Should the Detroit Pistons Trade Up in the 2024 NBA Draft? | POP Podcast

Should the Detroit Pistons Trade Up in the 2024 NBA Draft? | POP Podcast

did the Detroit Pistons move up in the 2024 draft and we have some names that Detroit is interested in in the free agency class later this summer we talk about all of that and more on this week’s edition of the Palace of Pistons podcast good evening everybody and welcome to another exciting night of NBA basketball the Pistons are digging in they got the depth they got the big man they got the better basketball team no doubt about it Sy need a three and they have just another 3 seconds to do it here’s johy Phillips here it is he’s got it he’s got it johy Phillips hits the BL over time amazing how about Detroit basketball and we’re back welcome to the Palace of Pistons podcast brought to you by believe myself Aaron Johnson and Jasper appolonia here with you for this week’s show uh as you heard we got some great stuff to talk about we’re going to get into all of that but before we do want to give a quick word to our sponsors bet online bet online is your number one source for the NBA finals and Stanley Cup finals this season every stat every matchup and even live odds and spreads while the games are being played when the game’s over head over to our online casino and get in on a game of blackjack or poker or online with one of our over 150 slot games head to the website today to get in on the action use our promo code believe bav for your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit again believe bav for a 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit bet online the game starts here one other thing I wanted to mention before we get into the show as always wherever you’re watching or listening from uh please take a moment to subscribe give us a follow had a great post uh come out on substack earlier this week from Mike just kind of giving us all of the latest surrounding the Detroit Pistons and all the latest news in his weekly Drive newsletter talked about trejan Langdon Troy Weaver and plenty plenty more I also had a piece come out on Wednesday morning discussing three prospects in the 2024 draft that I’m opposed uh to taking if I’m the Detroit Pistons I know that uh some people have had some interesting thoughts or or have disagreed with some of the the players that I’ve covered in that piece so make sure to go over to palace.com check that out and subscribe to our substack as well okay let’s get into the first topic sticking with the NBA draft which is just a few weeks away at this point I mean it is quickly quickly approaching and we’ve talked about on the podcast some names that we like we’ve talked about some names on the sub substack as well kind of covering uh the player the fit with the Pistons but what we haven’t talked about is the Pistons not trading the pick and not trading back but rather trading up Jasper there’s a couple teams that have been willing to move their top picks in the 2024 NBA draft the Hawks at one Houston at three are a couple teams that have been named as teams that are willing or looking to trade off their pick if you’re the Pistons you got beat up in the lottery fall to five do you look moving up are you interested in moving up is there a specific player worth moving up for if you’re the Detroit Pistons I I think first off I’ll I’ll answer the last question you asked there’s always a player worth moving up for if you feel that way like if there is a guy that you like enough to move up for him of course it’s worth it like that’s that’s the whole point that’s why you do it um and this is this is an interesting draft because there is no hard set number one overall pick but and I think at some level you can look at that and say well okay we could sit at five and we can get our guy works both ways man there’s also a good chance that the guy you think or you want to get at five is gone at one and that is a risk that you that you can take however if you trade up for the number one overall pick or you trade up for the number three overall pick that absolutely lessens the chances that you’re going to be missing the guy that you want I know somebody that you’re very high on Aaron Donovan kingan somebody that you wrote about a couple weeks ago not a couple weeks ago just last week uh we we keep recording so many of these special podcasts you lose a little bit of the of uh your your sense of time here we might be doing it again with Monty Williams soon enough um I just think that if there is a player that you really like at the top of the draft I’m thinking specifically of Donovan kingan who has been mocked as high as number one to the Atlanta Hawks or perhaps uh Zachary rache who has been nominally the number one overall pick favorite for a while now uh perhaps even an Alex SAR although I haven’t heard as much talk about SAR going number one as you did leading up to this draft and I I think we all kind of figured that would be the case um usually in these weaker drafts when there’s somebody who is like really hot for much of the Year leading up to it it feels like the draft rolls around and everyone goes H actually I like this guy better right for me though for me though I I don’t think I would be trading up I I just don’t see a guy in this draft who moves me so much to where I’d be like I have to get him I think no matter who you’re taking one