REACTION: Detroit Pistons Free Agency – Duncan Robinson & Caris LeVert

REACTION: Detroit Pistons Free Agency – Duncan Robinson & Caris LeVert

We are back for another segment with the legend Rod Beard. Rod Beard is a senior sports editor at the Atlanta Journal Constitution. And you know what? We got to talk NBA free agency and that also includes our Detroit Pistons. But another squad that we thought, okay, hey, look, they they’re on the all dysfunction list right now. What are they going to do to move themselves out of it? Rod actually covers that team and they’re having a pretty intriguing off season. I think they helped themselves. But let’s get the legend back in here because we got to break this down with Rod’s thoughts. I’m going to brief everybody. We lost all all of our vets except for Uncle Tobias. So, all of the ones that we thought bring them back. Maintain your consistency for weeks. Which one is better and which one should this and what too? And well, look, uh the Shruder and Monk the signing trade it failed. Uh so that’s that deal. Shruder just walks for nothing. THJ uh to the Denver Nuggets on a one-year deal. Another vet that walks for nothing. And we already know what’s going on with Malik Bezy. The deal has been placed on pause. They did pivot. Like we said, they had to pivot a couple times. Once after the BZ news, a second time after the Kings decided to that they could go create the space to be able to sign Dennis Shooter straight up. And it put the Pistons in a position where
you know what, this is your free agency now. Rod, take a look at Rod’s thoughts, man. Man, NBA free agency is is un it is its own soap opera. It’s unlike anything else where the league literally changes within a couple of days, within a week between the draft and the and free agency. It is just the most fun covering the NBA beat that that your team can go from terrible to good to I mean, maybe they’re just mediocre, but they’re still dramatic and they they have something going on in free. I I love this week. I’ve always loved it. It’s It’s late nights and you got to just keep an eye on what’s going on, but it is very much one of the most fun weeks in sports. I mean, outside of the season itself if if your team is going to the finals or something like that, but it is it is absolutely hilarious to see some of the things that go on and and while we’re there, like how do you wave Dame? How does that work?
And yeah, free agency has been wild. So, so all of this that I’m I’m downplaying Miles Turner and the
Legos in Milwaukee and the Bucks go do that. Like I’m I’m saying no. He’s he can’t play on my team. You throw Dame to the curb for Miles Turner. Hey.
Hey, do you, bro? Do you, bro? Giannis. Giannis is somewhere in Europe. Like, what? Y for who?
That came out so quick, bro. It was like, yo, they waved him and it wasn’t but like a minute and then it’s like breaking news. Jiannis is unhappy with this. You think? Wow. I I wonder what her future.
But Chelsea, who did y’all just wave him for? Chelsea Clinton. What are we doing? When I saw that deal, you you were the first person that I thought of, bro. Soon as I saw Miles turning to the Bucks, I was like, “Wait, I I looked so many times and I was like, this, why did they put him in a Bucks jersey on here?” I had no idea why. I was like, “Hey, he signed with the Pacers. This is what everybody knows. This the worst kept secret.” And then I kept looking like Shams really put the Bucks like you like rubbing my eyes. I know I’m becoming an OG, you know? Is it glasses time? I’m like, man, this is really a Bucks deal. That shocked me, man. This NBA free agency and trade deadline stuff is crazy. How many times have you done that in the past week?
In the past week, we’ve we’ve done that four, five times. The poor Porzingis thing, I’m just sitting there like, “Wait, cuz okay,
where did that come from?”
The Pistons have been in a place where when you see bigger names in in free agency and trades and everything else or you get your Shams alerts or your WO alerts from before, you see the name, but it’s like that’s not my team. It’s not coming to the Pistons. they’re not getting this guy. And then Troy Weaver comes along and you see seven trades in the same day and you’re like, “Oh, well, I got to pay attention now for the Hawks.” I was like, “Hey, ain’t a ain’t nothing happening. Chris Stops is going where? He’s going to, I don’t know, um, Sacramento or he’s going to the Clippers or something like and it said the Hawks.” I’m like, “Wait a hold up.
