Detroit Pistons Pre-Draft Preview
yes ladies and gentlemen welcome to another episode of East Meets West this is another special episode brought to you by conrado pasc opin MJ the Detroit Pistons pre-draft preview ladies and gentlemen and uh the one you the one you all want and need yeah cuz gonna get real real real fast because this is an epic draft class it’s an EP it’s a it’s a it’s a ass draft class yeah in my opinion only because there’s no generational star yet we don’t know if there’s a Giannis we don’t know if there’s a Donovan we don’t know if there is a Greg Monroe we don’t know if there’s a Tyrese Halbert and who else was drafted late that’s that’s like nice now we don’t know there Jimmy Butler oo that’s late late I mean you know Clay Kawai right clay was what 11 Ka was like what 15 he was outside of the lottery I think yeah I think or was he I mean I think so I think all that’s to say is there is a lot of question marks with this draft class I think uh everyone you know for everyone who’s joining us if you kind of start to do your homework on this draft there’s a lot of uncertainty right I I think there could potentially be a lot of volatility in this draft class A lot of high variance you know like the best like you just said the best player in this draft class could end up being like the 28th pick right and the first overall pick could very well be out of the league in a year or two you know what I’m saying like it is there seems to be less um certainty let’s just say certainty at least with the regards to the floor the floors of some of these players okay you know um but like let’s just start off like for example just to preface I mean I I feel like that’s that’s pessimistic already to start off the bat but like Michael who are some of your favorite uh draft picks in Detroit Pistons history all full history I mean just yeah it doesn’t have to be like the best just some of that your favorite draft picks there man the whole buildup to the Bad Boys Isaiah and Joe even though I wasn’t born yet so let me Grant Hill um I to be fair I actually pulled up a list to remind myself there you go yes yes who else did we draft that was worth a damn um uh I I mean they might be the favorites I mean I liked uh I liked Chris Middleton where he was here and I like spencor in with it because at the time we needed a point guard you know what I mean um but that was value right there I mean he was a second round pick yeah right those injuries if I recall the injuries he sustained his senior year at Colorado kind of like you know tanked his draft stock a little bit which made him kind of like a value pick if you think about it yeah anyway injuries and um impatience on behalf of the the Pistons organization so yeah yeah so having said that I don’t think you’re going to find anyone like that yeah in this j class yeah not at all but you don’t you don’t think any of them like will be the next halberton Fox Mitchell like none of them have that type of upside some of them do okay some of them do but again right it’s like I said um it’s it’s just the uncertainty with the floor you know seems like a lot a lot of these players seem to be like their success is very dependent on the situation that that they’re brought into that they’re drafted into yeah right um so I mean it’s difficult to say it’s difficult to say but having said that I mean like I’ve said it before in like our previous episode um I think like our draft lottery reaction episode yeah uh I’m not high on this draft for the same reasons you said I I don’t think there’s going to be some kind of generational Superstar right but even though I joke about this draft and I cover the draft there still is a considerable amount of talent I I do believe that you can get like some either like high-end starters you know like some solid solid really starters um and yeah sure a couple of these guys may or may you know may may be like an All-Star at some point in their career but I mean you know um there’s definitely guys to to round out some f franchise changing Talent you could make an argument and that’s the thing right I guess it depends how you you view the current Detroit Pistons roster core but I mean like if you are a believer in Cade if you’re a believer in Duran or or Ivy or assar then in this case right like it’s not as crucial like oh my God right we we need to nail this right like you just need to find yeah right even just finding a complimentary piece is you could say is is a success so well I think my problem is as a Pistons fan being here watching this just horrendous that we I don’t know I’m like kind of overwhelmed with uh hoping like a young Talent comes in from the from the rookie class and has an impact and grows and because we’ve been doing that over and over and over and over for years you know what I mean so I’m kind of like I won’t even say overwhelmed I’m underwhelmed especially that this class doesn’t have a clearcut like oh yeah the top 15 20 players are that deal so you need to draft somebody like I just kind of don’t really give a damn who we draft if if it’s not Matas but like I I like Matas because he he is something we don’t have whereas the other players you know what I mean we kind of got the dunkers we got the we got Cade there is no Kade in this drive by the way we got a ivy we got a Duran who I don’t think is in this draft um we gotta you know what I mean we have most of what we would be looking at you know what I mean Matas is the only one that stands out to me and that’s because he just has a different Dynamic he kind of if if there’s anybody that gives me some kind of feel Matas gives me uh more athletic Chad Homen type of feel and that’s kind of biased because he’s one of the few that I did pay attention to and and kind of you know check up on what what the noise is about and then uh Al also dton like how do you say his name I’ve been saying neck it’s connect conect connect okay I’ve been saying neck my bad dton but I paid attention to dton