Detroit Pistons 2012-2013

[Leftos]

So, with the draft behind us, opinions are torn on whether Pistons made the right moves or not. Only pick I've only heard good things about (good things mind you, not great) is English. Middleton doesn't seem to get much love, while Drummond, the centerpiece (pun intended) of the Pistons 2012 draft, seems to have most fans excited, but some Pistons blogs being sceptical or even downright negative. Although he is really athletic and seems to have a mind for defense that goes beyond jumping 13ft horizontally for a block, he seems to have really little experience, and there are a lot of people questioning his motor and desire. Most agree that although he has tremendous potential, there was a reason he fell to the No. 9 of the draft, and that he's by no means a sure thing, per his less than impressive performances at UConn last year (including a 29% from the free throw line).

And as with most teams after a busy draft, the Pistons find themselves with an 18-player roster. We have last year's 14 players with Magette in Gordon's place, and then there's Singler who'll finally sign come July 11th, and our 3 draft picks.

Most would want to see CV gone, and Big Ben is more than doubtful as per his return. I know we'd love to see him as a mentor for Drummond, and you have to have some backup for the C spot if Drummond turns to be a bust. But is Ben good enough to keep in the 15-player roster come October?

There is an excessive amount of players, including some bench warmers that could be there (Wilkins, Russell), and some that shouldn't (Daye). I'm pretty sure we won't be keeping all our 2nd rounders here, and that at least one will end up in Fort Wayne, but if English is better than Middleton, and Middleton is sent to the D-League after all, what does that say for the Pistons' choice to pick Middleton before English?

So, here's the first questions to get this thread going. How do you feel about the Pistons draft picks? What did you think of the Gordon trade? Which 3 (or more) players would you cut come October?

[Lamrock]

They're still a year or two away from reaching the post-season again (which isn't necessarily a bad thing as Knight-Monroe-Drummond doesn't seem like a championship core) but they're having their best off-season in years.

Drummond's a great pick and who I wanted Portland to grab with Waiters off the board. Sure, he might bust, but he has a lot of potential and could make a great frontcourt tandem with Greg Monroe. No comment on their other picks, as that's more of a crapshoot, but the Gordon trade I'm not too sure about for either team. If/when Villanueva is amnestied, they'll have a lot of cap space last year, but it didn't go so well the last time they had a max FA slot.

[Leftos]

True that. FA signings haven't proved too good with the Pistons lately. If I trusted our taste in FAs more than our drafting skills, I wouldn't mind the loss of a future draft pick. But right now, we're just saying Gordon was a bust here, so we're giving up on him AND a draft pick for cap space. Joe Dumars has a year where he has to prove that he'll compensate for the loss of the draft pick. Pistons should prove that it won't make that much of a difference, and that they're building a playoff team even without it.

[benji]

Amnesty Charlie V and salt the earth.

Don't resign Maxiell if he opts out.

Try to convince some boob to take Prince. Send Knight to get this done.

Renounce Damien Wilkens.

Pick up Vernon Macklin's option.

Send Walker D to a work camp in Siberia and hope he never comes back.

[Leftos]

So Prince & Knight in exchange for ...?

[benji]

Hopefully a first rounder, but second round picks are fine. Maybe some cheap young guys with promise who have been camped on the bench.

Alternatively, amnesty Prince.

[Leftos]

So kick Russell and Knight all in one summer for picks, and have Bynum starting at guard with whom as his backup? Stuckey? What about SG?

I'd give Knight another year. I know he didn't have the best or most impressive year last year, but I wouldn't give up on him yet.

[shadowgrin]

Drummond, the centerpiece (pun intended) of the Pistons 2012 draft, seems to have most fans excited, but some Pistons blogs being sceptical or even downright negative. Although he is really athletic and seems to have a mind for defense that goes beyond jumping 13ft horizontally for a block, he seems to have really little experience, and there are a lot of people questioning his motor and desire. Most agree that although he has tremendous potential, there was a reason he fell to the No. 9 of the draft, and that he's by no means a sure thing, per his less than impressive performances at UConn last year (including a 29% from the free throw line).

Most rookies have little experience, so do HS picks (when it was still allowed).
lol at motor.

[benji]

Starting Drummond at point guard is better than playing Walker D any minutes at all.

And there are probably plenty of D-League players who can take it away from Bynum or play the two. Hell, start Daye or English as the two guard.

