The Pistons are Exciting Everyone | NBA Offseason Breakdowns Ep.18
the Detroit Pistons shocked everyone last season where they tripled their win total and rose to the fame in the Eastern Conference almost taking down the New York Knicks And Kate Cunningham is this rising star So how will the Detroit Pistons put the right team around him to get them to that promised land well we’re going to discuss and break down everything on this episode of Swiss City I am Bruce Fles We’re diving in for today’s NBA offseason breakdown looking at the Detroit Pistons So if you’re a Pistons fan and this is your first time seeing me let me know your thoughts down below in the comment section If I did the Pistons justice or if I absolutely butchered their team construction I want to know your guys’ thoughts And if you’re also a fan of the series or new to the channel interested in these types of videos definitely check out the other videos down below in the playlist as we’ve gone through a plethora of other teams already breaking down their offseason predictions So without further ado let’s dive in and let’s explore the Detroit Pistons So like I mentioned Detroit we are discussing you today and an absolute fantastic turnaround of a season so far If you want to look at the standings from last season we all know Detroit Pistons finished sixth in the Eastern Conference Not making the playin And like I mentioned 44 and 38 tripling their win total was not something that I expected nor a lot of people expected either I was higher on the Pistons a little bit last year I thought they’d be a playin team but after seeing them getting the worst losing record of consecutive games in sports history it was kind of fair to write off the Pistons going on to this season I had them around nine highest maybe seven or eight and they definitely outdid my expectations of getting a top six seed and really showing to us in the NBA what they can bring out we see from the Detroit Pistons here when looking at their fans celebrating and teams celebrating This was exactly what the fans got and it was absolutely perfect for this squad If we want to look at their off season and potentially what they have to deal with we obviously know Kate Cunningham their leading all-star is going to be the face of their team but they do have some smaller contracts and some other guys on this roster as well Jaden Ivy dealt with an injury Jaylen Dur Thompson all on some cheaper deals Ron Holland Marcus Sasser Bobby Bobby Clintman Simone Feekio a little bit of a veteran Isaiah Stewart has gotten an extension and obviously Tobias Harris has obviously was signed to their team last offseason But the key does team does have some key free agents Willie Beasley Tim Hardaway Jr Dennis Schroeder were all key parts of this Pistons success in this second half of this season But one key thing to note with this team is obviously the $28.2 million that they have in projected salary room This gives the Pistons the ability to not only sign some of their free agents back but also the possibility of trading for a contract that maybe a team like the Celtics the Suns or Cavs is looking to shed in a deal to drop below that second apron It’s ultimately gives the Pistons one of the most flexibility in the offseason across the NBA and really kind of alters what decision this team can really make There’s a lot of options for this front office to really decide on to get better but one key thing is they’re going to need scorers and shooters around Kaden Cunningham So addressing that key concern regardless of is it the wing position at the guard position the Pistons need to do that So so let’s dive in and let’s look at some potential guys that could be traded from the Pistons and then we’ll discuss some free agents possibly as well So the first contract I want to talk about is not a big one It’s Simone Fonteo and Fontekio was acquired from the Detroit Pistons last trade deadline when they traded for the wing here And honestly he’s not terrible He can play the three he can play the four So he’s a pretty solid scoreer and shooter pretty decent defender The only limitations with Simone Fontekio is one he was a 28-year-old rookie when he came into the NBA last season So that obviously limits his potential of growth and really hitting his prime potential really at a peak age but also for the fact that like he’s not really standoutish in any really category So for the Pistons I feel like he’s just a guy that can hold the zone and play a solid wing role for them but isn’t someone part of their long-term future and once again a team looking to shed some salary might be looking like hey Fonte is on an expiring contract We’ll take that back He can be a little bit cheaper than the guy we have who could play a similar role We’ll give them to you and you can trade him in and take him in the salary One team that I think could easily do this is the Boston Celtics They have a contract in Sam Hower Makes around 10 million $11 million a year A little bit more expensive than a guy in Fonteio but has that lock down salary and in my op in opinion would be a better ad than someone Font Techio is a little bit younger has the potential to be a better scoreer and three and D player for the Pistons and also you are acquiring a player that can fit the needs alongside Kade Cunningham with also not really hindering your potential of going out in free agency Obviously it does take back some salary but if you send out a salary in Fontio you’re not really draining too much which allows you to still potentially be able to add one of those shooters back in free agency alongside a guy in Sam Hower Personally I do think a guy like Fonteo will be traded from the Pistons because he is one of their you know flexible salaries that also isn’t expiring So definitely keep an eye on Fontekio Now the another big question