Our Favorite Prospects the Pistons could Draft with the 5th Pick | POP Podcast

On this week’s edition of the Palace of Pistons Podcast, Mike Anguilano, Aaron Johnson, and Jasper Apollonia are back to discuss the latest surrounding the Detroit Pistons. First, the guys react to the results of the NBA Draft Lottery – with Detroit falling all the way to 5th in the draft. Each of them shares who they would like Detroit to draft with the pick, if they keep it and do not trade it. The guys also discuss the latest update to the Pistons president of basketball operations search and if it would be wise for Detroit to wait on Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly.

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good evening everybody and welcome to another exciting night of NBA basketball with the first pick the Detroit Pistons selects Kade Cunningham from Oklahoma State University Chandler get oh what a block by Ma seal my goodness the Pistons are digging in they got the depth they got the big man they got the better basketball team no doubt about it there’s Jaden playing the passing Lane skies and jams Dynamite and the crowd loves it P 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 B hits the three overtime amazing Detroit [Music] basketball pist fans welcome back to another edition of the Palace of Pistons podcast part of the believe Network I’m your host Bano joining me this week is the regular cast of characters Aaron Johnson and Jasper abalonia fellas how are we doing on this uh postmortem day for me at least it’s uh well first off you know condolences for your Cleveland Cavaliers going out in uh the fashion that they did I mean look I’ll put it out there that if they were fully healthy and had Donovan Mitchell and Jared Allen I they they maybe could have won that series I think the Celtics are the most uninspiring number one seed that I’ve seen in quite some time I I truly like I don’t dislike them but I just don’t enjoy watching them and I I don’t have faith in them uh you know when it when it gets to the playoffs they just always look so mediocre uh when they get to when they get to this time of the year but uh I think we have to talk about some some pretty sad stuff for the Pistons today our first podcast post draft the lottery I know some people are very very much up in arms over the Pistons falling all the way down to the fifth pick but uh it’s great for Content it’s great for coverage and uh I’m looking forward to talking about that with you guys uh from here on out heading into the the draft later in June yeah normally I’d be thrilled about the Cavaliers going out of the playoffs like Stan Shira but for me to the to the Celtics my God I do hate the Celtics I’m willing to say that if you won’t aarin uh I hate the Celtics can’t stand that franchise can’t stay in that fan base of course many of my close friends are Celtics fans so that might have something to do with it um but hey you know what the Cavaliers made it to the playoffs the Cavaliers made it to the playoffs with a a guy who was picked above number five multiple guys who are picked higher than number five Pistons will not be picking somebody higher than number five barring some extenuating circumstances we’ll be getting into that this week we’ll be talking about who are they taking at five should they move down or God help me should they move up in this draft um it’s it’s a bit of a somber occasion and I know a lot of people wanted us probably to record the day of the lottery but I’m kind of glad we didn’t because I think it gives us a little bit of breathing room gives us a little ability to get past that initial I don’t even know if you can call it shock at this point I think it’s it’s an inevitability it’s not even shocking I’m sorry it’s an expect at this point I mean right exactly for for for the lottery and you know we had I don’t know maybe 10 15 20 people in there and the reaction from everyone you know no one was like oh my God I didn’t see this coming everyone was like this is exactly what I thought was going to happen it’s like yeah we’re not used to this by now guys this is status quo over here watching the Pistons of the lottery is a lot like watching the Lions before last year where it’s just like how are things going to fall apart I’m not surprised I can’t even say I’m shocked it’s more of just like a oh my God how did they do it again uh so I’m glad we got to move past a little bit of that because there are some intriguing prospects at number five there are some intriguing scenarios for the Pistons and I’m excited to get into it with you fellas for today yes and and we are going to get right into it Pistons did get the fifth pick in the draft as everybody has uh talked about on Twitter it is it’s pretty Preposterous having the worst record in the league two years in a row and getting the worst odds uh pick TOA to you two years in a row it’s uh almost like tanking Karma um so we are going to talk about the Pistons getting the fifth pick what they can do um they have a lot of options uh there’s there’s been some people who’ve tried to spin it as you know because it’s such a um lackluster draft that the fifth pick doesn’t actually lose a considerable amount of value down from one so I’m sure that we’ll touch on that as well uh and plenty more but before we move on to talk about that I’d like to thank our sponsor for this week’s episode and that is BET online and bet online is your number one source for all your summer Sports this season for Major League Baseball golf the NBA playoffs and the NHL as well all the latest odds news and scores are available to follow your favorite teams get the latest odds and lines including the latest team matchups player props and odds on just about every sport out there head on over to the website today or use your mobile device to get in on the action and go to bed online uh they’ve been a loyal sponsor for a long time bet online where the game starts also our usual pre-show plugs um pal Pistons substack has been firing off uh weekly content both written form and in the in this podcast as well so if you haven’t and you’re watching on YouTube or you’re listening on uh wherever you get your podcast from please subscribe to our newsletter pal.com you can read our latest release uh Aon you wrote about something I think that was published yesterday uh and we are going to talk about it five prospects