Dre willing to come off bench, working out in LA w/ Jennings

[Kilo]

Lots of interesting stuff from Mayo MLive piece today -

On Smith being traded/Big Man Rotation -

The Pistons also have shopped Josh Smith on the trade market, though Drummond said he questioned the prospect of moving last summer's major free-agent acquisition after one season.

"I highly doubt that," Drummond said. "I don't see that happening. I just don't see it happening."

He said what he can envision, after quietly questioning last year's alignment in which he started alongside both Monroe and Smith, is the big-three rotation at two positions favored by new president of basketball operations and head coach Stan Van Gundy.

With the trio playing almost exclusively at center and power forward, that leaves only the question of who comes off the bench.

"That's something that's going to have to be discussed between Greg and Josh and myself, with Stan, to figure out who's going to be that guy not starting the game," Drummond said. "I feel like it's not going to be a problem or an issue. It just comes down to who is going to do it."

Drummond said as long as the trio confine their minutes to two spots, with little or no time at small forward for Smith, they can coexist.

"Stan knows what he's doing," Drummond said. "He knows our personnel, I'll put it like that. He knows what each guy can do, what they have to offer, and he knows that Josh is better off at the four. He knows that. It comes down to who's going to start the game. And it doesn't really matter who starts and ends, it matters who wins the game."

Drummond's off-season -

Drummond has spent most of his offseason working in Los Angeles with well-known basketball trainer Rob McClanaghan and Pistons teammate Brandon Jennings.

Drummond said his offseason training has been focused on conditioning, free-throw shooting, footwork and post moves. He added that the regular message he receives from USA Basketball's men's national team director Sean Ford is to "just continue to play the way I'm playing."

Those conversations aren't nearly as frequent as the ones between Drummond and Van Gundy, however.

"I think I've talked to him every single day since he was hired as the coach," Drummond said.

At almost exactly 11 a.m. daily since mid-May, Drummond said his phone rings.

"He'll call me, and if I miss the phone call, he'll text me and I'll call him right back," Drummond said. "So we're in constant, constant communication. It's good that we're building a relationship so early."

Lots of other good stuff at the link. Comments on Monroe situation, Team USA, Piston off-season moves - http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... ive.com%29

[DETermination]

Thats nice and everything Drummond, but you better not be coming off the bench lol.

[Q00]

Good stuff. I highly doubt Stan will be bringing Drummond off the bench, but its smart of him to offer, as now it kind of puts the onus on Monroe/Smith to buy in and accept whatever role Stan gives them. If the franchise player comes out and says he's willing to come off the bench if necessary to win, then it pretty much sets a precedent to where no one else on the team can ever say they are too good to come off the bench again.

[Moose10Fan]

Drummond on Monroes Free Agency situation.

Greg Monroe and his agent David Falk visited a Detroit Pistons summer league practice Thursday, so Andre Drummond used it as something of a personal recruiting opportunity for his free-agent teammate.

“He’s got to go through his process of what he wants to do but I’d love to have him back,” Drummond said about Monroe on Friday, on the eve of the Pistons’ opening game at Orlando Pro Summer League. "I’d do whatever it takes to get him back.

“It comes down to what he wants to do. I told him, ‘I can’t stop you if you want to go.’ But he loves it here (in Detroit), so I feel like he’s going to come back.”

[DBC10]

Drummond on Monroes Free Agency situation.

Greg Monroe and his agent David Falk visited a Detroit Pistons summer league practice Thursday, so Andre Drummond used it as something of a personal recruiting opportunity for his free-agent teammate.

“He’s got to go through his process of what he wants to do but I’d love to have him back,” Drummond said about Monroe on Friday, on the eve of the Pistons’ opening game at Orlando Pro Summer League. "I’d do whatever it takes to get him back.

“It comes down to what he wants to do. I told him, ‘I can’t stop you if you want to go.’ But he loves it here (in Detroit), so I feel like he’s going to come back.”

Which is what I always assumed. That Monroe is well liked among his teammates.

A quiet guy that never had any issues with the higher ups and teammates. I don't get where people get the idea that he's somehow has some secret character issues barring outside of BBall.

He's a young guy coming off his first contract, most players of his caliber don't bolt the team that drafted them. I hope we can get a reasonable contract and re-sign him. I'm thinking 13 mil which would be a great price.

