Official Pistons Off-Season Thread

[hoog]

I did not see an official off-season thread so I thought I would start one if no one minds. Anyway, I know we're all looking for a big signing and an even bigger draft by Joe D but really, who's out there to really get excited for that is a true possiblity for the Pistons? For me, I think I would play it safe.

I would re-sign Calderon and then grab some lower end contract guys that will contribute to the team. I would love to see Martell Webster and his deadly 3pt shot and great defense come here. He would be cheaper at SF than some of the other names and he fills two needs. The other guy I would really like, and he's getting more expensive the better he plays is Marreese Speights. He'd be a great PF behind Monroe next year and could be a starter at C or PF if someone went down. By filling in players that fit the "team" concept we could then go for the best player available in the draft. As for the draft, you can't go wrong going big!! and there are several good big players in this draft. They take time to develop and will make great replacements for existing players or trade bait later on. Again, can't go wrong with Big.

I would let all our FA go except for Calderon, get a back up PG in the secnd round of the draft or at a vet minimum, and amnesty CV (why this hasn't been done already is beyond me). So the lineup would look a little like this:

Calderon, ? (2nd rounder/vet minimum guy)
Knight/Stuckey (could be trade bait later)/English
Singler/Webster/Middleton
Drummond/Speights/Kravstov
Monroe/Speights/Jerebko

Then you could draft who you wanted from any position and let them develop. I'd prefer Alex Lin, Anthony bennett, Isaiah Austin, or Marcus Smart.

This makes us more substance than sparkle but it may be the only way to go this year with the type of draft it is and the free agents available.

[RipCity32]

If there no wings left in the draft than I say let Bynum walk and Draft either Burke or Smart and let them play behind Calderon.I agree there is no one to really offer a big contract.We still need more role players too though so it should be a ok offseason.

Calderon,Burke
Knight,English,Stuckey
Webster,Singler,Middleton
Monroe,Speights,CV
Drummond,Wright,Slava

[sky59]

I would draft Tony Mitchell. This perhaps Detroit's most challenging draft of late. Monroe was taken when we had no frontcourt. Knight was taken when we had no backcourt. Drummond was taken because it appeared to be a perfect complement to Monroe's below the rim game. Calderon was a trade involving our two best small forwards, both of which are contributing on Memphis. We now need a small forward that can defend George, James, and Gay, steal the ball, block shots and help on fast breaks. He needs to stretch the floor first and foremost in the offensive sets, but offensive rebounding and passing skills would be a plus. This Tony Mitchell fills just about all these requirements. Yes, he is sun belt conference, but the measurable athleticism is suggesting the transition to NBA rigor will not be the limitation.

[King-Henry]

Finally someone else who wants Tony Mitchell I thought I was the only one

[hoog]

Well, I've seen enough lately to tell me that this team has thrown in the towel on another coach. We need a very good house cleaning and it all starts from the top. Joe and Frank are the first to be escorted out of the building.

For their replacements I give you two GM candidates and four coaching candidates:

Scott Layden- Asst. GM San Antonio: has vast experience with Utah, when they were a consistent contender and now has experience with another perrinial winner in the Spurs. What I like here is that he's spent times with teams that win without a big budget and without a team load of stars. That's what we need to get back to doing.

Troy Weaver- Asst. GM Oklahoma City: good player development guy that also has experience in the good old days in Utah. Again, a guy that wins without the star status teams like Miami, NY, or Boston. Team oriented guy.

Coaches:
David Joerger- asst coach Memphis: he's been a head coach internationally, with the CBA, and the summer league and always did well. Known as an excellent teacher and works very well with young players.

Rex Kalamian- asst coach Ok City: he does alot for Scotty Brooks but he's another "teacher" type that we need for our young team. He also does most of their game planning.

Brian Shaw- asst coach Indiana: Boy I bet LA Lakers wish they would have just hired this guy. Since he left it's been misserable. I think he's ready to take the reins.

Brett Brown- asst coach San Antonio: the Spurs have been bringing him along for a while and I like the fact that he's been involved in that organization and internationally as well.