to uh as far as somebody that I would Target for the Pistons because he could come in and fit immediately because of his like what he does on the floor like it doesn’t look like like it’s all rooted in just one style of play either transition or he’s dominating the ball or something like that I think he would be like basically you know a a three-point shooter he could get to the hole play a little defense here and there and just continue to progress you know what I mean he’s a project that I would work on but right everybody else got to prove it to me you know what I mean see here’s the thing but here’s the thing yeah right so okay the Pistons I think all fans know you guys are selecting fifth overall yeah right um You say you like Matas right I mean personally and I I know I’m in the minority here I have him actually I have him number one on my big board like if I’m just ranking you not a mock draft I do I do you should be so I mean right I I think there is a strong case to be made again people will say well Conrad again right just a lot of volatility I’ll take it I’m going to roll a bit because like I said there’s a unique skill set that the other guys don’t have but regardless um you know now you’re starting to hear all these rumors come in and some of it can be smoke screens but there seem to be a number of media Outlets that are kind of now circling in on at the very least the top four and in some no particular order it sounds like Alex SAR um Donovan kingan right Reed Shepard and possibly Stefon Castle or Zachary vishe right the French Wing are going to go in the top four what all that’s to say is if Matas is your target it sounds like he’s gonna be a it’s looking like he’ll be available mat is projected looking at this ESPN he’s projected for us because they have the H yes yeah they have the Hawks taking s they got the Wizards taking Zack rockets taking Reed Spurs taking castle and us taking Matas so I mean please what I was gonna say what I was gonna say earlier was because they it’s interesting that you bring up both Matas and Dalton because I was gonna say like okay um obviously it’s hard to get into like we can’t just like get into trajan Landon’s head yeah you know and and figure out what he wants to do and even like you know before we got on on air here I was looking at uh langdon’s past work you know when he was um assistant GM uh with the Nets and then the GM of the Pelicans I mean he definitely has an arch type that he likes I’ll go ahead and fast forward Matas definitely is the type of arch type that he likes to Target but he also you know it depends where those teams were right like when he was the Nets he could afford to get a more raw Prospect because when he took over that’s when they were completely rebuilding right so he went like he he took the injury risk with Carris Levert you know and uh who else did he get like when he was over there I mean that was one of the bigger ones uh they traded for DWI you know tra for DLo did he drive Jared Allen he did okay you did okay right and then with the Pelicans right Naji Marshall Dyson Daniels Troy Murphy right no Trey Murphy Troy Murphy was yeah yeah right so what I’m saying is like he definitely has an arch type long rangy Wing player you right yeah two-way ability but in withs to where they are in their development it seems like it’s kind of very depending on where that respective team was right in this case I don’t know I feel like Matas actually meets both of those potential you know like preferences like yeah of course he needs development but what he already does well would really complement Cade and even Ivy to a certain extent really well and vice versa I I feel like there is like this really great inverse relationship here with them right like they would actually literally yeah maximize each other yeah whereas everybody else and and not not including uh connect on that and and that everybody else but besides those two everybody else is just like the same of what we already have you know what I mean so I’m not really I mean well I like what I just seen from from Stefan Castle too that defense yeah but I mean we have our we have our SAR already you know what I mean so it’s just like no but this is different it’s tough it is you think think so I believe I’m a big believer in Stefon Castle’s defense right like like I I think he is as throwback of a point of attack Defender as it gets right especially on on guards you know like and again right look how many great point guards there are in the league you know whether it’s uh help me out here Luca Tyrese hurn you know uh I’m I’m obviously missing a few you know Trey young even a 36y old Steph Curry you know yeah people are desperate to find guys that can like just slow these I slow him down Castle can do that um question marks on his offense with regards to his his shooting you know uh but so that’s what put him in our Spurs well no no I mean yeah it would if if his shooting doesn’t develop it would be difficult to play him like at least immediately it’ be difficult to play him extend minutes along guys like yeah like like AAR you know if you know now now both like your guard and your wing are kind of non- shooting threat you know from from outside yeah um but there is Merit to that well you know I think um but the see the the the rumor is the Spurs are really I think they want to double down on uh Wing defense backourt defense they seem to be really interested in Castle and uh Devin Carter um I hope so I hope so like if we if we jump back well because that’s who the Spurs are actually projected is is Stefon Castle but if we jump back to Matas for a second who ahead of the Pistons needs them like do the Hawks really need them doesn’t that take away from that’s what I’m saying you know what I mean do the Hawks need them no do the Wizards need them I mean maybe it depends on what they decide to do with their team if they let K walk they let Jordan P go he could go inh at that team the Rockets