the Pistons could take with the fifth pick uh we’re going to continue to have plenty of coverage with the NBA draft as we get closer and closer to that next month uh there’s also the weekly Drive every Monday morning that hits your inbox that sort of Recaps the previous week and all the news that surrounds the pist so certainly please subscribe to the Palace of Pistons substack if you have not only takes a couple of seconds uh if you are watching the show on our YouTube Channel please take 30 seconds leave a like And subscribe to our channel so you get notifications uh on when a a video drops uh and we do a little bit more than just uh just the podcast uh occasionally you’ll get a short as well and it does help us tremendously uh with that like And subscribe not to sound like a a typical YouTube content creator smack that like button um and then follow us on all of our socials as well on Tik Tok on Twitter SLX on Instagram and on our Facebook page all Palace of Pistons aside from Instagram which is Palace Pistons so now that we’ve got the business out of the way we can talk about the other business um which is the NBA draft lottery which occurred Sunday uh the Pistons got the fifth pick in the draft ruining Mother’s Day for everybody um they have the fifth pick again after having the best odds to get the number one pick and having um a 52% chance of getting a top four pick um the Hawks get the first pick they jumped up I believe nine spots the Wizards get the second pick the Rockets moved up considerably as well uh the San Antonio Spurs get the fourth pick and then Detroit gets the fifth pick so we can talk about how this is awful for the next three hours um but let’s keep it a little bit more brief as there’s been a lot of discourse on Piston’s Twitter about this and already written about it um we talked about on the last show moving and trading that pick which is something Detroit might have to do if they want to be competitive sooner rather than later does them getting the fifth pick jper I’ll go to you first um does getting the fifth pick alter your opinion on whether the pick should be traded or not well you’re right it did ruin Mother’s Day I know my mom called me out of the blue just distraught she was she couldn’t contain herself she said oh my God I got out of yoga class and this is what happens uh my chi is all out of whack um no I I think for me this this doesn’t change much it really doesn’t and there the only thing that it really changes is that now you have the capability potentially of moving up in the draft whereas if you got the first pick that wasn’t happening there’s nowhere to go um but down from there I think for me the Pistons are not in an enviable position obviously you you fell down four slots in the draft but you are still in a position where you have a lot of Leverage you have a lot of possibilities at your disposal and let’s be honest we’ve been talking about this being somewhat of a lack lackluster draft I think you still have a great opportunity to draft a guy at five that potentially could have fit what you were looking for at number one so for me this doesn’t really change the calculus all that much I’m pretty much in favor of the Pistons doing whatever their future president of basketball operations decides to do with that pick if you want to keep it and go for a guy like Reed Shepard who I will say I think is probably going to be off the Board San Antonio getting pick number four made that a lot lot less uh fun for Pistons fans I just see Reed Shepard being a great fit next to somebody like Victor webman Yama especially for a team like the Spurs that desperately need a point guard um but I I still think like there’s guys like Dalton neck uh there is still ran Holland there’s Matas bazilus there are prospects there that are highly intriguing for the Pistons there is the capability of moving down we discussed a couple of those scenarios last week I still think that’s in play and then there’s also the possibility that the Pistons decide to make a trade uh with the Atlanta Hawks who have been a potential trade partner now for I think like two three years for this team uh to finally pull off that deal not just for say a Deonte Murray but also potentially the number one pick so I think there’s a lot of things you can do here one thing Bleacher Report just came out with uh an article by Dan favale where they suggested the Pistons trade Jay Ivy assar Thompson and the number five pick for the number one pick into jonay Murray I think that there’s a lot of appeal to something like that even if assar Thompson is not a player I want to move on from so even then like you’re still also in a position where if another team wants to move up in the draft and in order to make uh pieces work in order to make salaries work you can with that $60 million of cap space you have open absorb a player for basically nothing so I think the Pistons are still in a decent position all things said um Aaron I’m interested to see if you are kind of the same thinking as I am or if you’re a little bit more Doom and Gloom as a lot of people online are my mindset hasn’t changed from prior to the lottery I I’ve been of the mindset from the beginning that the Pistons should be trying to trade this first round draft pick uh leveraging it into a player that helps them win now not that they can’t get a guy whether it was going to be at one two three four or five uh that can help them and and can play minutes for them right away next year but if they can use this pick in a package with something else on their roster likely a Young Piece like a j jayen jayen Duran or Jaden Ivy to get a meaningful player that you know you can put alongside Kate Cunningham and is going to help you be a better team next year that’s the way the Piston should be operating in my opinion and I’ve been of that opinion since before the lottery so them falling in the lottery didn’t change that for me yes is it unfortunate yes does it make the the pick less valuable uh it it does but you know I think on the flip side you also have to consider something like the draft pick that the contract is is worth less than what the number one pick or the number two pick would make so maybe some extra additional value to having the number five pick because if a team’s trading for the fifth pick it’s not going to cost them as much in terms of salary cap space as much as the number one or