Draft Lottery

[Aussie Dunker]

Don't look now, but we currently have the #8 pick of the upcoming draft!!

The current bottom 9 teams are nearlllllly guaranteed to finish bottom 9 at seasons end, question is, in what order.

As it stands,

#9 Cavs .366
#8 Det .362
#7 Kings .348
#6 Utah .338
#5 Celts .329

I have never been one to tank, but if we finish with #9 we obviously don't get that draft pick... Tank these last 10 games, please....

Thoughts?..

[ZMonkey11]

I've been an advocate of tanking when the half way mark started nearing.

Definitely the smart move for us.

[Aussie Dunker]

Package Josh Smith + Jennings for #5 + J.Hill,

Package #8 + Monroe for #2 + Moultrie

Lakers:
Jennings / Kobe / Smith / Gasol get a final few years to capitlize on Kobe's era, and a young LA suited PG in Jennings,

Philly: Frontcourt of Noel / Monroe for years to come, led by MCW, Thad as the glue guy at SF then flexibility with #8 to pick up a good SG such as Harris..

Pistons:
Drummond
**
J.Parker (#2 pick)
KCP (defensive specilist 3 and D hustle guy to compliment the the studs)
Exum (#5 pick

Would have Hill and Moultrie and hope one of them pans out to be an enforcer type PF that could compliment Dre,

Ahhhh I love GM mode on 2k14 :P

[Aussie Dunker]

#9 Cav .380
#8 Det .362
#7 Sac .357

cavs and sac both had wins today, hopefully both teams finish strong!!...

[dd24]

The last few seasons Detroit has played well at the very end of the season. I'm hoping they don't do that this year. We really need to have a lottery pick this year. If we can land that lottery pick we have a chance of having a very good team again. We can draft a player that we really need to help balance our roster. I'm all for tanking.

[embersyc]

Normally I hate tanking, but at this point the season is totally doomed so they might as well go for it.

Remember last year we were supposed to get the 7 pick and some team hopped over us and pushed us back to 8. Nothing is guaranteed. Need to hope Sacramento finishes better than us.

[dd24]

Yeah, it's all going to be up to the ping pong balls.

[Aussie Dunker]

That is if we get the chance to have a ping pong ball!! We play Cavs later on in this week, the outcome of that game is very, very important. I say Drummond should have a "migraine" on that day and we should give Smith the green light to shoot as many 3's as he likes....

[dd24]

Even if we finish with the 8th worst record that doesn't mean we get the 8th pick. We still need the ping pong ball to finish in the top 8 picks. If we get bumped (like we have in the past), and the pick drops to 9 or lower than it goes to Charlotte. It's going to take a lot of luck. We really need that lottery pick this year so we can draft another guard or SF.

[embersyc]

Now we beat the Jazz?

Come on that team has killed us for years.

[dd24]

I hate how we finally decide to win a few games at the end of the season. We need to be in full on tank mode.

[Attila]

I hate how we finally decide to win a few games at the end of the season. We need to be in full on tank mode.
At least we let the cavs win that game. We needed that loss

[dd24]

At least we let the cavs win that game. We needed that loss

The last thing the NBA needs is for the Cavs to have another top pick lol.

[Aussie Dunker]

I don't think I have cheered harder this season than when Waiters hit that game winner against us yesterday. That game had double impact, you beauty!

[Aussie Dunker]

Imagine if we get lucky and we get #3, who would it makes sense for Pistons to take if available?
Wiggins
Parker
Embid
Exum
Smart
Randle

??

[dd24]

Imagine if we get lucky and we get #3, who would it makes sense for Pistons to take if available?
Wiggins
Parker
Embid
Exum
Smart
Randle

??

Completely hypothetical, since I don't think it will happen, but I think SF is our biggest need so I would say Wiggins or Parker. After that I would go guard so it would be Exum or Smart. I actually think either of those guards could still play with Jennings, although Exum with his height might be the better fit. If somehow the Pistons had Parker or Wiggins, Monroe, and Drummond that would be a dream team. We could get rid of Smith for some SG out there.

[Aussie Dunker]

Love where your head is it mate, but think Monroe will be the one out the door before Smith unfortunately.

Jennings
KCP
Wiggins
Smith
Drummond

Imagine the potential defense / that team running the floor? Damn...

We should be looking to trade Monroe for Beal, Hardaway jr, Stephenson etc

But the most likely outcome is Pistons will get scrwed with the ping pong balls and not even get a pick.......

