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Playoff results and Piston opportunies

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Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#1 » by theBigLip » Mon Apr 25, 2022 10:57 pm

So as the playoffs roll on without us, there is an interesting aspect to the results - offseason availability of some players, or Grant trade options.

West:
Phoenix/Ayton - what if they get bounced early, and Ayon plays mediocre. Does this make him more available/no PHO match?
New Orleans/Zion - if New Orleans beats Phoenix, clearly without Zion, does this make him more available?
Dallas/Brunson - I think this has already played out. He got to lead the team, didn't disappoint, and he is going to have a huge market.
Utah - if they lose in the first round, is it time to blow things up? Mitchell available?
Denver - sort of same as Utah. Do they push to be elite or start a rebuild? First round losses cause a lot of questions.

East:
Atlanta - last year's playoff darlings are not looking so good. If they get beat 4-1, they need to do something else. Is Collins more available? Could they use Grant?
Chicago - there was talk of Grant going there during the trade deadline. If they feel they are a piece or two away, do they try to get Grant?
Brooklyn - yikes, what a mess. They don't have much flexibility, still don't have Simmons, and future looks bleak. WHat do they do for next season?

Anyway, you get the idea - a lot can change in the offseason based on what's going on in the playoffs, as well as teams like the Lakers/Blazers, etc who didn't even get in but think they are just a piece or two away (realistic or not). We have cap space, and with a weak class of free agents, maybe trading with some over-reacting teams will be a big opportunity to us.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#2 » by DBC10 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:03 am

theBigLip wrote:So as the playoffs roll on without us, there is an interesting aspect to the results - offseason availability of some players, or Grant trade options.

West:
Phoenix/Ayton - what if they get bounced early, and Ayon plays mediocre. Does this make him more available/no PHO match?
New Orleans/Zion - if New Orleans beats Phoenix, clearly without Zion, does this make him more available?
Dallas/Brunson - I think this has already played out. He got to lead the team, didn't disappoint, and he is going to have a huge market.
Utah - if they lose in the first round, is it time to blow things up? Mitchell available?
Denver - sort of same as Utah. Do they push to be elite or start a rebuild? First round losses cause a lot of questions.

East:
Atlanta - last year's playoff darlings are not looking so good. If they get beat 4-1, they need to do something else. Is Collins more available? Could they use Grant?
Chicago - there was talk of Grant going there during the trade deadline. If they feel they are a piece or two away, do they try to get Grant?
Brooklyn - yikes, what a mess. They don't have much flexibility, still don't have Simmons, and future looks bleak. WHat do they do for next season?

Anyway, you get the idea - a lot can change in the offseason based on what's going on in the playoffs, as well as teams like the Lakers/Blazers, etc who didn't even get in but think they are just a piece or two away (realistic or not). We have cap space, and with a weak class of free agents, maybe trading with some over-reacting teams will be a big opportunity to us.


West: Agreed on PHX, New Orleans, and Utah. But I think ultimately Danny Ainge will either blow it up all to hell since he didn't draft either one of their two stars in Mitchell and Rudy or take one more last chance on a mini Mitchell rebuild while try to offload Gobert. I don't think Denver rebuilds, they were decimated by last season's late injury from Murray so they'll likely try to see what they have with him during the course of the season while trying to get Jokic some defensive studs since that team has zero defense

East: Much more complicated but ATL may have a slight blow up besides Trae. Chicago got decimated by injuries and COVID protocols so I think they run it back with a healthy Lonzo, Lavine (Assuming he gets the extension), and Pat Will all coming back. Brooklyn, they likely can't do anything really. They can't offload Simmons now after all the hoopla of getting him and Kyrie is still hit or miss on when he even fully plays or gives up in the middle of season to go on some sabbatical
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#3 » by bstein14 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 4:55 am

If the Suns get bounced in the first round, it means that Phoenix won't be giving Ayton a MAX deal, unless they clear up a bunch of other cap space.

Either scenario could be great for us whether we decide to give Ayton a large deal, or if the Suns look to a team with cap space to take a decent player or two from them.

Charlotte bouncing out early and Bridges throwing his mouthpiece at a young girl also has me doubting that MJ is going to be offering him up a max deal... he might have to go out and sign a contract with another team and make MJ decide to match.