the number two pick would have and in a draft class where maybe there aren’t a bunch of Allstars and there aren’t a bunch of big-time names up at the top of the list you know maybe that is of value to the fifth pick so I think the short should be looking to trade the pick I think if the new president of basketball operations comes in and decides that they want to use the pick I can’t really fault them for that either because it doesn’t appear that there’s a world in which this fifth draft pick is getting you uh near allar All-Star level type of asset like a a Brandon Ingram or Deonte Murray it doesn’t look like that’s a good enough pick to fetch you that type of name at least by itself so I I I do agree that I’m okay with Detroit using the however they see fit whether they want to actually use it or they want to trade it uh but if if were me I would be trying to shop the pick and seeing what’s out there I know there are names that the Pistons are interested in we know there are names that uh some a certain players Camp are interested in getting so that’s what I would be uh looking at if I were Detroit is how can I use that pick to to improve the roster right away so I’m I’m in favor of trading the pick as well um mostly because if you keep accumulating younger assets you’re not advancing the timeline to being competitive any any further there’s there’s nobody outside of maybe Dalton connect since he’s the oldest who might be able to make a high level impact immediately so I’m in favor of moving the pick for more of a win now player um I’m in favor of moving back if that’s something that happens uh if a player becomes available that the Pistons aren’t interested in and a team gives you a good enough offer to move up a few spots then I’m open to that um but is there anybody that you’d be interested in moving up for and I know this is a little bit of speculation on how the draft is going to go I know that the order is really all over the place but you know is there a particular guy that if they’re available at three or four um you would really want to move up four I I would say for me the only guy that really stands out is like if I could trade up and get him I’d be interested in in in in doing it would be Alex SAR at the same time I don’t think trading up to one two three or four makes sense for Detroit if it’s going to cost them the fifth pick and and someone like an assar Thompson or or or Jaylen durren I I just I don’t know if there’s that much of a gap in the talent and the potential of these players that are you know the the the top eight to 10 in the draft I think it’s pretty level like SAR I think is definitely a higher end Prospect I guess compared to them but even he doesn’t have that much of a gap between you know someone like Reed Shepard or or or mates buellis like I just don’t think there’s that much of a gap that it’s worth attaching a young asset uh to move up it just doesn’t make sense to me in this draft if the draft class were stronger and there was you know a couple of guys or three guys that were just really too two three tiers ahead of everyone else then yeah it would probably make more sense but right now I just don’t see a prospect that it’s like well if Reed Shepard goes at three or four the draft’s over for Detroit they might as well just you know draft bronny James and do what these idiots on on on Twitter and and have their own podcast to get clicks for are saying like no it’s it’s there’s there’s going to be another guy outside at re Shepard to go out there in draft so it just doesn’t make sense uh in a draft class like this yeah I mean there’s no use in list listening to you know clickbait idiots with their own podcasts on you know randos I mean you should be listening to us clickbait idiots with our own podcast hey hey sorry I’m I’m speaking for myself on that one you know where you can go to get the bronny James to the Pistons takes you know you’re not getting them here how about we put it that way that’s thank God for that at least we have some dignity yeah they can take him 53rd yeah they might as well go is he is he a uh is he a client so anyone that works in the Pistons front office if so there’s good Happ that does change things yeah who’s he signed with um no I look look I I guess for me the only way that I would really be interested moving up for that one pick is and moving off of of assets currently on the Pistons roster is are you also getting a win now player and that’s the only reason I even think about something like of course it’s a fate trade who knows if any of these teams would even consider it however would I mood off of Jade and Ivy assar Thompson and five to get the number one pick and a jeante Murray I think for me that’s a little bit more of an appealing idea because look we’ve talked about it for two years now at a certain point the Pistons are going to have to consolidate young players picks of which they have no excess so it’s going to have to be young players they’re going to have to package them to put a a real um you know secondary star next to Cade even if Jaden Ivy had developed into that guy or Jaylen Duran so you know you need a third guy like that’s just kind of how it goes in today’s NBA you really need at least three players and you need a great Supporting Cast around them which is just very difficult to do when you have a bunch young guys who you eventually have to pay so for me I would be interested in in moving up as long as you’re also getting back a proven player in return that’s the only way I’d really want to move up for me though I think you know if we are keeping the pick and frankly I think that is the least appealing option I I don’t I don’t want to speak for you two but I feel like we’re all kind of in the same boat here like I I think keeping the pick is at least appealing option at five even if you can get a decent player and there are a couple guys there like Matas bazilus I think look I know he didn’t shoot well from three this last year at all and that’s something you talked about in your piece which is now on Palace of pistons on our substack Aaron um but and this is where getting a little bit of time post lottery draw to actually look at some of these prospects that are being mocked there helps a little bit I think he’s I think he’s one of those guys who could end up shooting better in the NBA than the numbers appear to be I’m not saying a 40% shooter but