The blueprint to make the Pistons a championship team

[dan2314]

There are many different directions teams can take to build a championship contending team. And other than the rare occurrences of teams such as the 04 pistons, and the present day spurs, most of them involve superstar talent, and using that as a strength to build around.

For the pistons to be successful, the team has to be built around Drummond and Monroe as the strength of the team. Which is a strength good enough to carry a championship team. Once you can identify that, it is the roles that get filled around them that is the biggest key to the success the team can achieve. And is the main reason for some of the greatest players to play the game, not getting a ring, other than being caught behind that one player that was better than them. In my opinion, the roles to fill alongside a PF/C combination would be:

1. A go-to shot creating wing scorer at either SG/SF, regardless of defensive abilities, who doesn't necessarily need to be a star, but someone who can be the get you a key bucket from the perimeter when required. Hopefully being an approximately 18PPG type scorer, just like the two bigs. For this position, Obviously getting a proper top 10 type superstar would be ideal, but i would love to give Gordon Hayward a shot to be that guy, even though i admittedly have not watched Utah a whole lot the last few years.
2. At the other wing, a strong defensive player who can shoot the 3 on offense. (I think we have that in KCP)
A key element here is that one of those 2 need to be an elite transition player too. This is necessary in order to get easy points amongst the consistent battle of pounding the ball inside with the two big guys.

With that blueprint, Monroe/Starting SF/KCP/And hopefully Drummond would be more than enough scoring in the starting lineup. This means you then would need
3. A point guard that can be the leader of the team, play good defense and get the rest of the team the ball when they need it. I think Marcus Smart could've been that guy, but as looked at in the other thread, if we could somehow land Rondo (If Celtics go full rebuild) without losing monroe/drummond/kcp he would be that and much, much more. He's a top 15 player in the league for a reason... He can do more than just pass. This is likely the toughest hole to fill.
4. In order to take a solid starting lineup to the next level, you need atleast 2 key, reliable bench contributors to go along with that. I would want;
a) another scorer on the wing off the bench, and then
b) another PF/C that can come in and rebound/play good defense for 20 minutes alongside either one of the two starters without it dropping off too much. This is the sort of role that you find with someone/something like Ed Davis or Amir Johnson, just like what McDyess used to do.

Once you have that, over time you can fill out the roster with players who might not have the consistency of the starters, but can contribute at times to turn a good team into a great one on certain nights, much like the heat had with guys like Mike Miller, Anderson, Norris Cole and Shane Battier. With those roles filled, the team can be centered around a terrific PF and C combination whilst still being incredibly balanced, and that becomes a very difficult team to stop.
Its the blueprint i'm worried Chicago is going to beat us to, although with a little more star power in D.Rose and probably Melo, but without the offensive punch that Monroe and Drummond could put onto teams.


Tough, leader, defense first PG
3 & D SG
Scoring SF
Monroe
Drummond

6 Scoring SG/SF
7 Rebounding PF/C
8 Backup PG - run the team, maintain the lead
9 8MPG big body center

[Joe Berry]

So the Pistons basically need an (all-star) scoring SF and a true leader (all-star) PG to contend without giving up any assets. And a solid bench. Yeah great blueprint.

[The Penguin]

So the Pistons basically need an (all-star) scoring SF and a true leader (all-star) PG to contend without giving up any assets. And a solid bench. Yeah great blueprint.

I clicked into the thread expecting to see extensive plans to kidnap Savannah James and hold her for ransom of Lebron opting out and signing with the Pistons.


Needless to say, I am disappointed.

[ImHeisenberg]

This isn't exactly a secret. Get a collection of talent that compliments one another, have bench depth and a coach/system that fits said collection of players.

[dan2314]

So the Pistons basically need an (all-star) scoring SF and a true leader (all-star) PG to contend without giving up any assets. And a solid bench. Yeah great blueprint.

Nobody said it would be easy. In an ideal world, one of them would come in free agency (especially since we have 15m to spend this summer, and josh smith, who isn't going to be a big part of this team, also takes up a large part of the cap that would be put into other players), and the other would come either through the draft, or trading a draft pick to obtain them. A good deal of championship teams, had a steal of a trade make up a key part of their roster. It's not something you can count on, but needs to happen to be a true contender. Look at recent teams, other than the heat who miraculously put 3 stars together in FA, the spurs this year won by stealing kawhi for george hill, lakers got pau, celtics got garnett, etc.

This isn't exactly a secret. Get a collection of talent that compliments one another, have bench depth and a coach/system that fits said collection of players.

yes, but this is THE collection of talent to compliment each other. This is the roles that have to be filled which will complement each other perfectly in order to succeed with a lineup centered around a pair like monroe/drummond. Don't you agree?

[theBigLip]

Dan- agree with you 100%. As others mentioned, this is n't a real shocker when you look at our team's short comings. I guess the big question is who are the targets for a very good SF and a smart, defensive PG.

If Smith could bring us Rondo, that would be awesome, but not likely. I have a feeling that Ainge isn't interested in Smith at all, but maybe if we can find a team that wants him, we can work out a 3 way. It would probably cost us a draft pick as well, but we really need to swap out Smith's salary.

SF or a scoring wing might be easier. LeBron and Melo are FAs and I think either would be a good fit Seriously, I guess we're looking at Ariza and similar players is what we're looking for.