through five there is a similar level of risk I think that there is a similar level of upside similar level of downside uh for all of them whether the Pistons front office feels the same way that’s a different question um but I I also think that there is like there’s a way to move up to number one there’s a way to move up to number three that also improves your team in other ways and I think specifically when I’m looking at a team like Atlanta we’ve discussed the the possibility of getting dejonte Murray for a long time if you can get the number one pick and get Deon Murray uh I think that there is there’s something to that uh that that would pretty much be why I would consider moving up to number one it’s if I can get the number one pick and potentially another player that one of these teams is trying to move off on uh at to me seems actually weirdly enough like the number one pick seems the most Gable and the most appealing in a lot of ways because not just with Murray but also with somebody like Clint capella the Hawks seem very motivated to move off of them so I definitely think it’s something I would consider but for a player in particular me personally no the front office might feel differently and Aaron I’m interested to see if you feel differently as well yeah it I think the first thing that that comes to mind is is is there a player that’s worthy of giving up a a future asset or multiple assets attaching to your pick your own pick that’s worth trading up to go get and is that re say I I think if you look at langan’s past in New Orleans they really did like drafting forwards longer forwards that could shoot defend you look at guys like Herbert Jones you look at guys like Trey Murphy like ret kind of Falls in that same category you would at least hope but is he worth five and a meaningful asset like I don’t think five and someone like Quinton Grimes are Marcus Sasser gets you up there so it’s G to cost you someone like an Isaiah Stewart Someone Like A Jaden Ivy and I don’t know if in this draft that makes sense I I I still think the pist worst case scenario Rish SAR kingan are all off the board I think it gets a lot more interesting this is going to be an interesting draft nonetheless just because of how many prospects could go in so many different places but it got a little bit more interesting now with topic probably sliding after tearing his ACL and and going to be missing next year who slides into that top four now I think topic was probably considered a guy that could certainly go top five I think the Pistons will still be able to get a player at five that they feel can help them whether clinging still available whether rather whether they take Dalton connect uh if they do really like one of the Kentucky guards reach Shepard or Rob Dillingham like there will be a player that they like that they can get at five without needing to give up an asset to to go up to one to get a prospect that in this draft I don’t really know if he all that better for them so that’s where I’m at I don’t think the Pistons need to be looking uh to move up at that cost I would say if something with Atlanta came to fruition where you could get someone like a dejonte Murray uh that would be way more interesting to me and maybe you know if Atlanta really likes a couple players in this draft and they want to pair these guys with Jaylen Johnson and whatever other core players that they’re going to keep maybe they’re a world where they could get Murray for five and and something you know that’s where if you can get Murray for five and Ivy or something along those lines that makes more sense than trading five and Ivy or five uran for the number one pick itself because you’d be getting a proven All-Star level player to to to put alongside Kate Cunningham so that’s where I’m at in this in this situation I don’t think the Pistons need to be uh looking to trade up to aggressively no no and I think that look I’ll say this though if you can somehow pull off a trade with Atlanta where you’re getting back to the jeante Murray and the number one overall pick for five and a couple of players I think that would be an absolute coup for Detroit I mean if you’re getting the higher pick and arguably the best player out of that situation that’s just not something that comes along very often but it does seem this off season more than any other it is a a possibility it’s an absolute possibility we’ve seen some reports that certain prospects are not meeting with Atlanta aren’t even doing workouts with them so that definitely puts a little bit of fuel on the fire that Atlanta will not be keeping that pick it seems as though agents seem to think they’re not going to be selecting number one and and therefore aren’t even bothering with it I will also say this in regards to Tran langden selecting you know these these wings that are doing very very well for New Orleans uh you know herb Jones was a first team all defense the only non-big man on that list I think that’s very very notable uh Wing defense is is crucial in today’s NBA and to be basically declared as the best Wing defender in the NBA as herb Jones essentially was I think says quite a bit I think what’s interesting to note though that he and Trey Murphy were both both selected outside of the lottery Trey Murphy was the 17th overall pick herb Jones was a second rounder so I think when I look at Tran langan’s draft