with this Pistons team is their big man department When looking at Isaiah Stewart when looking at bigs and Jaylen Durant it’s a big question on who the Pistons should really invested and evaluate Now obviously Isaiah Stewart a little bit older than uh a guy in Jaylen Durant so he’s already gone off his rookie extension $14 million deal and a very vital piece for this Detroit defense obviously a little bit smaller at 6’8 playing that center position So he slots in at the power for alongside Durant but is the enforcer and the key defensive piece for this Detroit defense His rim protection his shot blocking his ability to match up guys and even stretch out the floor is key for the Pistons And they were missing that in this NBA playoffs when they took on the New York Knicks And I think a guy like Isaiah Stewart even if he couldn’t drastically uh change the series would have made significant impacts for the Detroit Pistons and completely could have changed the outcome of how that New York Knicks series and Detroit Piston series went Now when looking at a guy like Jaylen Durant he’s obviously had some upside from his rookie year but hasn’t been the best defender post then and you know has the length ability can be a solid shot blocker but on a rookie scale contract is a little weary And if you’re the Pistons you’re really trying to evaluate what key center you want to develop and really build around there are some kind of question marks Now obviously you can kind of keep both and really materialize it but then you have to give Jaylen Durant a rookie scale contract and then now you have two kind of rookie scale bigs kind of play the same role and who’s really going to play over each other and obviously they can share and play alongside of each other Whereas if you trade for a wing that is a score there’s just a lot of complications with the Detroit Pistons going down the line Truly for my opinion kind of figure out who this key center is going to be is very vital Once again Stuart can present himself as a tradable contract to where if you say “Hey a guy like Durant can work or we can get a guy in the draft or via the trade market that can make a more impact defensively we can offload a guy like this,” then that’s the move to really go to But ultimately if I were the Detroit Pistons I would be looking to try to move off contract in Jaylen Durant and keep a guy like Isaiah Stewart with a big that can play five out and can really shoot because then that gives me the the double-edged sword of having another score and shooter alongside for Kate Cunningham and the pick and roll and pick and pop but also allows Isaiah Stewart to comfortably still play his power forward role and be that consistent shot blocker and rim protector to be that defensive anchor for the Pistons And then the last player I want to talk about which if I’m going to be honest with you guys I don’t think is going to be traded But the only way I think he could be traded is if the Pistons go out and get a star is a guy in Tobias Harrison Tobias very very solid fit for the Detroit Pistons Once again adds that element of a wing shooter a stretch four that Kate Cunningham can realistically really use in this system Not to mention that he is a veteran has been around the league and has obviously played for Detroit previously So has those connections but not only just that can be that voice of reason in the locker room can be someone to get the guys all together and on his contract that he’s currently on now is very worth his value of what he can bring on the court So a guy like Tobias Harris I think really checks all the boxes for the Detroit Pistons and should not be someone that they look to move off of But if the questions do arise with the Detroit Pistons on potentially going out and getting a secondary co-star star or someone that can provide another offensive punch around this team feel like a guy in Tobias Harris has to be the guy out all before the contract use For example I’ll give you guys a guy like Lorie Markin I think would be an upgrade over Tobias Harris if he was available and the Pistons were able to get him for the sheer fact that he plays once again a very similar role than Tobias but also even if the contracts are a little bit more expensive is a is younger and can fit into this mold of still winning now but also in the future alongside Cade Cunningham and this Detroit Pistons team A scenario like that would be the only instances where I would use a Tobias Harris contract is if we’re getting a clear upgrade over Tobias in that role But if not I think Tobias Harris is a perfect fit for this Detroit Pistons team and should definitely be staying here for the long haul Now when looking at the draft for the Pistons they don’t have a first round pick And if you’ve been a fan of this channel you know that I’m not really diving into second round picks So we’re going to ignore the Pistons here for looking at the draft They potentially trade back into the draft and land a first round pick here at a smaller contract of value But ultimately I do feel like for the Pistons this is the time to act This is the time to get some no more rookies no more young guys on your roster this is the time to get in those veterans and to get in those key rotational players around Kate Cunningham Jaden Ivy whoever is going to be a part of this core to really set forth the path for development for Detroit So ultimately going in the draft is not the position I lean at pick 37 they could still get a quality bench player or uh end of the rotation piece or maybe even a two-way contract But ultimately when discussing this Pistons team I think another key thing that we have to be diving in and exploring is free agency And like I mentioned Pistons have three key free agents Two of them pictured here Malik Beasley and Tim Hardway Jr The owner The other