Nothing to worry about or another maddening move?

[Sparma]

Taj Gibson's had a really nice NBA career, playing PF as well as C. He's now 38 years old, and his (small sample) season PER of 3.1 (!) is roughly one fifth his career average of 15.2.

32 y.o. PF/ C Mike Muscala looked like a valuable rotational contributor to me in his brief time in Detroit, getting in defensive position and being enough of a threat as a shooter at 37.6% for his career (unlike Duren, who I hope is on his way to becoming a star) to create some space for Ausar. His PER's none to impressive for the year at 8, still nearly three times that of Gibson.

We bought out Muscala and have now signed Gibson to a 10-day deal.

Meanwhile, Muscala's caught on with OKC, one of the best run franchises in the NBA.

No big deal by itself, but I think there's a cumulative effect to not getting the little stuff right, time and time again. Discouraging.

[Go Stones!]

1) Draft a PF

2) Pay Drummond what would be given to Wiseman

3) Pay Miles Bridges what he is worth and bring him home

4) Pick up Covington for a quality veteran off the bench

5) Resign Kek, Troy Brown, Jr and Flynn

6) DON'T resign Wiseman or Fournier




15-man roster:

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Bridges, Duren

Sasser, Grimes, Kek, Stew, Drummond

Flynn, Troy Brown Jr, Umude, Covington, (1st round pick)

(Milton just got bought out)

[Sparma]

I've experienced hope recently, especially with Fontecchio and Grimes looking like they'll be good fit for some time, if re-signed.

Cade's looked pretty great recently.

After the refs robbed us in NYC, it was nice to get the win in Chicago, even if it took them shooting 2-29 from deep.

We got our core four, Stewart as a solid rotation player, Sasser showing flashes in his rookie season, along with the two promising newbies.

So why should I be so bothered by the Mike Muscala departure? Even with modest numbers, he made a real difference, in part by facilitating more comfortable moments for Ausar and also with reliably sound defensive positioning. It seems like a Weaver move to protect Wiseman's (future) spot (unless something big happens, like drafting Sarr).

As Murph points out, Weaver missed out hugely by picking Hayes over Haliburton (a move I endorsed at the time, even though I did also like Haiiburton). Beyond the massive issues, there have also been so many tiny cuts that have added up. I wouldn't mind a re-signing of Wiseman for the minimum, but letting Muscala go strikes me as losing a valuable puzzle piece.

After a heartening trade deadline, it's a drag to behold what looks like another ill-conceived move, even if only a minor one.

[Murph]

Haliburton on the Pistons selecting Killian Hayes:

“What is this, they're not picking me?" Haliburton said, mimicking his agent's motion. "And then it flashed up, Killian Hayes, and I was like, 'What!?' In that moment I was frustrated, but I knew the Kings were my floor. "But, still in the moment, I was just angry.”



Was the Hayes pick a bigger miss that the Darko pick?   Is missing on Haliburton actually worse than missing on Camelo?

Please bare with me.  It’s entirely possible that if he stays healthy, Halliburton will have a more successful career than Carmelo.  At least through the first 4 years in the league, Halliburton is outperforming Carmelo.

And by the same token, it’s entirely possible that Darko’s career will be more successful than Hayes’.  I mean Darko at least played 10 years in the league.  It’s highly doubtful Hayes will play that long.  Sad but true.


I can’t believe Hayes demanded a trade.  Was he out of his effen mind???   Who did he think was going to trade for him?   Now he’s out of the league.  What a moron.

[Murph]

Shake Milton is exactly the kind of tall, athletic, defensive minded shooting guard that we need to fill out the roster. He’s 6’5, 205, and when given regular minutes, he plays well. He’s an average 3 point shooter who is bound to improve, if played regularly. He’s only now coming into his prime, and he could be an inexpensive, solid reserve, or a spot starter in case of injury.

This guy should be brought back on an affordable contract.

[lemonpen]

It seems Chauncy is a finalist for the next HOF class.

hof

[lemonpen]

I think Williams almost has the starting lineup correct.  Williams is starting the “core four”, which I agree with, along with Fontechhio.  Of course Grimes is out with a nagging injury right now.

When Grimes gets healthy and returns after the All-Star break, I would sub him into the starting lineup for Fontecchio in a 3 guard lineup.  I think Williams should start his 5 best players, regardless of position, and I think that over time, it will become clear that Grimes is younger, already better, and has far more potential on both sides of the ball than Fontecchio.  

I would also play Sasser, Milton, Brown, Fontecchio, Stewart and even Wiseman extensively off the bench.  Williams particularly needs to give Milton, Brown Fontecchio and Wiseman long hard looks in the second half of the season, in order to determine whether or not they should be brought back and/or extended.

At this point it matters less exactly which positions Cade, Ivey and Grimes play.  Over time, it will become clear who runs the point best, who is the best spot up shooter, who is best in isolation, etc. Just start your 5 best players, when everyone is healthy.

Play the wheels off of them. Give Weaver every bit of information required to make sound decisions.

[lemonpen]

Ok, so ~56M is allotted for 7 players (Cade, Duren, Thompson, Sasser, Ivey, Grimes. and Stew)

If they resign (I wouldn't pay more than this):
Wiseman 8M - still a project. Would have traded or waived him if there was no resigning
Fournier 6M - my bet is that Troy and Williams like him b/c he is tall and a mismatch
Fontecchio 8M - ????

and they keep:
Milton 5M - can be waived; good price for a vet.
TBJ 4M - can be waived; probably odd man out

That equals 12 players.

If they draft 2 players = 14

If they sign 2 free agents = 16

What do they do with their 3 G-league players? What about Tosan?

Strangely enough Wiseman seems to be in a fairly favorable situation, provided he is willing to work for less $$$.  He's currently the only center-size backup that can play in the paint.  The tall joker we picked up from Washington shrinks with proximity to the hoop.  He releases a 3pt hoist from a higher elevation than a layup.  
It remains to be seen if Mr. MMA (Stewie) is ready for prime time.

FYI:  4-knee-yea is under contract for next year with a club option @ $19M.  If we keep him we must pay him. Set him free, please.

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