history you know if he does feel strongly enough about a wing to select him number one one that’s great but he’s also a guy that I’m inclined to trust with those later picks to find the Diamonds in the Rough something that we have been complaining about in regards to Troy Weaver for years like the inability to really find those impact Wings later on uh impact players in general to be honest with you so leads us into the next question I wanted to ask I mean at least in my mind I think it makes more sense for the Pistons to be looking to trade down I think the problem there is there’s other teams that are willing to do that or want to do that you know this is the draft where teams would rather move out of the draft or move back in the draft if they can get another asset because there’s just not as many players that are worthy of a top five pick is you know that you feel comfortable that are going to hit if a team like Memphis really wants Donovan kingan which they’re said to and he’s on the board and he’s made it to five like can you get nine from Memphis could you get Marcus Smart and nine from Memphis for five and maybe you’ve got to put something else in there you know I’m not sure the value on Marcus Smart right now he didn’t really play last year I’m not sure if there was outside of the injury stuff that he dealt with last year I’m not sure if there was like a he didn’t want to be in Memphis type of thing I don’t know um but is there a world where you could get a legitimate rotation player that could help you and just move back in the draft a handful of slots and still have a chance to draft I mean like let’s be real here out of all these names that have been linked to the Pistons let’s say they did trade back toight you’d have to imagine that one of Shephard buellis connect etc etc you know one of these wings from France that continues to to rise up the mock draft boards like one of these guys would end up being their four picks later that they could get and and could help them the same way that whoever they took at five might have been able to as well so I think I would be more uh interested in trading back if possible I just think that that might be just as hard as trying to trade up because there are too many teams that seemingly want to trade back in this draft Yeah I think it just comes down to like how far down do they want to trade back and also what are you getting in return like that’s that to me is kind of the key um the Pistons just they need NBA players right now and it does feel as though if you’re not getting say a Donovan playing in at at number five maybe a reed Shepard I don’t know Dalton connect like you’re probably in a position where you’re going to have to take a less NBA ready player at this point like that’s just the reality of it like I’ve ad advocated for bis on the podcast but I’m under no Illusions like that is a dude who needs work um and I I like the idea of say trading for Marcus Smart another guy who has been linked to the Pistons for a long time now since he went down with that uh season ending injury is Zack LaVine uh for the Chicago Bulls I think we’ve both come come out and said e LaVine doesn’t isn’t really exactly the guy we’d want but I could definitely see moving down to 11 for for LaVine and then maybe you take a guy like Ron Holland who is definitely a project as well but but certainly flashes some upside um he be available at 11 maybe maybe not that’s a different discussion but like I think that there are certainly possibilities for Detroit to move down I think they’re also in a position unlike some of the other teams that might be motivated to move down in Atlanta and Houston I think they’re also in a position to take on salary that those teams wouldn’t necessarily like Atlanta wants to wants to to clean up their cap they want to move forward with a youth movement that they think is already in place same kind of thing with Houston I think they’d be less inclined to take on a player like Marcus Smart I think they’d be less inclined to take on a Zack LaVine whereas the Pistons straight up they just need talent like they need vets right now so I think you’re actually in a better position despite having a lower draft pick than some of these teams ahead of you to move down just because you’re able to absorb more salary you’re willing to take more risks presumably um so yeah I think there’s actually for Detroit a much better path to trading down uh than moving up and I think opposed to the other teams that are kind of in that place they have a better chance at moving down simply because of the cap situation and the state of the team right now yeah I’ll be interested to see you know we’re we’re three weeks out or whatever from the draft like so much can happen in these next three weeks the Pistons have a lot of decisions that they have to make already is there even enough time to do something like that in the coming weeks like how much more do have to do uh to get integrated with the with the with the franchise he’s still naming Executives and and staff members right now like there’s there’s still enough time to to make a trade you’ve got three weeks if you want to get something done you have time to do it look you can do it up until the last minute on draft night too if you really need to I I I believe that they have enough time to do it um you know I’ll say this actually if you’re taking