OT - Pistons now tied for third worst record in NBA

Submitted by Magnum P.I. on

With Washington and Golden State winning their respective games today, the Pistons are now tied for the third worst record in the NBA. We just need to lose these last six games, and we'll have a great shot at a player who can help us next year! Go Pistons 2010-2011!

IdealistWolverine

April 4th, 2010 at 9:21 PM ^

Is it wrong for me to want Evan Turner? Because I think he'd look mighty good in a Pistons uniform...

I can forgive him for going to OSU. Fundamentals and hard work would be nice to see on this team again.

And I'd take a kid from OSU over a kid that's coached by John Callipari anyday...

UMICH1606

April 4th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^

The Pistons desperately need a big man. I am not sure Joe could clear that many wings off the roster to make room for a Turner or Wes Johnson. A true point guard ( John Wall) or a big man would be ideal. I am tired of a team with 13 SF's or SG's on it.

Space Coyote

April 5th, 2010 at 8:11 PM ^

Someone would actually explain why I am wrong.

Turner had the second most turnovers per game this year in the nation.

I didn't say he was bad, I just said I don't think he is top 5, and thus, if the stones tank they shouldn't take him.

Where is my logic flawed or are turnovers not such a big deal that it doesn't play into account for draft stock?

link for turnovers per game: http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/sortableStats?table=assists&div=99&stat=to…

Plegerize

April 4th, 2010 at 9:30 PM ^

It's a good thing I have NO emotional attachment to the Pistons or otherwise I'm sure I would have committed Sports Suicide this past year, rooting for the Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, and Michigan sports.

Rico616

April 4th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^

Here's to hoping Detroit gets a top 4 pick!

If Detroit can land up there the options are nice. They can grab Evan Turner at SG and trade Rip. Or DeMarcus Cousins (#4 per Chad Ford) and get some size in the interior. Detroit needs a couple of years with high draft picks. Only few teams have been able to stay consistantly good without a high draft pick and the Spurs come to mind but they did need that #1 pick Duncan to become a great team.

mds315

April 4th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^

John Wall, Cousins, or Favors. All fit a need. No need for Turner, we have four SGs and 4 SFs. As good as he is, there's just no room.

mds315

April 4th, 2010 at 10:09 PM ^

But then we still have Ben Gordon. And eventually Austin Daye. It just seems more logical to me to add an actual post presence like Favors or Cousins than get another shooting guard/small forward

Edit: To be clear, I hope we trade Rip/Tay either way.

PG: Stuckey
SG: Gordon
SF: Jonas
PF: Favors/Charlie V
C: Wallace/Cousins

Wallaby Court

April 4th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^

I just don't think Stuckey is our PF of the future, no matter how well Dumars has sold that concept. I would rather see the Pistons get rid of Stuckey and pick up John Wall.

I'm not informed enough about the Pistons' cap space to have any judgments about their ability to work on the post in free agency. However, Chris Bosh would be an ideal candidate if he's willing (uncertain) and Piston's are capable.

EDIT: I just checked salaries at http://hoopshype.com/salaries/detroit.htm. Detroit has 61m locked up this year and approximately 51m for next year. Given my limited knowledge of the Pistons' finances and NBA free agency in general, the Pistons at least appear to have the resources to make a run at the post during the offseason.

UMICH1606

April 4th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^

The NBA is expecting the cap to come down a somewhat substantial amount this summer, so it is hard to tell as of now what kind of room they will have for free agency. Tay will be an attractive piece to some teams, because he is still a halfway functional player still and he has the ever so popular expiring contract next year. That may free up some room depending on how much salary they have to take back. It will be hard to trade Rip, he has a pretty bad contract, is aging, and was hurt a lot this year. As of now, unless they can free up some cap room, all they have is their mid level exemption to offer someone.

mds315

April 4th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^

Don't get me wrong, I said i'd take wall. And stuckey has really improved this year as a point guard, especially since we have will bynum on the bench, the only guard I'd take (shooting or point) is wall. Even if we could trade rip (which is highley unlikely) we'd still have Ben gordon and his $11 million a year salary. I just don't see the value in taking turner over favors/cousins.

BlueNote

April 5th, 2010 at 9:31 AM ^

While I am NOT disagreeing with these well-informed points, I will remind you both that the Pistons used the same logic (i.e. "we are already full at that position") when they passed up Carmelo and drafted Darko.

It's a lot more difficult to make these calls when you don't know whether your choice will go bust . . . .

BlueNote

April 5th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^

"While much of the blame for passing on Anthony is placed on Milicic, another big reason why the Pistons went for Darko was forward Tayshaun Prince."

"Although he played sparingly as a rookie during the regular season, Prince showed so much promise in the 2003 playoffs that the Pistons didn't believe another small forward was necessary. Prince also had a solid second year, averaging 10.3 points, and he made one of the greatest clutch defensive plays in NBA playoff history when he blocked a potentially game and series altering layup by Indiana's Reggie Miller late in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004/columns/story?columnist=spea…

Magnum P.I.

April 4th, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^

I will be disappointed if we don't get one of these three. I think Turner and Stuckey could co-exist in the backcourt given Turner's ballhandling skills, but I just don't think Rip has any trade value. Rip's carrying $12M per year for four years. I can't think of any GM wanting that on their roster, much less giving up a great player to get it. I'd like to see Rip stick around and be a veteran presence with Big Ben. A kid like Cousins will need as many positive role models as he can get. Trade Tayshaun maybe for another big. I'd argue to trade Stuckey if we got Wall.