I think at least passable I I could see that for him just based on the type of shots that he’s taking based on his form I think he had a little bit of bad luck there um I I think when you’re talking about a guy who defensively could help a lot uh I mean almost what two blocks a game this year I mean that’s really good and you’re talking about a player also who’s 6 foot1 like lot of potential there uh he has a little bit of passing ability as well not not as much as some of the point guards there obviously but a little bit of passing ability too so if you are going to keep the pick that’s a player I’d be really interested in taking I think though there’s a lot of other good options like there is going to be a good player available for the Pistons at five it just depends whether the president of basketball operations who we are going to talk about um coming up towards the end of this podcast what they really think has to be the priority because how how much longer can you continue to do what the Pistons have done like really even with $60 million in cap space I think your options in free agency are very limited so for me I’m wondering like where would you guys like to go with this and if you do keep the fifth overall pick who are you really interested there yeah I think that’s a good I think that’s a good place to start I think let’s let’s go off of the Pistons keep the fifth pick they make a selection on June 26th right now on while we’re recording Thursday night May 16th with the right for our opinions to change as you know time goes on but right now who do you want the Pistons to take at five I mean let’s say based off of I’d say consensus it’s really loose I mean let’s say SAR is off the board let’s say zachar Zachary ret is off the board outside of that I think everyone else has a chance to be available I I also think there’s a world where Rish is available but I I feel like he’s more of a a top top four pick in most mocks than he is than when than he isn’t so let’s just say SAR and Rish are off the board everyone else is available because it’s really a crapshoot as to who’s going to be off the board by the time the Pistons are on the clock who who do the Pistons take at five right now if you’re making that decision like I said I think for me it’s it’s bazilus like I I’ve I’ve talked about this at nauseum anyone who listens to this podcast knows how I feel you need Wings you need Wings you need wings that’s true for any team in the NBA it is especially true for Detroit and I know that there’s a lot of fear like I said around his three-point shooting but when you look at the ability to switch when it when it comes to the playoffs defensively it is the most it’s like the most important thing you can do one of my favorite Rick Carlile quotes is you know he basically said here’s how you win an NBA playoff game you hold the opposing team scoreless for three possessions in a row three times in a game you win that game and I still think that’s true even in today’s NBA if you can stop a team from scoring three times in a row on three separate uh occasions during the game you are going to win and I think if you have a front line of bazilus Thompson you’re just setting yourself up to do that in the best way possible look at the New York Knicks like look what the New York Knicks are doing right now in the playoffs and of course they they could lose this series to the Indiana Pacers but I mean no Julius Randall it’s kind of a big Omission from that Squad the way that they’re doing it without a whole ton of star power is they are just competing every single possession defensively they are busting their asses and Jaylen Brunson single-handedly is just dragging that offense to what it needs to be when you have a sum we’ve seen it in 2004 when the sum of your parts is greater than the individuals you can win in the NBA you can win in the playoffs and I think by pi taking a six 10 uh small forward power forward that is going to be switchable that is going to give you some Rim protection that I think has the growth potential from outside to me that’s just something that like I have to try it I have to see what that looks like and I know that everybody is like oh my God the offense was terrible but we saw by bringing in just a guy like Mike muscala who’s like a good backup center how much that elevated the Pistons offense I think it’s easier for the Pistons to with a few ancillary pieces to improve their offense to at least middle of the road I think it’s much harder to create a lock down defense and that’s where you have to really nail in the draft in your free agency and during trades so for me I think that’s got to be the pick I know there’s other guys there’s other players I’m interested in as well but for me bazilus is the one that makes the most sense sense for this team if you are truly serious about making the playoffs in a year and actually making noise in the playoffs well as well I’ll say this I think as I’ve said before there’s a number of guys you can take it five that are all have their own strengths and their own weaknesses that make them worthy of being the fifth pick in this draft if I had to make the pick today if I’m picking for the Pistons and I’m picking to get a guy that’s going to be able to play minutes for this team right away I’m taking Dalton connect from Tennessee 66 Wing shoot the ball can score from all three levels is athletic can get at The Rim I I I just think you have to get players that can give you minutes it’s hard for me to sign up for a project right now and when I look at a guy like Bales I I think yes he can play but I think it’s going to take longer for him to come along the shoot might take a few years to really get to a point where you’re comfortable playing him bigger minutes and not that that means you can’t take him but I just know what connect with him being older with him being 23 years old he has that experience we’ve seen it every year whether he was at I believe it was North Dakota State or and then when he came to Tennessee every year the numbers have gotten better for him the scoring’s gone up the volume’s gone up he’s doing more things that make him a valuable player and look I just I just think there’s something to be said in a draft class like this where there maybe isn’t that All-Star type of guy getting a player that you feel comfortable believing in coming in and giving you 15 20 maybe 25 