The Pistons address their outside shooting needs by signing Italian League MVP Luigi Datome. The two year deal is worth 3.5 millions for Datome, who was being pursued by many NBA teams including Milwaukee, San Antonio, Boston, Phoenix and Houston.
Datome the 25 year old 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward, was regarded as the No. 1 free agent in Europe this season, and best shooters in the Italian League. Datome averaged 16.6 points. 5.8 rebounds and 47% shooting, going 41% from downtown. He’s also a great free throw averaging 92% from the stripe
As for the rest of the roster…
It appears the Pistons will have one roster spot for either Kim English or late second-round pick Peyton Siva. Neither of those players are yet under contract. Khris Middleton, a second-round pick from the 2012 draft, has a guaranteed contract and the Pistons guaranteed Ukrainian big man Slava Kravtsov’s contract for 2013-14. Via The Detroit News
just saw his highlights… Guy looks real. Secondng of Walter hermann 🙂
We need outside shooters to go with our athletic players.
KCP may not be the sharp shooter Joe was hoping for,
so this was a good signing IMO.
English and Siva are not currently signed. One of them will be the odd man out unless they trade somebody soon. My guess is English will not be resigned since we need PG players. I think Singler, KCP and Stuckey will be our SG and BK, the other Bynum, and Siva will be our PG. The Pistons will have JSmoove, Tony M., and Middleton at SF. The Pistons will have Moose, JJ, and CV at PF. At not sure if Luigi will be at PF or SF.
A trade is next……. Joe is working those phones… This season will be fun Joe is NOT done….
Natalie`s photo does not show Luigi`s cool pony tail that he is sporting on his videos. Looks like he is a small forward which means we are rather crowded at the position. Maybe they move Middleton to SG along with Singler.
But I do think a trade is probably in the works as we speak.
In any event English is on the bubble.
Josh Groban??
Please tell me we are trading for Mario Chalmers. Sometimes your heart has to rule your head, Joe.
PG: W. Bynum 22mins/ B. Knight 13mins/ Billups 13mins
SG: Rudy Gay 23mins/ KCP 12mins/ B.Knight 10mins/ Luigi Datome 3mins
SF: J.Smith 25mins/ Rudy Gay 8mins/ Luigi Datome 12mins/ KCP 3mins
PF: G.Monroe 25mins/ J.Smith 10mins/ J.Maxiel 13mins
C: Drummond 28mins/ G.Monroe 12mins/ Jerebko 8mins
Pistons still have even more qualified bench contributors that didnt even make this list:
LAST SEASON K.Singler avg 28mins, K.Middleton avg 17mins, C. Maggette avg 14min. Roster competion is at an all-time high for Pistons as Maxiel avg 25mins, Jerbko avg 18min Last Year
Expect Drummond, Datome and KCP minutes to increase as season goes on.
Main/ 3pt TriggerMen: Billups, Datome, Knight
Pistons stills wont be good 3pt team, but will have many Free Throws & Dunks & Rebounds
In 2-3 years pistons will either be East Title contending or a team with a lot of Young Assets & Cap Space
So how are we getting Rudy Gay? Raptors have already said ‘No’ to Stuckey + CV.
Will Bynum, while I love him, is not a starting PG. On that roster, BK has to start at PG–I still believe he has the tools to develop into a quality PG–especially if we can somehow get Billups to come and mentor him.
I haven’t heard, but would be very surprised if Maxiell is returning. I think Tony Mitchell will fill that role in spot minutes, but there won’t be too many minutes behind Dre/Money/Smith. Maggette won’t be returning either.
I also fail to see how we will be a team with a lot of young assets & cap space? If we had Rudy Gay and Josh Smith on the roster, then that is an awful lot of the cap eaten up. Plus, remember we are about to have to re-sign Monroe and then Drummond a season or two later (expect $10m+ for both of them). Same for Knight if he develops into a quality guard. All of a sudden, you have a team that is in a win now or blow it up and start again situation.
I still hold that PG is the biggest need for the team now. Cheeks has to get creative with his lineups, but this team sans Rudy Gay can easily compete for a bottom four playoff spot THIS season. (Lock in Miami, Chicago, Indiana, NY and NJ for playoff spots; knock out Orlando, Boston, Charlotte, Philadelphia; I think Atlanta is probably a good bet to make it; Cleveland & Toronto unlikely; then we are competing with Milwaukee and Washington for the playoffs).
Toronto isn’t taking our garbage for Gay, it was fun thinking about it for a minute but it’s not happening.
Today starts amnesty week for NBA teams that are eligible to do so.
Even though the Pistons are just above the league minimum in salary this year, I still hope that they use their amnesty on CV31.
They would still have to pay most of his salary but at least JD could sign a player worth their pay. If not then it will be one more year of watching CV31 on the bench cheering the Pistons on.
Siva looks good so far so, my guess is that English will not be resigned.
They will not amnesty CV, if they were going to do it they would have done it already. I believe Gores won’t do it and now CV comes off the books next season so that’s a good thing.
combo knight
sg pope
sf luigi
pf j smoove
c monroe
angriest damn bench in the nba — most have been starters and now on perma back burner
pg bynum
sg stuck
sf singler
pf charlie v
c drummond
As the season goes on and drummond gets in shape he’ll add more minutes maybe smith will go to the bench and now you are talking about really really angry bench, smith thinks he is an all star but all he all starred is a dunk contest
pg Dragic
SG Knight
SF Smoove
PF Moose
C Drum
bench:
Pg Bynamite
Sg Pope
Sf Gigi/ Mitchell
pf Jerebko/ Mitchell
C Slava
reserves:
Siva (d league bound), Middleton (if he’s lucky), J random shooting guard (not english)
gone in deal to nab Dragic
CV, Stucco, Singler (sorry Sing but Suns need sweetener)
final 2014 ranking:
4th (edging out the Bulls and Knicks then proceeds to knock either one out of the 1rst round)
Gm of the year: Joe Duuuumars (not dumass)
Now we need to sign an italian player named mario with a mustache and we will have the greatest team in the world
Don’t think Im not already thinking up a Mario Brothers angle already 🙂
Gigi is supposed to be in town next week for a physical exam and if he passes it then he will be signed to a contract.
After the summer league games, I think the future is bright for the Pistons.
I think somehow JD has to find a way to keep Siva on the roster or have him agree to go to Europe for a year. He is has too much potential to let go.