Betrayer

It's a good question. I wouldn't rule out Weaver stretching Olynyk's contract 🤣🤣🤣

Same. Bey/Livers as your PF rotation makes the most sense and is the archetype you need on most nights, especially come playoff time. It also frees you up to find a Wiggins-type for your SF as you work to round out the roster and get playoff ready in a couple years. But I don't see it happening this year because it means very limited minutes for 5 guys at one position (Stew, Bagley, Duren, Olynyk, and Noel). 3 of those guys are young, on multi-year deals, and need minutes to develop. 2 of them are vets with plenty of mileage left in the tank that will want to play. I assume/hope Weaver's going to make some moves to make sense of this roster by the All-Star break.

Well, I think what we've learned from Weaver's time here and what he's said in interviews - he likes trades a lot more than free agency. Which is good, because I've been super impressed with everything he does other than free agency, where I think he's been kind of poor. Plus, Detroit isn't a free agent destination anyway, so it's probably a good tactic. So, I expect Troy to prioritize trading into his cap space over waiting for the Free Agent market. What does that mean? Well, it means literally anything is on the table and it's a lot harder to predict. For example, this year people were throwing out all kinds of names for the Pistons, from Ayton to Portis, but Troy went totally out of the blue and traded to get Burks/Noel into the cap space. Two guys who were on nobody's radar for the Pistons because nobody knew they were available. I expect more of the same next offseason.

I love this kid. https://theathletic.com/3411166/2022/07/11/pistons-saddiq-bey-mountains-grid/

The front court is an issue with the roster as it's currently constructed because we have 5 Centers and no true PFs. Stew, Bagley, and Duren are three young big men whose natural position should be Center. They're all signed long term and they all need minutes to develop. I didn't mind the Bagley signing on paper, but once we already had Stew and Duren, adding another young Center created an odd roster situation, especially since we also have Olynyk and Noel. Olynyk is well within his playing years and the only big who can shoot (so far). Then you have Noel, who isn't ready to hang up the sneakers and should get minutes as well. All of these guys are Centers. Yea, you can put some of them in at PF (and we will), but none of them are PFs in today's game. They either can't shoot, can't dribble, or can't defend the perimeter well enough to be PFs. As for PFs, honestly the best PF on this team is Bey in my opinion. Loved the stretch of games he played at that position last year. He's strong enough to guard that position, rebounds well, and stretches the floor on offense. I'd love to see Casey start him at that spot (Cade, Ivey, Burks, Bey, and one of the Centers). However, if you do that, now you have even less minutes to distribute to the 3 young developing Centers and the 2 vets. Essentially 2 or 3 of those 5 Centers would get zero playing time. Even though I think it's our best lineup, I'm not sure that's going to happen. So, the more likely outcome is that they try to run Stew at the PF for a while and see if it can work. Can he guard the perimeter full time? Can he hit the three with consistency? Can he handle the more advanced passing and handling skills that are required at that spot? By the time Casey figures that out, it will be the All Star break and maybe KO or Noel get moved, we'll know more about Duren, and so on.

It was sad to see Ivey's night cut short by that injury, but I'm glad it doesn't look serious. He was absolutely brilliant in those 5 minutes. Looked great in the second half of game 1 as well after some rookie mistakes in the 1st half. He adjusted quickly after those mistakes and if that's a sign of things to come, then this is going to be a fun year. I really hope Casey starts Ivey and realizes that he should leave one of Cade and Ivey on the court at all times...but it's Casey so I'm sure he'll start Burks and run 5 in and 5 out like he's playing XBox lineups again this year. Stew looks like he might be able to shoot the 3 at a decent clip, but there's more to playing PF than just that. His handle and passing have a long way to go to be a PF. He also sags off of his assignment because he's still drawn to the paint on defense. He's got a lot to learn to be the Grant Williams or Al Horford type that Casey/Weaver have been comparing him to. That said, it was fun watching Duren and Stew make it crazy difficult for the Wizards in the paint for a long stretch - '04 flashbacks. In the end, I think Stew is a top tier bench big man on a good team, which is great value at pick #16, although I'm sure they'll continue to start him until Duren develops or they pickup someone good enough to supplant him in the lineup. Duren looks like a beast...and then looks lost...and back and forth. He's young and you can tell. My guess is he's going to get spot minutes for the first half of the season while he figures things out and then get a more consistent 12-15 minutes per game from All-Star break onward. The raw talent is there, but he's got a lot to learn about positioning on offense and defense. Too bad they shut Killian down. He needs the reps. Played ok, but still looked passive in that first game when he should be dominating this level of competition. At the end of the day, it's all about that catch and shoot three. If he can hit that with consistency and continue to be a plus playmaker and defender, then you've got a really solid bench PG. I'm guessing they'll shut down Stew for the next game. Hopefully they still play Duren though, because there's nobody else on the roster left to care about after that.