minutes a night I think if you can get that at five that’s a really good thing if you’re deciding to keep that pick and I think you could make a similar case for a guy like Reed Shepard who maybe doesn’t have the age but the numbers in college were were so so good the best three point shooter in the country you know I know he’s shorter I know he’s not you know as tall but he’s got a good vertical he’s a very smart Defender uses his hands very well is a secondary Creator not a great creator for himself but a good creator for others smart basketball player can shoot the ball is a plug andplay type guy he’s going to give you that effort so I think if I’m picking at five today it’s dton connect but like I said you can talk me into Reed Shepard you can talk me into buellis you you can talk me into re like you could talk me into most of these guys I think probably the guy that I I’d least want to take right now is someone like a Ron Holland who just doesn’t have the shooting numbers that say it’s going to get better not that he’s not a valuable Prospect not that he can’t be a good player but when I look at what the Pistons have right now I just don’t think he’s the the best fit for this team so that’s how I feel about the fifth pick trying to get a guy that if you’re going to use the pick can come in right away and you’re comfortable get giving him minutes yeah for the sake of variety because Dalton connect was who I talked about the most last week and he is the Plug and Play type of guy that I think the Pistons probably covet right now as opposed to another project they already have many projects on their roster but I’m going to operate under the assumption that some of those projects are being given to other teams I’m assuming that you’re going to get a Duren trade or a Jaden Ivy trade or maybe they’re going to be traded together something is going to happen to sort of bust up what they currently have and Reed Shepard does interest me if he does move all the way down to five I think that could be a guy that fits next to Kate cting ham um being the shooter the floor spacer that he is being a smarter Defender um that is enticing and it fills an immediate need and I agree he just seems like one of those guys that’s going to be playing in the league for such a long time um and that is certainly very interesting as well um the other guy was Donovan kingan from Yukon and again if you’re gonna be moving on from Jaylen Duran You’re Gonna Want A Center maybe even if you aren’t gonna be moving on from Jaylen durran um but you don’t see him as the center of the future um Donovan kingan is is there at seven foot two um on a championship Yukon team uh seems like he’s the you know ideal pick and roll Rim protection type of guy that would pair very well with Kate Cunningham not a three-points year he’s not going to be a guy who stretches the floor as a as a floor spacing big but I think the Pistons could do worse uh with him at five if you are going to move on from Jaylen Duren you can get another Young Center um you move Duren to get another player that fits a different area um so those are the two guys that would be intriguing to me I agree with Ron Holland I mean he’s been mocked all over the place um but the lack of consistency seems like he’s he’s more of a project type of guy for a team like um maybe Portland uh that that you know can take some swings on some guys or Charlotte uh that that could take a swing I don’t think the Pistons should put themselves in the position to be taking a swing on a guy uh that could be another long-term project and then you can’t move on from that player uh because they’re value just just isn’t where it is yet yeah it just doesn’t it just doesn’t make sense right now I mean there’s so much pressure on this organiz organization and those within it to accelerate this rebuild this restoration whatever the hell you want to call it there’s so much pressure on those inside to make serious change and show serious growth as quickly as possible I just like you said I don’t I don’t think you can justify taking a guy that’s that’s more of a project if you’re going to use the pick you’ve got to get a guy that you feel comfortable fits with your group and and can give you minutes right away not a guy that might need some time in the G League or or is you know going to have to come along very very slowly at the beginning of the year and and one more thing on on on Ron Holland or really any Wing that we’re talking about you know the expectation is that Detroit is going to be aggressive this year trying to improve the roster we’ve heard they’re going to be trying to Big Time Players in the trade market and we would imagine that they’re going to be going after a wing a NBA proven wing of some sorts even if it’s not at the level of Brandon Ingram but they’re going to be going after a guy on the wing that can give them 20 to 30 minutes a night be either a starter or a a high-end bench guy for them how much can you afford to bring in a wing like Ron Holland who like I said isn’t maybe ready for those minutes and then you’re using a pick on a guy that’s probably the fourth or fifth Wing in your rotation I just don’t know how much sense that makes yeah I I think we’re all in agreement like whoever you’re taking here has to be an instant impact player right on on at least one end of the floor I don’t know I mean like I could easily talk myself into Reed Shepard as well and that’s the thing with this draft and with this pick is like I could be talked into so many different guys and I’m sure that our opinions will start to solidify in the upcoming weeks as you know we do even more research even more looks at these players like come on like let’s not kid our viewers or our listeners like it’s not like we’ve been you know breaking down Reed Shepard tape since September no it hasn’t been happening but absolutely we will get there and I see this draft as very similar to last year’s draft where it’s like I I think you have the potential to re get a really good player at five it just comes down to like what is this President of basketball operations going to really want to focus on like what is the identity for this team that he is going to want to create what is the path forward that he sees as being the best one um especially since now we are getting into that point where it’s like Kate Cunningham is becoming extension eligible so like how are