Yeah, that’s what we’re doing. That’s what we’re doing.” So, even KD going to Houston is very much Yeah. Free agency is wild. It’s it’s wild times out here. Went and recruited like you know with Atlanta n and Luke Canard there. I actually think that they’ve moved themselves off that dysfunction list. Bro, I do them in Orlando. They helped themselves this off seasonason in the East. So as as much as we were talking and I can make these parallels all the time and I I try to tell people in Atlanta this. This is what the Pistons did. You you were on the treadmill for so long. In the Pistons case, they tore it down completely and started over. Atlanta’s not going to do that. they’re just going to to do it on the fly where they say we hope Chris can be healthy. Now you go to Luke Canard and and Nquille Alexander Walker to say n the East is open enough where the Hawks can be a top six team and and in Atlanta that’s all they’re talking about. Hey, we got to get out of the playin game. They’re in the playin game every year. Let’s just get to the playoffs. But the the Hawks right now is their position. They’re a top six team in the East. I can see that very very easily for them that you don’t know what Indiana has. You don’t know. Are you saying Philly is going to come back? And I saw some odds yesterday that Philly was going to be the the fourth or fifth team in the East. Come on, man. Show Show me some some healthy knees and healthy lower extremities on these dudes and then I’ll believe. But yeah, that’s that’s I think Atlanta’s right there where they can be in the playoffs this year. you kind kind of stole my thunder a little bit because I’m I was curious on how you felt about the Hawks given that you’re in Atlanta now and they’ve been very active. But I’ll just ask you this point blank as we are sitting here July 2nd 2025 at 9:21 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Are the Hawks further ahead than the Detroit Pistons? No.
Oo.
Okay.
No.
Okay. No, they because they don’t have an allNBA player who can can kind of carry them and they made the the Pistons made the playoffs last year. I think that will be the differentiator and you’re getting in addition to all of these other pieces in free agency, you’re also getting Jaden Ivy, who might be the best of all of the new additions that you’re making. So, if all of that stuff comes together and the chemistry is there, then I think you can figure some of these things out. And in the Pistons case, most of this is going to be on their second unit. For the Hawks, it’s going to be a little bit of both where uh they’re mixing and matching. They’re getting Jaylen Johnson back. Um there’s some different things that have to happen for them. I think the Pistons are a little bit ahead. But I mean, same thing we were talking about this Malik Beasley was the make or break or or is that the guy? And now we’re seeing that it it isn’t that
I mean they wanted Did Did Shruder go and make a ton more money in Sacramento? No. We thought he might be in the 1820 range. Not quite that either. So the numbers are what the numbers are. I’m just surprised that he didn’t go and that the numbers weren’t bigger and that he decided to go and and if he’s getting a starting role there, yeah, good for him. But, uh, who’s closer, Sacramento or the Pistons? I mean, that’s the sort of thing that that you ask Shruder is you can start on a team that’s going to be trying to to duke it out in the West, or you can be on a team in the East that is going to make the playoffs and probably be a contender, and that’s what he chose. So, I mean, more power to him.
You know what? I think it’s appropriate. It’s a perfect segue to get right into Swiss or break. It’s our Swisser break officially once JB Smooth Uber sports MVP in the TD booth throws up that graphic. Let’s get this thing going. Swisser break. And you know what? I’m gonna start off with a little bit of a layup line first. And just quickly, man, your first thoughts that pop into your mind. I’m going to start with you, Flannel Sam, on the Pistons strength and the Pistons biggest weakness. Okay, chat family, I need to know from you guys. We’ve got a little bit of the draft, a little bit of free agency. What do you believe their biggest strength and their biggest weakness is?
Biggest strength is having Kade Cunningham. And I I hate to to take like the stock answer, but I think this is the year where he takes a leap into fullon I don’t want to say just universally accepted superstar, but I could see it. And I think the biggest weakness big man shooting. I don’t think it’s detrimental or anything, but as of right now, I’d say big man shooting.
What up though, uh JB Smooth?
No, I kind of like that answer as well, too. I definitely think the weakness is the big man shooting. you’re you’re missing that right now. Hopefully, you know, the trades aren’t done and you know, there’s still some free agent prospects out there we can still grab. And as far as the strengths, I like the shooting now that you have with Carl Levert, um Duncan Robinson, and Cade and to see what Ivy’s going to bring to the table as well, too. So, it looks very promising, but I still would like to see a big man getting here picked up in the uh off season.
Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Uh hey, Rod Beer, what about you, brother? I think their strength is their depth. Now that you can look at Duncan Robinson, I’m assuming he’s not going to start. He could. You get a a nice three-point shooter out there with Cade and with that starting group, but even if he doesn’t, your second unit would have Caris, Duncan, um, Stu, you have a good second a really good second unit where you could go 10 deep. Definitely. And another year of Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser, too, who down the stretch they played some pretty important roles. Ron Holland from the beginning of the season, he made his presence felt by being an allout hustle guy, defense guy, and willing to put up the Dukes with anybody, man. Even they ain’t even trying to fight like. But I like that because like T Fost, the legend, always says, you need some of those a-holes on your team. And I think one more season of him understanding the NBA, one more season of him working offseason of him working with Fred Vincent, one more off seasonason of putting on NBA weight and development. I am looking forward to what this bench can be. And I do believe that the Pistons are a little bit more of a balanced team right now than they were last year. I think that yes, you had the volume shooting on lock. You knew that Tim Hardway Jr. and Malik Beasley, as soon as that ball touch their hands, that ball can find its way into the basket within a second. And they were really really good at that at at at volumes, high volumes. I mean high percentage at high volume, but now I think that you have some players who can still hit at a pretty good percentage. Maybe not at the volume, but where they may lack in volume. They’re not less reliable from shooting. It’s just that they give you a little bit more. They can do a little more. They can pass a little more. They can play make a little bit more. And I do welcome that for the Pistons, especially losing Dennis Shruder who played that type of a role for the Pistons in the playoffs. But when you look at the playoffs, these are players who I know Flannel Sam pointed out earlier. These are players who I actually believe are going to be able to more readily play their role and we shift a little bit of that dependency off of any one bench player solely like we did Beasley to balancing it out amongst the whole team and allowing these younger players that are ready to step towards stardom to really carry that weight. But uh let me go to
and and the weakness the weakness is is um I think defense overall that losing Shruder you’re going to see that you you will see the impact of that as the year progresses. Um but I social media and and Twitter specifically has is saying that Caris Levert is trash. I think he’s really going to help especially on that second unit when there were times you couldn’t buy a bucket and they got into these long scoreless droughts. Having Caris there will absolutely help this team.
Yes. Yep. Definitely. Definitely, man. I’m looking forward to it. And uh on to the next question. Let me see here. You know, I I wanted to be able to talk about Beasy just off the top because some people they have this this question, they have this concern, they have this comment. Whether charged or not, as long as he’s not suspended for a full season, it’s our first Swiss or brick question. The Pistons should seek to bring Beey back on a cheaper deal. Swiss or brick, flannel sand.
Um, I am going to go brick by because of semantics. You said seek. If it falls in their lap, fine. If it’s something so cheap you can’t refuse it, fine. But I’ve been on record saying earlier on in the show that at the end of the year, we’re going to look at Duncan Robinson as more impactful in 2526, including the playoffs, than Malik Beasley was last year. No disrespect to Beasley’s regular season, but very high on the Duncan Robinson signing. So, I’m going to say brick because of the word seek.
Yeah. What about What up though, JB? Smooth. Uh, if it’s cheap, sure. But I’m still going to be a little hesitant about bringing them back just with everything going on right now. But if if it’s cheap, as Flannel said, and it falls in your lap, yeah, go for it. This ain’t quite a switch. This is like one of those toilet bowl rolls. Almost looks like it’s about to roll out, but it kind of falls in.
Yeah, one of those. Like, I’m I’m still not 100% convinced on it. I like that. I like that analogy better. Defense goending.
Hey, what do Robier? What say? I’m I’m going to say this is a wedgie. This is a an in between.
I thought so appropriate.
I think it’s going to bring a lot of distraction at the end of the day because every day there’s somebody from out of town, every road game, somebody asking about this. Is this a distraction? Yes, it’s a distraction because you’re asking about it. Again, I I don’t think they they they want to have that. I think the ship is sailed, there’s really not a fit for him roster-wise anymore. Um, so unless they trade or do something else, I just don’t think it fits anymore.
You know what? I agree with that. We talked about, you know, this aspect of knucklehead energy and if we said this even about JO, who everyone said he’s a good person, but even Dan Campbell said we need him to mature. And so it’s like keeping that same energy. It’s like you want to make sure that that same like aura or atmosphere around a player, it it continues to be one that’s maturing towards the benefit of the team and showing that these people are putting in that work in the gym. You know, hey, it was interesting to see one Malik Beasley. That’s where he hit the gym. But, um, you know what? Let me see here. Where’s that next one?
