Rebuild slowly, or retool quickly? How would you do it?

[The Penguin]

I don't think something built around Monroe for Holiday is all that unrealistic. Unless I missed a memo, no NBA team is run by Realgm consensus and I'm sure all of us would have laughed at a fan of the Bucks saying "the Pistons won't amnesty CV31 and instead will give us Knight & Middleton for Jennings" at this time last year. Teams are run by owners who want to maximize their profits and GMs who want to keep their job, Demps is starting to get to a similar position as Dumars going into last year, he needs to show some progress. When a GM gets desperate you can't rule out anything and if the Pelicans decide they want Monroe next to Davis they'll do it on our terms as they don't have the cap room to sign Monroe outright.

[Joe Berry]

I don't think something built around Monroe for Holiday is all that unrealistic. Unless I missed a memo, no NBA team is run by Realgm consensus and I'm sure all of us would have laughed at a fan of the Bucks saying "the Pistons won't amnesty CV31 and instead will give us Knight & Middleton for Jennings" at this time last year. Teams are run by owners who want to maximize their profits and GMs who want to keep their job, Demps is starting to get to a similar position as Dumars going into last year, he needs to show some progress. When a GM gets desperate you can't rule out anything and if the Pelicans decide they want Monroe next to Davis they'll do it on our terms as they don't have the cap room to sign Monroe outright.

i agree, the Pelicans have no starting C, Monroe would be a great fit next to Davis. I wouldn't demand less than Holiday, that is a fair value for Monroe. Also the Pelicans have Tyreke Evans on the bench who makes about 11 mil per year and looked pretty good as starting PG. This is not unrealistic at all imo and the only trade i would like dealing with the Pelicans. Ryno won't do it for me. Monroe is worth more imo.

[The Penguin]

I don't think something built around Monroe for Holiday is all that unrealistic. Unless I missed a memo, no NBA team is run by Realgm consensus and I'm sure all of us would have laughed at a fan of the Bucks saying "the Pistons won't amnesty CV31 and instead will give us Knight & Middleton for Jennings" at this time last year. Teams are run by owners who want to maximize their profits and GMs who want to keep their job, Demps is starting to get to a similar position as Dumars going into last year, he needs to show some progress. When a GM gets desperate you can't rule out anything and if the Pelicans decide they want Monroe next to Davis they'll do it on our terms as they don't have the cap room to sign Monroe outright.

i agree, the Pelicans have no starting C, Monroe would be a great fit next to Davis. I wouldn't demand less than Holiday, that is a fair value for Monroe. Also the Pelicans have Tyreke Evans on the bench who makes about 11 mil per year and looked pretty good as starting PG. This is not unrealistic at all imo and the only trade i would like dealing with the Pelicans. Ryno won't do it for me. Monroe is worth more imo.

From what I've seen the Pelicans fans on here laugh at Monroe for Ryno. If they really wanted a center their options in FA are basically Pau Gasol (who'll likely go to a better team for probably more money they can offer) or Spencer Hawes. The PG market is more flush with options, as you mentioned they already have Evans but there's also Isaiah Thomas, Collison, Vazquez and even Bledsoe & Lowry available.

I think Monroe for Holiday/Gordon seems fair, we punt all of our cap space but get a major upgrade in our backcourt, they land their young center next to Davis and free up plenty of cap room to make a run at Bledsoe/Lowry/Thomas.

If I'm a Pelican fan and I walk away with Monroe & Lowry or Thomas for Holiday/Gordon I'm pretty happy. We are stuck trying to move Jennings but Holiday/Drummond gives us a really strong young foundation at the PG/C spots.

[Billl]

I don't think you put a timeline on a rebuild. You take steps that make the team better whenever they present themselves. If we can lure a start in free agency or if something like the sheed trade falls into our laps, then you do it. If not, you build the talent base wherever possible while waiting to get out from under some of these contracts.

[Redeemed]

I don't think something built around Monroe for Holiday is all that unrealistic. Unless I missed a memo, no NBA team is run by Realgm consensus and I'm sure all of us would have laughed at a fan of the Bucks saying "the Pistons won't amnesty CV31 and instead will give us Knight & Middleton for Jennings" at this time last year. Teams are run by owners who want to maximize their profits and GMs who want to keep their job, Demps is starting to get to a similar position as Dumars going into last year, he needs to show some progress. When a GM gets desperate you can't rule out anything and if the Pelicans decide they want Monroe next to Davis they'll do it on our terms as they don't have the cap room to sign Monroe outright.

Would you feel any reservations, since Holiday is coming off of an injury? I think Holiday has superstar written all over him and would love to have him on the team. I'm just a little concern about him coming off of season lost to injury.

[The Penguin]

I don't think something built around Monroe for Holiday is all that unrealistic. Unless I missed a memo, no NBA team is run by Realgm consensus and I'm sure all of us would have laughed at a fan of the Bucks saying "the Pistons won't amnesty CV31 and instead will give us Knight & Middleton for Jennings" at this time last year. Teams are run by owners who want to maximize their profits and GMs who want to keep their job, Demps is starting to get to a similar position as Dumars going into last year, he needs to show some progress. When a GM gets desperate you can't rule out anything and if the Pelicans decide they want Monroe next to Davis they'll do it on our terms as they don't have the cap room to sign Monroe outright.

Would you feel any reservations, since Holiday is coming off of an injury? I think Holiday has superstar written all over him and would love to have him on the team. I'm just a little concern about him coming off of season lost to injury.

Holiday's injury doesn't concern me, a stress fracture should heal pretty cleanly and he's been pretty healthy throughout his career. Eric Gordon & Ryan Anderson's injuries scare the heck out of me.

