Detroit STRIKES AGAIN! Elite Shooter IN, Multiple Vets OUT… 👀 | Free Agency Day 2 LIVE Reaction
and we are live. Welcome back to the Pistons Jack YouTube channel where we are going to be reacting to the Duncan Robinson signing and some other things going on with day two of NBA free agency for your Detroit Pistons. Obviously, to the right of screen, you can see I’ve got Piston salary cap guru Kyle Mets joining us uh to go through it all. Uh just before we get to Kyle, uh I’m going to have Kyle up here for 20 minutes. I think he’s got approximately. And then we’re going to open up the show for anyone else to come up and talk about the team. A bit like how we used to do fan reacts during the season. So, I’ll drop a link for that uh once Kyle’s gone. But let’s get to it. Kyle, some big news has happened in the past hour, hour and a half. Uh what’s your reaction to the Duncan Robinson, I guess, signing and your insights on that or signing trade? We may not Kyle might have dropped out. This might be a bit anticlimactic. Um, just while I’m waiting for Kyle to fix up his connection. Um, so the Pistons, for those that missed it, uh, completed the signing trade with Miami. uh for I’m just going to take Cole off the screen for a second while he gets fixed up. Oh um the Pistons completed the signing trade with Duncan Robinson 3 years 46 million. Um they sent out Fonteo and obviously Adam Robinson. Uh Amar Sanca confirmed that the second year of the deal is partially guaranteed and the third year of the deal is non-g guaranteed which I think is a positive for the Pistons. Um Carl, can you hear me?
Yeah. Sorry about that. There’s storms happening over here. So I think I lost some connection, but I we should be good the rest of the way here. Okay, got you. Um your reaction to the Duncan Robinson signing and um how this works for the Pistons? Yeah. So Duncan the Duncan Robinson signing has been rumored for a few days now I think or a day and a half. So it was kind of mentally preparing for it. Um earlier as you can see I put out the poll thinking that he might get you know like the room exception maybe or something like that. Um currently we’ll we’ll get into it I’m sure. Yeah. So, just from the signing itself, uh the non-G guarantees in the second and third year make me feel a lot better about this deal. Um originally three for 45 or 48, sorry. Um was was a lot. Now, the Pistons can afford to do that right now. They’re they’re not like bumping up against tax necessarily. Um and so they so it’s not like it doesn’t hurt them. Having midsize contracts is good. So, but having it be non-caranteed is better. So, still very movable contract, still um brings in shooting that they’re sorely lacking before this deal. And so, I think that’s it’s a win from what was left that they had. I agree. And just um I mean, I’ve never really thought too much into this, but can you maybe just explain um what a partial guarantee means? Like so um I I know it sounds quite simple but just in case people aren’t aware how that contract kind of works with the partial guarantee and then I mean the non-G guarantee in the third year. Yeah. So essentially what that means is the partial guarantee in year two typically there’s like a a date by which um there will be a date there’s like a sometimes it’s like January and January automatically if it’s not automatically set um or if it’s not specifically set sometimes it’s by like the first you know like June 30th or June 25th or something they’ll have a specific day by which part of that contract becomes guaranteed. Um, and so or but it becomes fully guaranteed. So let’s say for Duncan Rob, let’s say it’s 16 million a year flat for all three years. Um, and the second year, let’s say only 8 million of that is guaranteed. What that means is he’s automatically getting 8 million. And if the but if the guarantee date is June 25th and they decide to cut him before that, then the rest of the contract is void and they only owe him $8 million. That’s what that means. Um, the other way that works is in a trade, they can send him out in a trade and only guarantee as much as they need to guarantee to make the deal work. So, for example, if they need, let’s say, again, it’s 8 million guaranteed and then the guaranteed date is June 25th. Okay? Let’s say on the on June 24th, they decide they want to make a move for a $20 million player or let’s say $25 million player, they can guarantee two more million of that and send him out and bring back the money they need to make the deal work. Um, and then that other team can cut him for whatever is left over if they don’t want to hold that.
Yeah.
But you have in a trade, you have to guarantee as much as it takes to to sign. So that’s so that’s what that means. It basically gives them some increased flexibility from a cap standpoint and from trade standpoint should they want to use him as that which I think they will probably want to use him as that next summer as things as more people come available or maybe even as soon as the trade deadline. So um so just keep an eye on that.
I think that I yeah I think that’s a good point you raised and guys we’ll get to Duncan Robinson’s skill and the player. I’ll talk about that more maybe once Kyle’s gone. just I just want to maximize car while we’ve got him talking about the cap and options here. But that is important to remember like even with the Caris Levert um trade and it’s similar with Tobias like these are like uh contracts you can use in trades as well. Um they’re nice size deals. Um YouTube user has a couple of questions here for you Kyle. Um the first one was do we have any cap space left and how are all the transactions going to work with the cap? Um bit of a broad question but I guess overall where does this leave the Pistons? Yeah, that’s a really good question. Um and right now it’s still very much up in the air
because everything the Pistons have done at this point can work as an overthe cap team or an under the cap team. So, it’s there’s nothing definitive yet. Um, they do not have any more cap room left if they operated as an under the cap team. What they would have is the $8 million room exception. So, if they were under the cap and do all this under the cap, that’s what they have left is um is the $8.8 million room exception. if
okay
they’re if they were an overthe cap team um which the only reason at this point they would do that is to um is if they want to keep the sign and trade with Schroeder alive which it sounds like that is happening still um the oh shoot um the team has um sorry I took a wrong turn that’s that’s always You’re all good.
You’re all good. The uh Yeah. So, what I’m hearing is that the sign and trade with Schroeder is not dead necessarily because they added that non-G guaranteed third year. That means he’s still eligible um to be a sign and trade candidate. And so, what I’m hearing is the team has about five days. The Kings are basically giving the Pistons five days to to see if they can work out um a sign and trade uh partner or a way to they want to use that money. Um which would open up uh them being bringing back a $22 million $22 million in salary. Um
wow,
is is how that would work. Um if they add Sasser to that, that goes up to 25 million. If you start talking Ivy, you’re talking 30 plus million. So, so the pistons are looking into ways to use that. Um, again, it may maybe nothing. Yeah, it may be nothing. It may not come to anything. Um, but it they are they still have the optionality, but the only way that works is if they stay over the cap.
So, essentially, that’s what it’s going to look like if they can if they can get the signing trade to to hold um with with the Kings and they’ll they’ll they’ll operate as over the cap. Otherwise, they’ll probably operate it under the cap to open up that um room exception so that they can go out and sign let’s say like a trail aisles or another probably backup for um would be my guess how they would want to use that. Um
yeah,
that so that’s what I was going to go to next. So with the signing trade, just back on that a little bit with the Schroeder and the the five or six days, is there a way they can work in a third team in that type deal? like that’s not just confined to the only the Pistons and Kings with that deal. Like is that where maybe John Collins could come into the mix potentially or am I is that does it have to stay between the things?
No, exactly. They they can swing that into a third team and that third team would be able to get off the money entirely. And so that’s the benefit of that um that deal is where they can essentially um yeah they can they can send shorter to the Kings and give the other team complete cap relief. So this again where if you’re looking at you know $25 million they send maybe they send Sasser out
and they get a $25 million player back. Unfortunately, the Sasha deal is just too shy of what John Collins makes. And so,
okay.
So, they would have to send Clinton in that deal, too. Or they’d be looking at the Ivy deal that I posted earlier where it’s like maybe they send Ivy out in that deal to get up to that 30 million and then they get some picks back from Utah. Like I would say like if they’re
now I don’t think that’s going to happen because
like again if Monk isn’t coming back then they probably still want Ivy around. Um yeah.
So anyway, so that’s kind of the super interesting though. No, that’s really interesting because I I would guess that um a lot of the fan base would have thought that was completely dead once um the Schroer news was announced by Shams at ESPN. I know. At least waking up and seeing that I thought it was dead. So that’s kind of news and that makes sense what like what the Pistons could be looking at there to keep building out this roster because I think the next thing we’re probably going to chat about and I can see the fan base talking about a lot is who’s going to be that kind of backup for or what it feels like we’re short in the front court right now. Um at least following the Robinson signing. So, I know you touched on Trey L then more so with like the type of contract they could add. Was that if they were stay under the cap, they can use that room exception? Yeah. Yeah, they could use a room exception on him. I I don’t I can’t imagine he would command more than 8 million a year. Um
Yeah. Yeah.
