Pistons @ Suns Saturday game thread 12-21-2024

[AzStevenCal]

For what benefit? We can do a fire sale, we can be the worst team in the league, we can cement the Durant trade as the worst trade in NBA history and... what is the benefit?

The ownership saving some tax dollars (which Ishbia claims to not care about?) A couple late round picks in a Booker trade? I don't see how we get a return that even remotely sniffs the level of depravity that the franchise will sink to.

If we have to do a fire sale we probably are screwed. But I'm convinced we're screwed regardless so that's less of a concern for me. And some of us called the KD deal the worst trade ever when it happened so it's not like any of us are looking for more proof. But I believe there's a small but reasonable chance that just clearing a lot of salary will allow us to rebuild quicker than letting our veterans age away.

But all that aside, what I really want to do is hang onto all of our future assets and jump on the opportunity to trade any of our veterans when they are playing well enough to draw some interest. We don't need to get a huge haul for any of them but we don't need to be selling them when they are at their lowest value either. And right now, the trade value of Booker and KD is likely to be underwhelming.

 

[Hoop Head]

If we have to do a fire sale we probably are screwed. But I'm convinced we're screwed regardless so that's less of a concern for me. And some of us called the KD deal the worst trade ever when it happened so it's not like any of us are looking for more proof. But I believe there's a small but reasonable chance that just clearing a lot of salary will allow us to rebuild quicker than letting our veterans age away.

I guess we're all in different stages of grief. Some of us in the depression stage and others in the acceptance. Some even in the bargaining stage, which would be dreaming for health, a Jimmy Butler trade, or moving our picks. It doesn't change reality and ultimately it's a matter of what we find more palatable for the next 5 years. One is a turd sandwich with ketchup and the other is just plain. Neither tastes good.

As long as we don't trade any future picks, I can handle what's to come. We shouldn't be trading picks for more condiments though. The entree sucks and there's no saving it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Trading KD and book is not only doable, it is rapidly becoming a requirement.

This team is gutless. They are our only valuable assets, every day this goes on they get older and more exposed as players who are fragile non leaders with not enough desire to win.

Yup. Between Book and KD, we can probably get 7 first rounders. Might be able to get a late 1st rounder for Allen/Tyus depending on injuries. Could probably get a couple 2nds at worst for Royce. So now is the time.

Recoup 7-8 first rounders then become a way-station for bad contracts attached to first round picks. Could be looking at 10 first round picks to play with within a year. And yes, the swaps the year with Memphis and Orlando could hurt, but the other years, the swaps are overblown. The Nets and Wizards are two of the worst franchises in the league. If we have to swap with them, we’re still likely landing in the lotto somewhere. And if we have extra picks to play with, they can use those to move up in the draft.

But the bottom line is this team is a rudderless ship, with two big assets who value is only going to decline from here. Bite the bullets and begin anew.