The Pistons fell from the No. 3 slot to No. 5 in the draft lottery. If Iowa’s Keegan Murray drops to that spot, the Pistons could take him, James Edwards III of The Athletic writes. The Hawkeyes forward is a player that intrigues Detroit.
As Edwards details, Arizona swingman Bennedict Mathurin is another player that has caught the Pistons’ attention and Kentucky’s Shaedon Sharpe, who didn’t play college basketball this past season, could slot in well next to Cade Cunningham in the backcourt.
We have more from the Central Division:
- It’s doubtful that the Pistons will trade out of the No. 5 spot, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com opines in his latest mailbag. Moving up from that spot would be costly and trading down or out of the lottery for an established player is unlikely for a team building around younger pieces. However, it’s conceivable they could add another lottery selection at No. 7 in a deal with Portland involving Jerami Grant.
- The Bulls hold the No. 18 pick and Sam Smith of Bulls.com takes a look at five wing players that might be available at that spot, including Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji and Ohio State’s Malaki Branham.
- Kyrie Irving admits his immaturity earlier in his career may have cost the Cavaliers additional titles, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Irving made his comments on an I Am Athlete episode. “If I was in the same maturity line and understanding of who I am, and I look back, we definitely, definitely would’ve won more championships, because there would’ve been a better man-to-man understanding about what I’m going through,” he said. “I didn’t know how to share my emotions. I didn’t know how to do that. So instead of sharing, I isolated myself.”
Kind of tired of hearing about Kyrie and his emotions, not gona lie…
Because Kyrie is SOOO much more mature now? Yeah. Right.
Those are some very mature comments if you ask me, maybe you should work on your own maturity or even stopping the hate… food for thought, right?
And he never, ever isolates himself anymore. I’m not even making a covid pun.
Every season he has significant mood swings and a sense of aloofness which impacts team chemistry. He’s even just left the team, leaving everyone wondering what’s going on with Kyrie?
He is the poster child for irresponsibility. And someone who thinks that merely by being “different” he is smarter and better than everyone else.
would love to see the Pistons pick up the 7th pick from Portland for Grant and grab both Murray (unless Ivey drops to 5) and Sharpe.
Ivey will fit with piston,but i think he will be at 4th.
The Nets messed up again. They should have developed their own players.
An NBA team should check the COVID vaccination status of any potential draft pick. Kyrie cost his team a championship this year ( James Harden left for some reason ). 99% of all NBA players took one for the team, but, not Kyrie! Always about Kyrie. Never about the team!
Does this trade work? I’m not sure who would say no… probably the pistons.
Pistons receive pick number 3
Rockets receive number 5 and 7
Trailblazers receive Grant
I say Rockets win b/c I see a top 2 and top 7, but since the draft’s reputation is of a top 4, maybe Cronin/Blazers agree to it.
I don’t think Rockets give up the 3 spot. They want one of those 3 big men.
Horrible trade for the Blazers. They’re not good. Why trade a top 10 pick for a barely above average player? That’s what Brooklyn did 10 years ago.
No player the Blazers draft at 7 is going to help them in the next 2 years get to the playoffs. Dame is already 30 and coming off a serious injury. There is no time to waste if you will keep him. That is why everyone sees then trading 7. Say what you want about Grant, he is an above average NBA player now and for the next 4 years.
You want a comparison to Grant Hill. Look at
Shaedon Sharpe, he is big like him. And athletic and can shoot. Hill obviously was NBA ready. This kid already has an NBA body. Gotta give him at least two yrs. He’s a big athletic wing who can score from anywhere. Ivey should be gone at 4. Pistons would be wise to roll dice on Sharpe.
Murray and Mathurin will help next yr. Either could be ROY. One of them will be there at 7. Portland is not trading this pick.
You think Murray amd Mathurin can help them get to the playoffs or win a series in the next 2 seasons over Grant?
Trade Dame. It’s over.
Yes it was awkward the way he suddenly wanted out, and boss Gilbert should not have snatched at the Izaya Thomas offer, but just stayed firm. Or worked with the Bucks or Spurs offers. Or traded that Nets #1 instead of saving it.
I suspect Irving would have been satisfied enough just starting the season late like he did in the 2015/16 title year.
Dukies and their snobbery.
Zion W and GM Griffin may be repeating a similar situation in NOLA.
Bulls need a few things this offseason.
1) Grabbing a hard nosed big man who can actually rebound and protect the paint. I think they should make a run at Biyombo who has shown he can still crash the boards and can set good screens and finish around the hoop.
2) They need 3 Point shooting and lots of it. Ayo was a nice story but we need a guy who can breakdown defenses and still hit the open shot. I’m leaning on someone like Kennedy Chandler if I am Eversely and AK. This team lacks explosive athletes (mainly at the guard position). Chandler can learn from Lonzo and be a good backup PG that can eventually fill in if Lonzo cannot be counted for next year.
As for the draft, I really am intrigued with Sam Smith’s article. Agbaji looked really nice during the NCAA Tournament but he’s a bit older. That’s alright though I think he can be in the mold of Cameron Johnson from PHX. 18th pick is usually a crapshoot but I think this team finally has emphasized on player development no matter if you are the first pick to the 30th pick. The last 10 players selected at 18th pick (reverse order): Tre Mann, Josh Green, Goga Bitadze, Lonnie Walker IV,T. J. Leaf, Henry Ellenson, Sam Dekker, Tyler Ennis, Shane Larkin and Terrance Jones. That’s a horrible list. Majority of those guys are already out of the league. I think personally they should trade this pick and get a veteran sharpshooter who can defend. I’m looking at Terrance Ross who would be much better than what he was last year and suits out team well rather than spend a draft pick on a young kid who could possibly flame out by 2025.
This team lacks size/athleticism/shooting/depth to contend for a legitimate shot for the East. It’s definitely going to be a busy offseason for AK and Marc Eversley though.
Portland trading the 7th pick for Jeremi Grant would be hilariously bad. That’s why they’re in this mess.
A few guys that they probably will look at trading the 7th pick for:
Harrison Barnes
Tobias Harris
Jerami Grant
Eric Gordon
Christian Wood
Pascal Siakam
Julius Randle
Gordon Heyward
It’s not a franchise changing player teamed up with Dame but then again the 7th pick overall rarely becomes a franchise player to begin with.
Doubt they could get Siakam for 7.
Still a pretty high pick, though. I’d be willing to move it in talks for some of those guys, but for someone like Grant I’d probably want something extra coming back since he’s only under contract for one year.
Wasn’t Dame the 7th pick?