on like a Zack LaVine type contract there there’s a chance you could also just get 11 and not even have to move down like if if you’re will like I I do think that the Bulls are in a position where like they’re probably going to have to treat Zack LaVine as a negative asset so I think you can also acquire more draft picks without moving down from five uh I think that that’s a legitimate possibility as well and I think that that that perhaps uh you know changes the equation for Detroit I think that they just there is enough time there is enough flexibility I think if they are if they are trying to get a deal done on draft day I think they can do it and frankly like time should not be an issue I know that it took a long longer time than than you or I probably wanted for the Pistons to hire l in but like I think that the the messaging from Tom goris has been very clear he wants to see results very very quickly um so yeah if langon is the real deal it doesn’t really matter how much time he’s got he’s going to have to do something very soon um whether it’s in the draft or it’s in free agency so I don’t know I I’m kind of interested to to hear what you think on that erand and also our listeners of course but like do you think that there is a possibility of Detroit acquiring more draft picks perhaps in the later half of the lottery perhaps even outside of the lottery um without trading the fifth pick at all because that’s where langdon’s had a lot of his success as a drafter is actually outside of the lottery yeah I mean that’s that was kind of the Troy Weaver special right like find your way back into the draft find your way back into the first round and and draft another another Prospect I think if if you’re Detroit like you know I don’t necessarily know if they’re gonna just straight up add multiple first round picks I think they are under the impression that they’ve already got a lot of young guys they need to kind of build up the roster with some veterans and some more experienced players rather than adding more young projects to a team that already has a lot of internal devel vment to figure out that being said as someone that has very very slightly the cabat they are very very slightly warmed up to the idea of trading for Zack LaVine I think if you traded five for LaVine and 11 and you could still get someone like uh Kean George or or or one of those other wings that ends up still being on the board you you could talk me into that I think there might be some interest on Detroit side with LaVine that’s not like sourc or anything that’s just kind of speculating based off of where they want to go next year um I still don’t love it I think I’m I’m warmed up a little bit but if they wanted to move back and they felt like they could get someone that could still help them at 11 or 15 you know I I think if they wanted to draft an older guy like Tristan Tristan the Silva from Colorado who knows how to play on offense like shoots gets to the rim a little bit like he has his significant weaknesses like he’s not super super athletic like I said he’s older but uh I’ve seen a lot of people give him kind of like that cam Johnson comparison from the 2019 draft who was someone that I was a huge proponent of for Detroit back then but if they wanted to get someone like that who could step in and help them on the wing like and get a player that still helps them like they could do that I just don’t think it makes sense for them to like have five get 11 try to get 24 like I I just they have enough young guys I think they need to try to figure out how to get some older guys in in in the room that fit and can help nurture the younger guys and develop the ones that are already in the building yeah I tend to agree with that I think another guy if kingan’s off the board I’d be looking at if they did trade out a number five a little further down uh kle wear I think would be be an interesting big man Prospect um especially if they do take you know decide to move on from Jaylen Duran and take a swing at a center via trade or free agency I think that could be uh an interesting piece potentially for the future I mean I don’t think he even started playing basketball until he was like a a sophomore junior in high school something crazy like that like talk about a guy with all the the tools but maybe not the Polish that’d be an interesting player for me as well um I think that’s a perfect segue though into what we’re talking about next Aaron which is free agency uh James Edwards III reported that the Pistons are definitely looking at free agents and surprise surprise we’ve already been talking about a couple of them on this very podcast uh Malik monk Nick claxon and somebody that we haven’t discussed this year but I think I’ve advocated for for a couple years now uh via free agency or trade Gary Harris is another player that they seem to be looking at as well so Aaron I’m interested obviously we’ve already discussed a couple of these guys but any name that stands out to you there um would you be happy with bringing in any of those guys and what would that look like ideally for you for the Pistons if they were to go big and free agency yeah I mean first and foremost Malik Monk and Nick claxon are certainly tiers above Gary Harris in terms of production value etc etc you’re paying them a lot more money than you’re paying Gary Harris but all of those guys certainly