[dd24]

Love where your head is it mate, but think Monroe will be the one out the door before Smith unfortunately.

Jennings
KCP
Wiggins
Smith
Drummond

Imagine the potential defense / that team running the floor? Damn...

We should be looking to trade Monroe for Beal, Hardaway jr, Stephenson etc

But the most likely outcome is Pistons will get scrwed with the ping pong balls and not even get a pick.......

I don't think they'll trade either unless a good deal comes along. The only one that looks decent there is Beal, but no way Washington gives him up. They want Wall, Beal, and Monroe. The Pistons would have the cap space next year to keep them both anyhow. I would think they could find a taker for Smith. There's a part of me that likes Smith's defense better. I just like Monroe more as a player overall.

[Attila]

I'd love for us to get Parker or Wiggins. Obviously if that happens Monroe and Smith have to move on. I'd rather us get rid of Smith then Monroe. I love the Monroe Drummond combination in the post.

[Aussie Dunker]

More realistically, say we get #7 or #8

Who are we hoping realistically slips to that pick, or who should we be looking at drafting (even though the lottery will probably Scr3w us over again)...

I have seen Smart and Exum both listed at #7 at stages on various mocks, would we jump on one of these two if they were available?

If Lavine or Harris have tremendous combines, would we look at them?

If Randle slips, would we take a look at him even though we are stacked at the position for now?...

Perhaps Mcdermott, Saric or Stauskas?...

[dd24]

If Randle slips I think maybe the GM should possibly trade the pick. Not that he won't be good, but Detroit doesn't need another PF and could possibly move a few picks down plus add another.

I actually really like McDermott. I think he fits exactly what Detroit needs at SF. He might not be the best player to take in the top 8 necessarily, but I do think he's actually going to have a good NBA career. So much has changed that guys like him that can get their own outside shot and knock them down at a high rate will have a lot of value. I don't think he's another Adam Morrison type player. I feel like he's a guy who can be a solid 3rd option. More importantly he's a guy that can give the Pistons that solid outside shooting they need to space their bigs better. If Detroit landed him I think it's a successful draft.

If for some reason Exum fell, which I highly doubt, then Detroit would have to take him. Same goes for Smart.

We really need to get that draft pick first though. I hope the ping pong balls fall in our favor.

[ZMonkey11]

To note, Jabari stated he will stay one more year in college.

[dd24]

To note, Jabari stated he will stay one more year in college.

I didn't realize it was official yet. It it's true it's going to be a huge mistake for him (even if they do win a championship next year). The dumbest thing a player can do is stay another year if they're a projected top 3 pick.

[ZMonkey11]

I didn't realize it was official yet. It it's true it's going to be a huge mistake for him (even if they do win a championship next year). The dumbest thing a player can do is stay another year if they're a projected top 3 pick.

Well nothing is official til it's official this is true.

[dd24]

Well nothing is official til it's official this is true.

I haven't seen anything in the headlines where he's made an official statement. Right now it's just a rumor. Last I heard he officially said he hadn't made up his mind yet, and that was a few days ago. Duke would be absolutely loaded next year. But the thing is I don't see his game getting better like that. His game will get better playing against pros. Not college freshman on unranked teams. It would be a horrible move for him.

[ZMonkey11]

At this point, I want Smart. Take a PG that plays defense and pair him next to KCP. That's some devastating backcourt defense that could funnel drives towards Drummond.

[dd24]

At this point, I want Smart. Take a PG that plays defense and pair him next to KCP. That's some devastating backcourt defense that could funnel drives towards Drummond.

If we ended up with him, that would make the whole season worth it. I'm still unsure about that happening. There are a pretty solid 5 first picks though. That would be (in no particular order): Embiid, Wiggins, Parker, Exum, and Randle. Then you have Vonleh in the mix too. Smart is definitely a top tier guy though. I'm not sure how far he can fall.

Here's the other question. Do you trade Jennings at that point? It's not like there would be a ton of money locked up at PG. Jennings has a fair contract. The negative is he would take away from Smart's PT at PG. You could play Smart and Jennings alongside each other but SG should not be in the plans for Smart.

[ZMonkey11]

If we ended up with him, that would make the whole season worth it. I'm still unsure about that happening. There are a pretty solid 5 first picks though. That would be (in no particular order): Embiid, Wiggins, Parker, Exum, and Randle. Then you have Vonleh in the mix too. Smart is definitely a top tier guy though. I'm not sure how far he can fall.