[The Penguin]

Dan- agree with you 100%. As others mentioned, this is n't a real shocker when you look at our team's short comings. I guess the big question is who are the targets for a very good SF and a smart, defensive PG.

If Smith could bring us Rondo, that would be awesome, but not likely. I have a feeling that Ainge isn't interested in Smith at all, but maybe if we can find a team that wants him, we can work out a 3 way. It would probably cost us a draft pick as well, but we really need to swap out Smith's salary.

SF or a scoring wing might be easier. LeBron and Melo are FAs and I think either would be a good fit Seriously, I guess we're looking at Ariza and similar players is what we're looking for.

Smith is the key to getting Rondo to stay here, he and Rondo are tight. Any Rondo plan basically means no Monroe, whether a trade of him for Rondo or trading him for 3 & D shooters around Drummond/Rondo/Smith.

[MotownMadness]

If we could trade Monroe+Jennings+future 1st for Rondo and Green. Then sign Hayward and a few vet backups.

Rondo/Mills
KCP/Morrow
Hayward/Frye/Singler
Smith/Green/Frye
Drummond/Harrelson

[theBigLip]

Dan- agree with you 100%. As others mentioned, this is n't a real shocker when you look at our team's short comings. I guess the big question is who are the targets for a very good SF and a smart, defensive PG.

If Smith could bring us Rondo, that would be awesome, but not likely. I have a feeling that Ainge isn't interested in Smith at all, but maybe if we can find a team that wants him, we can work out a 3 way. It would probably cost us a draft pick as well, but we really need to swap out Smith's salary.

SF or a scoring wing might be easier. LeBron and Melo are FAs and I think either would be a good fit Seriously, I guess we're looking at Ariza and similar players is what we're looking for.

Smith is the key to getting Rondo to stay here, he and Rondo are tight. Any Rondo plan basically means no Monroe, whether a trade of him for Rondo or trading him for 3 & D shooters around Drummond/Rondo/Smith.

They may be tight, but Danny Ainge is the one that makes the decision and not Rondo.

[The Penguin]

Dan- agree with you 100%. As others mentioned, this is n't a real shocker when you look at our team's short comings. I guess the big question is who are the targets for a very good SF and a smart, defensive PG.

If Smith could bring us Rondo, that would be awesome, but not likely. I have a feeling that Ainge isn't interested in Smith at all, but maybe if we can find a team that wants him, we can work out a 3 way. It would probably cost us a draft pick as well, but we really need to swap out Smith's salary.

SF or a scoring wing might be easier. LeBron and Melo are FAs and I think either would be a good fit Seriously, I guess we're looking at Ariza and similar players is what we're looking for.

Smith is the key to getting Rondo to stay here, he and Rondo are tight. Any Rondo plan basically means no Monroe, whether a trade of him for Rondo or trading him for 3 & D shooters around Drummond/Rondo/Smith.

They may be tight, but Danny Ainge is the one that makes the decision and not Rondo.

If Ainge doesn't make a decision between now and February then Rondo is the one who makes the decision.

[theBigLip]

Smith is the key to getting Rondo to stay here, he and Rondo are tight. Any Rondo plan basically means no Monroe, whether a trade of him for Rondo or trading him for 3 & D shooters around Drummond/Rondo/Smith.

They may be tight, but Danny Ainge is the one that makes the decision and not Rondo.

If Ainge doesn't make a decision between now and February then Rondo is the one who makes the decision.

Agreed. I think Ainge will be playing his cards pretty soon. He has the Rondo issue (trade or keep), the #6 pick (keep, trade down or out), and lots of cap space and future #1s. I'd be surprised if the Rondo issue isn't resolved this summer.

[The Penguin]

They may be tight, but Danny Ainge is the one that makes the decision and not Rondo.

If Ainge doesn't make a decision between now and February then Rondo is the one who makes the decision.

Agreed. I think Ainge will be playing his cards pretty soon. He has the Rondo issue (trade or keep), the #6 pick (keep, trade down or out), and lots of cap space and future #1s. I'd be surprised if the Rondo issue isn't resolved this summer.

It looks like Lebron/Melo will drive everything. If they team up somewhere in the East I could see a team like Boston blowing it all up and dealing Rondo/Green. I imagine Wallace would be a must in any Rondo deal. If Lebron/Melo go West then I imagine a whole bunch of Eastern teams are going to throw all their chips in to grab control of the conference.

[BadMofoPimp]

The blueprint should be a full team of role players who play great team ball with elite team defense and great ball movement on offense.

[E-Z]

An organization's philosophy is more important than the personnel. With Stan Van Gundy, Detroit has one of the best basketball minds in the sport today. He's all about defense, while prioritizing offensive efficiency. Numbers don't lie, as all but two NBA champions (1995 Rockets & 2001 Lakers) have owned top ten defenses within the past two decades.

SVG will keep or add players who buy into his system. We'll see an increase in overall production from players we have written off entirely (Smith, Jennings), or new faces will be here soon enough. This is a man who I can trust, and his motto and philosophies embodies what the Pistons are about; hard work and defense.

This franchise has been fortunate enough to have witnessed two legendary rebounding bigs, and it appears we've landed a third. You know what that means, now that he has the right staff around him; long playoff runs and ultimately a championship or two.

[wallace72]

This isn't exactly a secret. Get a collection of talent that compliments one another, have bench depth and a coach/system that fits said collection of players.

x2
x3
x4
x5
+ good ownership