So, that would be surprising to me. Um so, they can sign a player outright with that as well. That doesn’t have to be a trade. So that’s that’s but it can also be a trade. So if there’s
you know someone else the interesting thing is I don’t know how are the Kings wanting to move Keegan Murray like maybe that’s a straight up they bring Keegan Murray back
and then they can they keep Schroeder as a signing trade and then that opens up their MLE. So for the Kings if they send someone back it opens up that 14 million MLE for them.
Um but they don’t but it sounds like that’s not necessarily what it has to look like. Um, yeah, for it to work.
Um,
it also if they send if the if the Pistons send Sasser back to the Kings, they can get D Rozan back. Um, so that would be another guy who has played the four in the past. Um, again, I’m not saying this is what I would do, guys, so don’t don’t freak out in the comments.
Yeah.
Um, I’m just I’m just throwing out some names. Um, Koosma is is someone if the Bucks are trying to save some money um or trying to create some more moves, they could they could send Sasser to the Bucks and get Koozma back in if they in that deal. He he makes that range. Um, and that would give them a huge TPE to kind of do some stuff with. Um Trey Murphy again that’s going to take more assets but that’s another guy that technically they could just send Sasser and we know how much Troy loves Sasser so maybe he just sends Sasser to you know
um or Jordan Pool that would be another one that could potentially fit in the range. Um uh no Jordan Pool would be too high. Sorry that was that was with Ivy going out. Um but yeah, so just there’s a lot of forwards that kind of are in that. PJ Washington.
Um there are some other names. I can pull up a list, but yeah, so there’s there’s a lot of forwards that could be on that could be available just by keeping the signin trade alive. Um
but then you have there’s a probably some lower name with a room exception. They can probably find someone in that $8 million range. It’s just going to be lower on the on the total poll. At that point, my question is,
is Detroit just more comfortable giving Ron and Assar more minutes by letting them play the four
just to get them on the court more? Um, because Duncan Robinson has size as well and so does Levert, so they can they can push down to the three or up to the two. Um, Duncan has played the four in the past. So, I’m wondering, you know, there’s a lot of miles to feed now, and if they still want Assar and um Ron to get run, they might feel like they’re fine. Um unless there’s like a major move like a John Collins, that would clearly be an upgrade to justify not giving those guys minutes. Yeah, that’s a really key point is because I know we spoke about or at least we were talking about it yesterday about how like I mean I think it was more so me not yourself just saying how like I’m not sure about Ron or Asar at the four but with the signing of Robinson like he’s definitely you know he’s Duncan Robinson to me is kind of like a true three three man like can play a little bit of four he’s like 6’8 I think like putting him at the two I’m not 100% sure about so maybe they do see like you said a world where Assar and Ron are going to play some minutes at the four and fill that back up for between them those minutes. Um or a little bit of Duncan Robinson like you said maybe they think they have enough size now because that was one of my key takeaways following the um the sign and trade was looking in just in my mind thinking of the Pistons potential 10man rotation. Ivy’s the only one that’s shorter than 6’6. So, um, the Pistons now have I know like Duncan Robinson isn’t a good defender. Like, I’m not saying he’s a good defender, but he’s still 6’8. Like, he’s not like the thing with THJ and Beasley was they were like kind of undersized. Definitely at the three and even at the two, like they weren’t undersized, but they weren’t big or anything. So,
that’s the thing I like about and Robinson. So, it’s definitely interesting. So the key takeaways are that the Pistons if they are still looking to get like another I’m just going to call it a big move make like for a bigger contract player that’s still very much on the table with that and it all will start with that king sign and trade that is that the only way they could kind of do that without like an actual trading of a key player they have right now
right yeah and I would say that’s that’s definitely the most likely path and at this point I would say that 25 million 26 million is probably the the top of that because then they’re pushing into the tax with Duncan getting up to 48 million. Originally it was originally I was hearing 45 million. Um so them getting to 48 million they can structure that so where the first year is only like 15 a.5 million. Um, and so that could create some wiggle room, but I would I would be looking at that $25 million range. Even if they can get more, like they’re they’re not going to want to do much more than that because that will push them into the tax. Um,
yeah.
So, so that’s kind of what I would be looking at. Again, um, John Collins would be would be interesting, but I think the numbers would get a little hard to do. And I think I’m not Clinton is a second round pick, but I’d hate to send out faster and Clintman in that to make that work for one year rental of him of Collins. So, um, but yeah, so they have some options. We all know that most likely that’s not going to happen. Like if like just to not get everyone’s hopes up, like it gives us something to play with the trade machines a little more, although they haven’t really been working. Um, but yeah, it gives us something to keep an eye on and gives some optionality. Um, but right now the key takeaway is we still don’t even know if they’re over the cap team or under the cap team because everything they’ve done works for both, which is great. Traan and Blackstone are doing what they said, optionality and and moves around the margins. I think they’ve had to do more than they wanted to do, but the Beasley news is definitely looking worse and worse by the day. And so they had to pivot quickly and I think they’re doing a pretty good job considering um everything that they they were working with. So,
so yeah. No, I was because I was just going to ask like before I if you have I’m not sure if you have to go before you go, I just like to get your sort of take on how the front office has gone because I woke up to uh Twitter timeline that you would have thought the Pistons traded Kate Cunningham for two second round picks. So like to to be honest as you’re probably the one of the main people I trust to give an assessment on how they’ve gone or the person. So, uh, yeah, just any final thoughts for right now as to on top of what you kind of said for how they’ve kind of place themselves considering the circumstances. Yeah, I think I think you know it’s it is still underwhelming. I think that yeah,
like but I think they’ve done a really good job um at least from a cap standpoint. Again, they’ve kept their options open. Um, so even that like that they haven’t they don’t have to they haven’t had to decide if they’re over the cap or under the cap yet because they’re they can kind of see does this b does this room exception help us more than this signing trader showed her. Like those are all things that they get they still can decide. So from that standpoint it’s great. And again those are numbers on a spreadsheet. And so I get why Duncan Robinson and Caris Levert are not what we thought um for sure. And I still have questions about the spacing for sure.
Yeah.
But the reality is too, if Ivy is gonna play next to Kade and gonna be that guy, he needs to be a floor spacer.
Yeah.
That’s just that’s facts is facts. And so either way, that was going to be something that was going to be experimented with. And so while yes, I think they would have liked to have more spacing and shooting to lean back on for when that’s not working, this is going to force Ivy to sink or swim in that way. Hey, and if it’s not working out by the tread deadline, now they’ve got multiple com contracts that they can stack to go get a $50 million player without batting an eye on on who any long-term pieces are going out. Right now, you’ve got at least two $14 million contracts to go out of guys that we aren’t in love with anyway and some that are going to be expiring soon. You still have Tobias. You can still and and honestly, you can probably do a lot without getting rid of Tobias. So, at the very least, they’ve got optionality. They’ve got players who can play basketball. Um,
yes.
And and it’s up to JB to make the fit work, and that’s just that’s where it’s at. Um, and I would love to see, again, as a caper and as a fan, I would love to see another big splash and let them leverage the Schroer deal into getting Keegan Murray or getting a, you know, Trey Murphy, but that’s not gonna happen. Um, you know, but
I mean, Kamari would be like if you go out and get him, that’s like your four of the future, I feel like,
and that’s a stretch for like obviously I think I haven’t watched a lot of Ke Murray, but he can do more than shoot, but like I feel like that if they are able to somehow pull that off, which I don’t think is likely at all, but there’s a chance. There is a chance because they’re in this deal with the Kings, like that would be like kind of a pretty big time move. um that would address some issues or some uh you know holes in the roster like so uh we’ll we’ll see. I feel like I feel like it’s probably like you were saying like it more likely we just um use that room exception to add a player. Um maybe it is just like a like I feel like we’re just probably going to end up with some minimums and maybe like a Trey L. But we’ll see what happens. It’s good like just me as pure fan listening to you talk about like still having optionality um having these contracts that are are tradable and longterm we’re not like we’re still not really tied up in anything that could be um bad like obviously there’s the cade and we’ll see what happens with Ivy and Durham but it’s like there’s still a lot of flexibility there so I think considering what happened less than 24 hours before free agency opened like I think like fans no everyone should just be feeling like I feel like fine or better. Like there’s no I guess there’s no reason to be panicking. I think that’s probably a bit of an overreaction. Yeah. And I think I think the talent level of the team is the same as it was last year. It’s just the pieces are slightly different.