We need to hire the GM (Layden) then hire the coach (Joerger) and then proceed with the following signings and draft:

FA Signings:
Jeff Teague, Atl- It looks obvious lately that Calderon is not as good of fit as we thought and I think he will be more costly than Teague even though Teague is a RFA. Teague is 24 and Calderon is 31 so it makes since to take Teague over Calderon.

Kevin Martin, Ok City- Here's our scorer off the bench. He can play both the SG and SF to provide some punch. He may cost a bit more for a 6th man but he'll be a heck of a lot less than Josh Smith.

Byron Mullins, Charlotte- Young and starting to figure things out in the NBA as well as his own body. I think he'd be an excellent back up center and PF that can give us some scoring and rebounding. Might look for a starting gig but I don't think he'll find one.

*Trade for Darius Morris from LA Lakers (I'm guessing a 2nd next year or something like that)

Draft:
1. Otto Porter, Georgetown- He has really figured it out in his sophomore year. He is a much better shooter (40% from 3 point) and a better player overall. I think he can be a real stud scorer/defender in the NBA.
2a. Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois St.- Will be a back up defensive first PF to start but has some scoring ability down the road.
2b. Bojan Dubljevic, PF/C, International- Can never have enough big man projects.

I know this doesn't seem exciting but with the new coach working to improve our young players, Drummond being here a full year, and the depth this would give us, I would think we could get into the playoffs and win a few games. Down the road we would still have money and cap to work with as well to make a big move when we need to do it. Here's the roster:

PG- Teague/Morris (Knight if he needs to swing over)
SG- Knight/Martin/English
SF- Singler/Porter/Middleton
PF- Monroe/Jerebko/Carmichael (Mullens if need be)
C- Drummond/Mullens/Kravtsov

[Algmuskrats]

Well, I've seen enough lately to tell me that this team has thrown in the towel on another coach. We need a very good house cleaning and it all starts from the top. Joe and Frank are the first to be escorted out of the building.

For their replacements I give you two GM candidates and four coaching candidates:

Scott Layden- Asst. GM San Antonio: has vast experience with Utah, when they were a consistent contender and now has experience with another perrinial winner in the Spurs. What I like here is that he's spent times with teams that win without a big budget and without a team load of stars. That's what we need to get back to doing.

Troy Weaver- Asst. GM Oklahoma City: good player development guy that also has experience in the good old days in Utah. Again, a guy that wins without the star status teams like Miami, NY, or Boston. Team oriented guy.

Coaches:
David Joerger- asst coach Memphis: he's been a head coach internationally, with the CBA, and the summer league and always did well. Known as an excellent teacher and works very well with young players.

Rex Kalamian- asst coach Ok City: he does alot for Scotty Brooks but he's another "teacher" type that we need for our young team. He also does most of their game planning.

Brian Shaw- asst coach Indiana: Boy I bet LA Lakers wish they would have just hired this guy. Since he left it's been misserable. I think he's ready to take the reins.

Brett Brown- asst coach San Antonio: the Spurs have been bringing him along for a while and I like the fact that he's been involved in that organization and internationally as well.

We need to hire the GM (Layden) then hire the coach (Joerger) and then proceed with the following signings and draft:

FA Signings:
Jeff Teague, Atl- It looks obvious lately that Calderon is not as good of fit as we thought and I think he will be more costly than Teague even though Teague is a RFA. Teague is 24 and Calderon is 31 so it makes since to take Teague over Calderon.

Kevin Martin, Ok City- Here's our scorer off the bench. He can play both the SG and SF to provide some punch. He may cost a bit more for a 6th man but he'll be a heck of a lot less than Josh Smith.

Byron Mullins, Charlotte- Young and starting to figure things out in the NBA as well as his own body. I think he'd be an excellent back up center and PF that can give us some scoring and rebounding. Might look for a starting gig but I don't think he'll find one.

