RE: Your Best WORST Offseason Scenario

[DocRI]

So I’ve been kicking this thought around for awhile and thought I’d post it — what’s the best WORST offseason scenario you can dream up for the Pistons this summer?

Last year, the Pistons’ offseason moves were pretty poorly received, and with good reason; trading for Ilya, drafting Stanley (particularly over Winslow), signing Baynes, trading all our cap space for Mook, and re-signing Reggie to a sizable extension were all hardly “slam dunk” moves and garnered a lot of bad grades and criticism. However, SVG & crew got the last laugh, as literally all of those moves worked out to the tune of a 12 game improvement and a playoff berth.

So, just for fun, let’s say this offseason mirrors last — who could the Pistons realistically acquire (via the draft, trades, or free agency) who would give the boards an aneurysm, make everyone shout, “Oh dear god, not that bum!” and inspire a slew of “FIRE SVG!!!” threads … who could then work out perfectly on our team and help us take the next step this season (i.e. 50+ wins and at least the second round of the playoffs)? I’m talking about names you’d NEVER normally suggest as targets but who you’d have to begrudgingly admit COULD work out (just like Baynes and Morris). The type of offseason that initially gets a "D" grade from pundits that then leaves them eating crow.

To be fair, I said “realistically,” so please assume Dre receiving his max extension at the end of free agency is a given (and, fairly, gives us a running start towards a good offseason grade for this year). Also, no using semantics to argue that Tobias Harris should count as one of our summer acquisitions!

I’ve got a couple of thoughts towards this, but I’ll let a few others post theirs before I chime back in. Looking forward to seeing what “UGH!!!” names people find a way to make a case for!

[coordinator0]

Interesting concept. I don't think the Pistons can or will make many significant moves this offseason so my list is short. The only ones I'm counting on are being relevant are the 18th pick and one or two free agent acquisitions. So here mine:

Worst Case at 18th Pick - Thon Maker. Absolutely do not want for all the reasons already stated in the draft thread. If he eventually develops he could work out given his height/length and potential shooting ability, but I wouldn't hold my breathe.

Worst Case Free Agent Signing #1 - Ryan Anderson. At the amount he's going to get I just don't think it's worth it. He shoots threes, and that's it. I don't think teams can get away with such one-dimensional players. Lineups are evolving to become more and more versatile. Van Gundy might want to build a team like he had in Orlando, but Lewis and Turkoglu could actually do other things on the court. Ryan... not so much. Some think he can play the stretch five role but I don't buy it. Detroit needs somebody in that mold to match up and defend opposing teams who utilize one, otherwise Drummond should be on the floor. Anderson can't defend anywhere on the floor so that's out the window. If he comes in and makes three or more 3pt shots a game on good efficiency he would probably be viewed as a successful addition.

Worst Case Free Agent Signing #2 - Ty Lawson. This one is a bit of a stretch since I don't see many players that Detroit could target otherwise that would disappoint me. Well, aside from throwing a ton of money at some random vet who has nothing left in the tank but fumes. Anderson is the only big money free agent the Pistons might actually target. I don't think Lawson fits the roster at all. THat's about all there is. He could regain his form from Denver which would make him a good signing for any team though.

[russkopp]

Basically, I want no part of Ryan Anderson for the money he'll get. We need to have a real, backup PG that can have those games where they get rolling (stay away from Norris Cole etc) and stay away from Thon Maker or any of the 3-4 Big non shooting slow Centers.

In SVG I trust but...any of those moves will make me go ugh like I did with Baynes and passing on Winslow (though I like both moves now)

[DBC10]

Honestly all said and done, having Ryno wouldn't be the exact disaster that was the Josh Smith experiment. I don't think anyone can top that in the franchise's history for a while.

I think we'll just make small moves that are lukewarm at best like we've been doing the last 2 years.

But to follow the thread rules:
1. I'm starting to cool off a bit on Thon. But I wouldn't want to draft a PG if his name isn't Kay Felder.
2. Ryno and maxing him out. We don't need more KLove's out there in this league. We need smarter players that can hit their shots in rhythm.

[stylesofpunk]

I like my offseason idea that people besides a handful would go UGH over

Sign Mareese Speights
Trade Meeks for Barea
Draft Valentine and Uthoff
Resign Drummond and KCP


Jackson/Barea
KCP/Valentine/Barea
Harris/Johnson/Hillard or Bullock
Morris/Speights/Uthoff
Drummond/Baynes/Speights

[joedumars1]

I like my offseason idea that people besides a handful would go UGH over

Sign Mareese Speights
Trade Meeks for Barea
Draft Valentine and Uthoff
Resign Drummond and KCP


Jackson/Barea
KCP/Valentine/Barea
Harris/Johnson/Hillard or Bullock
Morris/Speights/Uthoff
Drummond/Baynes/Speights

I like it. It might be plausible too. Not sure Mavs want to trade Barea for Meeks tho.

[stylesofpunk]

I like my offseason idea that people besides a handful would go UGH over

Sign Mareese Speights
Trade Meeks for Barea
Draft Valentine and Uthoff
Resign Drummond and KCP


Jackson/Barea
KCP/Valentine/Barea
Harris/Johnson/Hillard or Bullock
Morris/Speights/Uthoff
Drummond/Baynes/Speights

I like it. It might be plausible too. Not sure Mavs want to trade Barea for Meeks tho.