Steve Lorenz

April 4th, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^

Please don't draft Cousins. The guy was a headcase playing for free, imagine what he'll do when he gets a bunch of money. He seems like a headache waiting to happen. I'd much rather have Turner, Wall, Favors, Johnson or Aminu.

Leaders.and.Best

April 4th, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^

What do all you Pistons fans think of John Kuester, as a Cleveland native and Cavs fan I was a little disappointed to see him go but we have moved on seemlessly so it hasn't been to big of a loss but I'm wondering how you guys think he has done so far.

Magnum P.I.

April 4th, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^

Our season was so ridiculously injury-riddled that it's tough to evaluate Kuester. We played pretty well early when the team was intact and the attitude was still a winning one. Once guys started going down, it became clear pretty quick that this wasn't going to be a playoff season. Expectations and effort were adjusted accordingly.

That said, I'm not crazy about him. I always gauge NBA coaches by how easily I can see a 22-year-old relating to and respecting them. With Kuester, he seems a little too dorkily enthusiastic. It's like he's trying too hard to be positive and likable. Honestly, I haven't watched the majority of the games this year, but that's just the impression I get. Of course, I felt like that about all previous Pistons coaches except Larry Brown and Chuck Daly.

mds315

April 4th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^

We've had injuries, so you can't fault him there.

And either we don't/can't play defense, so either that's his fault or no defensive talent.

Tater

April 4th, 2010 at 10:49 PM ^

I've been wanting them to tank since it became obvious that they weren't going to have a chance to really advance or improve as a team with the current roster. Unfortunately, it was about two months into the season.

Anyway, I would be fine with either Wall or Turner. Regardless of position, either appears to have a chance to be a star for a long time. I just hope they get one of the top three or so, and Joe finally gets a chance to atone for the Darko Debacle.

PinballPete

April 4th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^

We want them to have one of the four worst records in the league. This would give them the best shot at a high draft pick. Worst record gets a 25% chance at the #1 pick, the second, third and fourth worst records all get about a 16% chance. The fifth pick is something like 9.4% and then it trails off sharply after that.

wishitwas97

April 4th, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^

or bust.

The Pistons need a true PG and I hope that the Pistons can win the lottery. John Wall is it. Imagine him in pick and roll situation, he'd be a monster with his speed and quickness.

He reminds me a cross of Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo.

MacombBLUE

April 5th, 2010 at 12:00 AM ^

John Wall is as good as advertised IMO. He's a game changer and PG and Center are the hardest positions to address in the NBA and those are the 2 positions we need the most...a true PG and a solid big. Stuckey is better off the ball and in spot time at the point.

Turner is a good player, but as has been addressed, he is at a position that we are stacked at. And SF/SG are the two easiest positons to fill in basketball. There are and will be other guys like him. Wall is a rarity and we would be set at PG for the next decade (obviously have to get the top pick though).

Cousins IS a headcase but a fine, intriguing player with a ton of skill and if we can get him at 4-6, we need to take him. I too, also like Favors and think Greg Monroe is good too. He is just hurt by playing in Georgetown's system.

D.C. Wolverine

April 5th, 2010 at 12:44 AM ^

Im curious why you think that Monroe is hurt by Georgetown's system. I'm a huge Georgetown basketball fan, so I admit that I am biased, but i think that JT3's system has helped Monroe be a better all around player. He is the best passer for a big guy that I've ever seen, and loves getting his teammates involved. The only knock on him is that sometimes he isn't aggressive enough on the offensive end.

MacombBLUE

April 5th, 2010 at 1:22 AM ^

Hurt as in his personal game and showing what he can do. Playing within the Princeton type offense, he fits in very well and is VERY unselfish.

But on the flip-side, the system does not showcase or maximize his potential and personal game. Their system also highlights guard play.

Again, not really a "knock" on G-Town, but for his game and showing complete pro-potential, it's not necessarily ideal in that aspect.

D.C. Wolverine

April 5th, 2010 at 2:44 AM ^

Alright, thanks for clearing that up. I do agree that it might not be ideal to higlight his scoring ability. I really hope Monroe stays another year because he does fit well in the offense. Gaurds are important to the Gtown offense, but Monroe is what makes it click. The ability to make the passes from the pinch post like he does to hit cutters is amazing. I do agree with the points you have made, but I think he will be a good pro player given time.

mgovictors23

April 5th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^

We need a true point guard or a big man in the draft. Rodney Stuckey is more of a shooting guard and Will Bynum is more suited to be a guy coming of the bench. Also I don't think I can handle Ben Wallace or Kwame Brown starting any more games for us at center. Ben is one of my favorite Pistons ever but he needs to be coming of the bench at this point in his career.

I Bleed Maize N Blue

April 5th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^

It was a pleasant surprise to see how well Big Ben played this season. He was healthier than in previous seasons, at least until recently. I wonder if the heavy minutes played a part in the injuries.

The sad part is that the Pistons didn't have a better interior defender, so Big Ben got the starts.

I would like to see the Pistons get a post player who's good for 20 & 10 a game and can defend.