"Clippers were really stuck before Blake Griffin Trade" - Jerry West

[vege]

Face it, we have not had the smartest people running the acquisition of players.

You can't be serious.

2014-2015

Traded Caron Butler (soon to retire and done) and Shawne Williams (wasn't even worth a roster spot) to the Milwaukee Bucks for Ersan Ilyasova (was an important part of Philly playoff run last season and is still a legit NBA rotation player).

Thomas Bryant (who?), D.J. Augustin (a backup at best) and Kyle Singler (not even NBA caliber player) for Reggie Jackson (a top 15 PG in the league). OMG WE GOT ROBBED HERE!!!!!!!

2015-2016

Traded Ersan Ilyasova (a backup bigman whom we acquire for absolutely NOTHING) and Brandon Jennings (damaged goods on an expiring contract) to the Orlando Magic for Tobias Harris (borderline all star last season). WHAT A DUMB TRADE FOR US, WE GOT (Please Use More Appropriate Word) PEOPLE HANDLING OUR TRADES!!!!!!!!!!!

Traded Jodie Meeks (bad contract) to the Orlando Magic for a 2019 2nd round draft pick. WHAT? WE GAVE UP ON JODIE GOD MEEKS? TERRIBLE TRADE!! FIRE SVG!!!!!!!

2016-2017

Traded Darrun Hilliard (he got waived) to the Houston Rockets for cash considerations. Whatever

2017-2018

Traded and to the Philadelphia 76ers for Khyri Thomas (promissing young player with good chance of being a legit rotation player, you don't usually find those in the 2nd round). Good trade

Traded Avery Bradley (we had no interest in bringing him back), Tobias Harris (rejected a 20 mil/year contract), Boban Marjanovic (bad contract), a 2018 1st round draft pick (Miles Bridges was later selected) - this sucks - and a 2019 2nd round draft pick (whatever) to the Los Angeles Clippers for Blake Griffin (bad contract but the best player in the deal), Brice Johnson (whatever) and Willie Reed (whatever). Still too early to say, first season it was a fail since we missed the playoffs.

Traded Marcus Morris (solid player on a very good contract) to the Boston Celtics for Avery Bradley (expiring starter on a position of need) and a 2019 2nd round draft pick (whatever). I don't like the trade right now but I understand why we did it.

Before Blake Griffin's trade, we acquired 4 legit NBA starters and we didn't give up A SINGLE STARTER to acquire ANY of them. So how can someone can possibly complain about the last 4-5 year trades?

Some people are either extremely dumb, or they just like to complain for the sake of complain.

If you want to complain, at least say we haven't had the smartest people handling contracts, or running the draft, or developing the young players, but complain about our recent trades? Seriously? Complain about the franchise direction, or lack of success in the past 10 years, but the lack of success is not because of our trades.

[BIG BEN'S FRO]

Vege I agree with much of what you wrote. My problem with acquisitions has been:
1. Development of draft picks
2. Selection of draft picks
3. Money, years, and choices of free agents.

That is as much of being a GM as trades. Poor assessment of chemistry, depth, and addressing weaknesses.

And the Blake trade was obviously desperation to keep a job. No way he would have made that trade if he wasn’t in front of the firing squad.

[Canadafan]

Vege I agree with much of what you wrote. My problem with acquisitions has been:
1. Development of draft picks
2. Selection of draft picks
3. Money, years, and choices of free agents.

That is as much of being a GM as trades. Poor assessment of chemistry, depth, and addressing weaknesses.

And the Blake trade was obviously desperation to keep a job. No way he would have made that trade if he wasn’t in front of the firing squad.

I would imagine this was more Gores than SVG. Its not like Stan could have just made the trade and told Gores about it after the fact. Ultimately the owner would have final say

[ComboGuardCity]

Stuck with Blake but offer Tobias 20m a year

[Invictus88]

Vege I agree with much of what you wrote. My problem with acquisitions has been:
1. Development of draft picks
2. Selection of draft picks
3. Money, years, and choices of free agents.

That is as much of being a GM as trades. Poor assessment of chemistry, depth, and addressing weaknesses.

And the Blake trade was obviously desperation to keep a job. No way he would have made that trade if he wasn’t in front of the firing squad.

I would imagine this was more Gores than SVG. Its not like Stan could have just made the trade and told Gores about it after the fact. Ultimately the owner would have final say

It's both. Sure, Gores has final say but the only one speaking in his ear was SVG. And it's not like you instantly gain the acumen to efficiently run a team when you buy one. That's usually the job of a GM to talk sense to an owner.. not the other way around.

I give SVG a C- overall in personnel moves / management.