Like so I think just to remember I don’t think anyone felt super great about Tobias, THJ, and Beasley
going into last year. And quite frankly like
those guys are a big reason they did what they did. You know THG THJ was a loss. Um, and for all intents and purposes, like I think they could got gotten better with him. Like they like like I think there was going in we all thought maybe they can upgrade that position and then so we’re feeling the okay, we’re kind of staying where we are, but now we have even more increased flexibility and even more guns or bullets in the gun to to go get a bigger fish when it’s time. And so I think that’s the takeway. even if they’re not heads and shoulders better than they were last year at this time. It’s we’ll see. And then yeah, it goes back to internal development. The last thing I’ll say is on the Keegan Murray and then I got a bounce is most likely I don’t know how interested they will be in Keegan Murray because that gives them three players that were all drafted in the lottery
uh in the same draft that need extended at the same time. So, if Keegan Murray is coming back somehow, like they probably will want to move on from JD or Ivy just from like a we need we’re not going to pay all these three an extension. Um, most likely. So,
so Keegan fits more of a hole then with the guys on the roster. Maybe that gives them more ownus to go trade Ivy, but again, that’s a lot of moving pieces. So my guess is it ends up just being
one big money player somewhere else that can play the four or
they just let it ride and and and take because the other thing is they don’t have to they can keep the sign of trade and just have a $14 million trade exception. So that’s the other thing that they could do
like they don’t have to do any thing right now. They would get that 14.1 million trade exception. Again, that only works for a $14 million player rather than a $22 million player if they do it now. Um, and it’s and it’s so it’s more money, but it’s more limited because the $8 million room exception can be designed player or trade player, whereas a TPU would just be to trade a player. So, those are the options they’re looking at. We’ll kind of see what they do. I love it, Kyle. Well, um, thank you so much for jumping on again, everyone. Carl Mets, Kyle Mets23 on Twitter. Please go follow him. Uh, yeah, I’m going to chuck that at in the in the chat. Please go follow him. amazing work and uh yeah, thank you so much for jumping on again, man. I know everyone loves your insights. We’re lucky to have you. So, I can’t do any of that.
Hey, it’s a joy and a privilege and I will hopefully we’ll be on here again tomorrow trade. Let’s let’s we’ll uh
keep fingers crossed.
I love it, man. Enjoy the rest of your night. Thanks again.
Peace. Peace, bro. Um what a man. I’m just going to chuck Kyle’s out in the chat now. Please go follow him on Twitter, guys. Let’s get him to I think he’s nearly at a thousand followers. Seriously, the work he puts in like to keep us all informed. He was on with Coup the other day unlocked on Pistons this time of year. Got to have to be following Kyle because there is some good salary cap people on Twitter in Keith Smith to do the NBA the whole. But um yeah, he’s if you just want piston stuff, if you ever see rumors, Kyle’s always putting up together fake trades. so we can understand if that’s actually possible. So, um, please go follow Kyle over on Twitter. Uh, so, couple of things. I’m now going to open up the show for anyone watching to come up and join and talk about anything we’ve seen so far in free agency. Uh, Kyle’s just given us the complete lowdown on everything cap related. So, if you’re watching this back and it’s not live, this is the point now we’re going to transition to just bringing up people to share their thoughts on the team. Uh we’re going to talk about Dunc Robinson’s fit, Caris Levert’s fit. Um really excited to chat with everyone. I will pop the link in the chat. Now, a reminder that uh Pistons Jack subscribers over on Instagram, uh you guys get the priority and then everyone else will bring up as well. Depending on how many people come up will determine how long each person gets. But let’s just aim for unless a crazy amount of people are joining, let’s just aim for around 10 minutes per person. Um we’ll see though. I’ll be able to see who joins across the bottom. Looks like we got Tom her here first. I know Prince I think is joining. Um, so I’ll bring Tom I’ll bring you up in just one second. Just bear with me. I just wanted to add on to something Kyle said about how the roster is probably equal in terms of uh talent from the season to go. And I agree with that. But what I will say is I think um like we have to remember as well we have five young guys in K, Ivy, Duran, Assar and Ron just to name a couple who are all not all of them but I feel like like Kade took a huge leap last year. Maybe he stays around the same level gets a little bit better but Assar Ivy Duran or Ron one of them could take or two of them could take a real leap this year. Ivy definitely improved last year, but his season was cut short by injury. Um, so it’s we have to remember as well when we’re talking about this team, at least one or two of those guys is going to take another leap, I think. So, you know, I think that’s something to remember as well because just because we’re not bringing in like these new flashy players sometimes, like our stars are going to come from those younger guys for this season. So, um, just something to think about with this roster and the leap that one of those four guys could take and maybe Kade takes somehow another leap and he’s a true MVP candidate, like a top three type guy. So, um, let’s bring up Tom quickly and then I’ll get to you, Prince. Tom, what’s going on, brother?
What I’m How are we feeling, man? A lot going on. Jack, first things first, you have to like adjust your like body clock. At least during the pre pre- agency period. You know what’s funny? I literally go to bed at like 8:00 p.m. and I try to get up early.
Yeah, cuz I try get I get up at like 4:45 5 a.m. So like that’s why I miss
I miss some stuff. I always see you’re up really late and we’re on a similar time zone. But um like when all the news dropped, it was like around 12 1:00 a.m. here in Korea and the dopamine from all the trades,
I couldn’t sleep. Like I was I was literally about to sleep and I was like I I I was telling like piss Twitter, all right, wake me up if anything happens. And then Miles Turner gets like traded and he signs with a Bucks. Dane gets waved. That was crazy.
Yeah, that’s crazy. Well, I think maybe because I know Tom, you were big on bringing back um the the team from last year, but it looks like now only Tobias will be the only vet coming back. Uh how are you feeling just about the moves, the vets that have left? Um
first of all, like I’ve grown so attached to the team of last year. Those I think it was obviously like my favorite business team of all time. So, I was It’s kind of really sad to see Dennis, THJ, and especially what happened with Beasley. It’s kind of sad to see them go, but the NBA is a business, so I understand it. So, and I think Trean did a wonderful job about with getting Caris Levert and with the Duncan Robinson contract, especially like how you and Kyle discussed in the second year partially guaranteed in the third year fully non-g guaranteed. I think that was a marvelous job because having a shooter like Duncan or Beasley or THJ, it doesn’t only help to help our spacing in itself, but it really helps players like Cades and Ivy. So if if because we cannot forget that Cade really reached his allNBA potential due to the spacing around him
and that’s what Troy didn’t do for us. But having Duncan Robinson, Philip Scott, it’s amazing. Jimmy Neutron. So, I’ve I’ve already watched this video on YouTube like all of Duncan Robinson three-pointers from last season. It goes for like 30 plus minutes and the kinds of shots he takes and makes is crazy. Like the difficulty and because he’s like 67 68 like a lot of his shots even though it’s contested, it doesn’t seem like it’s contested. So, it’s going to be an amazing season. I’m looking forward to it. Even if we don’t make any more moves, I think we will, but even if we don’t, I’ll be really happy. Yeah, I think from like I think the panic on Pearson’s Twitter was a bit of an overreaction, but it’s um it was look, I can see why people feel like that definitely like because you see our vets leaving and you’re like kind of sitting there wondering what’s going on. But I will say like the whole time I saw Hardway leaving and Schroer leaving in my mind I was like this is the Pistons decision to let them go because they’re working on a bigger deal. though. Like I personally I never really panic, but uh like I’m very sad. Like I actually really enjoyed Tim Hardway Jr. I thought he won the Pistons a couple of games. There’s that Miami game where he hit like four or five threes in overtime. So um like I’m sad to see him go because I think he was a key piece of the culture as well. Um, but I really like Duncan Robinson, like I think the Pistons still are lacking a little bit of shooting, but I think Duncan Robinson as well, like I love the way he moves as like like around the court in the half court, like he’s always moving and I really think he’s going to develop some awesome chemistry with Jaylen Duran. Um, he I know Robinson had awesome chemistry with Batabio. So, um, I think there’s some really exciting stuff there. Um, but yeah, I’m gonna miss last season, but I’m with you, Tom. Even if they don’t make another big move, like a big move for a big contract player, like
I think fans should be feeling still confident about next season,
right? Like if you if you know like if you I’ve been following Don Robinson for a long time because he’s like he when he got that first like contract, everyone was like dissing it because he does a huge contract when he first got it. But he’s like he’s not just a movement shooter. He’s an elite movement shooter. But he knows how to make use of that spacing around him. Like he knows how to use the gravity. He just make he makes his teammates open with with just his movement. And that is a skill that we really needed. And I’m so so happy for like tre especially seeing how to like killing the public. So So yeah. Um uh I think the roster we do have a minor hole like especially in the backup point guard spot and the backup four spot but I think the backup point guard spot it’s kind of
we kind of can use levert Ivy and sometimes Assar
or even Jay Endurance for the secondary playmaking I think. So, I don’t think that’s a very huge hole, but the back of four spot needs some work because Ponteo was supposed to be our back of four, which didn’t work out. But he was a back of four, but we right now in our roster, the only back of four that we have is Bobby Kitman. And we’re not sure if he’s ready for um a big role yet. We hope he is. I really hope I love his game. But if he’s not, maybe we can like go for a backup for someone in the mold of like Obi Toppin or Jyus Walker or Trey Lyles. Um I’d love Kelly Alen. All those like So back for Yeah. You know KO was last week he was in Korea. So I was like I me so Yeah, he was. So I me I messaged him so many times. Kelly, hey, can I show you around? like I know good spots. Come on, kid. I messaged him like four times. He didn’t reply. It was sad. But yeah, so a back of four spots. As long as we get someone like Yeah, like that. I don’t think Keegan’s a possibility or anything. Like, so if we just fill that spot up, I think we’re going to be a top three, top four seat in the East. And I really believe that. Yeah. No, I I love it, Tom. And I like what you talked about there about the backup point guard. I’m with you on that. I definitely think like you said backup four is a position of need they need to fill like even if for some reason Bobby Clement was ready I still feel like you just need someone else maybe like so I never thought I’d be saying it but I I feel like Trey Lyles would kind of fit even though maybe Trey L is more of a five a small ball five like I still think you know with what the Pistons can do cap spacew wise
if they don’t go out for that bigger name like Tars wouldn’t be the worst replacement Pistons legend like he’s definitely a threat to shoot it.
