Get used to seeing this, Pistons’ fans. Let’s see Arnie work some magic on these old knees.
If you thought the Pistons’ roster was loaded with wing players prior to the signing of Tracy McGrady, well, it’s even worse now. I’ll be the 35,739th Piston fan who has questioned this move since finding out about it, and I’m likely not the only person who has taken the 96 available minutes between the SG and SF positions and tried to find a way for all of our wings to play.
Honestly guys, I can’t find anything positive about this move. McGrady is a 7 time NBA All Star, he is a scoring champion, he is able to create his own shot, and he has the size to play both the SG and SF positions while also possessing the ball handling abilities to play PG on occasion. What I also know is the team has used a mid first round pick on a small forward (Austin Daye) and 2 second round picks on small forward/power forward hybrids in Jonas Jerebko and DaJuan Summers. Let’s say the acquisition of McGrady runs Summers out of town, you’re still left with Tayshaun Prince/McGrady/Daye/Jerebko. Dumars has also used draft picks on Terrico White while there were other big men available in the draft this year.
(Let’s be honest with ourselves folks, unless Jerebko puts on about 25 lbs. of muscle, he’s not a power forward. At best he’s a tweener who is better suited for playing power forward because he lacks the overall foot speed to keep up with small forwards on the defensive end of the floor).
I am not pleased at all with this pick up. So he comes in and plays well? What happens next? The Pistons use whatever cap space they have next year to re-sign him? He has 0 value on the trade market because if he plays above his contract value, he will only return the veteran’s minimum in contract unless we package him with a “bad” contract. Even then he has limited value because who ever acquires him would not retain his “bird rights” going into the offseason, so they would be stuck paying him a portion of their mid-level exception and/or a significant chunk of their available cap space for a then 32 year old SG/SF who has lost explosion off the dribble and who has a history of injuries.
It’s easy to argue “We gave Chucky Atkins the minimum”, but Chucky Atkins is a veteran point guard who has come off the bench before and who could also, and say what you want about it, serve as a mentor for the younger point guards on the roster. McGrady started to break down again last season when the Knicks played him heavy minutes after they acquired him.
Right now, this roster has even less balance than it had before. Without another move in mind, or agreed to in principle, this move makes absolutely 0 sense. The guy is a talented player, in 2003. Right now, he’s just going to eat minutes from guys who need them to get experience and/or he’s taking up a roster spot from a big man who the team so desperately needs.
Evidently Joe Dumars’ answer for our post problems is Chris Wilcox and Ben Wallace. Monroe is there but, if McGrady is coming in and taking minutes from Daye then who’s to say that Wilcox won’t be taking minutes from Monroe?
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Dude. Why would you do that? Seriously. Don’t encourage that kid.
trevor, i just thanked the lord above that you’re not the pistons’ GM. god is good! even if t-mac can outperform rookies and sophomores, doesn’t mean he should get their minutes. they need time to develop. jj’s going to be a PF anyways, but what about daye? a healthy t-mac can probably outplay daye, but we’ve made a commitment to the kid. it’s anybody’s guess why we drafted a project SF, but here we are. daye should get however many minutes it takes to develop him. we’re not winning anything this year anyways. if immediate production is so important (even on a cellar dweller like us), i’m sure we could make some upgrades by trading monroe, jerebko, daye, what have you…
and junior, are you joking? because it sounds like you’re joking. you think throwing everybody out there, struggling to get six veterans (a) enough minutes, (b) enough shots, (c) effective rotations. it’s a recipe for NONE of them to succeed. and the second phase of your plan is to trade the guys who aren’t producing. not only will that group include “everyone,” but you can’t possibly showcase all (or likely ANY) of these players and establish value for them. you’re better off having rip NOT prove he’s healthy and just have the other team’s training staff judge for themselves than to put him on the floor with all these freelancing swingmen and be a major drag on the team.
“Laser”, I was actually offered the job, but I heard your prayers and decided to pursue other endeavors. We agree to disagree. I think the best players should play and signing a former scoring champion and first-team all-nba selection for a one-year veteran’s minimum can only push the level of competitiveness on this team. Plus, I’m sure you noticed from last year, injuries were a factor to the point where depth is not just a luxury. As far as player development goes, I guess that depends on what you are expecting from Daye. I personally do not see a future starter there and if I’m wrong, his talent will dictate his fortune, not charity minutes because we are such “cellar dwellers” as you put it. I see Jerebko as a player that will play both the 3 and the 4, so I would hope he would still manage to get enough PT to develop. For the record, I don’t like the logjam either, and Joe will have to fix the mess he created, but I can’t knock him for a low-risk move with the ever-so-slightest chance of high reward.
Umm I don’t know, Natalie… I just don’t know. How could this happen… why?
no i wasnt joking i think this will be a good run n gun team. it will be a lot like college. we could also on defense pressure the ball handler all the way up the floor or even throw some press in there. if you have enough quality players no one will be too tired to play this way. i think we have plenty of quality players to make this work. basketball is about the pressure you can put on the opposing team and make them play your way. if this is the team we have i say we press them and force them to play it our way.
Your right this move makes no sense because Stuckey doesn’t know how to pass the ball besides turning it over!!!!! Should have traded stuckey to move up in the draft or hold on wait a sec that’s right no one would want him anyway so I guess we’re just screwed at point guard. Wilox and CV, you serious, Detroit isn’t a contender anyway, I woulda of rather seen T-Mac go be a back up on the Miami Heat that would have been awesome to see then him coming here were I’m sure he knows he has no chance of winning anything with this team and coach they have. Maybe Detroit’s front office should do dumars like the Knicks did Thomas and send him down to coach the team.
Sweet “Buffalo Bill”
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