*Trade for Darius Morris from LA Lakers (I'm guessing a 2nd next year or something like that)

Draft:
1. Otto Porter, Georgetown- He has really figured it out in his sophomore year. He is a much better shooter (40% from 3 point) and a better player overall. I think he can be a real stud scorer/defender in the NBA.
2a. Jackie Carmichael, PF, Illinois St.- Will be a back up defensive first PF to start but has some scoring ability down the road.
2b. Bojan Dubljevic, PF/C, International- Can never have enough big man projects.

I know this doesn't seem exciting but with the new coach working to improve our young players, Drummond being here a full year, and the depth this would give us, I would think we could get into the playoffs and win a few games. Down the road we would still have money and cap to work with as well to make a big move when we need to do it. Here's the roster:

PG- Teague/Morris (Knight if he needs to swing over)
SG- Knight/Martin/English
SF- Singler/Porter/Middleton
PF- Monroe/Jerebko/Carmichael (Mullens if need be)
C- Drummond/Mullens/Kravtsov

I really like what you did with your offseason for the Pistons, hoog! Only thing I could suggest is for a second option if we can't get Kevin Martin is Corey Brewer. Very good defense and can be really good offensively too.

[GuySir]

I really like what you did with your offseason for the Pistons, hoog! Only thing I could suggest is for a second option if we can't get Kevin Martin is Corey Brewer. Very good defense and can be really good offensively too.

I'd prefer Brewer over Martin lol, plus if we draft Porter I can't imagine Singler starting over him.

I really don't know what I think of Teague, and with what little we've seen of Calderon and Drummond together I can't say definitively that he hasn't shown enough

[Algmuskrats]

Teague just dropped 27 and 11 assists last night. He must be trying to prove something to you, GuySir.

[GuySir]

Teague just dropped 27 and 11 assists last night. He must be trying to prove something to you, GuySir.

I can't believe he's only 24 lol, seems like he's been around forever. Him with Knight would be a tiny backcourt though

[sc8581]

Monroe for Batum
Draft Bennett
Sign Mayo
Bring back Calderon
Sign a vet PF for cheap as well probably

Drummond-Kravtsov
Bennett-Vet-Jerebko
Batum-Singler
Mayo-Middleton-English
Calderon-Knight-Stuckey(if he's still around)

[todu82]

Wouldn't mind Jeff Teague coming here. He'd be a solid add. I agree with firing Dumars and Frank, unsure of who should replace them though.

[nickeydyme]

I don't think Dumars gets fired. YES, he has made many mistakes, the worst imo was drafting Stuckey because it caused riff with the starters and forced Chauncey/Afflalo out, which was the beginning of the end. But I don't think Gores would have allowed Dumars to set this team up to be a player this free agency without allowing him to see it through. Frank, thats another issue, he did well with an experienced Nets team but he cannot coach young guys and needs to go.

I hope they are in a position to draft either Porter (GU) or Shabazz (UCLA). Either player would give you that wing player, Porter is the better defender of the two but Shabazz is a natural scorer. That could be great frontcourt, Drummond, Monroe, Muhammed/Porter!

I also think they will keep Calderon, he likes Detroit and this team really is closer to contending for a playoff spot than it appears. Mayo would be a great pickup too.

[GunFactor007]

This is the offseason where we need to do some damage. It all starts with drafting right.

[GuySir]

I'm starting to get on the "draft Porter, sign Mayo" bandwagon. Even if we don't bring Calderon back, Knight/Mayo/Porter/Monroe/Drummond is an intriguing lineup to grow with

[JMDTM]

Shabazz could be there.. That'd be interesting. He's a lights out scorer. But ive liked the idea of porter for awhile now.

We got quite a bit of money coming up this year don't we? What if we signed mayo and Teague, draft otto porter and mike muscala. Muscala played for bucknell. He looks like a great round two pick as we need big man depth. Wouldn't mind Adrian Payne or patric young either. Like the idea of trading a future 2nd for Darius Morris too.

Teague/Morris
Mayo/knight/English
Porter/singler/Middleton
Monroe/jerebko
Drummond/muscala/kravtsov