I think Trey L he’s a he could be a defensive liability especially in the four spots but we have Sue for that like Sue can cover so much in the defensive end and he’s going to be playing with Ron with Assar. So I don’t think his lack of defense is going to be a problem. We need that
size and hopefully the shooting for the four spots.
Yeah agree. Well, Tom, um, before we go over to Prince, any other thoughts, my brother, where are you off to? You in the subway?
Yeah, I’m actually I’m going to somewhere. I’m on the way to work. I was right. I’m going to drop in really quick. Um, last thoughts. Um, I don’t I don’t know. Like, I really grew so much to love Pistons, previous Pistons. I really hope like the Malik thing isn’t really serious, but the more I read it’s it’s the more serious it gets. So, um,
yeah. Yeah. Um, I I really hope the Pistons will learn to appreciate like how the cap works, like how Kyle explained that the moves that the Pistons are making is actually is actually really great. It’s not risking anything. It’s not giving up future picks or anything. So, I think we should really trust the Trean and believe in the Pistons. Let’s go Pistons. Detroit. Love it. Love it. Tom, appreciate you, brother. Enjoy your day at work. Good chat soon, my guy. Bye, guys. Catch. What a legend. Plenty of love for Tom in the chat. Um, we’ll bring up Prince in a second and I can see Mattie has joined us as well. Just a reminder everyone, so the first 25 minutes of the show we had Kyle Mets on uh talking everything about the Pistons cap situation following the Robinson deal and what you can maybe expect the team to do from now on. So, if you’re just joining and want more of an in-depth breakdown, first 25 minutes is there for you. Um, for anyone who wants to come up and chat about the team, I’m dropping in the link once again to join. Um, all you have to do, copy paste, put that in your browser, and uh, I’ll be able to bring you up. But, um, yeah, let’s bring up Prince now. Keen to get his thoughts on what’s happened the past couple of days. Prince, what’s going on, brother?
Hey, um, I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you. Oh, can anyone else hear me? Can Can you hear me? I can hear you. I think people can hear me.
I can’t hear you.
All right, I’m going to bring up Ma Maddie first. Is that okay, Prince? Yeah, I I can’t hear you.
Okay, we’ll work on that. I’ll bring up Maddie now and then we’ll go to you, Maddie. What’s going on, brother?
Hey, what’s going on? I’m good, man. Crazy. It’s been a crazy couple of days, right?
Sometimes like because I’m constantly checking my phone all day. Yesterday, it feels like there’s all this stuff going on with all these rumors, but then kind of look back and I’m like, “Oh, there’s only like two or three signings, but there’s all so many rumors flying around.”
Yeah, I know. Been refreshing them feeds like crazy the past couple decades.
Oh, my Twitter is just literally refresh refresh. Especially yesterday when they announced the Malik Monk thing, I was like
right right
on edge.
We were all kind of hyped for that. I was really hoping that was going to happen, honestly.
I know. I know. Uh well, like Kyle said though, I don’t think it’ll be Malik Monk, but there could still be something there and a signing trade. So, we we’ll see what happens. But, um yeah, thoughts on the move so far. Does does any stick out to you? Um
uh honestly, I like the move so far. I think uh with LeVert we get a good shot creator and obviously we needed three-pointers with the the Beasley situation. So Duncan Robinson fits honestly. Um no I I agree. I I think I’m I actually really like the Duncan Robinson signing. I think um moving Fentio as well to help the deal I think made a lot of sense. Um and yeah, I still think like losing Tim Hardway Jr. and Beasley. Like I’m not sure the Pistons have like fully replaced that shooting, but I think Robinson
is a an exceptional shooter and like I was looking at his stats like just career numbers, not just last season and this is like a guy that constantly shoots like 40% and not just on like catch and shoot like he can like shoot in a lot of different like actions and sets. So, I think um he’s going to be a really nice player on offense to add.
Right. And from what I heard, he can actually hit three-pointers in the playoffs. So, that’s that’s a plus right there.
Hey, is that is that a shot at your guy?
Man, I’m trying not to turn on him, but I’m not even going to lie. I kind of am.
Yeah. I mean, I I’m kind of just waiting to see what actually happens before I like kind of
There’s a lot of smoke there for that to for there not to be any fire. Like that’s kind of where I’m at with
Yeah. No, I agree. I agree.
Like from the weird tweets in January to I don’t know. It’s just a weird situation. It’s It’s real weird. No, like it’s the even the timing of like the release like for that to be breaking like was obviously quite intentional. I don’t know who released it.
Yeah, that’s what I think. They wanted to release that before anyone gave him a contract, it seemed like.
Yeah. So that’s like So I’m not saying implying the Pistons did that. I don’t know who did that. It sounds like the Pistons were prepared to offer him that deal. So it’s like I don’t think it was the Pistons who leaked that, but it certainly seemed intentional, but um look, we’ll miss Beast and we’re obviously very grateful for everything he did last season. if anyone will ever break his three-point record for us, honestly, just cuz that’s insane to make 300 threes, like we may never replace that, you know?
No. And that’s the thing like I don’t even know like that’s a it’s a great point from you and it’s something I’ve been thinking about like as like we especially before the Robinson signing when everyone was talking about we need to replace Beasley shooting like we’re gonna it’s like like you said though like I didn’t even think Malik was going to come back and for real
he had that was like an
Yeah,
he was like one of five guys ever or something like that to do that. So that’s just insane. He was on like an all-time heater. Like I still remember in like February or March, Zack Low, like a NBA analyst, tweeted out something that like the season that Beasley was having only Steph Curry had had like a shooting season on volume like that.
Yeah, I remember seeing that at one point like that many on that percentage with that volume is just insane. Yeah. Crazy.
Like I think Steph had done it four or five times but like that’s why he’s Steph Curry but then it was just Malik Beasley like so.
Right. We we’ll definitely miss him, but even if Malik came back, like I don’t know if you’re probably not getting that season again, right? But
uh yeah, look, it’s been a weird situation. I don’t really know how to react to it until
it’s a weird way to lose a player. Like someone didn’t sign him over us. It’s not It’s like we lost him to something out of everyone’s control really. Literally. No, it was just Well, it’s a federal investigation. Like it’s it’s well beyond the NBA. It’s
right.