help Detroit I think Malik monk who God it feels like he’s been in the league for forever it’s like with Andre Drummond like he’s only 30 right now but it feels like he’s been in the NBA for 20 years and Malik Monk’s only 26 but he’s been in the league since he’s you know 18 he was a oneand done at Kentucky and I he’s a very very good player and and he gives Detroit a veteran playoff experience um obviously helps this team Nick Claxton gives Detroit a experienced rim protector capable Defender but he clashes with the Prospect Center that you have right now and Jaylen Duren and and and what does that mean if you’re willing to pay Nicholas Claxton the $25 million a year that he’s reportedly going to get and what does that mean for Jaylen Duran if you’re willing to pay claxon that because you can’t pay two centers you know combined $45 million a year when Jaylen Duran’s extension eligible but all of these guys help this team uh if they come out of free agency with Malik monk Nick Claxton Gary Harris like in a weak free agency class it’s probably a success let’s say they use five and and you know I I think if they’re they’re getting Claxton they’re not drafting a center so you’re not taking kinging you’re probably taking a wing there you know let’s say they end up with connect or God I don’t know they’ll use they use five and they bring in these three free agents like that’s four players that come in and can have a role on your team that you didn’t have last year and they’re all going to help so I I’d be interested in all of these guys I think Malik monk is probably the most popular name amongst them locally Gary Harris is going to get some love just because of his Michigan State connection um but all those guys help Detroit and and they all provide things that that Detroit certainly needs so I’m I’m for it I think these are the right names for Detroit to be looking at you know will they be able to to to cough up the money for Nicholas claxon Brooklyn said that they’ll match pretty much anything for him they can beat out sac for for Malik Monk and that’s the thing like I think Malik monk probably wants to go back to Sacramento Sacramento’s pinched on how much they can offer him Detroit can pay him a lot more so we’ll see how aggressive langden is like will he overpay by a ton to get a guy and that’s something we’ve talked about before the Pistons might have to do that to start bringing in some valuable players here I I think even if Brooklyn does MASH claxon this is one of those things that we harped on last year when Detroit did not even attempt to go after restrictive free agents in like cam Johnson I think was the biggest name there where look okay you you go for a restriced free agent you lose out that’s fine but you’re making the other team pay at the very least and I’m totally fine with going after somebody like Nick claxon and losing out on it as long as you are going for it and and that’s one thing that I think we all agree like we want to see from T Tran langon is like I want to see that aggressiveness I want to see that going after it even if you’re not going to win it doesn’t matter you’re at least going for it you’re making an attempt um you’re you’re giving it your all I think that’s that’s something that we absolutely need to see from him as opposed to the last regime another thing that I really like about the idea of actually all three of these free agents but but specifically Monk and claxon is that they’re veterans but in regards to those two they’re young veterans Le Monk’s 26 Nick claxon’s 25 you’re not paying for guys that have already gone through the majority of their NBA careers and you’re paying for their production from when they were 28 29 no you’re paying for guys who have shown that they’re able to produce on a pretty pretty high level and also are entering their athletic primes at this point in their careers so I think that that’s absolutely like an underrated but very appealing aspect to both of those players with Gary Harris as well no he’s not what he used to be but he is still a very good three-point shooter I believe he shot 37% last year 40% or something the year before that he still can knock him down that’s something the Pistons very much need off their bench and he also provides veteran leadership he’s been around the league um he knows what it’s like he’s been a part of young teams on the rise I think the Denver Nuggets I think the Orlando magic last year um so all three of those guys not only are they good players they also fit what we’ve been talking about which is like where do these guys come into this roster and make you better in a meaningful manner you could see all three of them immediately stepping in and fitting a role that the Pistons desperately need right now Malik monk with that secondary creation that explosiveness little bit of movement shooting uh off the dribble um you talk about Gary Harris as like a catch and shoot three-pointer and that veteran presence in the locker room and Nick CL as a very very good rim protector so all three of these guys absolutely fit what the Pistons are looking for and I think more importantly they fit with the timeline as well like if you’re signing claxon or monk to a multi de deal multi-year contract when Kate Cunningham signs his extension you’re now locking him in with a core of guys that fit with his skill set and compliment him in a