The Blake trade offsets much of the positive karma he earned from getting Mook, Illy, Harris, and Jackson just because of how much of an albatross 35 mill is. THIS evaluation changes some if Blake is consistent in effort and health.

Aside from Bullock SVG's free agency acquisitions have been terrible. Leuer, Boban, Meeks, and Galloway have all been multiyear overpays that have set us back quite a bit collectively. The Leuer evaluation is partly hindsight but he also didn't have a big body of work previous to us either. All of the other positions could have been filled with smaller low-risk deals to lesser known players. Then if that player outperforms it you extend ala Bullock; and drop otherwise.

The above is why I don't have any problem with the Pachulia or GRob signings. Low pay, low years, low risk.

SVG's drafting and/or player development have been terrible. Drummond is the only player who actually developed under him and did so in spite of him. Ellenson's career is on life support. Stanley's as well. Luke is a question mark due largely to tentativeness which can be attributed partly to the fear of being yanked after a single mistake.

Maybe a C- is too generous...

[vege]

Vege I agree with much of what you wrote. My problem with acquisitions has been:
1. Development of draft picks
2. Selection of draft picks
3. Money, years, and choices of free agents.

That is as much of being a GM as trades. Poor assessment of chemistry, depth, and addressing weaknesses.

And the Blake trade was obviously desperation to keep a job. No way he would have made that trade if he wasn’t in front of the firing squad.

Last time we built a championship team, how we built it?

We traded for Big Ben, Rip and Sheed.

We signed Chauncey in free agency (if I'm not mistaken)

We drafted Tay.

The GM must be competent all around to get a team to that level, we excelled in trades, we were terrible everywhere else. So we are a perenial playoffs team and not a contender.

I don't think the Blake trade was desperation, it was the fact that he is a big name and we have no one attending our games, we can't acquire big names in free agency, so the opportunity to acquire a guy of Blake's stature was too good for Gores.

I also think SVG expected Reggie back from his injury and the addition of a player of Blake's level to secure a playoff spot.

So for both of them was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time and they pulled the trigger. I don't mind losing Tobias and Bradley or the 2nd round pick, Tobias will be very expensive and I'm not sure if he is worth it, Avery Bradley is not worth 12 mil a year so I'm glad he's gone. The first round pick hurts, but we have been drafting soo poorly that it's kinda whatever.

If Arnie Kander can keep Blake and Reggie healthy, we will be good, and the trade will look good for us in 1 year from now.

[The_Irony]

Obviously without knowing the facts, I can assume the Pistons knew Tobias was looking for a bigger contract and that they weren't as interested in keeping Bradley.

Im taking Blakes contract over what Tobias is asking for combined what Bradley received this summer. Of course the alternative is letting all parties go and having cap space but at this point Im taking Blake and his contract vs overpaying a mediocre player and remaining in purgatory.

This is why the draft is the most important part of the process. its your only controllable.

Obviously Tobias wont get what hes asking for but 4yrs 100mil is attainable depending on which franchise has cap space. Blakes final year of the contract might be horrible but by that time we'll be happy his contract is off the books and ideally we'll have at least 1 or 2 playoff series wins to show for it.

[Billl]

The SVG era had some very good trades, some horrible FA signings, and really nothing to show from decent draft position. The overall talent level we had when SVG took over was really low. Now we're mediocre. That's obviously an improvement, but the poor drafting and FA overpays have kept us from going from mediocre to good. If we had an extra 17 mil to work with and some combo of luke/SJ/Henry were rounding into starter plus type guys, our future would be pretty bright. As is, we would have to get very lucky to make any significant progress. eg we snag the next Chauncey with an MLE deal and the next Tay with a non-lottery pick.

[buzzkilloton]

Watch on YouTube

[MotownMadness]

My hope for Blake would be he ups his efficiency seeing as last season was really his first shooting the 3 at high volume. If he gets better at that 3 ball with his playmaking ability and inside scoring ability than he can still be a beast.

[ByeByeDre]

Vege I agree with much of what you wrote. My problem with acquisitions has been:
1. Development of draft picks
2. Selection of draft picks
3. Money, years, and choices of free agents.

That is as much of being a GM as trades. Poor assessment of chemistry, depth, and addressing weaknesses.

And the Blake trade was obviously desperation to keep a job. No way he would have made that trade if he wasn’t in front of the firing squad.

I would imagine this was more Gores than SVG. Its not like Stan could have just made the trade and told Gores about it after the fact. Ultimately the owner would have final say

It's both. Sure, Gores has final say but the only one speaking in his ear was SVG. And it's not like you instantly gain the acumen to efficiently run a team when you buy one. That's usually the job of a GM to talk sense to an owner.. not the other way around.

