OT- Sauce Castillo on the move...again.
Stauskas is being traded to the Pacers after just having been traded to the Rockets yesterday.
Via Woj on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1093572477077336064
February 7th, 2019 at 1:23 PM ^
Further developments, Pacers plan to waive him. What a whirlwind!
February 7th, 2019 at 1:24 PM ^
I have zero interest in the NBA. is this normal trade deadline behavior or is his case really unique? Gotta feel a little for the guy.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:19 PM ^
Traded three times in three days. I don't follow the NBA anymore but that has to be rare.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
A few years back, there was a guy who got traded like this in the summer. It wasn't even during the season.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:54 PM ^
Luke Ridnour was traded 4 times in 5 days
February 7th, 2019 at 2:55 PM ^
I wouldn't say it is typical for the same guy to get traded 3 times in less than a week but out-of-rotation players get dealt a lot in trades and there are a lot of instances where these players get waived immediately after trades just like Nik is going to be today.
Professional sports is a cold business, man.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:24 PM ^
On the move to having no job. Looks like he'll be headed overseas unless an NBA team grabs him (doubtful).
February 7th, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
I really thought this was a duplicate post from yesterday. Really did.
Turns out it's not.
It also looks, sadly, like this could be the end of the road for him.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
For all the NBA haters who claim nobody plays defense i present the career of Nik as proof otherwise.
Dude can shoot like hell and is out of the league after a short and dissapointing career. There's a reason everbody is looking for guys who "three and D".
Ya gotta play some to stick.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
His shooting is only ok. Hit 40% last year, which is decent, but when that's your main attribute... that's not wonderful. If I recall correctly, he's closer to 35% this year. That doesn't get a lot of minutes if you don't bring something else to the table.
NBA defense can be inconsistent in the regular season, but in general guys on the floor are playing with really startling intensity. The difference between today and, say, the Lakers-Celtics years is notable.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
"when that's your main attribute... that's not wonderful"
That's exactly MGrow's point. You have to either play defense or be a creator on offense to stick in the league. People think guys don't play defense, but plenty of guys are playing defense as well as is possible in today's NBA. It's just that good defense only goes so far in a league where traveling is allowed, almost everyone hits 30 footers at 40% and the rules make it tough to guard drives. But if guys weren't playing defense, scoring would be wildly higher that it currently is i.e. every team would be the Knicks.
But you are correct that if he was a good creator like he was in college, he could overcome his lack of defense.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
I'm curious whether he's still drilling shot after shot in practice, whether moving out to the NBA three-line was the difference, whether it's something about confidence. He caught some hazing hell in the early going.
February 7th, 2019 at 3:27 PM ^
Don't most rookies get some hazing early?
I find it very, very hard to believe that Stauskas would have difficulty with the longer NBA line.
I regret that I haven't seen enough of him in the NBA to know how he plays. At Michigan he was an alpha in his sophomore year, controlling games as the main pick and roll ballhandler. He was unlikely ever to be good enough in the NBA to be a regular ballhandler. His value, especially in today's NBA, would be as a spot-up shooter.
But you still need to make your shots, and you need to make space for your shots. I thought Stauskas would be a JJ Redick type, but Redick isn't just a spot-up guy. He has a great lateral burst that he uses to get open shots, and he is actually pretty explosive in his movement. That takes a lot of development. If Stauskas has no way to get himself a clear shot, he is left with contested shots and the very occasional wide-open 3, and he's not hitting them enough to stick.
Honestly, I wonder if he just hasn't put in enough work to develop new abilities.
February 8th, 2019 at 10:01 AM ^
I think it wasn't the NBA 3 line as much as NBA athletes closing out on those 3's.
He isn't a creator, and isn't going to punish guys off the dribble like in college - so defenders can hang right on him and challenge his shot.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:26 PM ^
Ya it is looking grim. Hopefully the Lakers are able to trade half their roster for AD. Generating a need for them to pick up a bunch of waived players.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:28 PM ^
I wonder if LeBron is going to bitch about how Nik is being treated as well...
February 7th, 2019 at 2:25 PM ^
Stauskas is white so that's unlikely.
February 8th, 2019 at 9:24 AM ^
Are you suggesting LeBron is racist?
February 8th, 2019 at 9:32 AM ^
You missed LeBron's ENTIRE point.