don’t need him the Spurs with wmy don’t really need them I mean they could do it you know what I mean it just makes them like a really long team but there’s like two younger prospects kind of running the show together or do they really want like a point guard like they’ve been saying you know what I mean so Castle was that guy that’s why I’m saying like I do normally I kind of you know roll my eyes at some of like these rumors around you know the like the days leading up to the draft because again right it’s a lot of smoke screens there’s some kind of agenda but some of these do seem very like realistic there’s rumor today that like the Spurs could actually be looking instead to trade up right right to Target either kingan or alexar and create like a that’d be kind of funny I I think it’d be kind of cool to get SAR I’m not I’m not high on SAR but I do think it’d be kind of cool to pair SAR and wanyama together yeah the French Twin Towers yeah you know what I’m sayen yeah you know I mean and that might be uh lame really he might feel like but if you looking at all these teams around you I mean the Rockets the Rockets if they do draft it seems like they would take Reed Shepard but they don’t it seems like they don’t have any desire to make a draft pick I think they want to flip it you know for like a veteran player so all this is to say is that like I think it is working out like I I feel like the pro like the prospects I like for the Pistons I don’t see any of these teams targeting them barring some trade right like unless they’re trading down or or something or someone’s trading ahead of you guys yeah you know uh well but yeah I mean like connect connect’s gonna go high too and that’s what I’m saying I think there it that’s why if you have to put yourself in tring Landon’s like you’re you’re in his position that’s what we’re saying like Matas even though some people say he’s just very raw and because of that like there’s just so much uncertainty right it’s such a high variance player okay I understand that I don’t really believe he’s that raw like I I don’t think he’s like devoid of basketball IQ or instincts if anything I think he’s actually a very instinctual player which is why right like even though he has like all these skills he’s trying to put together like his natural basketball instincts his feel for the game that leads me to believe that he will be successful and they’ll all translate at the next level um but if yes if you’re looking for like the most NBA Ready Player yeah I don’t think of the guys getting drafted that high it would have to be connect it would have to be connect yeah that and that’s why been on like there’s this there’s this perception that I don’t necessarily agree with this idea that because he is a senior he has a limited ceiling so he has a floor but a limited ceiling I don’t see that no I don’t see that I I can understand the questions about his you know defensive potential at the NBA level or lack thereof of defensive potential I can understand that criticism yeah but you know I I mean I’m I’m high on him because of the same reason because I’ve been high on players that have years in college that that lets me know it’s a level of discipline that’s you have is understanding that you have to fit in you you came in as a freshman you watched the different like classes go out and you let it become you you know what I mean so you are able to understand order as opposed to being a high school like Phenom going to a team and then all of a sudden you’re like a big focal point so you’re GNA go into the NBA with an ego and you’re not going to be ready to just be the acean on the team or the you know what I mean have to work yourself up to the starting or if you’re starting not getting the ball you know what I mean at the the way that you were getting it in college he’s got the discipline he’s got the groundwork like because you’ve been in college for so long like I’m very high on players that do three and four years in college because that lets me know you will be disciplined enough um You probably have a high IQ a high basketball IQ for sure and she does exactly and I mean that’s usually what type of players kind of if if uh if they kind of lack it a little bit they kind of acquire it going three and four years you know what I mean so it’s like I don’t know why people are so big on that like oh well he’s a senior no he’s like how old is he like 22 or something like that 23 23 or at least 23 by the time the season starts oh he’s too old or old like is he come on man like no he’s not so I just feel like those players are uh often underrated and overlooked for that single very reason because everybody I don’t know what happened maybe it was the Kobe kg uh Amari LeBron Dwight Howard phase of the NBA where all of them came from high school all of them were great you know what I mean except like you know we had a few little misses here and there but a lot of them came straight out of high school and I don’t know if that thing kind of changed everything especially with LeBron still being uh like in the NBA now and then yeah Kobe being like like the soul of the NBA to some extent like he he’s he’s still getting through people you know what I mean like it’s it’s still some some Kobe’s blood is within the the bloodline of the NBA especially with the youth too so I don’t know if it’s because they look back to him and be like oh he came from high school you know what I mean so everybody’s looking like oh well the earlier you get out okay well the earlier you get out but what if you’re kawi Leonard what if you are Jimmy Butler what if you are I don’t know one of the other players that just okay you got drafted when you got drafted but you still weren’t ready for a season or three really you know what I mean so it takes time for some players to come and make an actual impact meanwhile you have people like uh yam yakz who comes in and he’s he’s oh my phone he’s immediately making an impact and how many