I give SVG a C- overall in personnel moves / management.

The Blake trade offsets much of the positive karma he earned from getting Mook, Illy, Harris, and Jackson just because of how much of an albatross 35 mill is. THIS evaluation changes some if Blake is consistent in effort and health.

Aside from Bullock SVG's free agency acquisitions have been terrible. Leuer, Boban, Meeks, and Galloway have all been multiyear overpays that have set us back quite a bit collectively. The Leuer evaluation is partly hindsight but he also didn't have a big body of work previous to us either. All of the other positions could have been filled with smaller low-risk deals to lesser known players. Then if that player outperforms it you extend ala Bullock; and drop otherwise.

The above is why I don't have any problem with the Pachulia or GRob signings. Low pay, low years, low risk.

SVG's drafting and/or player development have been terrible. Drummond is the only player who actually developed under him and did so in spite of him. Ellenson's career is on life support. Stanley's as well. Luke is a question mark due largely to tentativeness which can be attributed partly to the fear of being yanked after a single mistake.

Maybe a C- is too generous...

Stan had an A up until the day he signed Leuer. From there, I give him a big fat F.

[Spider156]

The SVG era had some very good trades, some horrible FA signings, and really nothing to show from decent draft position. The overall talent level we had when SVG took over was really low. Now we're mediocre. That's obviously an improvement, but the poor drafting and FA overpays have kept us from going from mediocre to good. If we had an extra 17 mil to work with and some combo of luke/SJ/Henry were rounding into starter plus type guys, our future would be pretty bright. As is, we would have to get very lucky to make any significant progress. eg we snag the next Chauncey with an MLE deal and the next Tay with a non-lottery pick.

Of course we need to get very lucky. All teams get to contending by getting very lucky. Warriors are the luckiest. Any lottery draft is luck cuz either a player makes it or is a bust. Any big FA signings is luck. Celtics were lucky to get all those draft picks. Drafting is complete luck. STAYING HEALTHY IS LUCKY.

[Billl]

The SVG era had some very good trades, some horrible FA signings, and really nothing to show from decent draft position. The overall talent level we had when SVG took over was really low. Now we're mediocre. That's obviously an improvement, but the poor drafting and FA overpays have kept us from going from mediocre to good. If we had an extra 17 mil to work with and some combo of luke/SJ/Henry were rounding into starter plus type guys, our future would be pretty bright. As is, we would have to get very lucky to make any significant progress. eg we snag the next Chauncey with an MLE deal and the next Tay with a non-lottery pick.

Of course we need to get very lucky. All teams get to contending by getting very lucky. Warriors are the luckiest. Any lottery draft is luck cuz either a player makes it or is a bust. Any big FA signings is luck. Celtics were lucky to get all those draft picks. Drafting is complete luck. STAYING HEALTHY IS LUCKY.

Almost none of those require luck. It's a high probability event if you are drafting #1 and get a good player. It's an incredibly low probability event to be drafting #18 and get an impact player.

[DET_Athletics]

The Blake trade will be graded on if Micheal Porter and if he can come back from his back injury, we could of had him at 12. If he turns out to be sub KD or even borderline all-star, then we picked the wrong draft to give up a first.

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Porter wasn't the 12th pick, and he probably wouldn't have been our pick at 12. We were in the market for wings.

porters natural position if fully healthy is SF, right? your telling me a healthy KD-lite wouldn't put us over the top in 4 years? you have to think past the right now...

[Billl]

The Blake trade will be graded on if Micheal Porter and if he can come back from his back injury, we could of had him at 12. If he turns out to be sub KD or even borderline all-star, then we picked the wrong draft to give up a first.

Sent from my SM-G930V using RealGM mobile app

Porter wasn't the 12th pick, and he probably wouldn't have been our pick at 12. We were in the market for wings.

porters natural position if fully healthy is SF, right? your telling me a healthy KD-lite wouldn't put us over the top in 4 years? you have to think past the right now...

I didn't make any claims about whether porter was going to pan out, only that we weren't going to be the ones who drafted him.

[theBigLip]

I think SVG did a good job in talent acquisitions. He inherited a **** roster and turned it into a reasonable amount of talent. And if Jackson had not got hurt, we would have continued to be a playoff team. I don't think that is even debatable.

But alas, Jackson did get hurt and as much as I don't like him as a PG, he was the key driver of our offense. Without him, we sucked. Since we sucked, SVG got desperate and made the Blake trade. And as much as I don't like taking on all that money, I don't think we can seriously judge the trade until this next season plays out. If Blake is healthy and we make the playoffs (maybe even second round), then it was probably the right trade. If Blake is hurt and we end up in the lottery? Then we are f--ked for a few years until that contract goes off our books.