you planning on keeping him here in Detroit because I think we’re all in agreement here unless you’re getting like an absolute rockar type deal for him that is priority number one is locking up Kate Cunningham for the future because as of right now with the roster where it is you are not going anywhere anywhere forget the playoffs you’re not touching 30 wins without Katy Cunningham on your ra roster in the next two years so it’s it’s got to happen and it’s got to happen soon I don’t know Mike I I don’t know if there’s something else you want to jump in here but it does seem as though the president of basketball operation search is starting to heat up a little bit now um I don’t know if we want to start getting into that yeah because it does seem as though let’s do it next coming week there could be something coming down the tailpipe yeah yeah and you know just to bring back to the draft as well this is all all of what we’ve been talking about is sort of dependent on that the Pistons are going to make some moves to be competitive immediately uh or at least not nearly as bad as they have been to get win now players if the new president comes in and has a different vision for what the team is then you know those plans change you know it could be wiping the Slate clean I don’t think that would really happen but all possibilities exist I couldn’t really blame um a president of basketball operations coming in looking at this mess of picks and being like yeah we we don’t have nearly enough salvageable pieces um we might just have to rip it up and start over but it’s possible and as Jasper alluded to the president of basketball operations uh search continues um one of the names that I think we’re all in favor of would be Tim Connelly from the Minnesota Timberwolves and the wolves could be eliminated tonight those of you listening would already know exactly what happened um but if he is eliminated along with the Timberwolves um the Pistons would and should be moving very quickly uh to open up the wallet and pretty much give Connelly whatever he would want if he were interested in coming over and all signs point to that sort of being the scenario um Amari Sova of the Detroit Free Press provided an update this afternoon or this morning uh on Tim Connelly and and it appears that he is high on Detroit’s candidate list they’ve been waiting to interview him while the wolves have continued on their playoff run um he had mentioned that the clock may run out quote unquote on Connelly uh as the Pistons look to conclude their search within the next week or so of course that’s all dependent on the Wolves advancing past the nuggets and getting into the Western Conference finals which they’re currently down 3-2 um again all of you listening are already going to know exactly what happens but that’s sort of the reason why it’s taken so long so kind of gets into where we were with coaches last year where we kept waiting and waiting and waiting for who the co you know the head coach is going to be the Pistons have a track record of doing this but should the Pistons delay making a presentent basketball operations higher until they get a chance to interview Tim Connelly because to me the answers are resounding of course yeah I I agree 100% %c I I don’t understand you look at where Minnesota’s at in the playoffs like you said by the time we’re done recording this podcast by the time it’s up and and available for people to listen the Nuggets or excuse me the Timberwolves very well could be out of the playoffs down 3-2 to Denver Denver’s rolling and if you can’t wait another week to see what happens you you just have to get through the weekend even to see if Minnesota’s got another series or two ahead of them so I I would absolutely be waiting to see if you can uh talk to Tim Connelly and and here’s the though with that right you you still have to get that permission you know the they did it with they waited for John hor and the Bucks turned him down the Bucks did not give him permission to talk to John hor so you’re looking at a situation where that could happen again but at the same time does waiting a week or two does that take Dennis Lindsay off the board does that take tra Tron langden off the board does that take any of these guys really off the board I I don’t think so and you know what I think Tim Connelly has uh the the resume that says he’s worth the wait to see if you get to talk to him and to see if you’re going to be able to open up the checkbook to get him and look it sounds like there’s interest on both sides it doesn’t sound like this is a one-sided thing so hopefully the Pistons will make the the the decision to wait and if things work out that they get to talk to Tim Connelly that’s the guy that the Pistons should certainly be going after the hardest he has the track record he’s proven it not just on one team but on two teams and and if he has an interest in coming to Detroit uh with the way that he’s built teams before around homegrown drafted Stars drafted young players uh that’s the guy that I would be writing the biggest check for from Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons Tim Connelly makes all the sense in the world yeah um look if the timber wolves lose tonight you know who they’ll lose to another team that Tim Connelly put most of the effort into building like that’s that’s what you’re talking about here uh probably the two most impressive teams in the playoffs so far are Tim Connelly built teams so yeah am I willing to wait on extra couple days sure you didn’t make the hire before the playoffs you didn’t make the hire before the lottery genuinely like a couple extra days I’m willing to wait I think Tim Connelly is like you said Aon he’s the type of executive that is worth uh really shelling out the big bucks for he has a track record not just with one team not just with one organization but two and that is very very rare to find in today’s NBA like look around the league how many other dudes have done it with multiple teams like messiri um feel free to throw out another like genuinely it’s hard it’s hard to I’m sorry it’s it’s just not a big list there’s not a a lot of guys out there with that that type of resume and for a team that is so desperately looking for like a safe hire someone that’s going to come in and provide stability at the position someone with the experience that this organization is so in desperate need