years of college did he go three at least four or five right four four you know what I mean no I think it’s four I think it’s all four yeah so it’s just like what do you want you know what I mean like you want a one-year player that’s not he’s not a John Moran he’s not a uh Zion Will Williamson uh I mean hell to some extent we could say RJ Barrett probably would have been better served with another year cam reddish probably would have been better served by playing three four years you know what I mean but people are so high on being impatient and getting these players to the next level quickly just because they show something in the college ranks but college is not the NBA you playing LeBron with super grown man strength he got for real Uncle strength you know what I mean like your uncle about to come he been in the gym but they tell they say he’s still physically 18 but he 39 he’ll you up and you won’t know what to do and then soon as Chad hongren steps on his foot his whole body just he out for a season you know what I mean so it’s like it’s levels to this and a lot of people Overlook the actual levels because they let the hype carry them past what actually matters like you want these players to to be able to actually apply okay they say the best thing about or or it’s all about fit so instead of rushing you to the league how how about you actually make yourself such a better player by staying in college a little longer it could be two years it could be three years you stay you stay in college a little bit longer you get a little bit better and or or a lot better and you make it where you can apply yourself to any situation whatever is called on from you as opposed to having to learn it in the NBA on the Fly and instead of you learning it in college being able to go through the trial and error and then the improvement over the Summers on the college level so you can carry over that type of ability to know how you have to go about working on that type of stuff in the NBA as opposed to oh one year all right I’m here oh damn I’m messing this up every year because it’s some stuff I should have picked up along the way but I leapfrogged so now I got to do the homework that I should have did you know what I mean it’s just right like I could put it on I could put it in those type of terms but people have to let go of that like nothing’s wrong if if somebody went to college if you go if two people go to college and one person is like super excelling at something but didn’t get beyond the curriculum versus the another person who went one year but the one other person went and jumped straight to Google or whatever job like a top job at Google but the person with four years with all of that that much more education and understanding about something jumped to the same company who would you think would have the ability to if I said here you gonna inherit this High role you gonna think the oneye player or the four-year and then then we could have the then we could have the what argument though because they’ll they’ll bring that in oh but they have the experience now one year in college and then the three years of the already having a role here but as opposed to the fouryear in college but he has no but guess what when some stuff fall apart that three years of extra actual knowledge outside of the experience they will have the tools to be able to work through that stuff just is is good if not better you know what I mean less trial and error yeah I know I’m a tangent but no no I mean because Tim Duncan came from that Dwayne Wade came from that um you know what I mean it they they were great it’s funny what you said earlier was that people are impatient and you want some guy to step in ASAP well then right wouldn’t it wouldn’t you think then that the player who’s been in college for maybe four years yeah who is actually physically more mature is ready to step onto an NBA court and hold hold his own right um that would be yeah like that’s what I’m saying if we are like because I feel like some I mean connect will go in Lottery how high that’s to be determined yeah but for the people that are like you know saying like oh a team like the Pistons like why why would you take connect you know low ceiling and everything like that um you know not a lot of potential doesn’t really scream athleticism it’s like dude we got Sone fanto I mean and he’s fine right no no but I mean again right but there’s a difference between getting fonio right who I believe wasn’t even drafted right but and you know choosing guy like dton connect but I guess what I’m trying to say is like you know what you were saying is like why why is there now like such a big disparity between uh people who who either you either really respect a more matured and developed both physically and mentally player or just absolutely craving you know uh that young like raw Prospect right um and that’s what I’m saying like uh it it is odd because that now like so many people become dismissive and like you said look look how many of these upper classmen you fall in love with them because they do succeed Hae hwz right Kyle Anders right exactly um yeah I mean but to be fair um like upper upper classman MH that I would consider for specifically for the Pistons um at at five you know barring any tradeback like I I probably because like we said I do like Matas more yeah uh but to be fair there so I again that’s it seems like you and I are in agreeing with that but there are some other prospects who I think are worth mentioning and we should mention here you know because again maybe they trade back like even if like for example let’s say I don’t know the Grizzlies are trying to trade up potentially I I think to Target Donan Clingan let’s say kingan happens to fall to five Pistons don’t want him the Grizzlies have the ninth pick right obviously tring Landon they’re prepared are all those scenarios right yeah trade up trade down down so let me ask you something do you like Jaylen Williams