Um, look, yeah, it’s a crazy situation. We’ll see what happens, but I do think it’s pretty safe to say he won’t be on the Pistons,
right? Right.
For this season, at the at the least. Um, but yeah, it’s a Where else do you want to take it, Matt? I guess Antonio asked a pretty simple question here. Do you think the team has improved based on what we’ve seen so far, just from a from last season? Can you see improvement? Um, you got to see more.
I think we could see improvement just because of the core. Like veterans are probably going to come and go, but this core is the main thing that matters. And if they have growth, which I think there the organization is counting on, a lot of fans are counting on, then we’ll be okay. Honestly, no, I’m with you. If they hadn’t have signed Duncan Robinson and we were still looking for like that real elite shooter,
I’d be a little bit nervous. But I always it always seemed like the Pistons might have got a deal done with Robinson. Um especially when I saw they just let THJ walk for a minimum to Denver. Like I was like, “Okay, I know the Robinson news broke pretty shortly after.” I was like, “Okay, they must have some shooter lined up.”
I feel like THJ would have wanted to come back to Detroit. So if they were willing to let him walk, um obviously they knew they had a shooter coming. But I I’m with you. like it’s um the main growth at the end of the day if you can have decent veterans is going to come from that young core.
If you believe in that young core then I think you should feel like the team has improved. U whether or not they’re a top three seed in the east like or four seed I understand if people are doubting that. I’m not really doubting it yet. Um to be honest I’m not all in on the Hawks hype train like a lot of people are but think they’re going to be better.
Yeah. got better for sure.
They definitely got better. Um, but like I still think like I saw some stuff people like are the Pistons going to be top six next season like like genuinely worried about that. I think like you know I get kind of that but I I think the Pistons like I believe in this young I think they’re definitely top six barring like injury obviously. Yeah, we just really need a backup four and uh like Kyle was saying, we got the flexibility to do something still. So that was the main thing is just keeping flexibility under this new, you know, the cap rules. Exactly. No, Kyle did a great job breaking that down that it made me feel even even better about where we’re at right now. And
Right. Right.
I’m with you. I think backup four, if I had to do a very short wish list for the rest of the offseason, it would be that backup four for sure and then maybe like a a backup or a third string point guard potentially,
right? Yeah, that’s what I would do, too.
Um, but yeah, Matty, any other thoughts, my guy, before we go to Prince?
Uh, it’s kind of cool getting two Michigan guys that were college teammates. Honestly, I was guessing Michigan guys in this year. Do you follow Michigan? I’ve never actually
I do a little bit. I do a little bit.
Yeah, I um I try to stay out of the debates. I definitely I don’t support either because
Right. Honestly, I’ll watch them both. If you know one of the teams are doing good, I’ll support them.
Yeah. No, it’s um I know there’s obviously Caris Levert. I I didn’t realize Levert until I was looking up yesterday actually played with THJ on that 2013 team. He must have been like a freshman.
And then uh Yeah. And then uh Duncan Robinson, what year did he play? I wasn’t really tapped in.
I want to say I want to when he start like 2015 to 18 or something like that, I want to say Oh, maybe he was on the team then with Caris. He at some point he might have just been playing.
Yeah, they were there was pictures of them as teammates or whatever. Him and Yeah, I’ve seen.
So they’ve played together and that helps chemistry. No, that that’s awesome. thoughts? Do you have thoughts on that? We haven’t really spoken about Carris Lever on today’s show. Um, any thoughts on that? I think he’s a decent player. Honestly, he’s a guy that can get hot. He’s a guy that can create his own shot and he can defend. So, I think that was a solid signing. Two years, that’s not bad. The only thing that gave me pause about the Duncan signing was the three years, but once you broke that down, how the third year wasn’t guaranteed, the second year, I’m like, “Okay, I could I could live with that for sure.”
Yeah. I think I think a lot Yeah. A lot of people felt like that. I was definitely the same with you like right three years 46. I was like
I like it. I like dug in the PL maybe just a little bit much. But like once I heard those details, shout out to Amari Sen Kofa who I think had that information,
right? Because that came out kind of like after the cont, you know, the details came out after. So yeah, that definitely wasn’t in char’s tweet at least. Maybe he had it in his article, but I saw Amari from uh Free Press had that info. So, no, I think that’s a great call from you. Uh well, yeah. Let’s see what happens. Matty, do you have any predictions before I before I let you go,
man? It’s hard to call right now, honestly. It’s just been a crazy couple of days, but I think we should still be top six. I don’t think that should be a problem. Yeah, definitely. I think so. Definitely. Stay out of the play. Kate Cunningham. We literally have a top 15 NBA player.
Exactly. So, at the end of the day, we still got Kate. Like, we’re good.
Exactly. And and I’m telling you, I just feel like one of Assaar, Ivy, or Duran
is going to take a big leap. At least one of them. And I know they improved last year and Ivy took a bit of a leap for injury, but feel like one of those three guys, maybe it’s Ron, maybe it’s Ron, but one of those three guys heading into years three and four, I feel like that’s when you typically see like a real leap. real leap for real. Yeah.
Yeah. So, one of them like Yeah. I think uh I’m glad you brought that up because I think people should definitely not like should remember that. Um but Maddie, thanks for jumping on, brother. I appreciate you.
No problem. Love the coverage the past couple days. Honestly, it’s been good to have someone kind of keep us updated. Appreciate that, my guy. We’ll chat soon. Enjoy the rest of your night.
All right, Jack. Go Pistons.
Go Pistons. All right. We got to bring up Prince in a moment. I hope hope he and I’s audio is working okay. But uh just a reminder, I’m going to drop a link in once again. We’ve got print scheduled, then it’s open for anyone to come up and chat Pistons Hoops. So, dropping the link in now. Uh like I said probably 10 minutes ago, all you have to do is copy and paste that link into your browser, whether on your phone or computer, and you’ll be able to uh come up here and we’ll we’ll chat for 10 minutes or so about the team. But uh let’s get Prince up here.
Yeah, I can hear you. All right.
What’s going on, man? Can you hear me? Okay.
I can hear you. All right. That’s great. That’s great.
You have nervous because there’s been a few times on these streams where my mic’s just ran out of battery and I’ve been talking to no one.
No, I switched to my iPad. So, I think we’re all good now. Got you. How we feeling, man? Keep to hear your takes. Beasley, stop gambling, please. It’s like
you have a multi-million dollar contract in your hands ready for you to take and you decide to go on stake to go make a quick buck for your team. Oh my gosh. It’s like,
look, he hasn’t been proven guilty yet. So, let’s just
He has been my favorite player last year. He was the best. He was the best. And yet, oh, it’s time to gamble, bro. Oh my gosh. But I have a lot of different things I wanted to talk about on the podcast today. So, yeah. How you how have you been, Jack? I’m good. I’m good. I’m uh I’m enjoying the the free agency. I’m enjoying some of the moves we’ve made. It’s I’m loving everyone’s reactions online, and it’s it’s fun. So, I love this time of year. Yeah. So, um number one, I got my thoughts out about Malik Beasley’s Prison Time. I just I’m so disappointed in him. I just feel like you are now about to go to federal prison and because you wanted to go ahead and gamble while you’re on the Bucks and maybe if he was on the Pistons he could have did that too. He sold a lot of plays for us. I I just don’t know. I don’t know. Number two, I really wanted Nelander Walker. I really wanted him but we didn’t get him and you know just got to move on. I guess Ducket Robinson is cool. We lost my German goat. He and he wanted to stay in Detroit. In Detroit. He wanted to stay in Detroit. And I hate that for him because I loved Shruder his whole time with the Pistons. I was like, “Dang, maybe he can actually find a team that he can stay on.” But no, no, we just have to let him go. Tan is sleeping, sleeping so good right now. Next, we overpaid Caris Levert in my opinion. I think he should not have gotten that much money, especially the way that he plays. And then I think we’re not getting Malik Monk at all. Uh I don’t think we’re getting Yiannis anymore unless we give up somebody big and I’m not willing to give up Kade ever. That’s an untouchable. And I’m actually happy that Wait, where is it? Wolverine Bled Pistons. This is exactly what I wanted. I love how we’re getting so many new people.
