. Gores public displaying impatience, and this ridiculous win now talk doesnt help because a weak free agent class and half the league having capspace is just sketched out for failure.

Just out of curiosity, what makes this FA class weak to you? Dwight and CP3 were the headliners of this class, that alone makes it strong. The 2nd and 3rd tier guys are pretty good as well. And before you say, "top tier free agents won't come to Detroit", that makes it not matter how strong the class is. You can forget the top tier guys next year too, cross them right off the list and go straight to the 2nd and 3rd tier guys and tell me just how strong free agency is next year.

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[DetroitDon15]

I'm ok with Joe D spending but I want impact players. If he resigns the Bynums or signs FAs like Wright, I think he should be fired on the spot.

[ImHeisenberg]

We obviously still have holes.

I agree with you, BigLip.

Joe is trying to wildly overpay what will be an ancillary player. Basically, he wants to put 15 million dollar rims on his 1985 rusted out Caprice with a blown motor.

Igoudala doesn't make a team a contender. And you should spend 15+ million on a guy who doesn't clearly propel the team towards that goal. Igoudala is a nice piece to put next to a franchise guy, like LeBron, Kobe or Durant. Those are the cars with the turbo charged V8 under the hood, and it's time to trick it out.

[ImHeisenberg]

I'm ok with Joe D spending but I want impact players. If he resigns the Bynums or signs FAs like Wright, I think he should be fired on the spot.

You can't force people to sign, Don. There's a lot of teams with cap space and not many impact players. Honestly, there's only 2, Howard and Paul. Neither of them are coming to Detroit.

[bennett13]

We can't even get ppl to play here by throwing huge chunks of coin at them. So spend on who ever wants to fricken play here.

[Pharaoh]

Of course we should spend the money wisely. But define "wisely"?

The Palace is empty.... and no King is coming here to draw a crowd!

We're too good to land a top 5 pick and not a good enough location to attract the best free agents. So what should an Owner/GM do?

You can argue that "wisely" means spending money on a player or players that will bring the casual fans back to the Palace... someone like Rudy Gay or Josh Smith (or both!)

You spend a lot of money on "names" and hope to draw a crowd... and hope to become a playoff regular. This surely will bring the fans back to the Palace, despite the fact we'd be lucky to get into the 2nd round! Regular top 4-6 finishes in the Eastern Conference is hardly exciting to hardcore fans... but hardcore fans are probably the only people going to watch the Pistons play these days anyway... and if you're willing to sit through the garbage that's been dished up to you over the last 3-5 years then I would imagine Gores and Joe will gamble you'll sit through the "name" player too

Unfortunately that approach is extremely unlikely to result in a championship... but we're extremely unlikely to win a championship anyway! We'd have to catch lightning in a bottle (again) to win a championship, especially without a top 5 player on our squad.

So, long story short: If winning a championship is extremely unlikely unless everything falls into place perfectly then why shouldn't the Owner and GM want to at least have a team that is "attractive" to fans?

It's a business, after all. And while we can sit here all day and debate the best ways to build an NBA Championship roster the fact remains none of us have millions and millions of dollars in the business of the Detroit Pistons. As fans we're emotionally invested... but if you fill a cup with your emotions and fill another cup with $100 bills which one is full?

So define wisely...

[Laimbeer]

Let's remember Dumars traded a number one to move cap space up to this summer as opposed to next. And now several teams have it and aren't sure what to do with it all. It will probably result in overspending on mediocre talent.

Cap space is a very overrated asset for teams that aren't destination teams.

[BayAreaTreyArea]

Dinars said trades are going to be a major part of this offseason. Stuck and cb for gay was a lowball offer and we have to throw in some cash or Jonas cause no way the people of Toronto accept losing Ed Davis and Calderon for cv and stuck for a year. If there is light at the end of the tunnel for gay then we better make it work. I'd rather have rondo but take what's available for sure. As for free agency I think we're like sac town who offered iggy 56 mill and were doomed to overpay for free agents. I say go for iggy, j smooth, Gerald Henderson as 3's. Pay what it takes if you can't get Gay cause your in the same boat next year having to she'll out a lot for a second tier three. We need impact players and iggy, j smooth are both that.

[Snakebites]

Let's remember Dumars traded a number one to move cap space up to this summer as opposed to next. And now several teams have it and aren't sure what to do with it all. It will probably result in overspending on mediocre talent.

Cap space is a very overrated asset for teams that aren't destination teams.

This is what I've been saying for years.

Cap space is NOT a way to build a team unless you're the Heat and can sign Lebron James. Even under the best case scenario this offseason we would have been building in a suboptimal way.