[E-Z]

I'm amazed by how some of you guys can whip up fantasy trades and signings without any sort of indication that other teams are interested.

A lot of roster decisions hinge on whether Greg Monroe stays or not. For example, I'd assume Stuckey would stay as a sixth man if Monroe is out, the inverse is true if not. I really believe it's 50/50 right now.

[HotelVitale]

I don't think something built around Monroe for Holiday is all that unrealistic. Unless I missed a memo, no NBA team is run by Realgm consensus and I'm sure all of us would have laughed at a fan of the Bucks saying "the Pistons won't amnesty CV31 and instead will give us Knight & Middleton for Jennings" at this time last year.

The Gordon/Holiday trade is more reasonable. I don't know if it works cap-wise, but the idea of getting Lowry makes it intriguing. It's still not happening for a couple of reasons--who says Lowry is coming to NO for $12m?--but at least it has a clear upside that Holiday-Monroe does not. Monroe would be older and worse and make more money. He can't play D and Holiday is their only other good defensive player. It's a total non-starter for the Pels. The only reason any of this Monroe-to-NO stuff started is because he's from the NOLA area, not because the Pels management is looking to gut their roster to get him.

Also, both fanbases were happy with the Jennings trade. More proven but flawed (and annoying) guy for prospects who hadn't yet shown they were capable of playing in the NBA. The Bucks were done with Jennings and we knew that Knight wasn't ready to help us (and might never be).

[The Penguin]

I'm amazed by how some of you guys can whip up fantasy trades and signings without any sort of indication that other teams are interested.

A lot of roster decisions hinge on whether Greg Monroe stays or not. For example, I'd assume Stuckey would stay as a sixth man if Monroe is out, the inverse is true if not. I really believe it's 50/50 right now.

There have been rumors linking NOLA & Monroe for a long time and just days ago a "source" from the Pelicans said they've contacted the Pistons to gauge a S&T.

This is a Pistons board, of course most of our ideas are going to favor the Pistons' return. The best you can hope for is something close to neutral, even then you'll get people responding that it's awful for Detroit. If you are expecting to not see some homer trades you are in the wrong place.

[haulerch]

I don't think something built around Monroe for Holiday is all that unrealistic. Unless I missed a memo, no NBA team is run by Realgm consensus and I'm sure all of us would have laughed at a fan of the Bucks saying "the Pistons won't amnesty CV31 and instead will give us Knight & Middleton for Jennings" at this time last year.

The Gordon/Holiday trade is more reasonable. I don't know if it works cap-wise, but the idea of getting Lowry makes it intriguing. It's still not happening for a couple of reasons--who says Lowry is coming to NO for $12m?--but at least it has a clear upside that Holiday-Monroe does not. Monroe would be older and worse and make more money. He can't play D and Holiday is their only other good defensive player. It's a total non-starter for the Pels. The only reason any of this Monroe-to-NO stuff started is because he's from the NOLA area, not because the Pels management is looking to gut their roster to get him.

Also, both fanbases were happy with the Jennings trade. More proven but flawed (and annoying) guy for prospects who hadn't yet shown they were capable of playing in the NBA. The Bucks were done with Jennings and we knew that Knight wasn't ready to help us (and might never be).

First, I am not a fan of Monroe for this roster, but don't undervalue a big who puts up nearly a double-double. He may not be a good defensive player but he is passable when playing center. Shouldn't be a huge deal with Anthony Davis playing next to him on D. Don't overvalue Holiday either. I like the kid a lot obviously but he is also coming off an injury and had some terrible games last year. Jrue for Monroe AS A STARTER is seriously not far fetched.

You act like you know for sure that the Pels wouldn't be interested, but the facts point to them being interested in Monroe. At least three articles that I have read indicate this and a few of those articles including USA Today bring up Jrue Holiday as a piece in the trade. Will it happen? I don't know, but we hold all the cards since they can't just sign Monroe outright. They have to give up something of value... I would say Anderson/1st, Evans, or Holiday. If not, we balk and they don't get Monroe.

All it takes is one desperate GM (isn't the Pels GM feeling a hot seat to make the playoffs?) to pull the trigger on a trade and believe me this wouldn't be some lopsided trade as both players are GOOD players.

[E-Z]

I'm amazed by how some of you guys can whip up fantasy trades and signings without any sort of indication that other teams are interested.

A lot of roster decisions hinge on whether Greg Monroe stays or not. For example, I'd assume Stuckey would stay as a sixth man if Monroe is out, the inverse is true if not. I really believe it's 50/50 right now.

There have been rumors linking NOLA & Monroe for a long time and just days ago a "source" from the Pelicans said they've contacted the Pistons to gauge a S&T.

This is a Pistons board, of course most of our ideas are going to favor the Pistons' return. The best you can hope for is something close to neutral, even then you'll get people responding that it's awful for Detroit. If you are expecting to not see some homer trades you are in the wrong place.

I see New York and LAL as trade partners in the OP. Further down, I read mention of Lance Stephenson and Patty Mills. There's a lot of parts that involve some inkling of interest from multiple parties.

SVG is a man known for adapting to what he has around him. I believe this answers the OP's question. Realistically, Andre Drummond is the only player worth max money. Greg Monroe in a S/T with the Pelicans is a massive mistake. There's no one on that roster worth trading for due to lack of production or health concerns.

Take a look at the roster and see who comes off the books,

Greg Monroe, Rodney Stuckey, Charlie Villanueva, Jonas Jerebko, Chauncey Billups, and Josh Harrellson are all due and, I wouldn't have a problem if they all did not return. I wouldn't have a problem if they did return as well. Detroit has all the talent here to win games. It's whether these guys buy into what SVG wants or not. I believe that's the ultimate deciding factor for the roster at this point.