That’s why I thought you’d be excited about the Caris Lever deal. Not hating on it. No, I feel like he was overpaid, but at the same time, I got to support everybody from Michigan. Same thing with Tim Hardaway. I was so sad when he left. And then he’s going to the Nuggets. It’s like he’s in a good situation and I hope he gets that ring. Um, so I feel like everybody out, Malik, he’s gone gambling. What are you doing then? I’m not worried about Tech. I wanted him to go. I wanted Tobias to go too, but I guess he’s not leaving. Hopefully, we can see something tomorrow. I want him out of here soon. Um, I’m sad about my German goat. He was so great. And then this is in. Can Ivy play next season? I don’t know. I I really hope that Ivy can play because we need him, especially in a time like this. Well, I think that’s why they let I think that’s why they let Dennis show to go because they’re they’re putting all their belief,
not all of it, but a fair a fair bit of belief in Ivy filling those backup point guard minutes. Um, and I think Ivy can do it for sure. Like, if they had have brought Dennis back, um, I think Tom brought it up here, 45 million for Dennis showed across three years. Like I feel like when you’re already if you’re invested in Ivy, you probably don’t want to be putting that much money into another backup pointing guard. But I I definitely feel like fans might be upset to see Dennis go. Like let’s not forget like some of the huge shots he made in the playoffs, especially in game two. Like he was the one who hit that three to kind of seal the deal on our first playoff win in nearly 20 years. So, I understand why fans are like upset to see him go and maybe Tim Hardway Jr. as well, but I do think like the Pistons I I think like both players they brought in as well helped the roster maybe in a little bit of a different way. U but uh we’ll see like we’ll see. I I wasn’t surprised to see Schroeder go to be honest. Sounds like he the Kings just offered way more money than the Pistons were ever going to.
Right. Right.
And we saw Dennis wanted to stay. He said it himself in that I don’t was that on Twitch or something? I don’t know where that was.
That was on Twitch. Yeah. Uh and I also wanted to clear up what I think Maddie said. So, um Duncan Robinson, he played with the 2019 team that went to the national championship if I’m not wrong from what I remember. So, yeah. Yeah. and Caris Levert. He played way before him. But um yeah, I feel like Duncan Robinson pickup was a relief. It was definitely a relief. That’s somebody that I truly wanted and I’m glad that he’s coming. He’s all right, but at the same time, I feel like he can definitely fill in that shooting. And I feel like it’s a long shot, but Chaz Laneir and Lindy Waters might be the next Splash Brothers to me. To me, I I love Lindy Waters and I love his shooting.
Yeah. No, I I think we keep I know I keep forgetting about the draft. It was only like five days ago and I keep forgetting that we um
we did just bring in an elite shooter and and Chaz is like 23 years old. Like I feel like he’s going to be a guy that if he’s up to it, they will play in the rotation because I can’t see them bringing along slowly him. Like he might be the 11th man like that Marcus Sasset type role of last year where he doesn’t play every game but maybe every third game. Um yeah, I like Windy Waters as well. I I I wonder if they do bring him back on a minimum. I guess maybe is not considering, but the shooting would be um ideal. Exactly. Exactly. But uh yeah, that’s all I have. What are What are your takes?
No, I like it. I like it. I like your aggressive. I I personally think it I don’t want them to move on from Tobias unless it’s for a big like an actual real move. I think it’s gonna be good to have Tobias back as a vet and I think Tobias was underrated last year. I think apart from maybe was it game three in the playoffs where he had foul trouble and didn’t really score. I thought he was actually like really solid. Like he was awesome in game five, he was good in game one. Um I think he was like really serviceable and if they don’t have any other like starting four men that they can go get like I think Tobias is fine. Um, and I think you can still use his contract to maybe make a bigger trade at the deadline if the teams needs to do that. Um, and yeah, I I I think like there’s been so much going on the past few days since the draft that I haven’t even had a chance to think about like losing guys like Beasley, THJ, and Shro like and how good they were last season. So, um,
last season was just absolutely like magical. So, I don’t want to forget that season because it’s
exactly
the season before that like I was genuinely depressed about the Pistons and thought we were going to be horrible forever. So,
right guys were key.
Yeah.
I hate that we lost them. I feel like I I’m with Tom on running it back. I really wanted to run it back. But as soon as Mal Malik Beasley decided that he wanted to put all of his money on gambling, it’s just like it it it messed it up for everybody else. Like I felt like when Tan said that he was going to make small things, I feel like he was going to run it back. I think he was just going to make like here and there Trace maybe a shooter. But Malik Beasley, he just messed it up for everybody else. Now Tim Hardaway is gone. I’m sad about that because he was so so good. I loved him. In the playoffs, he was he was mid, but during the regular season, he had a lot of great games and I wanted to see that from him again. And I’m hoping that I can see Ivy taking that point guard position over Cade. Not to mention when you said that we still have a top 15, top 10 in my opinion, top 10 player in the NBA on our team. I think that’s great. And not only that, but the East is wide open, so we still have a lot of time even when it comes to next off seasonason. But I feel like our goal for this year is definitely to at least win a playoff series. That’s my goal for this year.
It should be. It should be. When you go six games with the Knicks in the first round, your goal should be now to win a playoff series. Um I’m not saying it’s an absolute failure if they don’t win a playoff series as long as it’s competitive, but I think that should definitely be their goal. So I agree with you on that. Um and uh yeah, it’s it’s I think you’re right as well. Like I think Trajan when he did that pre-draft press conference you’re talking about I think he probably was just going to resign Beasley um and then maybe I think if they resign Beasley they they still could have added someone like Caris Levert um they definitely probably aren’t getting Duncan Robinson potentially. I don’t think maybe they look for someone else. So that I think going back to what Kyle was talking about, I think that’s why Pistons fans should feel good about the front office because they had this complete unforeseen Malik Beasley situation derail probably a large chunk of their plans, at least their plan A, and they were able to pivot and still I think we all feel pretty happy with the moves they’ve made so far. Or if you’re not happy, you’re not like overly mad. They’re um they’ve kind of just pivoted laterally. So, I like your takes, Prince. I’ll be honest, though, when you dropped Giannis there, I don’t think Giannis was ever a thing for Detroit, but I like I love you throwing in a hot take there. Yeah. I just I I wrote down a whole lot of things that I wanted to happen, and I’m just like,
it’s like,
well, let’s I I want to let things happen. I want to let things happen, but at the same time, I’m just so disappointed in Beasley. It’s like every time I think about it, every time I see a picture in my camera roll, him doing the shimmy, it’s like we could have had so much. We could have done so much with him. And it’s just like why?
All right, I’ll ask you this last question, Prince. Um, who do you think’s going to replace Beasley if we look at the roster right now as the Vibes guy? As the Vibes guy. I thought the Vibes guy was Tobias. Well, I mean, with Beasley, whatever you want to describe Beasley’s personality. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like um maybe because I feel like everybody that we got they’re usually just vibes guy may I think Tobias is going to take it but if anything I hope it’s Jaylen Duran or Cade because they really show because they’re young and I love how they’re young and they have that kind of energy where it’s like oh we’re going to bring in Detroit basketball energy good or bad and that’s all I want to see. That’s really all I want to see. Just Detroit basketball energy. That’s all we need. And I feel like if we can have that, then we can definitely be a successful team and we can get all these new because you see how fast it it took to all the new players from last year to click with all the young core. If the same thing can happen this year with all these new people, whether it be Levert, whether it be Chaz, whether it be Robinson, I think, or whoever we get tomorrow, hopefully we can get rid of Tobias. I know you love Tobias, but I I don’t want to see him go, but at the same time, I do. It It’s very mixed emotions because even with everything happening right now, um I don’t want Tobias to go right now, but at the same time, if it really comes down to the wire, like you said, I would love to trade him,
but um I just hope I hope that we can run it back. I hope that we can get good enough at least be over the six seed. If it doesn’t happen, that’s okay. But I feel like the East is wide open this year. So, we have to at least get to six seed. And yeah, hopefully we can make a great playoff run and that’s all that matters to me. Detroit basketball and at least winning a series. That’s all that is to me personally.
I love it. I think that’s a great way to wrap it up, Prince. I love your takes, my man. Thanks for jumping on, brother. And we’ll um we’ll chat soon, I’m sure.
Of course. Together all the time. All the time together.