Ah, here we are. Because this is one that kind of coincided with the question that Flannel Sam asked you. The Detroit Pistons are still a top six team in the East. Um, you know what
swish? I can’t glaze the Duncan Robinson signing as much as I did and then go brick. I love what the Hawks did. You’re Hawks now, Rodbeard. I like the I I think the Bane addition to for the Magic was could potentially be worth what they gave up, but at the same time, Pacers know Hallebertton. Bucks still Bucks just released Dame. Who knows what how Miles Turner is going to fit on the team. I’m good. Knicks still don’t don’t have a coach. I’m going to go that they will be a top six team.
Yeah, definitely. Because they would have brought back Gary Trent Jr. on the line. Yeah, that’s a good move for them. That’s a good move. But they lose Brook Lopez who’s a Piston skill. They do bring in Miles Turner, who’s a Pistons killer, but not quite to the same level. It’s going to be interesting to see. I do believe the Pistons are primed to retain that top six. But JB Smooth, how do you feel about it?
Oh, I think this is an easy switch, man. This This is a confidence a open layup right here. I mean, aside from, you know, Cleveland, Boston, and you’re interested to see what Orlando does as well, too. Milwaukee’s just kind of like, you know, getting shot in the foot like what what happened? You got rid of Dame. Giannis is over here wondering what the hell he’s he’s coming back to with this team. So, it’s it’s up there in the air for Milwaukee, but definitely top six. Come on now.
Hey, you know, before we get to Rod, the chat, they got a live on this one. Lunchbox says no. Dante 151. No. Swiss shot 216. He believes that they are top four right now. What up though with Detroit Gunny? Swish from 30 feet. He’s deep. He’s He’s back there from Steph Curry range, man.
Uh let me see here. Weezyd and three top six easy uncle Wayne top four Charles Mlan brick big CP believes that Boston is done I actually disagree with that I think they got some pedigree
no Boston not done they got some what say you Rod beer this is a top six this is a top four discussion now like let’s say let’s say Cleveland and Orlando let’s let’s make those givens is Boston better question mark. Don’t know. I still think yes. There’s so many other
Yeah, but but there are so many other teams that have question marks.
Yeah, it’s star for star now though. Supporting cast and depth I think are going to keep the Pistons in the top four discussion. They may not be by the end of the year, but they are definitely top six. But you can wonder about top four. There are fewer question marks with the Pistons than there are with every other team that’s in that same realm. Is Porzingis going to be healthy? He’s really the lynch pin to all of this. If they don’t have Porzingis, they don’t really have a true center that’s been tested and and and kind of gets it um besides a Congo. And I I wouldn’t say a Congo is a full season starter that you count on and makes you a top four team. Um and the Pistons bring most of that stuff back. And what they don’t bring back, I think they improved on. Is is Duncan Robinson going to be better or give you the same production as um Beasley? Yes. Is when you look at THJ versus Caris, that’s a wash probably in terms of leadership, THJ may have been better, but I I think in the second group and and a clear second group guy for Caris puts him in a better spot. And you’re getting Ivy back. You you don’t have questions about are they as good in any places. is are they worse? And it’s probably no in most of these.
Goodness gracious. I like that. And you know what? This is the last one before we wrap up the whoop piston segment. Tan Langden, he’s had to pivot. We have to keep that in mind with this context. Uh but Swiss or Brick? Tan Langden has not done enough this off season, even considering the fact of the Malik Beasley news. Swiss or brick. Flannel Sam. I am going to say a slight swish with the context of the Beasley situation is tough to navigate and I think the the way that he handled getting the replacement was more than adequate. I’d still like one more move as of right now, but so I’ll say a slight he hasn’t done enough, but it hasn’t been bad by any stretch of the imagination.
Hey, what’s say JB Smooth? You think Treasure Landon has not done enough this off season? This is one of those uh
tough
th those layups that don’t really go in, but you as Angel Reese said gets one of those meounds and then you you put it back up there. So, it it’s it was a slight brick, but then you put it right back up there and it went down. So, as Fenel said, I like the way Tan’s navigating this whole Beasley thing. If things fall into place and he actually comes back off a cheaper deal, all right, cool. But so far, I mean, I I like the picks that he’s had and people that he’s picked up, but once again, I still need that big man.