[epheisey]

Just read the whole article a few minutes ago. I liked everything Drummond had to say. He's definitely saying all the right things. He could turn into more than just a great basketball player. He seems well-spoken, and press-friendly, but he also seems to know the boundaries of what shouldn't be said. The whole interview just seemed to have a good vibe to it.

[MotownMadness]

Drummond better not come off the bench all because Josh Smiths dumb ass is here, **** that he needs to be the man here not 2nd fiddle.

[DBC10]

Drummond better not come off the bench all because Josh Smiths dumb ass is here, **** that he needs to be the man here not 2nd fiddle.

Yeah if Dre comes off the bench because of Dumars' dumb mistake of signing Smith, it'll be one of the worst things possible.

[Snakebites]

Stan Van Gundy sees Andre Drummond as the next Dwight.

Its nice that Drummond is willing to be a team player, but we all know that even if all 3 big guys return next year there is zero chance that Drummond is the one on the outside looking in for the starting lineup.

[Moose10Fan]

To me it is a little understandable that Monroe would be upset about Smith being there, I mean Greg was coming up to that contract year and Joe signs another PF to a huge contract, its a bit of a slap but I think Greg thought hey if it could help us win.

Smith sucked the life out of so many games and I never really saw Monroe get on him or really ever say anything much during the season, it is deflating on offence and defence when someone is putting up shots everybody knows won't fall but them selves.

[engelbert321]

NOOOOO DRE NOOOO

[Spider156]

Stan won't let Dre come off the bench haha. That's the last thing that Stan will do to this team. In Stan I Trust

[Alexander]

Monroe/Smith
Drummond/Monroe
>
Smith/Monroe
Drummond/Monroe
>>>>>
Smith/Monroe
Monroe/Drummond

If Greg were to only sign the QO, then I would invest in Smith as the long-term starter, for Moose would be gone in an offseason. Otherwise, Smith can be the Ginobili of power forwards and achieve great success as the nominal sixth starter.

[coolness]

My thoughts
1. Drummond is the man.
2. Drummond is BY FAR our best player.
3. The big 3 should have ZERO to no minutes as a trio.
4. I have no issues with Drummond being the one who comes off the bench.
5. He would sub for Moose and then Moose for Smoove just so Moose has his wind to defend pf's.
6. MooSmoove is a good pairing to keep us in it. Drummond off the bench would get us a nice lead.
7. Drummond off the bench would have the added benefit of being hilarious. (those mismatches?)
8. If each get "only" 32 minutes, they can play harder in their final minutes.

Drummond said his offseason training has been focused on conditioning, free-throw shooting, footwork and post moves.

Uh! Huh!!!! Forget Dwight, we could have ourselves Alonzo Mourning minus the small fuse! And then he could get better from there.

[ripper3264]

Coming off the bench for any one of them would almost automatically be in their favor as they are all starting big men and could prey on 2nd string bigs. Dre coming off of the bench wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as he brings instant energy and could eat up the back ups of other teams

[Moose10Fan]

I want Drummond staring no matter what, and he will SVG knows that. He is planning to build this team around him.

[triplet1984]

Love his attitude but id riot if he had to come off the bench because of josh Smith.

[DocRI]

Like everyone else, L-O-V-E Dre's attitude. He's willing to do whatever's best for the team, and that's the very definition of leading by example.

I'm just glad he said this now and not during last season, 'cuz one of our idiotic coaches last year probably would've been like, "Okay!" and taken him up on his offer. We have a real coach in SVG now who will praise Dre for his selflessness and then simply say, "But I'm the coach and I want you starting. That's my call." And that'll be the end of the story.

[Ghost]

Bare with me since it is the 4th and I've already had a few drinks, but... What if Drummond was to come off the bench. Think about this.

Monroe/Smith/Singler/KCP/Jennings start and then Drummond/Jerebko/Meeks/Dinwiddie sub in... We get the 1-in/4-out system off the bench to pray on second units and our first unit has a nice combination of passing/athleticism. Although this idea works better offensively with Monroe being the one off the bench due to his passing skill out of the post.

[DetroitDon15]

I think Monroe should come off the bench. I don't want him starting at PF. Would hurt the Pistons starting game. It runs the risk of being down before the second unit. I also think Monroe will have more chances for points on the second unit.