of like don’t know there’s any of these other candidates maybe Dennis Lindsay would and and that’s probably who I would prefer right behind Tim Connelly but like you need someone that has the experience of of running the show before has the track record has the success that you can see how he’s built teams in the past uh and see how he’s done things the right way both in in Denver he didn’t blow things up in Denver when when guys got injured or anything he continued to make Savvy moves you know you look at the move like the Aaron Gordon trade something that completely changed Denver’s trajectory and got them a guy that they desperately needed to take them to the next level you look at how he’s built out Minnesota they didn’t tear things down after one season where it didn’t look great with Rudy gobear and Carl Anthony towns together there wasn’t a major overreaction they stuck together they went out and got Mike Conley they went out and find found some of these other role players that have been major players for them someone like a Nel Alexander Walker and he just he’s proven he can do it in multiple situations he has an eye for talent and he has an eye for keeping or keeping stability in an organ organization so I just I just don’t know why you wouldn’t wait and and why he wouldn’t be at the top of your list it’s it’s crazy because this wouldn’t even be a discussion if there wasn’t this whole or you know franchise issue in Minnesota with the change in ownership like that really seems to be the only reason where he might decide to opt out of his contract and look elsewhere because of the instability there so if the if the Pistons are blessed with that opportunity to get this Premier NBA executive because of a random random situation that just doesn’t happen every year like they should be all over it so yeah they have to wait it out and and yeah they have to see if they get that opportunity because the weight would be worth it if if it pans out and you know if it doesn’t there these guys aren’t going anywhere that that are other these other candidates on the list the the only way that I can relate to Glen Taylor um is that we both are Our Own Worst Enemy so that’s that’s the one thing we have in common um yeah I mean I think the other thing with Connelly too and you know one guy I actually didn’t mention John Hammond for for the um for the magic another guy who’s done it with multiple franchises but it’s a small list and the thing with Connelly is that he’s walked into situations that are similar to what the Pistons are doing right now where he’s had some individual talent but not an organization that’s been able to bring that Talent together that’s been able to make the savy moves you mentioned the in Gordon trade I also think of the Michael Porter Jr pick you know they took him what 14th overall a lot of people were scared of him a lot of people were scared of that that that pick with the the issues with his back blah blah blah that turned out to be pretty freaking good for them um and you like you said you mentioned Nel Alexander Walker Nas Reed Nas Reed who is the type of player that the Pistons would kill for they got him at a cheaper rice than Isaiah Stewart’s extension so he just won Sixth Man of the Year like Nel Alexander Walker has turned into one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA who the hell thought that was gonna happen um you know bringing in slow-mo my guy Kyle Anderson who I would love to see on the Pistons by the way um yeah I just think what like you look at what connell’s done with teams that have had individual talent but not the team around them to make that Talent shine I don’t see Detroit as being in an entirely dissimilar situation what they need is an executive who can come in make those Savvy picks make those Savvy signings find Value in the trade market even when you don’t have a lot of pieces to work with and occasionally take that big swing like they did for Rudy goar I know everyone was laughing at that but like I and I know he’s gotten cooked by Nicola yic but guess what Nicola yic Cooks everybody it’s like being like everybody yeah it’s like oh man uh Chris Weber got owned by Shaq well everyone gets owned by Shaq everyone does it’s it’s a similar type of situation overall what he’s done with that team has been spectacular and look who picks Nica yic Tim Connelly so for me when I’m looking at at what the Pistons need you have to hit a home run you absolutely have to hit a home run and for me Tim Connelly is a home run so yes I’m willing to wait there are other guys I’d be okay with but man if you can get Tim Connelly you got to do it and man it also really scares me that I feel like we are talking about Monty Williams in some of the same Ways last year but this is a different situation totally different situation I have much more faith in Tim Connelly I’ll say that I have more faith in Tim Connelly as well but I couldn’t help be like be thinking about that in the back of my head today of like because reading the article is at least 15 million a year to get Tim Connelly to consider leaving the wolves and I’m thinking that is a big chunk of change thankfully it’s not my chunk of change it’s Tom gor’s chunk of change and if he needs to pay up to make up for the mistakes where he also paid up then so be it um it did go through the back of my mind I think it’s a little bit different though um Tim Connelly has a a much better res a championship pedigree and like you guys have said it’s an easy decision to wait on this um it’s not like you’re going to be waiting months and months you could be waiting like 12 hours you’re not GNA you know suddenly pick your president basketball operations in nine hours and think oh man we should have waited an extra three hours for Tim con you can wait you can afford to wait you know you want to hit a home run leadership and culture setting starts at at the top we know this for any organization not just in basketball but it starts at the top and you want to bring in somebody that can do that because it’s been very evident that that that that’s a huge piece that the Pistons have been lacking for a long time um is there’s just no Rudder on this boat and getting a guy like Tim Connelly would would solve a lot of those problems and it would certainly make me a lot happier uh going into the draft with a guy that has a has a a a pedigree of being able to navigate