Pistons Off-Season

[whitehops]

don't know if you guys have heard of it but there's a run in LA called the Rico Hines UCLA Run, it's intended for players who want a game experience to translate things they've been working on in the offseason. it's gained a lot of popularity among nba players recently, earlier this offseason luke kennard played and him and pascal siakam were easily the two best players there. now it's pretty much all legit nba players, including some players like james harden, russell westbrook, paul george, etc.

the raptors bench players have been going there consistently for the past two years (it opened last summer) and the thunder have kind of followed suit this year. recently drummond was out there with (from what i can tell) henry ellenson, bruce brown, khyri thomas, langston galloway, reggie hearns and a couple other two-way contract/camp invite guys i didn't recognize.

i don't expect guys like griffin or jackson to show up but it'd be cool if kennard, SJ and all the young guys showed up consistently going forward. i think a big part of the raps' bench success last season was based on their young guys playing together and building chemistry all offseason.

anyways, here's a video from this past week (most of the video is of harden's team, pistons second half of the video):

Watch on YouTube

[MotownMadness]

don't know if you guys have heard of it but there's a run in LA called the Rico Hines UCLA Run, it's intended for players who want a game experience to translate things they've been working on in the offseason. it's gained a lot of popularity among nba players recently, earlier this offseason luke kennard played and him and pascal siakam were easily the two best players there. now it's pretty much all legit nba players, including some players like james harden, russell westbrook, paul george, etc.

the raptors bench players have been going there consistently for the past two years (it opened last summer) and the thunder have kind of followed suit this year. recently drummond was out there with (from what i can tell) henry ellenson, bruce brown, khyri thomas, langston galloway, reggie hearns and a couple other two-way contract/camp invite guys i didn't recognize.

i don't expect guys like griffin or jackson to show up but it'd be cool if kennard, SJ and all the young guys showed up consistently going forward. i think a big part of the raps' bench success last season was based on their young guys playing together and building chemistry all offseason.

anyways, here's a video from this past week (most of the video is of harden's team, pistons second half of the video):

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[tmorgan]

Denzel must have said something to Beard and ticked him off, because he got serious on him there.

[tmorgan]

Other thoughts:

Henry looks skinny. Like... going towards a slow 3 rather than a skilled 5. Dunno. But obviously working out hard.

Andre looked really good (in the highlights, anyway).

Zach Randolph putting his post buckets on the youngsters was worth some chuckles.

Bagley is super active.

[DBC10]

Watch on YouTube

Dre also shoots some 3s here too. Lol, it looks so weird but it'll be much better than a well-guarded hook shot that SVG and others have forced him in.

[detroitKG]

I know you weren't expecting it Whitehops but the man showed up! Looked spry too

Watch on YouTube

[DETermination]

Blake looks like hes in much better shape, and is it just me or does his jumper look a lot better too?

[Kilo]

Blake's legs are thick as hell for a near 7 footer. A lot of nba players rock twigs. But it's also obvious he strength trains them - I wonder if that leads to his knee issues - maybe his ligaments and tendons are too tight. Our last head trainer was a big time strength/weight lifting proponent. Kander didn't come back full time - but he had a say in who we did hire, and Kander was much more an agility/flexability guy given his gymnastic background.

[tmorgan]

Blake looks like he's in great bodybuilder shape... dunno about basketball shape. Dude looks bulky af.

He and Andre are some massive dudes. Completely against the grain for the league right now. Guess we'll see how it goes.

[Canadafan]

Thank you Lions lol https://mobile.twitter.com/i/web/status/1039347103632375808

[dVs33]

Thank you Lions lol https://mobile.twitter.com/i/web/status/1039347103632375808

Hahahaha I was thinking the same thing. Can't wait for basketball to start.

Sent from my CPH1707 using RealGM mobile app

[Kilo]

One week away bros. Next Monday is media day - which is always a dud given local beat media here, and with social media now a days. Next Tuesday through Saturday they are full 2-a-days at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor.

I still think ultimately one of Galloway or Smith will not break camp with us in a months time - traded for a 4/5 type. Ideally it would be Galloway for a 2 yr returning contract or Ish for an expiring big. But if we want a better player in return expiring Ish for a 2-yr contract Big is probably our best bet. We'd then have said big, Jackson, Leuer, GRIII and Galloway all coming off the books in the same off-season.

[Crymson]

I still think ultimately one of Galloway or Smith will not break camp with us in a months time - traded for a 4/5 type. Ideally it would be Galloway for a 2 yr returning contract or Ish for an expiring big. But if we want a better player in return expiring Ish for a 2-yr contract Big is probably our best bet. We'd then have said big, Jackson, Leuer, GRIII and Galloway all coming off the books in the same off-season.

Galloway, whom nobody will want, or Ish, our single quality backup to an oft-injured starter. Not happening, dude.

[Neptune]

Someone please tell our GM to trade for Butler man! Get nobodies like Kennard, Ish and Luer and our 2019 1st rounder out of here!

Jackson
Butler
?????
Griffin
Drummond

Change our culture and let's turn this into a win-now team. If it doesn't work, blow it up!!

[Kilo]

Butler ain't coming here, but we should monitor the situation to see if we could be the third team in it if necessary. LAC and Minneosta have PG's that might be moved around and they might want expiring Ish instead.

[tradez401]

Butler ain't coming here, but we should monitor the situation to see if we could be the third team in it if necessary. LAC and Minneosta have PG's that might be moved around and they might want expiring Ish instead.

yea i wouldnt mind gettin patrick beverly from the clippers if he's available.

[Manocad]

Someone please tell our GM to trade for Butler man! Get nobodies like Kennard, Ish and Luer and our 2019 1st rounder out of here!

Jackson
Butler
?????
Griffin
Drummond

Change our culture and let's turn this into a win-now team. If it doesn't work, blow it up!!

Adding Butler turns this team into a win what now team? 45 games? No thanks.

[Neptune]

Someone please tell our GM to trade for Butler man! Get nobodies like Kennard, Ish and Luer and our 2019 1st rounder out of here!

Jackson
Butler
?????
Griffin
Drummond

Change our culture and let's turn this into a win-now team. If it doesn't work, blow it up!!

Adding Butler turns this team into a win what now team? 45 games? No thanks.

Huh, 45 games? I can see us being 50+, especially being that we're in the eastern conference. We'll automatically become a top 3 eastern team. Dwayne Casey coaching, Butler, Griffin, Drummond, Jackson and company!? That's Piston basketball!