The Pistons have a logjam and will need to make some moves to create roster space, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. They’re already at the 15-player limit for standard contracts and a decision on restricted free agent Hamidou Diallo is still looming. They also have only one two-way contract slot available and have yet to sign second-round draft picks Luka Garza and Balsa Koprivica.
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Bucks gave up two second-round picks in the Grayson Allen deal with the Grizzlies. The picks they’re giving up are owed to Milwaukee from previous deals, Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian tweets. The first of those picks will either the Pacers’ pick or the less favorable of Cavaliers’ or Jazz’s pick in 2024. The second will be conveyed in 2026, the highest of either the Pacers’ or Heat’s pick.
- Bulls second-rounder Ayo Dosunmu is off to a rough shooting start in the summer league, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes. He’s shooting 7-for-24 (29%) from the field through three games. “The advice I got was go out there and play hard,’’ said Dosunmu, the 38th overall selection. “Just try to learn something new each game. That’s the best way you’re going to get better.”
- The No. 3 overall pick, Evan Mobley, is showing the Cavaliers in summer league play how he can impact their offense in a number of ways, Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes. His passing ability, in particular, can diversify their attack. “He’s going to be an extremely integral piece for us throughout the season and his willingness to share the ball and then also be able to get his own shot when he wants it is extremely important,” Cavaliers summer league coach J.J. Outlaw said. “But as you can see his teammates trusted that he would deliver the ball on time, on target when they would cut and they just kept cutting.”
Mobley looks like a superstar in the making, I am so pumped to see him with our young core. And his stats do him zero justice in these 2 games they’ve played. He switches onto every guard and you they can’t get by him he is too long and fast. On offense he always keeps his head up to pass and has already hit a few jumpers off the dribble. This dude is 7 feet and it is evident he is going to be so deadly in the triple-threat for the decade to come. I know all of this was already know but I’m so giddy thinking about him on the Cavs!! Only thing though is he seems very uninterested on the defensive boards. But I guess we got Allen to cover up that weakness so we’re good.
Yeah, the fact he got absolutely worked, ajd sometimes just flat out embarrassed by Sengun would worry me a good bit.
If teams know they can just take him down low, and work him one on one, it could mean trouble keeping him in the final minutes of games, or he could find himself in foul trouble getting overly aggressive..
I’m not too worried about it, but it does seem like his one on one post defense could use some real work. As a help defender down low, he willnget his highlight blocks, but let’s not mistake that for being a solid defender..
Offensively, sky is the limit for this young man. If he even just improves one aspect of his game every offseason, he could be a real force for the Cavs. I see alot of Chris Bosh in his game, (Raptors Chris Bosh), and people forget he was a great top 15-20 player then..
I’m pretty why confused you and other people are saying he dominated Mobley…? If you watched the game you would know that that wasn’t the case at all. Both of their performances weren’t majorly influenced by one another.
Sengun shot only 3 of 10 from the field, 2 of those baskets Mobley wasn’t even on the floor, and the other one was a tip in that looked like went off of Kabengele. And of the 14 free throws he took only 6 were because of Mobley fouls (fouled sengun 3 fouls total, 2 of the shooting) and 2 of the free throws were because Mobley fouled him with 4 seconds to go in the fourth to extend the game. Sengun missed two if those free throws, thus, Mobley only gave up 4 points to him.
Then, of Sengun’s 4 blocks, 3 weren’t from blocking Mobley. Only one was on him but it was because it was a bad alley-oop pass that made him bobble the shot.
And while the rebounding numbers are concerning, they arent as concerning when you realize that Sengun missed and rebounded his own shots multiple times on two possessions (or more I cant remember). And it’s the summer league where teams shoot an incredibly low % and thus more rebounds.
So don’t worried about him cause he wasnt embarrassed at all haha. And his post defense could defined be improved if he gets stronger, but nobody has been able to really succeed down their on him because he is so long they cant get over him (Mobley blocked Sengun a couple times and its why sengun didnt make a basket on him successfully). But I’m glad you see the positives, he looks like he has got “it”. This message is long but I saw so many people saying sengun>mobley and in my head I’m like…seriously?? I had to set the record straight or whatever Lol
This was probably the longest, worst spelled, and unnecessary comment in the history of comments on this site…oh well
You have been describing a forward not a center. His matchup vs Sengun may not matter much even though he could be a 4 too. But low block matchups, who even does that, and hopefully Allen is on the court too, to make that offensive choice dicey.
I hope Mobley isn’t forced to the 5.
deja vu.
Between the Bulls going all in, Pistons with the top pick and the Cavs getting the final piece to their puzzle, not to mention the NBA champion Bucks, midwestern basketball just got interesting.
Pacers are still boring.
i see it. what’s the catchphrase gonna be?
Idk but Carlisle and Garza are meant to be in Indiana
been nice to see cook and garza playing together again.
I’ve been happy with what Mobley has shown this far. What I see as a plus im hoping isn’t viewed as a negative. He doesn’t have seem to have that “we’re going to win because of me ” in him that Jalen Green has. Instead, he reads what the opponent is giving him and exploits it. If they’re sagging the paint then he shoots the jumper. If a teammate is wide open or has an easy bucket avail, then he sets them up with a well- timed pass. He seems to be a high IQ guy. I hope that isn’t looked at as passive. A guy like Giannis will lower his head and drive to the basket regardless of the bodies in front of him. He knows he’s a beast and can get to the basket. I don’t think Evan is scared to impose his will and go to the paint but I think he knows he can easily hit an open 15-23 footer. Nothing wrong with that and I think that will help him play alongside Allen. He can see the entire floor working from 15ft out and can either make the smart pass, hit an item jumper and if able, he’s got the handles to drive to the basket for a dunk, a little hook or a higher % jump shot. he’s got a really good skill set. I hope ppl allow him to be who he needs to be and not try to force him to be something he might not be.
okoro looks great too. he seems to be developing nicely offensively with a good motor.
question, any other guys you think might have a shot to make the team? Bluiett and Hands looked like interesting prospects but I don’t know if they really need to use another young guard vs maybe a vet combo g/sf, especially if they might be better off getting more development in the G, if willing.
Hands has the upper hand (ha) imo. Looked poised these past couple games…but honestly there are so many players fighting for roster spots on other summer league rosters rn, I would take a look at them a little more closely before signing either bluiett or hands. Just my opinion
Mobley is a center. And if you can’t see that. Then you probably a casual fan. Duncan was a center. And if you didn’t know that. You are a casual fan.
Mobley has a chance to be best 2way center in NBA. At 19 his body hasn’t even peaked yet. Just give him his time to grow and figure out NBA. He’s not AD. AD grew up as a PG. his body shot up late.
I liked Ayo coming out. But he has looked confused at times. I think he can be a PG. He has good vision and instincts with the ball. But he needs help and development there. Hope Bulls do him right. He reminds me of Jamal Crawford.
There’s a very small line between a PF and a center. KG could be either. AD. Duncan was a PF alongside Robinson. No need to be smug about it. He can be either. However, ppl have very limited ideas of what a big is supposed to be and that’s half the problem.
Oh yeah cause Duncan and Mobley are totally comparable…I’m sure you havent seen Mobley play a summer league game yet because if you had you wouldn’t be calling people “casual fans” for stating he can be a 4. Tonight at 6, if he plays, you should watch it. He definitely shows he is more than capable of playing the 4.
Mobley is not a strict 5 bro