OKC Santa Clara jayen Williams I love Jaylen Williams yes did you are you aware that he has a brother sort of yes Williams from playing 2K yes okay there you go Cody Williams Colorado right I would not say that just because they’re Brothers their games aren I clearly like identical identical but a lot of you know similarities you know kind of I’d say I mean I think people like to say jayen will is like a a Swingman a two3 yeah I suppose Cody is also however I think Cody could play more like three4 you know yeah kind like a stretch four yeah big four you know yeah um however big four is not as good of a rebounder as Jaylen kind of weird but we out of this right very talented Wing player uh excellent creating off the dribble uh pretty versatile Defender right uh I would not me personally I wouldn’t pick him at five however I think he could go like well six you know okay he’s definitely I think he definitely top 10 um he’s definitely one that I think probably I would assume Landon looked at very closely um I think before we got on on air you mentioned you had a little um Ron Holland some Ron Holland tape piqued your interest yeah yeah so Ron Holland people who are not aware he was Matas bis’s teammate on the G League ignite um he’s an interesting Prospect depending who you ask he should be going in the top three or closer to the like the 20 to 25 range right I think he’s ultimately going to be somewhere in the teens yeah right so that’s what I’m saying right like I would still pick balis over him but you said earlier like you you look at some of these other prospects after Matas you don’t think they have any other skill set that the Pistons don’t already I would disagree I’d think Ron Holland okay definitely has a skill set that the Pistons don’t have um this is a big comparison so I’ll own it if I look dumb you know like down the road uh I think he has a lot of Andre Iguodala in him I do think that high wow I do um his stock fell I I think all the members this year because of the collective failure of the g-league ignite the all their draft stocks took a hit now balis decided to go about it and just like hey man I could bust your ass one-on-one he did right I don’t know if you saw he literally he even called out the other draft prospects right like I will play you oneon-one in front of the scouts right let’s see right so has The Moxy how do I not see this is is this he actually the guy yeah yeah but I don’t think they actually I’m not sure if they actually did play one-on-one he chenged him you know then the other guy so actually he challenged Zachary rishes because he got so offended that Rish was climbing up like the draft boards above him and he’s like what because right I mean you know they’re kind of compared yeah um but Holland Holland is I I think he’s a very high IQ uh maybe like a point forward so then raises the argument like well how effective would he be on offense point forward if the ball’s on his hands and again why does his draft stock take a hit inconsistent shooter and I’m being very nice about that um the jumper needs a lot of work okay but I mean got a shooting coach we got a shooting coach now so let’s see you know you and I love defense he can D up yeah and he is he’s versatile he’s vers so I mean like there is again there is a case to be made that he should be in consideration for Detroit again I don’t think at five yeah but I mean if they trade it down to say like 9 10 range or even like 12 13 right yeah I think um he could be and the guy that we talked about the guy that um Matas called out out Rish I think uh his film interest you too right yeah a little bit I mean again it really depends I’m not I’m not I’m not that high on him me personally I’m not that high on him because I I just don’t see you saw what did you see you probably saw the same clips that we’ve seen or right yeah so amazing right some great defensive possession right defense and uh oh you are frozen in space sir you are frozen in space ladies and gentlemen he is frozen let’s see if he makes it back oh okay his internet dropped off ladies and gentlemen give him a moment to get back but I do want to know Pistons fans like what are you guys thinking about this draft cuz I’m not really high on this draft this year we’ve been going through the the building of players over the last how long now and it’s it’s hard for me to actually get interested in a draft pick like we got what we wanted in Kade we wanted Ivy we like that we got Duran we like that we got AAR actually after we seen what he was doing so it’s like now I just want to see results from what we already did instead of getting excited about a draft I’m not I’m I’m it’s tough for me to like really be excited knowing that we need results right now so I don’t know I’m kind of results based but I am big on Matas and Dalton I I love both of them uh I like Castle as well too on defense because I’m I’m not opposed to any defense whatsoever like defense wins championships so we put the defense together um we will get there one way or another and um I don’t know who we look to acquire I don’t know if like okay it was said that OG anobi today is um going to be a free agent he turned down he declined his option so do we end up like being able to throw money at him or is he just trying to get what bag he know he’s old or that he can get right now at this time so it might be that he’s looking for that money he’s looking for that security he’s looking for that extension so or I won’t even say extension he’s looking for more years than what an extension could give him so um they have his bird rights because they uh traded for him so they more than likely should be able to they more than likely should be able to welcome back I I’ll finish my part but they more than likely should be able to give OG the money in New York that uh yeah I’m just throwing letting the fans know like the reason I haven’t been excited as a piston fan about this draft specifically is because we’ve been trying