Let’s go. Catch you, bro. Enjoy your night. All right. Uh, so currently, shout out to Prince, shout out to Maddie, Tom, obviously Carl at the start for jumping on so far. If anyone else, it’s open air. I’m going to answer a couple of questions and if anyone wants to jump on in the next couple of minutes, we’ll keep going. Otherwise, I’ll wrap it up after we go through a few comments. Um, so I’m just dropping the link one more time in the chat. Uh, as I’ve said a couple of times, copy and paste that into your browser within your phone computer and it’ll work. We can come up and we can talk about anything you would like with Pistons for agency. But couple of questions here. Shout out to my guy Mark. Appreciate you, my man with the super chat. You’re an absolute star. Yeah, Jack. Man, the trade of Robinson for tech is definitely an upgrade in my opinion. Levert is going to help for sure. Jiat need more time to develop handles. I agree with all of that and like we were talking about that earlier Mark in the sense of that backup point guard position. I think Ivy is going to fill a lot of those minutes and then I think Assar as well. I think I think even Trean spoke about it in his pre-draft um press conference about Assar improving his handle, being able to do a little bit more off the dribble as a an area he’s working on this summer. Um so I think those guys need those minutes. Um, and and when I say they’re going to take the backup point guard minutes, I don’t mean um that Ivy’s coming off the bench or that Assar’s coming off the bench. I just mean like you make the minutes work when Cad’s off the floor that those guys are handling the ball. And I think Caris Levert can help in that department as well. So, appreciate you, Mark. Uh, oh, looks like we got James joining. Just going to answer this last question, then we’ll get to you, James. Uh, Sean, why don’t we go after Moagna? Um, I haven’t really See, I had him on like an extended list for the Pistons, but I just feel like he’s going back to the Magic. Like, I just feel like he’s not gonna leave his brother. Maybe that’s stupid of me to think, but um he would be an awesome stretch pick. I wonder if the Pistons could afford him. Um, we were talking about it earlier with Kyle, like the Pistons potentially having 8 million with the room exception if they stay under the cap. Maybe they could add Moer if he was going to leave. Um, I could be completely wrong there though, guys, so don’t quote me on that. Um, but I just see him going back to the Magic. They loved having him there. Um, I know they’ve made some big splashes, so maybe they can’t afford to keep him, but uh I look, if they were able to sign him, Sean, I think it’s a it’s a great call from you. Uh, all right, let’s bring up my man James here. All right,
James, what’s going on, my friend?
What’s up, Jack? How you doing, bro? I’ve been wanting to get on for a while. Oh, I’m so happy to have you on, man. How are we feeling,
dude? I’m good. Here’s all my Piston stuff right here, bro. Wow. Is that Stein, Kate?
Yeah, dude. I actually met Kate in Denver since I live in Colorado. I don’t live near the Pistons. I’m in the same situation, but I met Kade at the game, so he signed my t-shirt.
Let’s go. That’s so sick.
Yeah, I’m super into the Pistons.
Is that like a What action figure is that? Is that Oh, that’s a Ben Wallace one. I’m gonna see if I can flip my camera, bro. I’m so sorry. I like lowkey want to see,
but like I can at least like flip it back to you, but I got like a Ben Wallace. Yeah, I got sign Thomas poster, too. So, let’s go. You’re a die.
We got a whole big Pistons collection, bro.
And I got to get my room set up properly,
dude. Yeah, I know. Jack, how you feeling about creating,
dude? I’ve been I’ve been excited about all the news I’ve been hearing. I’ve heard about um pretty much about the Levert like signing. I was I was sad about the Beasley things because that kind of shakes up like where we have like any sharpshooters or any like depth at shooting, but that’s why I’m glad we got Robinson in that scenario because at least we have something solid there. Definitely. No, I think Duncan Robinson I think everyone should feel relieved and excited about that signing for for the shooting concerns. Um I think I think he’s going to be really really good for the team. Um even if he has some defensive questions, so did Malik and um Tim Hardway. So I’m I’m really excited about the signing. Do you are is there any players that you’re kind of eyeing around seeing that like are on the market because I know Malik Monk was like kind of shot down a little bit earlier in the day. So like I’m kind of wondering who you’re thinking about. But that so just on that so when we had Carl on just to open the show he was saying that there’s still a possibility for a sign and trade in with the Kings in that as part of that Schroer thing. So maybe they could still actually get Malik Monk. It’s probably doubtful now but I think for me like with
I think they need a stretch big and these names are not exciting at all but I honestly like Trey Ly I would not mind.
Trey Lyles would be fire. I I didn’t we have him before?
Yeah, back in Cage rookie season like back in it must have been 2021 or something like that. Um so
yeah,
I’m interested to see the space on the team with Fontekio gone too because that kind of shook up a little bit of factor too.
Definitely. No, that’s a great point. Um yeah, I we haven’t even spoken about tech. Probably should give him a bit of a shout out. I Yeah, I’m gonna miss him a little bit because he kind of gave some good vibes for a second, but I kind of understand the moves going on. Yeah. No, he def he he definitely was a vibes guy. I should have brought him up before. He he I he had a good sense of humor. He he seemed kind of like funny dude. Um so uh we’ll see. They definitely need that backup for position is the spot that looks like the most glaring hole right now. Um so we we’ll see who they can add there. Um, my gut is they probably don’t do anything else too exciting now, but if if people were looking for names they could add, I think like John Collins would be one to look out for, maybe.
Um, I still think it would be a shock, but Malik Monk could work. Um, I’m trying to think of some other names that they could trade for because the free agents left are not good.
Yeah, 100%. Like I I think people like really want us to swing like really fast at stuff but like in a way I’m like a little bit patient with it because like I feel like Langden’s made like kind of calculated moves and I don’t know I’m way more into that than kind of the rush moves I’ve seen in the past cuz that’s that gave us like decades of just like poor signings and like I don’t know just poor foresight and I I’d rather just have a few moments of just collect because even though we’ve made a few signings it’s like you can’t expect them to do all in a day or two. So, at least they’re cooking something up in the brain, like that’s all that’s all I need.
No, I I think that’s a great approach. I think like a lot of fans would probably put themselves at ease, a bit more if everyone had that approach of just being a little bit more calm instead of just wanting to see like 10 signings in the first two hours of free for agency because I think everyone just gets a bit worked up. But I understand it. It’s it it’s fun when you’re seeing other teams in your conference like sign players you wanted like understand why people start to get a bit like negative but I think um the whole time like there’s been no indicators that Trajan’s going to do anything to ruin this team long term. So
I don’t want to be like I also don’t want to be that guy though that’s like trust the front office at all times because I kind of did that with Troy. I’m still that critical fan. Like I I’ve seen things in the past, even the last few years, where I’ve been like on the border about. But like it’s crazy to have at least a solid year or two just not worrying as much.
So that’s why I’m like the time that we’ve taken right now that’s important because I don’t think we’ve messed that up over the last year. No. Yeah. And have you I have kind of had a few laughs watching what the Pelican doing.
Yeah. They’re they’re assembling something down there. I don’t know what, but I know. I was listening to a podcast today. They’re like, I like each player individually, but looking at this roster as a whole makes no sense.
I mean, you’ve seen I feel like that kind of reminds me of like our 2018 19 squads like cuz that’s some of the teams I had to like really focus on with like some Derek Rose and like Sako Dumba. Like there’s a lot of like random names there where you’re like okay like maybe in individual situations, but like we were never that situation set up for all those guys to do anything. So, I’m just It’s gonna be the same thing in New Orleans, I think.
No, we’ll see what happens there. But I should have asked. So, you’re in Colorado. How did you become a Ps fan?
Um, so I was actually born in Michigan. So, I’m like from Warren and like all my parents like you know, all my family are back there. So, like every summer like I go back there if it’s a part of the season where like the Pistons are playing, which is rarely because I always go back in the summer. So, it’s like I always got to catch the away games in Colorado when they play the Nuggets. So, I just got to call a bunch of Piston stuff. So, hopefully they can get a win in Denver. I can’t remember.
I’m like a curse, bro. I’ve looked at my record. I’m like 0 and5 or 0 and6 when I see the Pistons out here or some [ __ ]
I think that’s more a reflection. That’s not on you, though. I feel like that’s on the how good the Nuggets would be.
You know, the only other time I think away from Detroit I’ve seen them was in Golden State in 2019. I got to see them at Oracle and that was kind of fun because I was like the only one in Piston stuff there and there’s a whole bunch of gold. So, it was kind of funny. Love it. I love it. Says, “Warren up. Let’s go,
dude.” No, dude. I don’t know. This is like my favorite team ever, bro. Like, I’m telling you, man. So, I don’t know. I’ve been following your content as a creator and I’m like glad you’re invested being away from it because it’s like people don’t get the vibe of like being so into something not that you can’t access all the time.