He bitched about Barnes because the man was literally traded while on the floor playing for his former employer without ANYONE telling him!
That's fucked up.
So...back to LeBron. His point was you, the fan, don't bitch about loyalty or anything when O player leaves a franchise for another...it's a business. In this business the GMs are cold-hearted and will trade you while you're playing.
And if that's the case...don't get mad at (us) for doing what we have to do as well. If that's request a trade or leave a small market or whatever. (We) can make business decisions just like they can. It's a cold world.
It wasn't hard to follow his logic. Which we as fans may hate it...but it's pretty sound.
It's the same logic that people use to suggest the transfer penalty should be eliminated if your head coach leaves, is fired or retires. They don't have to show loyalty...why should the players?
Not saying I agree...but I understand it.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
I get that the pros are a bloodless business but this seems particularly cruel
February 7th, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
Selfish thought: Pistons just traded away a 39% 3-point shooter. We could use a shooter.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
God himself could not help the Pistons.
(I am assuming God is a good shooter).
February 7th, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
God is good shooter but cant go left AT ALL.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:22 PM ^
Yes, but he can’t hit a 2-iron to save his life.
February 7th, 2019 at 3:03 PM ^
Well God Shammgod was a sham of a god, so I guess you got a point.
February 8th, 2019 at 5:02 AM ^
I don't know about his shooting, but last I heard he could use some work on hitting a curve.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:38 PM ^
Unfortunately Stauskas isn't a shooter in the NBA which is why he can't stick
February 7th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
Pistons already have a Sauce replica - Luke Kennard. But it would be fun to have some more Michigan players in a Pistons uniform. Always loved it when Terry Mills played for the Pistons.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:44 PM ^
I think you probably shoulda said 'sauce-like substance.'
February 7th, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
What is the record for the most teams in 24/48/72/96 hours?
February 7th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
Sauce has a ways to go. Few years back, Luke Ridnour was traded 4 times in a week. Within about 24 hours, he was traded three times - from the Magic to the Grizzlies, then the Grizzlies to the Hornets, then the Hornets to the Thunder. Later that week, went from the Thunder to the Raptors.
If that doesn't make you feel like a well paid pawn on the NBA chess board - don't know what will...
February 7th, 2019 at 1:35 PM ^
He's made over 10 million dollars.
February 7th, 2019 at 1:38 PM ^
Sauce must feel like this:
February 7th, 2019 at 1:51 PM ^
Damn, getting whiplash. Wish him luck wherever he lands.
February 7th, 2019 at 2:01 PM ^
Nik a Pac
February 7th, 2019 at 2:24 PM ^
nik a waiv?
February 7th, 2019 at 2:50 PM ^
No.
Nik a Pa!
Congratulations to the new dad!
February 7th, 2019 at 2:56 PM ^
I don't really understand why Nik hasn't shot well at the NBA level. He's career 35% from 3, which just isn't good enough for what he is. He needed to be Kyle Korver, but he just isn't.
Just for reference, there are 26 guys in the NBA making at least 1 3-pointer a game who are shooting at least 40% from 3. Nik needs to be in that group to be useful.
I feel bad for him because he is one of my all-time favorite players. Hope he fine-tunes his shot and gets another chance at some point.
February 7th, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
He struggled with his shot in college when facing guys more athletic than him, that is just everyone he plays now. It is what it is
February 7th, 2019 at 3:29 PM ^
That's a good stat. Nearly one guy per team.
Nik only hit that number once, last year, when he shot 40%. He was back at 35% this year, low for his career.
February 7th, 2019 at 4:42 PM ^
If you look at Korver, he got better with 3's over his 20's and didn't become elite until his 5th full season in the league, so there is chance Nik could still get better. But at this point he may not get another chance.
February 7th, 2019 at 3:22 PM ^
What in the actual fuck.
February 7th, 2019 at 4:25 PM ^
Nik is in the middle of probably a very confusing week. Hopefully he keeps himself ready to go. Also dammit Pistons please sign the dude. We need shooters
February 7th, 2019 at 5:07 PM ^
Hope he hasn't unpacked anything tmr last few days
February 7th, 2019 at 7:31 PM ^
Nik no a ca?
February 7th, 2019 at 8:03 PM ^
It seems like he gets very passive and takes himself out of a game offensively. That is puzzling, because when he’s aggressive, he can make things happen. His dunk reel is impressive, as was his Blazers debut.