Yeah, I I definitely feel that. But given the circumstance, I would actually throw a brick out there. You know, you if we because if we believe that the conversation is that they’re still a top four team,
that’s because of as currently constructed, that’s because of in part what he’s done to at least go out there and do what uh I think I saw something DNC and EN DNC ents we made lateral moves. But I think given the circumstance, that’s why it is just enough for this team if they still have top six, top four expectations. But uh what say ye Rodbeard? What do we say he needed to do is kind of take care of and get two of the three uh big free agents they had and go out and get Nas Reed gone. All of the big uh 3J gone. All of the bigs that we talked about was the biggest sort of how you can improve this team. Miles Turner gone with a bag. Like you you weren’t getting any of those guys. Santi Dama gone. Everybody all of the bigs were gone before he really even got started to do anything. So, for what he could do and then it’s just you’re driving, you’re trying to start your car and the alternator’s messed up. You just got to fix one thing at a time. And the Beasley thing came out of the blue because they were already looking at the deal for that. So, you fix that thing with going to get um Duncan Robinson and you give up tech. I mean, you certainly upgraded at that thing. So, I think he’s done enough. Can you go and and get another four to try to make it a little bit better? You can. But if is this roster right now as constituted a playoff team? Yes. Is it a top four team? You can debate it. But can he do a little bit more? Yeah. But has he done enough? Yes. Yeah, definitely. I definitely agree with really all the sentiments here. And Cardier, he asks, “How do we get better?” Because he said, “You just can’t keep going out there and drafting in the 20s and and signing uh Caris Severts.” I believe as we’ve said for I don’t know how many years and we saw Orlando and Houston both make the leap. We said it was on whose backs whose responsibility those young players that they drafted high there was a lot that they placed on France Vagner and uh and Paulo Ben Carol and those guys helped lead the Magic to play in. They helped lead them to some early successes that we would have traded early on. We said look the Magic just passed us up. The Rockets we were at the same level. They passed us up. the Cavs. We saw what they did the first couple years and then boom, they turned it all the way around underneath the JB Bricker staff. And so, you know, I’m looking at this team now finally being in a position to where those young players can be the ones that help move this team forward because they have to get better. Otherwise, why are we drafting them in the top five? You know, you these guys, Assar, Ron Holland, Jaden Ivy, Enk Cunningham, you want to see these guys continue to be what lottery picks are supposed to be, and those are difference makers for your franchises, especially on the eve of these guys becoming restricted free agents uh after this coming season. So, you know what? Shout out to Jabari Smith. You know, once once a long time ago, man. Kool-aid. Kool-aid. That was all I wanted was Jabari Smith here in Detroit and it didn’t happen. Shout out to him getting that deal 5 years 122 uh from Houston. But it does it spell to me Rogers one last thing that it’s probably going to bode really well for the Pistons in the neg negotiations with both Duran and Ivy. Yeah. Yeah. I Yeah. Let’s just leave it at that. Yeah. You know what? Thank you to the legend Rod Beard. My gosh, it takes everything in me to not say Detroit News Rod Beard, especially as you still repping the clothes and everything. But uh yo, you still Detroit Roda let him know.
You still Detroit Rod Beard. We going to definitely let him know.
Got to let him know.
And Carly’s uh senior sports editor at the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Thank you so much for your time, Rod. Thank you. Appreciate you, brother.
You got it. You got it, bros. Have a good show.
Thanks, Rod.
Hey, let’s say what up to some friends. And this is everybody’s favorite segment. So, or do we just wait because that’s that’s such an appropriate ad read.
Uh, I mean, you know, we’ll do it when we come back. How about you do Lady James and then I’ll do that.

Rod Beard (Detroit News) and Brandon @DetroitKoolAid Dent (Woodward Sports Network) join WAKE UP WOODWARD to discuss the Detroit Pistons at the NBA Trade Deadline. Like , Subscribe and leave your comment below!

Via Wake Up Woodward featuring Matt Broder (credentialed WSN Lions+Tigers Reporter), Brandon @DetroitKoolAid Dent (credentialed WSN Pistons reporter), KG on sounds, JB in the TD booth and Flannel Sam

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Woodward Sports Pistons beat reporter Brandon @detroitkoolaid1585 Dent and Detroit News assistant sports editor Rod Beard.

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