meaningful manner so I like all three of these names to be completely honest with you uh I don’t know is there anyone else that you might throw in is there any way that you’re not thrilled about these guys I don’t know I think I think I like the idea of going after some quote unquote smaller names rather than bigger names like uh a Klay Thompson or or bu Harris and kind of spreading that money around like instead of paying 30 $40 million a year to someone like Thompson or Harris Can you spread that money around and get a combination of of Monk Derek Jones Jr uh Claxton Kyle Anderson like can you go and get three four guys uh with your cap space rather than Tobias Harris and probably a couple other smaller names I think it makes sense for the Pistons to go for quantity and experience uh and and and I like all three of those names and then I like those names that I mentioned I think this is a weak free agency class overall but if the Pistons are willing to spend they have the most money to spend so they can pay for the guys that they want assuming those guys are going to be motivated by the money which tends to be the case more often than not so along with those guys uh that that James Edwards II mentioned I think Derrik Jones Jr uh seeing him play in a luuka donic lineup and knowing how the Pistons kind of Envision Kate Cunningham as their own version of Luca donic like I think Derek Jones Jr makes a ton of sense if they want another Center Isaiah hartenstein Stein makes sense DeAnthony Melton for a veteran guard defensive-minded guard makes sense so there’s a bunch of those like mid-tier role players that have that experience are veterans are are known for being able to do certain things I think those types of guys make sense for for Detroit it’s interesting because um you know you mentioned this is a weaker free agency class and I think that’s true at the top but I think this is a much stronger free agency class in the middle like middle tier of players than last year’s was I see a lot lot of players out there that really could fit with what Detroit is trying to do um you know I you saw me fist bump when you mentioned Kyle Anderson you know I want him I’ve always wanted him I love me some Kyle Anderson give me slow-mo baby um yeah and I think like just where the Pistons are at in terms of their cap space in terms of their flexibility where they are as a franchise what they’re trying to build I think that this is actually a very very good low key free aging cclass for Detroit I think they can put a lot of different feelers out there I think that even if they strike out on one or two guys there’s still going to be as you mentioned several more players who who fit maybe not quite as well maybe on not as such a high level as as their first choices but still fit with this roster and fit with this Vision so I really do I have to say like I do anticipate a trade coming down the pipes but I also think that like there’s a good chance the Pistons really really focus most of their attention on free agency this year and that’s not to say that like you build good teams by just building them through free agency unless of course you’re the 2017 Golden State Warriors but like even then they had they had a couple guys in place by then already they’d done a couple things in the playoffs um I I just think that like if you’re the Pistons and your goal is to get better this year maybe not even make the playoffs maybe not even make the play in but just become a competitive team to where you can then evaluate what you have on your roster and make additional moves from there I think free agency has a chance to be very very very lucrative for Detroit in in terms of building up that roster and rehabbing some of their younger players trade value as well like jayen Ivy Jaylen Duren assar these guys you hope their trade value will never be lower than it is right now um I think if you bring in a couple couple veterans even if you decide to stay Pat a little bit with trading the young guys it gives you the the ability to maybe move them for more later on when you actually have a better feel for your roster and how it can be competitive I think there’s a clear path for Detroit to kind of follow the Houston Rockets and what they did last year like they kept their young core together but they spent their their cap space on Veterans Fred Van Fleet Dylan Brooks Jeff Green like they brought in guys at every position that provided competition that provided leadership that provided necessary skills I think that makes sense for Detroit we we saw the jump that Houston made and in a much weaker conference there could be that opportunity for Detroit to make a similar type of jump if they go out if they commit to spending if they maximize uh you know their Assets in the trade market like I still think they might need to trade one of the young guys but they could still keep the majority of the core if not all of the core together and still improve this team simply by adding three to five veterans that know how to play I mean there’s a ton of roster spots there’s a ton of minutes that should be open on Detroit’s roster based off what we saw last season bring in competition bring in veter an that aren’t used to sitting make every player earn their minutes build that system of accountability like it’s something the Pistons didn’t have last year who were you taking Jaylen Duran