What if he’s the PF? I’m not sure who they intend on playing at forward in addition to Bey (Livers will play, but I assume he’s not the starter).
I mean, I get hating the contract. The price tag is excessive and Pistons had him as a RFA so they could have let the market dictate his value rather than overpaying. That part of it stinks. But at the same time, I’m guessing very few people were watching the Pistons at the end of the season to actually evaluate Marvin Bagley the basketball player in a Piston uniform.
Pistons won 11 games after acquiring him, basically half of their entire season total (much to the chagrin of Pistons fans wanting to tank). I get it was the end of the season when many teams weren’t exactly trying to win, but the Pistons were also not good and they beat teams that were still maneuvering for playoff/play-in seeding like Boston, Atlanta (twice), Charlotte, Cleveland, Toronto, Philly. It wasn’t all against teams completely mailing it in.
3 Likes
OK. He didn’t play in 5 of those 11.
Which means they went 6-12 with him (33.33%). Its better than the 27% they won without him.
He had a positive +/- (I know, using +/- to evaluate players, but the argument in general is that he is so bad in non-boxscore ways that it over-rides his points and boards) in a grand total of 4 of his 18 (two of which were +1’s) games, only one of which was a win (over Atlanta, where he was +11). They were -88 with him on the floor - or 13.5 points per 36 minutes.
It is very difficult to argue that he helped them play better, because they mostly didn’t play better with him on the roster, and when they did, they were better when he was on the bench.
None of this is definitive, because +/- on small samples stinks, etc - I grant it. But the argument is that he was good in 18 games, and there isn’t evidence the team was better for his presence.
Didn’t play in 4 out of 11. They went 7-11 with him in the lineup (39% 
)
1 Like
Whoops, yes you’re right.
Nobody is in love with this statline or the contract? It’s just not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, hardly the type of colossal failure it’s being portrayed to be.
1 Like
I don’t like the contract. If it was two years, I’d be totally cool with it, even if it is an overpay. My biggest problem is if he gets in the way of development for Stew or Duren. But I’m guessing Olynyk will be moved, so might not have as big of a logjam in the front court as right now.
I don’t get the gnashing of teeth, however. Obviously Weaver/Casey see something in him. If they’re right, it’s not a disaster of a contract and he’s either a valuable member of the team or a decent piece in a future trade. If they’re wrong, he’s eating up a not insignificant but not disastrous amount of cap space. Potential to be traded to a team looking for cap space. Some people thought the Plumlee and Olynyk contracts were a disaster when they were signed. It ended up fine.
3 Likes
I don’t think Bags is a terrible signing, but I was hoping for a couple of million less per year and a team option for year 3.
Now, I’m hopeful that it’s frontloaded.
Even if it isn’t, it’s not an anchor contract and maybe he keeps improving.
1 Like
Huge trade Gobert going to Minnesota.
3 Likes
I’m wondering if they’ll deal KAT. I think that’s a weird tandem.
They’ve explicitly said they aren’t
Twin tower situation like Milwaukee and Cleveland
4 picks, their last two first rounders, and three rotation guys
That’s a bunch
And I think Rudy is really good
1 Like
KAT can shoot and offensively, it’s a fit. Defensively, KAT is a liability against PF but the theory is Goebert will help protect the rim that it doesn’t matter anyway.
1 Like
I actually think it works.
3 Likes
Given that Towns signed a supermax today I think they can’t trade him until the deadline anyway
2 Likes
Rudy is like a Mutumbo, though he doesn’t block as many shots. Then again, there are fewer shots in the paint these days.
Is there any chance that Bagleys contract makes him easier to trade if you are trying to line up salaries for a deal in 2 years?
2 Likes
I agree even if you look at some teams this year they were going more with 2 bigs.
Boston-Williams/Horford
Memphis-JJJ/Adams
Cleveland-Allen/Mobley
NO-Hayes/JV
Even Milwaukee does it with Giannis/Lopez. It’s not coming at warp speed but there’s a movement towards teams wanting to play bigger and having success. This is why it’s suprising that Phoenix is still playing a waiting game with Ayton.
1 Like
Even Golden State had two non-shooters with Looney and Green out there together a lot.
1 Like
I am happy that the Pistons didn’t show real interest but I’m still surprised that it’s been just crickets when it comes to Ayton.