He also saw double teams (and triple teams) more than any other rookie (and most stars in the league). It's ok, this year we're going to fix that with all this shooting and spacing we added around him...oh wait, having to cover all the PF and C minutes between 5 Centers that can't shoot doesn't solve this problem?

I really hope they trade Durant to the team that gives them the most return (hopefully Sacramento) or plays hard ball and lets him decide if he just wants to sit out. The fact that they stuck their neck and signed a player who was injured for a full year, tried to put a team around him, and now he's demanding a trade because it's not easy enough for him with 4 years left is ridiculous. This needs to stop.

They didn't do it for a #7, #1, #16, or #19 pick. Zero chance he just gets stashed in the G-League all year as some are suggesting or only gets Darko minutes in a season where the only expectation is that you develop the young core of this team. He'll be getting 10-18 mpg by no later than the All Star break. If he spends a game or two with the Cruise, it won't be for long. Save that stuff for guys like Saben or Garza who may never make it in the league. You want this kid practicing, travelling, being around the big boys, and getting spot minutes while you acclimate him for the first half of the season so he can play solid rotation minutes after the All-Star break.

Different front office.

It sounds great in theory, but I don't see it happening. Even with all their talk about the MCC being a "partner", they haven't sent a first round pick, let alone a lotto pick, down to the G-League yet (outside of injury recovery). I'd be surprised if it happened unless Duren looks unplayable, which would be rare for a front-court player with his athleticism. I'm sure he can immediately come in and grab some rebounds and block some shots. More likely Noel will be hurt after five minutes of play, or people will start to realize why they call him "No Hands Noel". Also, I think I recall us having conversations about a crowded front-court in previous years...and then suddenly those guys started to disappear before the season...Weaver may not be done with moves. Someone like Kelly O could help a contender - or simply get cut and stretched as Troy loves to do with big men.

Bagley deal isn’t my favorite. Love everything else Troy has done this summer and it’s only a slight overpay in my eyes, so not terrible or anything. Would feel better if it was a third year team option. My real concern is the logjam of young guys who need development in the front court (Stew, Duren, Bagley). They’re going to try to fit one or two of them at PF but I’m not sure any of them belong at that position in a league where you need to be able to space the floor at PF and guard smalls. I’d rather see Bey or Livers at the 4, but then how do you find minutes for three young guys who need to develop along with a couple of vets (Olynyk, Noel) on top of that? Too many options for Casey to screw up the lineup is a bad thing.

5 minutes from the Finals with a home grown team...nah, let me go join the team that beat us for an easy championship instead. Now he wants to go the #1 seeded Suns. Classic Durant. How many more bridges will he burn before he's done? Between him, Harden, and Kyrie, it was nice having almost all of the players I hate on the Nets for a while. Spreading them out is going to make it harder to root for a team in the playoffs next year.

He was already looking like a train wreck with throwing his mouth guard at a fan and his drug using social media posts. And now this. I'm happy that Weaver has chosen to build a team of good character players that I can enjoy rooting for.

Get your mind prepared for the frustration of Casey's 4th quarter lineups: Cade, CoJo, Burks, Olynyk, Noel 🤣

I wouldn't say "red shirt", but more like an early season buffer for Duren. Noel played 25 games last year due to injury and he's not exactly durable. I expect Duren will be getting 20 mpg per game after the All-Star break. Noel is just a cushion on an expiring deal for the first half of the year while Duren gets acclimated. I'm sure they'll handle it like Beef Stew who was getting inconsistent minutes in the first half of his first season and didn't get his first start until game #48.

Those are both team friendly contracts too. Burks making 10M this year with a team option next year and Noel making 9M this year with a team option next year. So, Weaver grabs a couple of vets, kicks the cap space to next year, and gets 2 draft picks along the way. Well done.

Well, that's interesting. I wanted Noel last year, but now I'm not sure we needed another Center that can't shoot, especially since the word is that we're going to bring back Bagley also. Burks is a nice get. Solid vet who has shot over 40% from three the past three seasons. He goes off on us every time we play him, so maybe he just needed to be in a Piston's uniform. EDIT: Sounds like we're getting 2 second round picks back and not sending any players in return. So, this accounts for about 19M of our cap. In his season ending interview, when Weaver said that Free Agency can be a little tricky so he prefers trades, he clearly wasn't joking.

