Official Detroit Pistons thread

[Futureshock]

I am certainly not claiming any destiny here. For every Philly, there are five Phoenixes that remain buried in the ass end.

What I AM saying is that the Pistons need a "franchise player" to even have much of a chance in today's NBA. They clearly can't replicate Dumars's "Going to Work" team, nor can they find that diamond in the rough. If they were at all capable of building it that way, you'd think we'd be seeing returns on that by Year 13.

Since they clearly can't do it that way, their only way out is to tank hard and get lucky.

Hush ya durty mouf mister. We have the French Freak!

[Cody_Russell]

[chemiclord]

Tell me... how many championships do those teams have collectively?

[Futureshock]

HENRY ELLENSONPF, NEW YORK KNICKS
Henry Ellenson will play for the Knicks in the 2019 Las Vegas summer league.

After failing to make an impact in Detroit, Ellenson showed some flashes of upside late last season in New York. However, the Knicks already have 14 players on their roster, so he may have to find a home elsewhere next season.

SOURCE: Marc Berman on Twitter
Jul 2, 2019, 9:46 AM ET

[Futureshock]

ANDRE IGUODALASF, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
According to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Andre Iguodala plans to seek a buyout from the Grizzlies and then sign with the Lakers.

Iguodala's contract was sent to Memphis as part of the Warriors sign-and-trade deal to acquire D'Angelo Russell. However, it was immediately assumed that Iggy would not remain in Memphis longterm. Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' general manager, is Iggy's former agent, so there is a connection between those two. The Rockets, and other top teams, would undoubtedly also express interest in the former Finals MVP if he is available.

SOURCE: NBC Sports
Jul 2, 2019, 9:14 AM ET

[Futureshock]

ANTHONY TOLLIVERPF, PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Anthony Tolliver will join the Blazers on a one-year, $2.6M deal.

The Blazers get another veteran shooter to add to their rotation which will help offset the losses of Al-Farouq Aminu, Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard. Tolliver could have value in deeper leagues as a 3-point specialist, but doesn't have much value beyond that.

SOURCE: Shams Charania on Twitter
Jul 2, 2019, 12:50 AM ET

[Futureshock]

TIM FRAZIERPG, DETROIT PISTONS
Tim Frazier has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Pistons.

Frazier will serve as the third-string PG in Detroit while Reggie Jackson and Derrick Rose are healthy, so it'll take a few injuries for him to even register a blip on the fantasy radar.

SOURCE: Chris Haynes on Twitter
Jul 1, 2019, 5:30 PM ET

[Futureshock]

SETH CURRYPG, DALLAS MAVERICKS
Seth Curry has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks on a 4-year, $32M contract.

Curry gives the Mavs a combo guard who currently projects to be a key rotation player behind Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr. Curry stepped up for the Blazers when C.J. McCollum was injured last season, and the best campaign of his career was in a Mavs uniform when he put up 12.8 points, 2.7 dimes and 2.0 triples in 2016-17.

SOURCE: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
Jul 1, 2019, 12:25 PM ET

[Cody_Russell]

Tell me... how many championships do those teams have collectively?

[Futureshock]

2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker

[chemiclord]

If we have managed to hit on Doumbouya (and for what it's worth, he's exactly the sort of pick a team in NBA Purgatory needs to be taking at #15), then that will go a long way to not needing to tank at all. I'm just extremely dubious that it will pan out that way. The Pistons have had a long history of this point of turning draft picks into replacement level talent, then trying to make up for it with splashy trades and spending tons of money in FA.

But just like with Chris Ilitch, I have no faith in Tom Gores. He's publicly stated his intentions, and all the teams actions to this point have followed those intentions. He's going to insist the new management fight for the 8-seed and continue their stay in Purgatory.

[jaadam4]

If we have managed to hit on Doumbouya (and for what it's worth, he's exactly the sort of pick a team in NBA Purgatory needs to be taking at #15), then that will go a long way to not needing to tank at all.

Agreed.

Griffin is still a star and if they can find some kind of plus game with Doumbouya they could have a decent squad in 2 years. The kid is really young to be on that level next year but he should at least show flashes.

[Fraquar]

Chem, you rip Gores for trying to get to the playoffs and keeping his team in purgatory, when that is EXACTLY where the Tigers were and had a bloated payroll which wouldn't reasonably allow going for anything more than purgatory. Illitch decided to blow it up and you rip him for doing so. Make up your mind already, because it's sounding like you are bitching just to bitch. Tigers operated in the red for 6 of the 9 years between 2008 and 2016. I'm not a financial genius here, but continuing to operate like that and getting nothing to show for it isn't sustainable long term - and at 10 years that is considered long term.

[chemiclord]

Claiming the Tigers are in the red requires some very... creative interpretation of "profit." On its face, it seems simple. Take gate revenues - costs = plus or negative profit. The problem is, absolutely NO team in ANY professional league is valued by such simple arithmetic. It requires you to believe that the Tigers get absolutely no kickbacks from the league, gets no cut from league sharing, merchandise, etc. It's why the Tigers claim "operating losses" while the team's value and overall bank continues to rise, because they're getting all sorts of money that they don't report in their "operating costs."

There was NEVER any point where the Tigers were not profitable. That Chris Ilitch suggests otherwise is basically a flat out LIE.

What Chris I. wants is the revenue they are currently getting with the payroll that they had in 2004. He wants to pocket the cash. That's why I don't believe him for one second that he has any intention of a rebuild. He has every intention of duping rubes to pay MLB prices while he fields a AAA team, and there's no reason (other than blind homerism) to think he's serious in his intent to do anything other than exactly what he did the LAST time he held the reins.

[Whitley]

Mike Illitch wanted a World Series more than anything and viewed the Tigers as a community asset. He loved stars and believed that fans would come out to see them. To accomplish that, Mike Illitch would pay whatever amount needed even for an upgrade on the margins. As a result, the Tigers had payroll that put them up there with the Yanks, Red Sox and Dodgers big time heavyweights. That was not sustainable and it was amazing it lasted over a decade.

As for Chris Illitch, there has not been an opportunity for him to spend big time right now considering where they are in the rebuild just yet.