Like that. That’s just things that people don’t get.
No, exactly, man. like being outside of Detroit like you don’t outside outside of Detroit you rarely come across Pistons fans even like in in the US where you’re based like obviously here in Australia it’s rare as well so I appreciate your support bro how far is Warren from um
obviously I’ve only been to like Detroit like the city whereabouts is Warren from Detroit
it’s not too it’s not too far like it’s within city limit range depending on where you’re at like there’s not parts of war what’s Is it like a suburb of
Well, I was like low-key suburbish suburb of an area. Like it wasn’t crazy. Like it it was a decent area and then like we like moved to Sterling Heights at some point just for a little bit and then like that’s another suburb like further north
and then we ended up moving to like northern Colorado which was a crazy move but I don’t know all the vibes like my dad’s a huge Detroit sports fan so he’s like we’re not stopping that out here. So I’ve been just going everything since then. I love it, man. I love it. Um, any other thoughts, my guy? Appreciate you jumping on.
I mean, I I just like to add to like the free agency talk, the buzz. Like, I mean, I’ve always been a fan. Like, you know, the season’s been giving me some good vibes. Like, I just like connecting with the fans and just knowing what they’re about, too, because I feel like we’re all on the wave of like patience, but like anticipation. So, I always like to see what the buzz is about because we’re we’re we’re sad about how the season ended and like I mean I almost like crashed out over that Brunson shot, but we have so much to look forward to beyond the playoff ending cuz we reached a peak that like we didn’t think we get to and that people don’t get that sometimes. Like I thought we were only going to be a playin team at most at some point. So, I’m just glad that we reached a higher level than expectations. So, I I’m very content. Yeah, that I was in the building for the Bronson shot and as soon as I saw he like crossed over Asar, I’m like, “Yeah, he’s not missing this.”
He’s been listening to Chance of Fu Bronson like like he’s making this shot. This is Don’t worry, my house is just as loud as that, man. So, like, believe me, we we created as many waves of like fan base we could, but like I love Pistons Nation and like it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, dude. Like, we show up and like I don’t really care about anything else besides that. The fan base is incred. I will Pistons fans are so passionate. I love it.
You can’t ever get anything better than that, bro. I’m telling you, you pick the right fan base.
No, I love it. I love being a part of it. Detroit sports fans in general, like it’s just I I’d never felt it until I went to a playoff game and I was like, “Holy, like this is on like another level.”
Yeah. They build you up with the environment. So, it’s like I don’t know. It’s another level of fandom where it’s like no one’s tuned out of it. So, like I kind of like that vibe about it.
I love it. Well, James, thanks so much for jumping on, man. So nice to meet you. Excited to have you back on all. I hope to be back on, brother. Absolutely, man. Anytime. Appreciate you joining.
Yes. You have a great night. See you, bro. Bye.
Right. Peace out. A legend. First time guest on the show. How good. Uh, well, like I said before, anyone else? I’ve got a couple more questions to go through here. Um, but if anyone else wants to join, here is the link. We will keep the stream going. Uh, but I saw who was this Keon Keon TV. I think we need a bigger center. I don’t know who is out there. Yeah, that was a surprising thing for me about the B Paul resigning. Uh, I really like B Paul as player. I think he’s a backup center on a lot of other teams in the NBA. there’s just a lack of size that is the the thing he doesn’t provide. Um especially because Stu is somewhat undersized even though I don’t think like it impacts his game too much. Um if Stu is injured you kind of lose a lot of size or JD’s out you definitely are under size in the front court. So, um I feel like I don’t know like if I’m looking at the centers who they cuz whoever they add as a center would definitely be a minimum if they go down that path. I mean like there’s Jackson Hayes, not really interested in him. Uh who else do we have? I’m just scanning through a list here as we speak. Bismbo. Uh that would be another minimum guy. He’s like a 611 player. Um, so I don’t think they will add that true sevenfooter to be honest, but those are just a couple of names I could see being signed to a minimum. Um, and then Carter here says Melton. So Melton, did he do an I think he injured his ACL because he was playing really well with the Warriors. Let’s see. Is he on this list? Maybe he’s under contract because he’s not on my free agency list. So I’m assuming that might have to be a trade. Uh D M I wonder how he fits now. They probably don’t have that much room for him uh on the roster. U even though I love him as a player, I don’t think he really he’s have much of a role considering our back court uh and the depths we have right now. U look guys, it doesn’t look like anyone’s joining. Um just scanning some final comments here. Um Piston’s next. I have no reason to use this emoji. I will miss that emoji. Shout out. Um, yeah. So, I assume this is about the sign and trade. Um, yeah, could that’s what Kyle was talking about to open the show as well. He’s hearing that there is still possibility the Pistons do a sign and trade with the Kings. They have five or six days I believe to figure that out. So if there is going to be another move where the Pistons bring in uh a salary of around 14 $50 million 14 to$15 million it’ll be via that sign trade the Kings otherwise it looks like the only options they have left are potentially a room exception of around8 million if they stay under the cap. So uh we’ll see we’ll see um I like Al Hawford as well. I just feel like he’s going back to the Celtics or I saw um who else does some another team was really interested in El Horford. Um I love that name. Um but I feel like he might be too expensive for the Pistons to get. Um we’ll say though, great name to throw out. Uh BP1, what do I think about Kaminga? I’ve never been a Kaminga guy and I just think he doesn’t really like he’s another guy you have to you have to sign and trade and extend him right now. He’s a He has just finished his fourth year, so he would be a sign and trade guy. I think like he would take away from Ron and Assar’s development personally in that around that three or four position. So whilst I think Kaminga could be a solid player, I’m just not not too interested in what it would require to keep developing him and pay him um and what he could take away from some of our other young guys. But um interesting name for sure. Uh, Urban here, Drummond would have been ideal. Yeah, I saw Andre though he opted into his player option, so he still had that to go back to 76ers. So to get him, it would have had to be a trade. Um, so he’ll be a free agent next year. So there’s still that chance for that reunion. Um, and Josh, let’s let’s end it here. Who is Tro getting next in free agency? Uh, I have no idea, but I would say it’s either going to come via the sign and trade with the Kings in another player they add or they are going to probably fill out the roster with some minimums and maybe sign I know I keep throwing this name out here, but it’s just kind of the realistic one I can see is a Trey LS type player that can shoot and play in the front court. Um, because there’s really not much else on this free agency list that uh jumps out to me. Uh maybe I would be shocked. Maybe they try and sign a backup point guard, like a true backup point guard, but I don’t think that would be priority. Um I can see a name like Kyle Lowry here, but I I don’t think that’s going to be the case. Uh we’ll see though, guys. Great show. Thank you so much to everyone for joining once again. Um like yesterday, definitely one of the biggest live streams we’ve done. Any more news breaks? Uh, I’ll be back tomorrow for a day three kind of recap. So, stay here. If you haven’t already, if you could like, subscribe. Um, really appreciate it. Just help keep this channel growing. And, uh, yeah, that’s going to do it for today. Exciting day. Um, and yeah, let’s see what happens. But until tomorrow, as always,
The Pistons just made another BIG swing — and we’re going live to break it all down 🔥
On today’s LIVE Pistons Jack Reacts, we’ll dive into the latest breaking free agency news, including:
🔁 Duncan Robinson traded to Detroit in a sign-and-trade that sends Simone Fontecchio to Miami
🏔️ Tim Hardaway Jr. signs with the Denver Nuggets
👑 Dennis Schroder officially joins the Kings
We’ll talk roster fit, fan reactions, cap implications — and what this means for Detroit’s vision going forward.
Join the stream and let’s break it all down together 👊
—
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#Pistons #NBAFreeAgency #DuncanRobinson #Fontecchio #THJ #DennisSchroder #PistonsJackChats
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4 Comments
What I love is no real assets given up. So there’s still a possibility of trades and still have all picks and everything to use as needed.
I think bobi will be our stretch four with Chaz coming off the bench
Sign Beasley for a one year deal and if he plays that's great but if not it's for a year no real big damage to the teams future plans
Kyle Metz from X? Love the fact he knows everything all the way down to how the contracts are put together.