1984Echoes

This blurb out of the Athletic speaks to that: What’s wrong with Red Wings after winless homestand? Five Thoughts - The Athletic Larkin talked about the team needing to have more desperation, “especially around the net, and wanting to get there and score goals,” and said he could “probably look in the mirror and could lead the charge on that.” His four five-on-five points since Dec. 1 speak to that, and Detroit will need more offense from its top center down the stretch. Four 5-on-5 points since Dec 1st... His line doesn't play heavy enough. For the playoffs or playoff success. IMO. PS: Having 3 scoring lines: a Larkin line, a Cat-Kane-Copp line, and a "heavy" line... Would allow McLellan to adjust minutes up or down as needed... or... accordingly. Probably not a nice thing to say... but necessary (similar to Stevie Y reaming out Larkin after Larkin popped off last year). IMO.

Definitely a guy I would be interested in. Also... Tre Jones from the same team. But I don't think he's available. Just sayin'... The type of guy who would help the Pistons significantly. But here's one more question: If the Pistons could grab two players - call them Dosunmu & Tre Jones, or Davion Mitchell and Kel'el Ware - and had to overpay to get them, in picks and NOT in players, say one more 1st rounder or add a couple 1st round swaps and half a dozen or more 2nds OVER what would be expected to be a fair trade package... Should the Pistons do that? Overpay for significant secondary players instead of a potential "top dog" to pair with Cade? If they can't get ahold of JJJ, or Murphy3, or MPJ... Might that not be a viable alternative? Just tryin' to think outside the box again...

PS: I know this was shot down as unrealistic... but at least it's the logic of what I just mentioned up above... How do we get a heavier/ harder to play against/ offensively skilled and dangerous/ able to withstand the tougher playoff level hitting/ games... 2nd line? PPS: I heard the Blues were listening to offers on Thomas. That's why I asked the question.... and yes, I know it would be crazy expensive in terms of prospects and picks... but I'm still searching for the answers so...

I think this is a good time/ place to put some food for thought in here...: We've started to struggle the past week... with Simon out and the competition a little higher... So... What I am thinking about is the "ideal" for the Wings, which I don't think has been under discussion anywhere that I can see: "Ideally": 1) I think I would rather have Copp-Cat-Kane as the 3rd line, not the second. I think as we get closer to the playoffs and the play gets tougher... They are the guys who will end up getting pushed around more and lose steam the last couple of months... That doesn't mean I'm trying to steal their minutes... but I want them in the offensive zone, on power play 2nd team... etc. "Protected" so to speak, at least as much as is feasible. 2) That probably has been true of Larkin's line too though. So... Ideally... I want a "heavy" line 2. Guys that can hit and play tougher than Raymond-Larkin-Kasper, but are also significant offensive threats. Sort of a 1B to Larkin's 1A. Can we do that? Internally, that means Danielson and MBN make the jump back up to the NHL and make that type of impact. So... probably not this year. But... can they? Become part of a "Heavy" 1B line? Even if those two make it, we're still short a big bruising power forward with both offensive and defensive skills (another 2-way PF). Who in our system can play that spot? Soderblom? He's not a 2-way player. So... WHO? And from WHERE? 3) A couple more comments on Nate-MBN: If we want to roll 4 lines... I think the Wings have to find a way to develop that "heavy", offensively skilled, line. Call them the 3rd line if you want to... But the Wings are deficient now, have been for the past several years, and will continue to be, IMO, in both the playoffs and the last 30 games of the regular season leading to the playoffs (or out of the playoffs). Because we don't have 3 dangerous lines. I don't mind a 4th checking line. But I think we're short a scoring threat line that is playoff worthy. And that includes Larkin's line too. IMO. So "ideally", I want that heavy line on this team. "Ideally": 1) We also need a 2nd pairing. Chiarot-ASP belong on the 3rd pair. Aljo and JBD are useful IMO, but more as the "plug them in" guys (7th and 8th defenseman) when needed, to cover someone. So... IMO, an LHD and an RHD has to come out of Buium, Wallinder, Tuomisto and Anton Johansson. Worthy of being a 2nd pairing. So again... that isn't this year. And if we CAN'T get a 2nd pairing out of two of those guys... then the question is: WHERE do we get a 2nd pairing? Because, IMO, we certainly need one.

And before anyone else says it... "Easier said than done". Yep, I know...!

Trajan needs to worm his way into the middle of those two scenarios: Teams trying to dump salary to avoid tax penalties... And teams trying to dump salary to go after Giannis... And wheedle just one player (at least I mean...) out of each situation that help the Pistons in areas of need. Doesn't have to be a star... just a 3&D guy, a playmaker/ballhandler, a stretch 3 or 4 or 5... They can be backups... but have the ability to step up with the starters if needed. Just my 2 cents.

I'm stealing this from the game thread because it is oh so relevant in here: So here's the question I would ask... Are there under-the-radar 3&D guys that Langdon could find? One that would NOT cost a Duren or Ausar (maybe a Holland...)? Maybe they are good at range and D, but not great, but are young and haven't been given enough rope on the floor to get better? Or a 3&D bench guy with a flaw or two but that would improve the Pistons bench anyways? A vet who is good at 3 and D and playmaking, but not great at any one of those, and is winding down his career? An expensive contract that needs to be moved and the guy actually is great at 3&D? I'm just spit-ballin' here... Trying to think outside the box. That's why I went after Miami's guys if they are going to take the big swing at Giannis. I'm not interested in Giannis either... I was... but he's 31, starting to get injured a lot... I'd rather target a Murphy3, MPJ, or JJJ. If we were going that type of route and one of those guys were actually available. PS: Do we have any ourselves? IE: Chaz Lanier... does he turn into one down the road?