to yield results from draft picks and we see the result this past season’s results so I was fast forward into OG not picking up uh his option wanting the extension can the Pistons and Tyce him I was gonna move on to the Paul georgees and you know Klay Thompson of the world but just that we need an impact player immediately but that I was interested in Montas castle and uh and connect so yeah but you can pick up you could pick up where you left off because you had fro you was like you did the damn you did the mannequin Challenge from I know I know thank you for uh thanks for letting the audience know I know I was in my rade bag so like I mean I it probably won’t matter because he’s probably going to be selected before like the the Pistons are on the clock but I mean if for whatever reason he’s available okay see okay if he’s available at five I just I know you have like Alpha ball handlers right you have um you have Cade you have ivy for the time being and we’ll get into that discussion again later because I’m not well yeah I I don’t know I don’t know about iy’s future with the team but we’ll we’ll see but all I’m saying is um got so much family D got so much history here I don’t want him to leave like at least he suited up Rish is he’s he’s the quintessential like off ball wing and what I’m trying to say is like there’s a a lack of shot creation and that might not be a bad thing but if there are other options available like Matas and I mean even connect right yeah right I mean I don’t know I I me personally I would prefer the guys that actually can create their own shot you know can kind of playmake off the dribble he’s like you said all his all his highlights are of him finishing right like in transition or being fed cutting right you rarely ever see him pull up I mean he has you know a couple here and there you know when when the defense like you know it’s kind of bearing down or you know the shot clock’s dwindling but I don’t know like and I’m not really I’m not really sold on his potential to do that but having said that any of those guys that fall down like if for some reason say like Castle is still on the board or Rish is still on the board or kingan is still on the board at five then I feel like that’s a scenario where the Pistons are going to trade down like they’re going to move back you know because there are a lot of other teams that are interested in klling in and rishe and and Castle not that you guys shouldn’t either but I’m just saying right like if you still like Matas you may be able to move to three spots and get him or whomever right connect Matas Holland Etc yeah you know um so we’ll see we’ll see I mean but for the most part like it it just it doesn’t seem at least for you and I like us talking it doesn’t seem like any of those prospects that are currently ranked ahead of Matas or at least mocked ahead of Matas yeah I don’t really think they have a place on the Pistons anyway they don’t this is like going back you know like on our um after the the draft lottery I mean now that you’re actually seeing the draft boards kind of come together yeah it’s like five isn’t so bad like we said right you didn’t miss out on wanyama you didn’t miss out on Zion or anything like that yeah so I mean we’ll see but when I rejoined you it’s actually I kind of like what you were talking about you kind of jumped a little head and we’ll do a free agency preview right and again thank you uh Pistons fans for letting me uh you know kind of enjoy on your or enjoy you know um partake in your offseason but I do represent my Warriors as well so we’ll all do we’ll do a pistons and a Warriors free agency preview yeah but I still think that whatever you guys do on Wednesday like or whatever you’re planning to do or going to attempt to do on June 30 when free agency starts yeah it does not affect oh is is the 30 not affect it’s like whatever like the evening of the sixth when they can officially sign that’s what it is but the 30th is start negotiations right I’m saying though yeah yeah like the what is it okay the tampering period what do they call it I can’t remember what it’s called now yeah you know the the negotiation the moratorium right yeah there you go but anyway yeah I just I don’t think that any of your free agency designs has any impact you know yeah like on on what they do in the draft like I I mean you know like if if you were like an actual like Contender maybe right maybe it could kind of affect like okay well we already know we’re getting this guy you know like he’s already kind of like a wink wink deal he’ll come sign so we should probably Target this position I don’t think you’re really there yet right and frankly like I know we’ve talked about before like there are a lot of guys guys that play very admirably on this current roster but I think there’s a lot of guys on this current roster that won’t be on the opening day roster you know so that’s true I mean you know I mean you know I mean I’ve said it time and again as it stands right now as it stands right now the only three I would be really determined to keep arcade Duren and assar sorry Ivy I mean I would keep them but like if you know there’s a good off offer like I more willing to part with him I mean so I mean frankly it depends too like how desperate some teams get we’ll wrap this up but I mean like just think about it too right yeah you’ve probably like said F this draft class you’ve kind of already taken a peak I know you’ve definitely seen on Twitter right the Cooper flag Duke workout videos yeah right the scage videos right everyone’s salivating everyone’s like hey right like that’s why like like for example my Warriors fine why was I so happy that the Warriors draft this year went to Portland right because it was it was top 10 protected I believe right so the only way the Warriors kept it was if after the lottery it landed in the top 10 it didn’t it went to Portland why because if it didn’t convey this year then it has to convey next year