out for toan aom like you weren’t he was gonna play regardless so there was no one worth giving minutes to over these young guys because he simply didn’t put enough Talent or or experience on the roster you need to fix that this time around you need to light a fire under some of these guys and and let them know that they’re not just going to be babied and given every opportunity despite not meeting the necessary standards of playing NBA basketball on a nightly basis so I think the Pistons need to really look at how Houston managed last off season and try to follow a similar halfth as they did yeah I I’m so glad you actually brought up Houston because I think that’s a perfect examp example of kind of what I’m saying in regards to rehabbing your young guys you know their trade value I and even how you’re going to build your roster like Alper and senon exploded this year and I think if you had before those signings if you had asked most people around the league like what should the Houston Rockets do who should they be building around like who’s their best young player I don’t think sangun would have been the answer to any of those questions and now the equation changes a little a little bit I think Jaylen green was really like the ah this is the guy and now you know that’s not to say I think Houston’s trading Jaylen green or that Jaylen Green’s no good I’m not saying that I’m just saying like now if you try to trade Alper and sangon verse last year the return is monumentally different you’re getting way more back for him than you would have and the reason for that is that they just surrounded him with good veteran players that could bring out his strength even more so yeah I’m really glad you brought up Houston I think that’s actually kind of a perfect example of what we are looking for Detroit to do during this off season just get better get better see what you have um just don’t be a laughing stock and genuinely like when you just get to that point things actually become easier because no one’s looking at your roster and saying this guy’s overrated this guy sucks you’re not getting you know all this this uh slander thrown the way of some very talented players who are just put into a bad situation there we go the mute button hard man one other thing that I wanted to mention here uh before we go is I wanted to talk about the Los Angeles Lakers coaching sech because I think there’s a a Detroit connection there Mark Stein former ESPN staff member for years has kind of been out on his own has his own substack and still does his own NBA reporting mentioned that there is still a potential that Monty Williams if fired by the Detroit Pistons could end up being the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after he reported that uh the next morning Adrien W narowski dropped a major major major W bomb and said that the Lakers were going after Danny Burley of Yukon for their open position that followed uh sham shania’s report from was it a few days ago now that the Lakers had n had fallen upon JJ reick as the front runner for the head coaching position so a lot going on there in a world where the Pistons do fire Monty Williams like if JJ reck’s not the guy in Los Angeles could it be the guy in Detroit I just wanted to throw that out there because I think that’s at least worth bringing up there’s a a connection to langon and the Pelicans JJ was a player for New Orleans I think that’s that might be worth that might be worth looking at I just think first off the Lakers what is going on with this coaching Ser you’re you’re going after a college coach a guy who hasn’t coached anything above third graders and a guy who should be coaching third graders in Monty Williams so I just think for me like yeah man hey you want Monty Williams go for it man take take him I’ll buy the plane ticket myself like I got the miles brother I got the Delta Sky miles card I got a few left over uh I’ll back his bags for him man I’ll throw him on the on the on the on the plane myself um yeah I mean JJ reck I don’t know man I’m no I’m I’m just I don’t think that’s what this team needs right now like like uh go out get a guy who is Young yes but like has actual cache around the league as a head coach I’m not trying to do experiments right now and of course like I’m not gonna be sitting in on these interviews who knows maybe JJ reick like walks in the door and just blows everybody away um but I’ve listened to his podcast and I’ve seen him on first take and I think he’s a smart guy I think he knows a lot about basketball obvious viously more than I do uh do I see him as a head coach I don’t I don’t think so right now at this moment I I just I don’t know if the personality is there to be honest with you I think it’d be an incredibly tough sell from the Lakers perspective to instead of bringing in a two-time national champion coach from Yukon bringing a 14- win coach from the worst team in the league in Monty Williams that would be a really really tough sell uh to to give to their fan base to unless LeBron is the one pushing it like I I just think that would be a really tough sell so I don’t know how likely Monty Williams being the coach of the Lakers actually is uh it just doesn’t in my opinion it doesn’t make sense um but I see what you’re saying on J.J reick uh when it comes to Detroit I think it would be the kind of bigname hire that Detroit has liked in the past