Guys I hate to say it but signing 26 year old Jerami Grant (a good player to have as the third/fourth best player on a contender, really pointless on a tanking team) to a mild overpay on the premise that he’s going to morph into a quality offensive player, while walking from 24 year old Christian Wood for $7 million less per season makes no sense.
Wood has played like an offensive center-piece (albeit briefly, but that’s better than “never”, which is how often Grant has) he can pick & pop AND pick & roll from the 5, and he is two years younger. He is a guy a tanking team should hang onto because he’s a potential all-star. Grant at 26 is basically what he is. Wood’s per 36 numbers are also identical to last year - he HAS been this good an offensive player, he’s just getting minutes now.
Over-paying 26-28 year olds isn’t tanking. Tanking is what’s happening in OKC.
Stewart’s projected short-coming is that he’s too small to guard his position (he is high motor though)
Jackson really hasn’t shown the ability to do anything at an NBA level (never going to knock signing a former lottery guy to a minimum deal to see what happens, just think it’s unlikely).
Given that Hayes’ biggest scouted weak point is athleticism, I’m skeptical about him being a plus defender.
If you’re mad they signed Jerami Grant because he makes the roster too good to tank, but you’re also mad they didn’t sign Christian Wood (who you think is better than Jerami Grant), then it sounds like you might just be mad to be mad. Logic not adding up there.
I like the changes clear out players who do not fit or should be gone and bring in the type of players that fit what you want to do. I see this as positioning for future drafts and free agency. People are scoffing at some of the contracts but teams also have to spend a certain amount also during each season I believe per the collective bargaining agreement.
Yes, I think signing a potential All-Star makes more sense than signing a good role player.
Obviously anyone can be wrong, but every single NBA analyst - Zach Lowe, Henry Abbot, John Hollinger, Nate Duncan - all think the Pistons had a disastrous free agent signing period.
Maybe they (and I) are (am) wrong, but it’s not because I’m being unreasonable.
I’m content to let it rest now - god knows I’ve posted enough in this thread (and the Pistons aren’t even my team!). As always, time will tell.
In an article on the Athletic, Edwards points out that because of changes to the lottery, it doesn’t pay off as much to tank and try and guarantee yourself a top 3 pick.
So basically, the Pistons added a couple players so that if Rose is healthy and playing well and Griffin is healthy and playing well, might sneak into the playoffs without affecting your long term plan. The team isn’t committed to anybody long term. After two years, the only players that will be under contract with Detroit will be Plumlee and Grant (entering the final years of their deals) and guys on their rookie contracts. Means a lot of flexibility.
I don’t really get the Grant and Plumlee deals, thing we overpaid (especially for Plumlee) but I think they’re also deals that can be moved if a team wants cap space and they’re not long term. So if they don’t work out, oh well. Not like we’re going to be a contender within a year or two anyways.