Here's the other question. Do you trade Jennings at that point? It's not like there would be a ton of money locked up at PG. Jennings has a fair contract. The negative is he would take away from Smart's PT at PG. You could play Smart and Jennings alongside each other but SG should not be in the plans for Smart.

I'd say we trade Jennings. He doesn't fit into the style we should be playing. When he is clicking with Monroe and Drummond, things are beautiful. But he doesn't have the basketball IQ to stick with what's working. He was raised in the Jordan age where you dominate by yourself. You could see it in the style he played and the things he said during the season, stating Cheeks gave him the green light to play the way he wants to play, which is look for his shot first, and create after.

I maintain that both him and Smith need to go. 2 highly talented, but low IQ basketball players mixed with a bunch of young talent won't lead to a winning team.

[dd24]

I'm really hoping the ping pong balls fall our way for once. Then maybe we can make one of those moves. Say we end up with the 8 pick. Do you think a team in the top 4 would take Smith or Jennings and our pick for theirs? That would be interesting.

[ZMonkey11]

I'm really hoping the ping pong balls fall our way for once. Then maybe we can make one of those moves. Say we end up with the 8 pick. Do you think a team in the top 4 would take Smith or Jennings and our pick for theirs? That would be interesting.

I hope so. But I don't think it is very likely. lol

[Aussie Dunker]

I think if we packaged Monroe + #8 we could get a top 4 pick. As Monroe is a very highly skilled big man who has his best 10 years ahead of him.

Not sure teams would bite on Jennings or Smith + #8 though...

I'd like to score Exum if possible, Exum to Moose and Dre would be great. Also and Exum / KCP back court would be ELITE defensively in a couple of years.

If I am the new GM - I am not going into training camp with either Smith or Jennings - I would cut my losses and get rid of the Dumars era and start a fresh. Build around Moose and Dre and get the best deal available for jennings and Smith. We need a pass first point guard and shooters / defenders to increase our advantage in the paint...

This could shape up to be our most important off-season in a long time. The new GM has a huge chance to shape this franchise...

I wonder what draft picks we could get outright for Smith and then Jennings... Late lottery perhaps?

[dd24]

The problem with trading Jennings is we would then need to replace him because we wouldn't have a starting PG. So if we can possibly draft one that's fine. I would think Smith would have teams interested in him. He's a good player that can defend multiple positions. I definitely wouldn't want to move Monroe just to move up in the draft.

[Aussie Dunker]

Is there any PG in this upcoming draft outside of Exum / Smart that you would possibly trade Jennings to pick one up?.. Ennis, Shabazz?

Or if Exum or Smart were still there at #5 or #6 would you tie Jennings with #8 to move up to grab one?

PG - Stud* Smart / Exum
SG - Role playing Defender / Shooter* (possibly KCP)
SF - Role playing Defender / Shooter*
PF - Stud* Monroe
C - Franchise Player* Drummond

Sacrifice Jennings + Smith for this to happen = happy days

[dd24]

Is there any PG in this upcoming draft outside of Exum / Smart that you would possibly trade Jennings to pick one up?.. Ennis, Shabazz?

Or if Exum or Smart were still there at #5 or #6 would you tie Jennings with #8 to move up to grab one?

PG - Stud* Smart / Exum
SG - Role playing Defender / Shooter* (possibly KCP)
SF - Role playing Defender / Shooter*
PF - Stud* Monroe
C - Franchise Player* Drummond

Sacrifice Jennings + Smith for this to happen = happy days

Yup, I would. Guards and wings are so important in the NBA now and that's where we're lacking at. I'm not sure a team would go for it. Outside of Exum and Smart I don't think taking a PG would help us out very much. Still, we need the ping pong balls to fall the right way for us.

[ZMonkey11]

Yup, I would. Guards and wings are so important in the NBA now and that's where we're lacking at. I'm not sure a team would go for it. Outside of Exum and Smart I don't think taking a PG would help us out very much. Still, we need the ping pong balls to fall the right way for us.

+1. Couldn't say it any better.

I'm really missing Brandon Knight right now. hahahaha.

[idizzle]

Pistons have been working out Jordan McRae. He's a 6'5 combo guard from the Volunteers. He's been described as the jack of all trades.

[dd24]

Pistons have been working out Jordan McRae. He's a 6'5 combo guard from the Volunteers. He's been described as the jack of all trades.

Do we really need to go out and get another combo guard, lol? I understand they may be looking at a Rodney Stuckey replacement but we've went after these guys like this before and it just usually doesn't work. He's too small to play SG, but probably not skilled enough to play PG.