and while I do believe the Warriors are going to be aggressive in the off in free agency and you know to be competitive let’s just say it all goes to hell it all goes to [ __ ] right then we have our draft pick next year and at least we have a shot at guys like Cooper flag yeah you know in a much deeper draft class right there’s like I don’t know couple other prospects that are you know projected to be potential franchise building blocks so hey right and that’s what I’m saying I think the Pistons are positioned you know like I think you’re going to make a selection but I also think like it’s very feas like it is it is possible that they could trade so far back right like we’ll go from five to like 20 something but then that team right is going to give you like their next year’s pick you know you see what I’m saying there could be picks like that or traes like that you know available same could be the Utah Jazz giving us uh Lori marinan and they can have they can have the fifth pick and potentially a player because that’s what’s gonna make it work goad Ahad what I will say though right there oh no no no no I’m saying now that you’re because it’s not free agency but it can be draft related you can trade players with draft you know what I’m saying right like oh I will say for example I will trade you know your your your mempis okay there’s there’s that rumor right Memphis there’s a rumor going around that Memphis at nine is willing to trade their ninth overall pick and Marcus Smart to Houston for the number three overall pick right dra like trades like that are like so there was one being floated around like would you basically like like eat up Tim Hardway Jr’s salary to move up a couple spots in the second round if I the Pistons yes no I mean would it be my first choice no but I think what Langan did say at his press conference right is like yeah they don’t want to just be a destination for expiring contracts right like they will take on unwanted money but like of guys that can actually play right right that’s what I’m saying right like you know and again it’s not just oh my God are they going to completely transform the team no but are you going to help expedite accelerate the development of Cade Ivy Duran you know like those are the types of Trades I could I I could see the Pistons man not you know yeah and I’ll trade I I would trade for thj I mean it if if you’re basically like giving up nothing like tangible yeah like what is matter right I mean yeah swapping out second round picks I don’t know man yeah I take like Monopoly money to me especially if he just needs uh to be reinvigorated like what’s that just confidence from a coach a organization and then you then you’ll have a shooting coach over here who might give you a tidbit or two that just re uh reawakens you you know what I mean and I have a tendency to also believe some players just don’t mesh well with Luca and then you got Kyrie over there too and they dominate so much of the ball because it’s like since Kyrie came over thj isn’t the same unless it’s just one of them on the floor you know what I mean so right you need he needs a certain a certain amount of touches to have a to maintain a certain type of Rhythm you know what I mean so he might can get that here because with what shooter I mean k can make some uh uh spot up shots but in a lot of you know stuff getting to the mid-range area but outside of him like we don’t have a just flat out oh you need to go stay out there and keep your defense honest because he can shoot shooter we don’t have that so Tim Hardway come over here he’ll probably become the primary like outside of fono like he we’ll look at him like oh he can shoot especially if we if we sign like Joe Harris and stuff like that I don’t see why we couldn’t give an expiring Tim Hardway at that you know what I mean to maintain cap flexibility going forward so yeah I mean this is going to be interesting too because like I said um and again not not to throw sh throw shade at Troy Weaver yeah you know just to kind of end this with in my opinion optimism and again I’m not saying Troy Weaver was completely incompetent or that’s not where I’m going with this comparison but Weaver has always seemed even when he was with OKC and this Pistons tenure like even the guys he traded for he he’s always getting like athletes yeah right yeah likes like strong athletic players right like you know like even if they’re a ball of clay which is why like he’ll take a shot on like again trading for Marvin Bagley you know trading for wisman you know etc etc uh Langan seems to like toolsy players yeah right so it like of course he likes athleticism but he doesn’t seem to prioritize it right yeah um which could be a good thing yeah right I mean you you want I always say like when it comes to the combine like okay it’s cool I’m watching it wow look at that vertical but I don’t want a guy I’m not drafting a guy like right like I don’t need an athlete I need a basketball player right right like again I’m sure right if we sit down we can name a bunch of like former like first round prospects that were drafted because of their athletic talents and it never materialized into anything beyond like athleticism you jump like you’re a jumper like that that’s it you’re a leaper yeah you know and that’s what I’m saying like I like even though again I’m not saying I don’t believe there is like some franchise altering talent I do like the options here because I think it could definitely you know strengthen the young core that you already have yeah especially like you said he’s toolsy so yeah we have we got who’s toolsy um and then we have a gang of athletes and then the league isn’t really mired in athleticism because we have the MBI to a certain extent um the the Lucas the uh Jokers you know what I mean so it’s not you know that you have to be the most athletic it’s it’s just not unless you’re Giannis if you’re Giannis athletic well that’s different you got his skills but I mean