Honestly, my preference would be to give Livers a shot starting at the 4. Smart role player who can knock down threes, but I doubt Casey goes that young across the board. I'd also be good with sliding Bey over since I thought he was better on both sides of the ball at that position, but that depends upon what you get in free agency. I could see them going after a vets like Bryn Forbes, Gary Harris, and Taurean Prince.

Keep in mind that Jalen is 18 years old - the youngest guy in the draft. I guarantee you that Casey will have him coming off the bench for at least the first half of the year if not more. But, I think he'll start Ivey because dude is going to sell tickets and you can't sit the 5th pick on a developing team. With Cade, Ivey, Bey, and Stewart likely starting, Casey is going to want to insert a vet into the starting unit. Depending upon what happens in free agency, I think that guy will be Kelly Olynyk at PF.

I assumed Jackson was gone. An undersized guy you sign to be a shooter than can't shoot isn't worth much. As for Hami, I'm surprised but not unhappy. I like the exciting chaos that he brings, but he's got to shoot 35% from three with consistency and increase his defensive IQ off the ball, otherwise I don't see him getting many minutes in Casey's rotation. Kid has potential, but I'm not sure if he ever figures it out. Luckily for him we have the time (and money) to wait.

I'm in favor of signing some vets and role players that can shoot to 2 year deals with a 3rd year team option. Keep your flexibility with contracts that can moved or simply released in a couple years while we let this team grow and figure out what we need. I don't see Portis leaving the Bucks. He literally has 20K fans chanting his name every time he plays and they have legitimate title chances. 10 players under contract: Cade, Ivey, Hayes, CoJo, Lee Bey, Livers Stew, Duren, Olynyk Players with Team Options or QOs: Hami, Jackson, Garza, Bagley, and some G-League scrubs (Edwards, Pickett, etc) Realistically, I think Bagley is the only one on that list I try to bring back because he's worth a gamble when you're kicking your cap down the road anyway. Hami is fun, but the team needs shooting and he's been replaced with a version of him that's already better and might actually develop into something. Jackson was signed for shooting, but hasn't been able to shoot except for one anomaly season in his career - so he's just an undersized guard who can't shoot straight.

I think you have to wonder about both Bagley and Hami. I suspect that the Pistons will renounce all of the team options (Hami, Bagley, Jackson, Garza, and Edwards) to maximize cap and then figure it out as the dominoes fall. I think Hami and Jackson are both gone. Hami because we just drafted a better and younger version of him with a higher ceiling and higher IQ. Jackson because we probably want our shooters to actually be able to shoot and I expect them to target someone like Forbes as a replacement. Bagley could be gone as well, but don't forget that Duren is 18 and will take time. Bagley is a young top draft pick, showed promise on the offensive end, and really wanted to be here. If, as reports say, we're not going whale hunting then it doesn't hurt to bring him back on a reasonable deal (2 yrs + 3rd year option) to eat up some of that cap and let him develop to see what you have. If he doesn't work out, no loss. If he does, then you can always flip him for more if Duren comes on strong. I imagine Garza and Edwards are gone.

Strictly speaking about on-court stuff, I'd take Bridges over Ayton because I don't want to max a drop-coverage center and have to watch 30M sit on the bench in the playoffs when teams go 5 out and hunt him on every play. I'm also not happy about reports about his lack of work ethic and softness. Bridges is a way better player for this era and this team. However, I have off-court concerns with him as well and don't necessarily want him in this young locker room. But, it doesn't matter anyway because Charlotte is trying to shed cap to make sure they can match him, so I doubt he's going anywhere. Also, JEIII is reporting that with the success of this draft the organization is more likely to go after vets and let this young core develop. He mentioned guys like Bryn Forbes in his podcast last night. A little small for my liking, but he can shoot. How much is Bruce Brown going to cost now that he sort of broke out in the playoffs? The kid shot 40% from three last year and we already know he's a dog on defense. Hayes and Brown as the backcourt bench unit is shades of Mike James and Lindsey Hunter. Offense is fun, but defense travels. Might be a good way to kick your cap space down the road with a 2 year deal plus a 3rd year team option. Then again, he may not be happy with us for trading him and he may want 3-4 years at 14-16M (and to be a starter) which is a bit too much for him in my opinion.

I hope the Nets don't play ball. For once I want one of these teams to just say no when a "star" demands a trade and gives a list of teams. It's gotten out of hand.