excuse me is Dennis Schroeder We’ll dive into these two shooters here first Obviously Beasley coming in from Milwaukee the season previous proved that he could be a valuable scorer on a veteran minimum contract Got a little bit of a pay boost here in Detroit but still once again proved he could be one of the league’s best role playinging scorers and shooters this year alongside one of the top guards I do believe that a guy like Beasley could command some money out there on the open market And personally over Tim Hardaway Jr would be the guy that I would be looking to bring back if I were the Pistons because I think he showed to be more consistent throughout the season even if he wasn’t as in the playoffs compared to Tim Tim Hardaway Jr but also for the fact that I do think Beasley kind of fits in more to this core and culture with his age being a little bit more easier to fit in with Kate Cunningham and the development of this team But Tim Hardaway Jr like I mentioned was also a very valuable piece for this Detroit Piston squad specifically in the playoffs really coming to life and being that other score when guys like Malik Beasley and other scorers weren’t really shining up to light Jim Hardy Jr was the one to kind of rise from that occasion and really help alongside Kate Cunningham Once again he was acquired in via a trade for the Pistons and was on a pretty big scale contract With now him being a free agent and with him being a little bit older I could see the Pistons also negotiating a deal with him to bring him back on a team more teamfriendly deal that fits in for both of them Ultimately Pistons do have the money and flexibility to bring back both of these guys So I would not be shocked but I do ultimately think the Pistons will have a decision to come into play because I do think either a Malik Beasy will get outpriced by the Pistons if they do make a move to add some pieces on this roster via trade to add some scoring or a player like Tim Hardaway Jr might also get outpriced from this team and they might not be able to bring back both of them So ultimately I do think the Pistons will strike with one It all depends on which one they feel more comfortable with they go with the guy in Hardaway a little bit more of a veteran someone they might not get outpriced with or do they guy to go with Guy at Beasley someone’s a little bit younger fits in more with their culture and can be a more consistent score as he’s shown it over the last couple of seasons Ultimately do think that comes to a question for the Pistons specifically they do consider you know a Lari Markin and Sam Hower type of acquisition as well That will definitely add some scoring to this lineup The other player that also that’s not pictured here that I’d like to mention is Dennis Schroeder He is also a free agent someone that was brought into the Pistons in the second half of the season and was a key upgrade as being a secondary playmaker and obviously helping out with Kade Cunningham in that playoffs really leading that secondary run of that bench unit and being once again that other playmaker and score regardless if it was creating off the dribble or catch and shoot Now a guy in Dennis Sharter in my opinion I think at his best value would be a backup point guard and can make his most significant impact at his role right now at a backup point guard But I do believe there are teams across the league that view Dennis Sharter as a fringe type starter And there’ll be teams that are going to be needing that in the point guard position going into this season that may be able to outpric the Detroit Pistons once again and offering a long-term deal for Schroeder Now once again the Pistons have a lot of questions revolving around this roster They have multiple free agents and Malik Beasley Tim Hardway Jr Dennis Schroeder who all are you know pretty solid shooters and scorers at the guard position And with a guy like Jane Ivy coming back from injury Marcus Sasser getting better and even Kate Cunningham still developing it is clear that bringing all three of those guys back would clearly hinder the development of one of their products if not multiple So it does seem to me that the Detroit Pistons will not be able to bring back all those guys But still once again should keep out in the eye out in the market to way to add some shooting and scoring if they can’t bring those both of those guys back to once again make things easier for Kate Cunningham and the development of this team So thank you guys so much for tuning in to this episode here where I describe the Detroit Pistons Once again let me know your thoughts down below in the comment section What would you guys like to see the Pistons add for this roster are there any key position needs that you guys think realistically the Pistons need to identify in free agency or via the trade market to really set them over the top once again similar to the Magic in my video yesterday I think this team is ready to take that leap and ready to strike And I feel like this central division with the Pacers now in the NBA finals the Cavs being a top tier team and the Detroit Pistons is going to bring new fans to the likes of these franchises and really inspire people to really get familiar with the organizations and the foundation of these squads which is very key So once again thank you guys so much for tuning in today’s episode I really do appreciate it If you do enjoy the content once again make sure to hit the subscribe button and I’ll catch you guys tomorrow with another offseason breakdown Have a great rest of your day and peace
In this video, Bruce Veliz breaks down the NBA and looks into each team and how they should handle the offseason ahead. In the first episode, we dive into the Detroit Pistons. Let us know your thoughts down below.
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