like you’ll see the guy like there’s I know what you mean there’s there’s athleticism okay there’s just sheer athleticism raw athleticism and then there’s functional athleticism yeah you know like if you can’t leverage your athleticism in a live game situation what good is it true Zack Leen can Harrison Barnes never could right you see what I’m saying yeah like we know you can top the charts on every like drill at the combine but like what you you you know you’re not doing anything with it in a game right you know that’s what I’m saying like I feel like langon has a good you know eye for guys who know how to really apply those things so I’m I’m optimistic obviously right you want to go into this right and hold on on Wednesday perhaps we’ll have like a a live reaction video right after the Piston select kind of give like some initial thoughts but yeah I mean based on everything we just said for the first 50 minutes right it would be hard to imagine langon messing this up completely I I mean right B just based on how he spoke um I’m kind of optimistic because he’s not dead set on whatever it’s like everything’s on the table you know what I mean he’s not he’s not he doesn’t sound headstrong but in a sense that’s headstrong to me like allowing things kind of come as they come and then you seiz the opportunity or you seize the moment as opposed to oh we got to have this so you try to move mountains to force some stuff to happen and then what you force isn’t a fit I rather he kind of go about it the way he spoke of it so I’m kind of comfortable because that’s kind of where I’m at with the Pistons it’s like uh okay I’mma relax yeah I still love the team but y’all show something to me you know what I mean like let’s let’s see I’ve been patient with the develop I’ve been patient with um you know us being able to finally have the financial flexibility we have so now we got somebody who’s flexible mentally as far as the the vision for the team so let’s see if it all lines up all right yeah I mean all things considered I’m excited yeah I I’ll get excited once I see what happens if we get my TOS then I’ll celebrate we’ll say if we get connect then I’ll celebrate if we get castle I’ll be happy but everybody else I’ll be like all right so is he gonna get in Ivy’s way or is he gonna get in aar’s way oh how much of the ball does he need from Kade oh you know you know I’ll be one the funny thing is just one last thought just because you say that like uh of my peers that are also like draft um analysts draft writers yeah they all seem to agree that mat’s best chance of absolutely succeeding in the NBA is with the Pistons they truly believe that like it is even though they don’t have a coach I get it right it’s just the players already in house like those are the types of players that will get him at his best and vice versa that’s what I’m saying like it has to happen it has to happen I mean it’s we have the ball handler in K we have the slasher and Ivy we got assar who’s a slasher Defender you know what I mean got some handled transition we got Duran who is gonna continue to improve and he rim protector yeah yep we got Isaiah Stewart who’s like the to me the heart and dog of the team that I don’t know why the hell they’re thinking of trading them he’s gonna be no we need him here we need him here because Detroit needs a identity like whenever our teams succeed they have to have some type of dog in them and he has it you know what I mean like we get rid of him then there’s a level of intensity that goes right out the door with him you know what I mean and we won’t how do you recover that that’s rare unless our SAR starts like getting in people faces and you know what I mean like being that that type of player that’s carrying you know like his the dog in him like is it’s you don’t get those many players especially now nowadays where everybody like if they dunk on you they’ll they’ll stare you down and do all that but it’s not about to be Isaiah Stewart just up in your face just because you know what I mean like it’s not a lot of those players left so you know Drew Eubank is a free agent maybe you guys no then we’ll have fight they’ll be fighting the damn locker room no no no competitive rivalry no that that had a the fan base going crazy he’ be like go well yeah we was teammates yeah we we teammates now but I get to beat him down now so you said you wanted an identity there you go I’m joking I’m joking no I mean if they got along but they both brought that fire yeah I do I yeah they could go go boxing go Spar somewhere outside of the you know away from the team away have a beer or something man I mean yeah or do that but I just I feel like my Tois fit is that’s why I say him first is Matas uh or is it’s dton like it’s got to be one of the two outside of that it it I mean we’re looking at another okay well what is who minut is he gonna take what minut is he gonna get what how does he gonna fit I mean to be fair I can make a case for a lot of other prospects it’s just I think the ones that we highlighted better fitting ones I think are the best fits yeah and also I think there has been some talk about them being associated with the Pistons right so like like I’m not going to talk about like you know like Jonathan magbo who I like but I you know no understand on that note on that note yes let’s cross our fingers Detroit um and yeah by uh by this time on Wednesday yall will have uh a new Detroit Piston so yeah yeah so excuse us for the for the technical difficulties but yes enjoy the the as a matter of fact Pistons whoever be doing that prayer circle on Twitter please do a prayer circle for the Pistons for this draft uh Pistons draft prayer circle usually those things work I don’t know what magic y’all using but yeah so do that and we’ll holler at y’all Wednesday all right take care take care
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Detroit #Pistons 2024 Pre-Draft Preview
Featuring Conrado Pascual and Michael Tolliver Jr