Well one of Barea or Harris could be plausible i think but both i think would do well on the pistons


Meeks would be a pick up for the mavs who could help on their team or as a trade chip being a expiring and all

[mercury]

What would cause a pause would be Valentine & Anderson... but I wouldn't rail on SVG for all the reasons Doc presented... he's earned the B.O.D. so far.
We get too emotional sometimes while these guys are thinking the next step ahead (ie. signing Illy at a fair deal to move him for an upgrade)... I think SVG & Hennigan had a prearranged deal so the Magic would get some value for Harris even though they were invested in Gordon.

[Snakebites]

Ryan Anderson isn't happening IMO.

For one, crazy as it sounds, he might be out of our price range. For two, SVG knows we've got more than one gap in our rotation.

[tmorgan]

Speights would definitely make me go "ugh".

[DocRI]

Okay, time to answer to my own challenge. Just for the record, I haven’t read anyone else’s posts yet, so any similarities are purely coincidental. And again, I’m sticking with guys who: A) do “check the boxes” of what we’re supposedly targeting this offseason, but B) would make me swallow REALLY hard.

DRAFT — Ivica Zubac at #18, Perry Ellis at #49
Drafting off of today’s reports (no pun intended), Zubac seems like he might be in play for us at #18. That said, there are a bunch of guys whose upside I simply prefer. Plus, Zubac looks to be a draft-n-stash, and while I can see the logic in taking this approach, using our pick on someone who’d pretty much top out solely as a Baynes-replacement come 2017 seems like a pretty “meh” way to use our pick. Speaking of “meh,” Eliis in round two would be, to me, the very definition of an uninspiring pick; I absolutely think he’ll make a roster as a rookie, but I also think he’ll top out as an undersized 8-minutes-per-game garbage man PF.

TRADE — Jodie Meeks straight up for Spencer Hawes
Hawes actually fits exactly what we’re reportedly looking for in a stretch 4/5, but he leaves a lot to be desired defensively and even though Meeks is pretty useless we’d be taking on a couple extra years of long term salary.

FREE AGENCY — Split our available money between Dion Waiters and Brandon Jennings
Since draft-n-stashing Zubac would give us a little more cash to spend, I’m thinking SVG & Bower can manufacture the cap space to sign both of these guys. I cannot believe I’m about to type the following sentence, but Waiters looked good as a bench combo guard for OKC during their playoff run playing the exact role we’re apparently looking to fill (someone who could back up and play with both Reggie and KCP). As for Jennings, he’s clearly familiar with both our system and our team, and coming off a really bad year I could see him accepting a 2+1 or 1+1 deal to rehab his value playing for the coach who got the most out of him. All that said, Jennings did not look like a good fit off our bench last year and I think most Thunder fans will send us “Thank You” cards if we offer Waiters enough money that OKC doesn’t match.

So, in summary, we get no immediate help from the draft and add Hawes, Waiters and Jennings to our bench. This offseason would REALLY stretch our fanbase’s faith and test our adage of “In SVG we trust” … but along those lines, I don’t think it’s beyond SVG to make the following depth chart work —

PG: Jackson / Waiters / Jennings
SG: KCP / Waiters / Johnson
SF: Morris / Johnson / Harris
PF: Harris / Hawes / Morris
C: Drummond / Baynes / Hawes
DEEP BENCH: Brown (or vet min PG), Hilliard, Bullock, Ellis, Bairstow
RIGHTS STASHED OVERSEAS: Zubac

[Pharaoh]

Hell No on Waiters and Jennings

[In SVG We Trust]

I don't want Ryno, but he isn't just a shooter. He got a nice post game, he's a very good rebounder, an intelligent passer, and can face-up in the high post.

[Billl]

Easy road to nonstop forum fight..... use all of our cap space and pick to trade for Brandon Knight.

[RSCD3_]

Spend 20 Million on harrison barnes and he has a butler like offensive growth.

[LaSheed]

Worst case scenario.

We don't draft a PG or PF #18.

We spend all our cap space.

Dre signs qualifying offer making him a UFA next summer.

[Ghost]

Easy road to nonstop forum fight..... use all of our cap space and pick to trade for Brandon Knight.

What are the Suns asking for Knight? Could he be had for #18? That seems a little low on the value side for them but I think I would be open to trading for him. He could play the PG/SG role off the bench we're looking for.

[Ghost]

Well one of Barea or Harris could be plausible i think but both i think would do well on the pistons

Meeks would be a pick up for the mavs who could help on their team or as a trade chip being a expiring and all

I really don't think they would move Barea because of his chemistry with Dirk. I remember seeing that they had one of the highest pick and roll or pop FG%s in the league.
If they offered that deal though I'd definitely be all for it.

[DBC10]

I don't think they trade Knight since they traded a lot for him in retrospect. Or did they? Can't recall the exact details.

But they're going to need a extra guard since Bledsoe is so injury prone.

[Laimbeer]

Overpaying for Delly. Terrence Jones scares me, too. Wouldn't be surprised if we don't draft a point or a four - a "you're kidding" type of pick.