OT: Pistons interested in Jennings/Rondo
Sources say Pistons have interest in Brandon Jennings or Rajon Rondo. Dumars says this is untrue and others say it won't happen because they would have to give up Knight and/or Drummond. This could be why they passed on Burke.
I think this would be a good trade and would be happy with this happening.
that someone went through and downvoted practically every post. Also, don't be a baby about downvotes.
There are a couple of douche bags who hate the NBA and have way too much time on their hands. So they down vote every single comment made in every NBA thread.
hatred for the NBA does not necessarily mean they're douche bags, their downvoting of all posts about the NBA definitely does. Also, meaningless votes.
Zach Lowe had a column at Grantland today on the Pistons. He conditionally liked the Josh Smith move, as they still have good cap flexibility for the next free agent class. He does allow that it's going to create all kinds of spacing issues when the Pistons want to play their ultra big Drummond/Monroe/Smith front court, since none of those guys are effective beyond 15 feet.
The most interesting part of the column, however, was his contention that Monroe is a huge defensive liability and that his inability to defend the pick and roll is what has left the Pistons so defensively poor the past few years. Suggests they may want to try to move him mid season for a point.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9480183/josh-smith-future-detroit-pistons
Thanks for pointing out that article as I had missed it. I agree with his point that a frontcourt with Smith and Drummond would be great defensively, but it would be tough to give up on Monroe. Still, if the Pistons could parlay him into a good PG and/or a good pick in next year's draft it might be worth it.
Overall, I like what they've done this summer. KCP looked good in the Summer League. Datome looks like a good pickup and if they can figure out what to do with Smith, they'll definitely be much better.
Unfortunately, I don't seem them as any better than a 6 seed at best, which is likely a first round exit and a low draft pick (which goes to Charlotte I believe).
According to 82games.com Smith is, actually, a great defender at SF.
http://www.82games.com/1213/12ATL14.HTM#bypos
I would like rondo but wouldn't want to give up what they would want. I don't really want jennings. He doesn't make the players around him better which a good pg should do. Just as importantly, he doesn't know when to stop shooting...
I was hoping that Joe would sandbag for a great pick in next year's "draft of the decade." Apparently, they are going to be honest and try to improve instead. I wish he would have decided to "go young" this year instead.
My bet is Dumar will trade away Monroe. That would move Josh Smith to PF and the spacing issue will disappear with a SF who can actually shoot.
to get Brandon Jennings. I'm willing to bet Knight and an expiring contract gets that deal done. Especially since the Bucks have Larry Sanders and Henson. Monroe would be in worse shape there than in Detroit.
The deals are speculated to be...
BK & Stuckey (or Charlie V) in a sign and trade for Jennings.
Monroe, Stuckey, Charlie V, and picks (possibly BK too) for Rondo.
if Dumars can trade away Knight, Stuckey and Monroe, I'd be fine with it. Rondo is a top 5 PG in the NBA and those who said that Rondo isn't worth the trade is crazy because you don't pass up a top 5 PG just because he has attitude problems. Beside the fight, Rondo have done nothing wrong since he went to the NBA.
Jennings is too streaky and doesn't make good decisions with the ball in his hands. He is too expensive for the Pistons to take on with 4 million left in the salary cap. I don't think Jennings will take a MLE as well....
Monroe finished last season as a top 6 C in the league in terms of Value Added, behind Brook Lopez, Al Jefferson, Al Horford, Marc Gasol, and Dwight Howard.
- (VA: Value Added - the estimated number of points a player adds to a team’s season total above what a 'replacement player' (for instance, the 12th man on the roster) would produce. Value Added = ([Minutes * (PER - PRL)] / 67). PRL (Position Replacement Level) = 11.5 for power forwards, 11.0 for point guards, 10.6 for centers, 10.5 for shooting guards and small forwards)
That metric isn't too applicable to Rondo last season due to injury, but his PER placed him at 11th, behind Paul, Westbrook, Parker, Irving, Curry, Wall, Deron Williams, Kemba Walker, Calderon, and Conley.
I'd have a VERY hard time being convinced that I should trade my emerging top five 23 year old C for a statistical top ten 27 year old PG that missed a significant chunk of last season. Adding Knight and an expiring? Hard pass.
You sound a little salty there Smith.
Stick with B.Knight, with the additions we are a playoff team in the East...which is awesome to even say. I will again be interested in the NBA playoffs.