[Spider156]

I think the league is getting saturated with very talented players and eventually there will be a star player or two on every team in the league. Not All Stars but there's a lot of players that can play now. Lots of shooting talent it's impressive. To think we were one of the best teams shooting and Bullock was #2. There's potential.

[Crymson]

To think we were one of the best teams shooting and Bullock was #2. There's potential.

No offense, but is this yet another case of you spouting off things you know to be untrue in the name of being positive? Neither of those claims is factually accurate. The Pistons were in no way, shape, or form one of the best-shooting teams in the NBA. Bullock was #2 in three-point percentage, but by no means one of the league's best shooters. He cannot create offense for himself.

The Pistons were short on good shooters prior to the Griffin trade, and that trade left them desperately short. That situation stands, and was not at all helped by the loss of Tolliver.

[pistonpat]

I should have been more specific about the Piston player acquisition over the last decade. I was referring more to the drafting and FA signings. We have consistently missed in the draft, with exception of Drummond at #9. FA same thing and my focus is on SVG, but Dumars really tailed off in the 2nd half of his tenure after a very succesful first half. SVG with Galloway especially, along with J. Leur). I will give him credit for the Baines signing.

I actually was one of the few giving SVG credit for his trades early on and feel we got more than we gave up in almost all cases until the Blake trade. That negated a lot of the positives getting of getting Morris, Harris and Bradley. Also, a smart GM would of known the Clippers were dying to get rid of the Blake contract ( West even said they thought they were stuck with it), and we could of easily given away a protected lottery 1st rounder and got Blake. We are a franchise that can not afford to give away 1st round picks unless it is a slam dunk trade. Also to hear the Piston brass and management calling Blake a true superstar shows you how bad our management team and scouts are. Anyone who knows basektball saw the 2018 Blake as a "good" player and not an all-star. You add in the enormous contract, injuries and his abilities trending down and you get my comment on bad management acquisition.

While I feel the Reggie Jackson trade was a good trade if you just look at talent in vs talent out, we are never going to win with Reggie. Because our PG situation is poor, Reggie playing probably puts us in the 7th or 8th seed, vs in the 8-12 range of the lottery but that just puts us in no man's land. Also even Gores, called out the PG position and the lack of preparedness behind Reggie this past season. You could argue Stefanski has made it worse if Reggie goes down again.

While some seem wildly optimistic about the two Piston 2nd round picks and some applauding the trade for Thomas, I feel the jury is still out. I dont expect Brown to get any meaningful playing time unless he can improve his shot. I appreciate his hustle, but that will only get you so far in the NBA. He also can be a out of control with his aggressiveness on offense, and coaches will have little patience with a number of TOs and under 40% shooting. Thomas may have a chance to get some second squad minutes, but will he really take minutes from Kennard, Bullock, Galloway or Robinson? I do like his shot and he at least showed he has a mature game, I just have not seen enough yet to say he is going to take minutes from anyone.

I don't believe any of the moves Stefanski made have an impact on the top 9 in the playing group. I feel he tied his hands by agreeing with Gores ( probably to get the $$) that the trio of Drummond, Griffin and Jackson would bring some something meaningful. We all know it won't and why we are going to waste another season. We need to break this trio up now and build for a championship and not a 6th -8th seed at best. With all the money Gores throws around to hire management, I would of liked to see him make a bold move and go after someone like Sam Presti. Stefanski did nothing of note at Philly, Denver,etc.. It was Rod Thorn in NJ and not him who built there playoff team, although the Pistons and the local media like to weave that impression. One thing I admired Illitch for is going after the top management people when he bought the Red Wings and Tigers ( Devallano, Dombroski...the son does not have this aptitude)...

[theBigLip]

I don't believe any of the moves Stefanski made have an impact on the top 9 in the playing group. I feel he tied his hands by agreeing with Gores ( probably to get the $$) that the trio of Drummond, Griffin and Jackson would bring some something meaningful. We all know it won't and why we are going to waste another season. We need to break this trio up now and build for a championship and not a 6th -8th seed at best.

I agree sort of. He is tied to the forementioned trio. But the trade value of everyone on the team is at a low point. We don't have assets to attach to get rid of every bad contract on our team. If we wanted to blow things up, it should have been at the trade deadline last year and instead of getting Blake, it should have been dumping anyone that could get us rookie contracts, draft picks or cap relief. But we didn't

So now, even if we want to blow things up, the best strategy is to start the season with our core, hopefully get hot and have some of our negative contract players start looking good, and then make a bunch of trades at this year's deadline. But I'm not surprised that we are going to start the season with the same basic roster - not a lot of choices. And picking up GRIII is about the best we could expect for the off season.