as we’ve seen with the Stan B Gundy hire the Dwayne Casey hire and the Monte Williams hire it would be the big name it would be the quote unquote Big Fish uh but would it be best for this team yeah I don’t know I don’t know if I feel that way a first-time coach coming into a young team that definitely needs a leader someone that’s going to take that next help them take that next step in their development don’t know if he’s the the perfect candidate but I don’t know who is the perfect candidate right now so I think you’d at least have to consider it I think last word on that would be yes I mean Tom gorus does love a name but he likes a an established name like Tom gorus he’s he’s always hunting for respect because I don’t think he’s very respected among League circles like I don’t think people look at him and go wow what a basketball mind we have here um you know you look at the guys that he’s hired Stan Van Gundy long track record of success guys who have come close to a championship but not quite there you know Stan Bank Gundy uh Dwayne Casey Monty Williams these are guys who yes were big names but they were big names because of what they did in the NBA already JJ reick is a big name but not as a coach um although I don’t know what is you know maybe his kids elementary school he’s he’s he’s really killing it out there you know maybe they’re a Powerhouse yeah it’s it’s the damaa high of uh of third grades but yeah I just I don’t think he’s the kind of big name um that that Tom goris tends to go for in my opinion yeah I thought we might have some more established news on on the Pistons head coaching search by the time we recorded this week but it just never came to fruition you know the Pistons have made a couple executive hires uh Michael blackstones their vice president of basketball operations under langon and Lon brought in another staff member who previously was with the Pistons but that was quite some time ago and I don’t have name uh on the top of my head right now but he’s starting to fill out his staff we don’t know for sure on the coaching search you know he’s either Ben or is meeting with Williams and the coaching staff at this point in time don’t know if we’re going to get an official word and when on their Futures but based off the past few weeks it’ll probably be shortly after we finish recording this podcast or shortly after uh this podcast is released out online jaser I’m I’m all good on this show I think we covered a lot in a decent span of time I don’t have anything else to add I think I’m just kind of in a waitand see point on on really what the Pistons do with the coaching search I’d have to hope that by this point next week we know more on that I think we will I think that langon is doing the responsible thing and building his organization from the top down and I think you have to have regardless of what you do with Monty Williams um you can’t really do a full coaching search if you don’t have the guys above him in place to conduct that coaching search so to me it makes sense would I like to see something a little quicker of course but like there is just a natural process of how things go so I’m not surprised that they haven’t made a decision on Monty Williams like I said last week wouldn’t be surprised to see him go would not be surprised to see him stay I just think there’s a timing issue I think there’s a definitely a money issue there as well even though Tom goris said the the the checkbook is open um so yeah I I just I think at this point like I wouldn’t be surprised to see something in more concrete by next week or like you said by the time we finish the zoom podcast so uh I don’t really have anything else for you Aaron but uh I definitely think there is there’s going to be more to talk about next week it’s it’s coming all right well before we go want to give a quick word to all of the different places that you can connect with Palace of pistons on first and foremost wherever you’re listening to this show from or watching this show from Hit the Subscribe button hit the follow button leave us a like tell us what you 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that’s a lot of plugs but we appreciate the support as always for myself Aaron Johnson and my co-host Jasper abalonia thanks so much for listening to this week’s edition of The Palace Pistons podcast brought to you by believe make sure to use bet online on our promo code believe bav for a 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit that’s going to do it for this week’s show we will see you guys next week [Music] material Witness underated

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On this week’s edition of the Palace of Pistons Podcast, Aaron Johnson and Jasper Apollonia are back to discuss all the latest surrounding the Detroit Pistons. First, the guys talk about the Pistons trading up in the 2024 NBA Draft. Does it make sense for them to move up for a specific player, or trade down to target a player later in the first round? Then, the guys talk about a number of free agents the Pistons are expected to pursue in free agency later this summer, including Malik Monk, Nicolas Claxton, and Gary Harris.

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*I do not own the NBA or college basketball footage used in this video. Its use is intended for the purposes of commentary only, under the guidelines of fair usage.*