I think hardaway or replacement will be irrelevant to a playoff outcome, as I expect he will be the fifth guard behind Cade, Ivey, Schroeder (or replacement), and Beasley.
If you think they won’t have the Schroeder slot (maybe bc Ivey has too big a shadow), then I agree that they need a fourth guard who is much better than THJ.
I don’t see both Schroder and Ivey on the team (Schroder’s role has, basically, been, Ivey’s pre-injury), and I think Hardaway’s slot (or Harris’, but Harris is better so less of a need) is where you go and try and find your 2nd best player. Ivey will obviously help the offense. But I think the think this team is missing right now is anyone who concerns you after Cade. Do the Pistons have a non-Cade offensive player better than, like, Mikal Bridges or OG? I don’t think so?
Yeah the fact that the FA pool is so mediocre kinda worries me. Don’t think they should just be throwing in their ‘26 just to facilitate bringing in a guy slightly better than Tobias Harris or something.
I really think they should hunt Trey Murphy. They should also very obviously be giving Thompson and Holland the leash to just see if one pop offensively. I sort of doubt either will, but you gotta give them the opportunity. Ausar had his bad moments last night (and I don’t blame the last play on him at all, sometimes a dude just gets a bucket) but he was very clearly their best player last night, right?
Would there be a role for Caris LeVert?
I think Levert’s best role is basically what they ask of Ivey - high minute combo-guard switching between the 1 and 2 depending on the lineup. I do think Levert has a role on a legit good team, but I think the Pistons are sensibly committed to younger options.
Likely off-season:
Look for growth from Cade, Ivey, Duren, Ausar and Holland.
Extend Ivey and Duren
Retain Beasley, Schroder (and maybe at a smaller role Hardaway.)
Look to get a bigger third center (Does Andre Drummond really want to come back?)
Look to upgrade Fontecchio (Can Bobi Klintman be that guy?)
Can’t see a big swing unless something big opens up. Like Jaren Jackson wanting out of Memphis or something.
I am curious what kind of deal hardaway can get this year. Every time you think he may be hitting a cliff he gets a really good deal again. Dude has made 150mil+ in his career. Despite his numbers being a bit iffy definitely seems like a guy teams really value.
If Hardaway has no market and is going to sign at like $5 mil a year that’s fine, but I don’t think retaining him should be a priority (it may be a fall-back). I think Schroder is going to get paid more than the Pistons should want to pay him for the role they’d ask of him. Also don’t think “3rd center” is something you spend money on. Paul Reed is fine for that job.
If Klintman can displace Tek, that’s great.
@goblue8 - I think the value of Hardaway is that he’s an ok shooter and not a complete potted plant on defense and guys that don’t stink at one of those two things at the three are hard to find. Sort of fulfilling the ask at the position with the greatest scarcity in the league is pretty lucrative.
Duncan robison(likely) and levert also hitting free agency again. Two other flawed um players that have been really valued, curious to see what they get too.
he’s passed his prime by this point. He’s a minimum contract guy from here on out
THJ massively benefitted from the one time cap explosion in 2017. Led to him getting a crazy deal. Then he went and had his best season of his career in the last year of that contract and got another big deal.
Basically he has had an insane amount of luck to make the amount of money he has relative to his ability. And I don’t mean that disparagingly really. he didn’t do anything wrong and he’s been a solid player when used right. I just don’t think it means the league like massively values him.
Idk about that it gets to be pretty slim pickings for the exceptions and hardaway also seems like a really good vet to have around for a rebuilding team so he may be able to fetch a good short term deal that way. I’d be surprised if he’s a minimum guy.
If Hardaway gets paid more than like $5 mil a year I’d be shocked. The only time he’s really approached average in his career was serving as a catch and shoot guy next to Luka. He’s a “shooter” but not a movement one, this was by far the best defensive season of his career so I don’t know how much a different coach/team could count on that.
I think Levert and Robinson are vastly superior players.
A minimum contract for him is almost $4 mill and it’d mean any team could sign him. he seems like exactly the type of guy that signs for minimum contracts
maybe a team over the cap would use some of their MLE?
You think it’s possible Ivey, Tobias, and 2 Firsts nets you a flawed/Tier B star (Booker/Zion/Sabonis)?
probably but why
I would not spend a dime on Zion unless he’s in the market for a 50% pay reduction. I just don’t think Sabonis is that good. Book…idk man, I probably have a lower opinion of him than most people. (and if you traded for Sabonis you’re probably including Duren, not Ivey)
It’d take more than that, 4 firsts is basically the going rate in those deals
I’m just curious what realistic options are out there via trade because I’m not sure people realize the Pistons don’t have that much flexibility.
To me it’s either a trade like the one I mentioned or Beasley on the mid level, sign 1 of THjr/DS and perhaps extend Duren/Ivey.
anyone giving up 4 firsts for one of those guys needs to be demoted to podcast host
I remember doing the research on this (it could be incorrect), but Trey Murphy was attainable without giving up a huge piece, just basically draft capital. I don’t know if the Pelicans want to deal him, but if I’m there, I’d taking it down to the studs.
Pistons are currently $30 million over the cap with $40 million of capholds for Hardaway and Schroder. If they release those, they have $10 million in space. Tobias Harris basically has the same salary as Murphy next year, I’d CONSIDER loading him up with as many picks as it takes and doing that.
I could sell this as something the Pels would consider because:
a) their team is trash and they need to rebuild
b) the admin that gave Trey that contract is gone
c) Trey is obviously way better than Harris and younger, but he’s on that deal for 3 more years than Harris’ lasts so they save money (truly the main goal of the Pelicans franchise)