Brunson of course is high value, but he also is a lot more proven now. Interestingly is leaked that the Mavs likely offered us Brunson on 2020 draft night... They were desperately trying to move up and draft Haliburton to pair with Luka.... and they offered Brunson + #18, + #31 to several teams before Sacramento eventually drafted him at #12.

Finally, the other big thing to watch will be how the draft lottery plays out and where Portland's pick ends up.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#4 » by LaSheed » Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:14 am

I thought Grant to Atlanta is our best bet after Portland lost that Pick. Idk if I would personally love it but they might be a team out East that would shake it up mostly imo.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#5 » by theBigLip » Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:52 am

Playoffs will certainly cause stress on teams, which will force changes. Hopefully Weaver can take advantage.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#6 » by Pharaoh » Tue Apr 26, 2022 6:35 am

I'm actually watching the playoffs and seeing the type of player we need to add around Cade, Grant and Bey in order for us to legitimately be on that level.

Assuming you start with those 3, Hayes, Diallo and Stewart (as they're cheap atm) what needs to be added to catapult us from "bottom feeder" to "we're coming for real"?

6'8" tall, 7 foot wingspan, can shoot from deep and defend reasonably well. Get all them dudes up in here

6'10" and up rim runner, shot blocker that can defend in space.

3 point shooters

Dudes that can make plays off the bounce cause the D tightens up when it counts.

None of this is new though. Boston just got their quicker and Toronto onto it too as expected given their FO.

For us we gotta draft them cause not a free agent destination and the fact Weaver has targeted dudes like Pat Williams & Scottie Barnes in Drafts suggests he sees the future coming too.

Gotta wait for the Lottery draw though

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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#7 » by theBigLip » Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:04 pm

Jabari Smith = younger Jason Tatum?

3 & D guys sure come in handy in the playoffs. Boston looks really tough to score on. It will be a great matchup vs Giannis.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#8 » by LaSheed » Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:24 pm

theBigLip wrote:Jabari Smith = younger Jason Tatum?

3 & D guys sure come in handy in the playoffs. Boston looks really tough to score on. It will be a great matchup vs Giannis.


I dont think Smith is on the same planet Tatum was even then putting the ball on the floor.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#9 » by theBigLip » Tue Apr 26, 2022 4:22 pm

LaSheed wrote:
theBigLip wrote:Jabari Smith = younger Jason Tatum?

3 & D guys sure come in handy in the playoffs. Boston looks really tough to score on. It will be a great matchup vs Giannis.


I dont think Smith is on the same planet Tatum was even then putting the ball on the floor.


I don't think anyone is on the same planet as Tatum right now :D

I was just following up with Pharoh's comments about desirable player types, probably influenced by Boston's crazy D. Jabari Smith looks like the closest to Tatum. But it would take a lot of work to get there. Heck, it even took Tatum several years to hone his game. Looking pretty badass right now.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#10 » by zeebneeb » Tue Apr 26, 2022 7:31 pm

What Boston has shown is that not being hasty, and giving up on guys is rule #1, 2, and 3.

I am also watching the Pels/Suns series closely (besides the fact that its a hell of a series)because if they even struggle this round, and then end up getting bounced by the Warriors, or someone else, I could see a window open up for Ayton.

Of course, once again it's tough to say for sure until the 17th when we'll all know where the Pistons will be picking, but I'm paying attention, and have had several discussions with my brother about it already.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#11 » by bstein14 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:43 pm

zeebneeb wrote:What Boston has shown is that not being hasty, and giving up on guys is rule #1, 2, and 3.

I am also watching the Pels/Suns series closely (besides the fact that its a hell of a series)because if they even struggle this round, and then end up getting bounced by the Warriors, or someone else, I could see a window open up for Ayton.

Of course, once again it's tough to say for sure until the 17th when we'll all know where the Pistons will be picking, but I'm paying attention, and have had several discussions with my brother about it already.


Crazy that 5 years ago Tatum came into the league as a rookie and he played with Smart, Horford (who they gave up on and then brought back), and Brown... and here he is with those 3 five years later and they just might be the favorites to win it all right now.

Pelicans are really impressive because they are playing 2nd round rookies big minutes. Herbert and Jose have been fun to watch.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#12 » by Cowology » Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:53 pm

zeebneeb wrote:What Boston has shown is that not being hasty, and giving up on guys is rule #1, 2, and 3.