You have to deal Knight now when people think he might become some kind of star, they held onto Stuckey rather than moving him when his stock was high and now they're stuck with him.

[Leftos]

A teammate of his, when asked whether Drummond will do well in the NBA, said "If he decides to work on it." I know that one teammate does not the truth make, but I believe that if that's what it takes, the combo of Lawrence Frank as a coach and the fact that Detroit has little glamour or distractions, could make the Pistons a good destination for him.

I'd love to have Wallace in the team to keep a close eye on Drummond though, but I'm not sure if that would be worth the spot in the roster for him and the franchise. Nothing's been decided yet though. Joe Dumars, when asked when we're to learn about Ben's decision, said "Training Camp starts in October."

Daye still in the team this year? No, hell no. We have no need for the guy. He's not even worth being a backup to anybody, let alone a starter. I understand your point about Knight, but still, call me overly optimistic, I want him to stay. I hope that the sentiment "he was OUR draft pick" doesn't turn to bite us in the ass, as you're predicting.

[benji]

Daye is still under his rookie contract, he'll be around this year anyway. He might as well help the team by starting.

[Leftos]

I fail to see how Daye will help the team by starting. Unless it's a temporary forced solution as part of a bigger plan, any minutes Daye is in are wasted. Last time Daye was impressive was in the last pre-season.

[_Steve_]

Try to convince some boob to take Prince.

Last year Heat were interested in signing Prince. With the possibility of Miller ending his career, I'd say chances are not so bad that Heat will approach him again (if they can't get Ray Allen).

[Andrew]

Who would they trade for him, though?

[_Steve_]

Who would they trade for him, though?

Good question. I can't think of many players despite the "big three" Detroit would be overly interested in.
Many things depend on how Heat handle their free agents and what happens to Ray Allen...

[Andrew]

I'd say there's a much better chance of them snapping up Ray Allen at a bargain price.

[Leftos]

Pistons to sign Vyacheslav Kravtsov

Marc Stein of ESPN:

The Detroit Pistons have struck a verbal agreement to sign Ukranian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov to a multiyear deal, according to his agent.

"Vyacheslav intends to sign a player contract with the Pistons when the moratorium period ends," Kravtsov’s representative, Jeff Schwartz, said Sunday night.

Kravtsov averaged 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 minutes per game last season for BC Donetsk in the Ukranian league. Scouts regard him as an excellent athlete who plays above the rim and is primarily known for his defensive abilities as a rebounder and shot blocker.

Source: http://www.pistonpowered.com/2012/07/pi ... -kravtsov/

I'm guessing that this was on Dumars mind when he didn't even pick up Macklin's offer, unless we're still on the boat that $200K was enough to save on Macklin.

We'll see how he turns out. If Wallace returns, I don't mind another player on C. I want to see Monroe at the 4, so if we have someone to rotate with Drummond, I'm all for it.

[Leftos]

Pistons have been rumored to be looking into signing Michael Beasley.

There's only one thing I can respond to that.

Why?

[_Steve_]

Maybe the finally have an offer for Prince?

[shadowgrin]

Pistons have been rumored to be looking into signing Michael Beasley.

There's only one thing I can respond to that.

Why?

Joe Dumars.

[Leftos]

Even if he makes sense as a player to have on the roster, he doesn't make sense in the current roster. We got two SG/F's over the draft, got Singler back from Spain, traded an SG for an SF, already had two SFs, and now we're to sign another one? How does that make sense?

[shadowgrin]

Even if he makes sense as a player to have on the roster, he doesn't make sense in the current roster. We got two SG/F's over the draft, got Singler back from Spain, traded an SG for an SF, already had two SFs, and now we're to sign another one? How does that make sense?

Joe Dumars.

Makes perfect sense to me.

[_Steve_]

Even if he makes sense as a player to have on the roster, he doesn't make sense in the current roster. We got two SG/F's over the draft, got Singler back from Spain, traded an SG for an SF, already had two SFs, and now we're to sign another one? How does that make sense?

Joe Dumars.

Makes perfect sense to me.

You could be right...

[Andrew]

If Wallace returns, I don't mind another player on C.

Isn't it all but official that Wallace will be calling it quits?

[benji]

No, he's on the fence. He was going to retire after the season before but enjoys being back in Detroit.