2022-23 Team Developments: News / Trades / Free Agents / Rumors

$25 million per year is the absolute max I'd go to for Trent.

 

I'm not sure I wanna give Thomas Bryant the MLE because I have a feeling his benefit is only if AD is injured. When AD is available he's playing 13-15 minutes a game and that's not worth the MLE. It'll be interesting seeing how he plays now that AD is gonna return and the introduction of Rui.

It's already been leaked that the team envisions Rui starting along side Lebron and AD so Bryant will have to be effective off the bench and he wasn't earlier when AD was available.

 

I've been thinking the same. Bryant has done an awesome job filling in for AD, but so long as AD is on the team we have to build the rest of the roster assuming he is the 5. The MLE probably needs to go to player that can be on the court with LeBron and AD.

 

Agreed, but I think his agent pushes for 25m at the minimum. Trent is a nice piece if we knew he would resign for something reasonable.

 

Bryant seems to work himself into the game. A lot of the time he is having an ok first half and then turns things up. Can he be effective at >20mins off the bench? Because we know Gabriel can be.

 

That's a fair take. On the other hand, if we ride AD we should invest in a good backup because we already know he will miss some time

 

I have my doubts but we will find out real soon.

That's a good point, but do we really wanna use one of our only assets (MLE) for a backup to AD. It might be better suited to go to a complimentary piece for Lebron and AD and acquire another big some other way or find a way to give Bryant less money. We'll see how they fit together soon enough.

 

Gary Harris chirp chirp

 

I think AD and Bryant have both only been available 12 times this season. They didn't play together in those games, we'll have to see what happens. You find a way to play guys that produce though. Curiously I couldn't find any lineups where two of our bigs have played together on Basketball Reference. Yet I seem to recall Gabriel playing with AD, and with Bryant this season.

 

Yeah they have never shared the court. Bryant has been strictly AD's back-up. Lebron has said he envisions himself out there with both of them but we'll see how Ham plays it.

 

Yeah it's a tough decision to make for sure. Really close to me, can't decide.

At the same time that we need to surround LeBron and AD with the best talent, it's probably as valuable to have a backup for him so we don't suffer too much when he's out in the regular season. Last year it killed us playing LeBron at center and Howard/Melo being amongst our most played guys.

I think it pays off in the regular season but then it hurts you in postseason.
Type of problems you have with a cheap owner

 

I'm looking forward to seeing some Lebron/Rui pick and roll action myself. We have some intriguing lineup possibilities moving forward.

 

feel free to make fun of me later, but i think shams is pushing the lakers on bogdanovic as a favor to detroit to up the bidding. other sources are already indicating that he might go for less than an unprotected 1st.

he's 34 and doesn't play defense. if detroit gets what they're supposedly asking, hats off to 'em. i don't see it.

 

I wouldn't count that out..if they get off of requiring a FRP. He fits better short term to me, his contract expires with Lebron's. He's the more efficient scorer of a group of Hield, Trent Jr and Rozier too.

 

i'm looking forward to seeing rui have three hofers to show him the ropes. he's talented and supposedly hard-working. he has limits, but guys with his general profile have had success. it's mental now. is he going find ways to complement our stars? if so, he could raise his value short- and long-term.

 

Following Woj in being the Pistons preferred leaker?