I am also watching the Pels/Suns series closely (besides the fact that its a hell of a series)because if they even struggle this round, and then end up getting bounced by the Warriors, or someone else, I could see a window open up for Ayton.

Of course, once again it's tough to say for sure until the 17th when we'll all know where the Pistons will be picking, but I'm paying attention, and have had several discussions with my brother about it already.

Sort of, but the guys they waited on also fit their defense 1st, team oriented culture. It seems more applicable to Hayes/Livers than say... Bey. But I guess part of that depends on what we actually want our team identity to be.

Also, Pels have a great record with both CJ & Ingrim in the lineup. I read an article a little while ago about their communication and getting on the same page;
The Pelicans went 13-10 after the All-Star break and finished the regular season as the No. 9 seed. While Ingram has missed 13 games since the trade, New Orleans is 8-2 with McCollum and Ingram in the lineup. Ingram is listed as probable for Wednesday's play-in game vs. the San Antonio Spurs.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33725095/cj-mccollum-second-act-leading-zion-williamson-young-new-orleans-pelicans.

And meanwhile the Suns have been without their best player the last 2+ games.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#13 » by Pharaoh » Tue Apr 26, 2022 11:31 pm

Looking at the Draft Paolo is probably closer to Tatum offensively while Jabari is closer defensively.

Question then is (assuming we have a shot at both in the Lottery): who is most likely to develop the other aspects of their game to be a Tatum clone?

Watching that Boston D for 4 games was glorious though. If we could get to that level within 3 years I'd be happy af

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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#14 » by tmorgan » Tue Apr 26, 2022 11:38 pm

I think Paolo is far more likely to pick up his defense than Jabari is to turn into a shot creator.

If we end up in a position where drafting Jabari is the right move, fine, but I’m pretty sure we’re getting a great spot shooter that’s tall and play good defense. A fine player. But I don’t see him going nova and turning into a superstar. If you want that and are willing to take your chances, that list is Chet, Sharpe, and to a lesser extent, Paolo.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#15 » by vege » Wed Apr 27, 2022 1:22 am

Memphis could use Grant imo.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#16 » by bstein14 » Wed Apr 27, 2022 2:06 am

tmorgan wrote:I think Paolo is far more likely to pick up his defense than Jabari is to turn into a shot creator.

If we end up in a position where drafting Jabari is the right move, fine, but I’m pretty sure we’re getting a great spot shooter that’s tall and play good defense. A fine player. But I don’t see him going nova and turning into a superstar. If you want that and are willing to take your chances, that list is Chet, Sharpe, and to a lesser extent, Paolo.


Paolo doesn't have the agility and foot speed IMO. He's 250+ lbs and has a good feel on the offensive side of the ball but I don't think he's going to be the type of big that can easily switch and defend wings and quicker forwards very well.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#17 » by MrBigShot » Wed Apr 27, 2022 5:41 am

I don't need to watch much college ball to know that Banchero has nowhere near the level of talent, athleticism, and polish that Tatum had before coming into the league.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#18 » by The Moose » Wed Apr 27, 2022 7:08 am

MrBigShot wrote:I don't need to watch much college ball to know that Banchero has nowhere near the level of talent, athleticism, and polish that Tatum had before coming into the league.


Tatum was a better prospect than Paolo, but I don’t think those 3 aspects are why. Paolo is very talented and polished for his age, and I don’t think Tatum is all that much better of an athlete when accounting for overall size.

But Paolo simply doesn’t have Tatum’s class as a perimeter scorer , Tatum was a better shooter, better handler and better difficult perimeter shot taker and maker. Plus , he’s better and more versatile defensively.

I agree with what’s been said in this thread in general though. If you combine Jabari and Paoloa strengths , you get Tatum
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#19 » by Cowology » Wed Apr 27, 2022 12:05 pm

Tatum is Bostons best player. He is their franchise. That's what we got Cade for. We're looking for our Jaylen Brown and other complimentary pieces. All-Star or borderline 2-way players. They don't have to be All-NBA. Somebody like Jabari will be just fine.
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Re: Playoff results and Piston opportunies 

Post#20 » by LaSheed » Wed Apr 27, 2022 1:42 pm

Oladipo looked pretty good for being out for so long. I know the Hawks were awful but still looked good.

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