Give me Rob Thomas!!! Also, for harder-to-play forwards with some offense... Could the Columbia Blue Jackets be talked out of Marchenko? Or Voronkov? Or both? I realize I'm talking significant packages here... But I would trade Danielson for Thomas. Plus other pieces and draft picks. And MBN for Marchenko. Plus other pieces and draft picks. I dream of a 2nd line with Voronkov-Thomas-Marchenko! Just my 2 cents.

My WAG on this... Bucks aren't trading Giannis until the offseason. Miami would absolutely be interested. But I think the Heat have expiring contracts of $54 Mill plus (Rozier, Powell, Fontecchio...). So they can absorb Giannis without too much effort. So the guys the Heat may consider trading (where the Pistons come in), aren't the expiring contracts but, rather, guys that they might be interested in moving who are signed beyond this season. Which isn't everybody, since they will want some competitive team around Giannis. I believe they would be reluctant to lose Bam, Herro & Wiggins, for starters. That leaves Davion Mitchell ($12.4M in 2026-27) and Jovic ($16.2M starting in 2026-27 (TOXIC! especially if they sign Giannis and make Jovic a backup PF...)) / Ware ($4.7M 26-27 ... club option)/ Jacquez ($6M 26-27 ... club option)/ Jakucionis ($4M in 2026-27) ... I think they waive Jacquez if they need more money for Giannis. I'm not interested in Jovic, let him be some other teams' problem, even though he's a young (22) stretch-4 (sort of, alot of up & down early in his career: 40% 2023, 37% 2024, 29% this season). I don't want to risk the $16M and there's not enough D there. In fact... the Bucks can have him. But... I WOULD be interested in Davion Mitchell and Kel'el Ware (stretch-5 with D). If the Heat want some cap room and are willing to move those two, I would try to get them at the deadline. Ivey, Green & Isaac Jones fall off the books after this year and match salaries... and this is going to cost a couple 1sts at least. And maybe half a dozen 2nds... Miami would use them to help acquire Giannis in the offseason. Just on a WAG. Anyone interested?

They already built Alligator Auschwitz here in Florida.

Dries was some depth skill-veteran GR signed... 28 points in 32 games and +14... means nothing but, just sayin'... 5' 9" 31 year old depth guy (break glass in case of emergency...).

PLEASE have Hamonic out-of-commission or heading to Grand Rapids... Please?

That really sucks because NAW would fix, at least in part, a lot of our current deficiencies (range, secondary ball-handling, plays "D" unlike LeVert...).

I was looking at teams that had crappy records (lack of leadership and/or toughness), crappy RB's, and an excess (2 or 3 or so) of 4th or 5th round picks. I settled on the Raiders, Browns and Cardinals. I'm holding out hope...

I really like Paye and Bush. Couple of UM guys who might be happy to come home to the Lions and contend for Super Bowls and they address DE and OLB needs...

Who were the Brewers' "Beer League" players from the 70's & 80's? Gormon Thomas? George Scott? I thought they had some guys in worse shape than those two...?

I would say SF has described it more correctly. Also... I don't think I would use Ty Cobb as an example. If you are looking for less-than-athletic looking baseball players who could hit a baseball and played in MLB... Maybe start with Prince Fielder, Hack Wilson, Tony Gwynn (much more athletic than his svelte figure belied...), Bob Hamelin, Kyle Blanks, Willie Horton and George Scott (in their later years...), amongst many others.

I wonder what is the highest draft picks we could get for him? I think not much, considering that short shelf life. A 4th and a 5th? Better? Worse?

FA Centers may cost way too much ($18M AAV for the best one?), so turn to the draft. Unless Ragnow wants to come back? I think Tackles are the same situation. FA money for those two positions is ridiculous. I say... Draft OC and OT. IMO.

If they want to run a TE-heavy offense as it seems they do... I think they have room for both TE's... Bellinger as a block-heavy TE who can also catch... And Okonkwo as an H-Back/LaPorta-lite type TE who is an extremely dangerous (and highly reliable) pass-catcher. (Can beat any LB'er with speed...). Peltzing likes TE-screens and breaking his 3rd tight end out wide... That would be Okonkwo or LaPorta... (Or both?)

I'm just always thinking of the short shelf lives of RB's... I mean, Montgomery has shown no evidence of slowing down whatsoever... He can still be amazing, IMO. (And I'm certain in everyone else's mind too...) I just always keep it in the back of my mind.

Can't teams get around that by offering him an "Assistant Head Coach" position, along with the DC...?

PS: That leaves the 1st two draft rounds open for LT and Center. Also... I'm thinking Dave Montgomery might be moved for draft picks but I'm uncertain if it's worth it or not. We'd need another "tough-as-nails" replacement... so I don't see the sense. Just commenting on his current dissatisfaction. I only see a couple possibilities anyways, like the Raiders, Browns, Cardinals... maybe. But what if he could get us a couple 4ths...? Is that a possibility? Is that worth it? Just some food for thought...

Offseason Shopping/ FA Want list: Not necessarily in any order: Kwity Paye, DE, 27 (at start of next season), UM, Colts FA. Devin Bush, OLB, 28, UM, Browns FA. Chig Okonkwo, TE, 27, Maryland, Titans FA. Bryan Cook, SS, 26, OSU, Chiefs FA. Alontae Taylor (maybe?), CB, 27, UT, Saints FA.

Lobotomized. Thought it might help.