Sure help that Saddiq is relegated to being a catch and shoot wing player. I think a change of scenery would’ve made him change his game back to where he was as a rookie. He tried to expand his game when he was in Detroit and was not good at it. Knowing what Saddiq was asking for in his contract, Weaver made the right call to trade for Wiseman to get a season and half to see if he’s worth extending.
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Think the Pistons felt Livers could do what they wanted Saddiq to do for much less money.
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That’s exactly part of Weaver’s thinking. Livers can play a catch and shoot role from the wing, and he’s a better defender than Bey. Livers should be better served as a backup 3 and D wing player for the betterment of the franchise but their roster stinks out loud.
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See, I think Bey expanded his offensive repertoire was less his quest for personal development than…look at the roster. Someone has to shoot the ball.
The money and stuff may come into it but Livers needs to increase his 3 attempts by 50% and grow his accuracy by 15 points to match what Bey was giving the team as a a rookie as a shooter.
I won’t discuss defense, so I will grant that Livers is better, but I tbink it’s very unlikely he is ever the offensive player player Bey is - especially since Bey is about a full calendar year younger.
The cap stuff…the Pistons have massive amounts of cap and are likely never signing max free agents. At some point you need to pay good players, and I think Bey is lots better than he’s getting credit for (he’s not going to keep shooting 49% from 3 in ATL but he’s been really good there on a very different shot diet. He’s moved 15% of his shots from floater range to 3s, and he shoots a similar % in the two areas, and his two have gone from 33% assisted to 68% assisted).
I am not trying to demean Livers - he’s my favorite alum of the resurgence era.
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But that was a clutch loss to the Hornets Thursday! Brought Killian back at the right time!
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I think given what Bey was shooting and Livers was shooting as a Pistons. It’s pretty clear that Livers is better at 3 and D than Bey. Throw in the fact that Bey is asking for DeAndre Hunter money which is a hard contract to move if you’re not a valuable 3 and D wing player considering Bey’s inaccuracy as of late with Detroit and provides zero value at defense. I would not consider Bey a good player. This is how the Pistons get into trouble with giving the bag to meh players.
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If the Pistons had him play as almost exclusively a catch and shoot wing, I’m sure his shooting numbers would look better than they were the past couple seasons. I think the experiment of him as a secondary creator was an interesting one and something worth trying, but I think it was clear after a few games this season that he was just never going to be that on a consistent basis.
That said, we have what he is in Livers and I think limited 3&D players are a little bit easier to find than quality, young big men. Wiseman looks like he has a lot of potential to still untap. Gotta a lot of growing to do on the defensive end. Think it might be a win win trade for both players.
Bey is a streaky shooter and a garbage defender. Livers shoots from his preferrex spots at a solid clip and is twice the defender Bey is. His only problem is availability.
that is a jacket and a half for 313 day
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Look when you can trade the next Lebron caliber player for a good locker room guy like Jae Crowder, you need to at least think about it.
Also, Weaver would trade it for a package of 7 22 year old re-draft guys before he traded it for a vet.
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fans who are sick of watching losing so they want to “speed up the process” by trading away victor wembanyama:
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I don’t think “trading for vets” is a thing they should do (trade Bojan!). I don’t think WINNING is vital this year. I do, however, want to see Weaver construct a roster that can put 2 people capable of dribbling, 2 people capable of playing preimeter defense, 1 guy capable of blocking a shot, and 3 people capable of shooting a 3 on the floor for 48 minutes.
He hasn’t gotten CLOSE to that yet.
From guys on the roster:
People who can dribble: Cade, Ivey, Hayes, (sort of) Burks?. Maybe enough here?
People who can defend the perimeter: Hayes, Livers? Stewart?? need more!
People who can shoot: Bojan, Livers, in theory Cade (not demonstrated yet) need more!
People who can block a shot: I guess Stewart, but playing him at PF sort of nullifies it. Need more!
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Here’s what I’m hoping for (I don’t dare dream a Victor scenario.)
STARTERS
Cade, Ivey, Jerami Grant, Stewart, Duren
BENCH
Scoot, Burks, Bojan, Wiseman
MOVE INTO ROTATION WHEN THERE”S AN INJURY
Killian, RJ Hampton, Livers, Bagley
Jerami Grant?
Best free agent on the market. And great fit as a wing defender that can play the 3 and 4.
Would not be a fan of outbidding the $112 million/4 year deal he got offered. The pistons really need to see if any of these young guys can play before they throw down cash.
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I like Cam Johnson more.
Pistons wouldn’t move the 1st pick but they certainly need to be much better next year. Winning 20 games next year would be a disaster and firings most likely occur.
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$28mil/year isn’t bad for someone that shot 40% from three and plays good defense.