teams that are in bad situations um remember that Rudy goar trade was like panned as soon as it happened and now he is getting owned by Nicol yic but again Point still stands the Wolves had a very successful season they’re arguably their best season since Kevin Garnett was there um and Tim Connelly has done a lot to get them to that point after being a team that couldn’t win a playoff series Without Kevin Garnett so Tim bring along along with him Carl Anthony towns who for as divisive of a player as he is would still certainly help the Detroit Pistons so you know for for all of the the the talk about it I think there’s there’s a lot of credence to to wanting Tim Connelly and I I just think there’s a there’s a pathway to him getting this team better I I I trust the way that he he’s built teams before and and how he’s done at the situations that he’s been in so I yeah I I know we’ve we’ve kind of all just said similar things about it but I think it it it’s worth being said because you look at the other candidates and I don’t know if there’s anyone there besides maybe Dennis Lindsay that you’re as comfortable with in terms of the experience that they’ve had in the league and the track record that they’ve had in the league I don’t know if you look at any of the other names are like I trust what they’ve done as much as I trust right Conelly it it would be really funny though because if they if they pay Tim Connelly $15 million1 he will be making more money next year than any player on the Pistons roster currently of course we don’t know what’s going to happen at free agency but then again he and uh and Monty Williams like your head coach to president basketball operations could be making a combined 28 million next season I believe as of right now the Pistons have locked up for next year assar Thompson for8 million Isaiah Stewart for 15 Marcus Sasser for 2.7 uh and then they also have what Cade for 13 so there there’s a good chance that like your four highest played players on the team combined are making like the same as your front office and and head coach that would be just absolutely wild but um how much how much dead salary do they have I believe Dwayne oh my God they’re still paying Dwayne Deadman I’m I’m pulling it up right now they’re still pay next year they are paying Dwayne deadmond 2.9 Million they are yes what’s he up to right now you think like what do you think he’s doing getting ready to cash a $2.9 million check that’s what I be doing he’s a he’s at David Busters he’s got enough money in the bank for like I don’t know start betting yeah three four hours he’s gonna bet on ski ball Dwayne Deadman has been banned for life from Dave and Busters for betting on his own Papa shot games brings me no pleasure to report this not the worst route to go yeah hey just jont Porter I was gonna say that’s what jonte messed up he should have just waited for dve and Busters he could have gone in there gotten a ringer H whatever jont say hit us up we got some business opportunities for you just 10% of the big 10% on the big that’s it baby I got you um yeah so hey if this timeline is correct then in a week or two we’ll be talking about a new president of basketball operations and that’s that’s exciting we hope it’s Tim Connelly not to disparage the other names that are on this list Tryon Langdon is another young upand cominging guy Bryson Graham another up upand cominging type guy really not interested in Mark everley just because the Bulls are super just ambivalent um Dennis Lindsay’s fine as well I I would be fine with Dennis Lindsay um but Tim Connelly is Just Like A Cut Above those other guys to the point where it’s it’s you know it’s obviously worth waiting for me if you can bring in conell and then gram as the new GM for me that’s like a 10 out of 10 home run front office off season like that would be just just awesome um over under on how many days Troy Weaver lasts if Tim connell’s the president of basketball operations over under like can I say like six part of me does actually really feel bad for Troy Weaver um every story that’s published about the Pistons president of basketball operation search is laced with the same line of the new president of basketball operations would have the power to side and the fate of General Manager Troy Weaver and to just like to still be employed you know I mean I don’t know I would imagine he’s still like doing things I mean he is still the team’s general manager but like for every story to come out and basically say then whoever gets hired has the power to fire the general manager who’s done a you know who’s had a really bad Four Seasons in Detroit I don’t know like part of me just feels bad because he is uh he’s got be in a really tough spot right now it’s like hey you know Troy did you did you get those scotting reports put together on uh re Shepard and Dalton connect and it’s like Troy could you called into the office next Tuesday and be out of a job it’s it’s weird I mean part of me actually does feel bad because it’s it’s just an awkward situation you’re waiting for essentially your successor to get hired and then that successor is going to come in and say hey I’m either going to give you the chance to work under me and take a demot or I’m going to show you the door you’re unemployed yeah I don’t know if anybody’s ever been in the situation where like either your your company is getting merged and everyone’s getting laid off or you just know that it’s going to happen but that is the worst feeling in the world you just like you still got to go into work every single day and like do your job but like you’re just like what am I doing this for this sucks I don’t want to be here anymore can someone else please hire me out from under this job like already I also do think it’s funny all these articles they always do say like you just said Aon the new president of basketball operations will be able to determine the fate of Troy Weaver like G Thrones yeah they’re gonna like gonna Lop his head off they’re gonna execute him for crimes against basketball like oh poor Troy man they’re going to send him to Siberia he and M prerov are going to be like running the same Russian basketball team in Exile or whatever poor guy man you never want somebody else to determine your fate that’s just never a good thing no no and and you know we’ve talked a lot about Troy over the last several years but none of us are happy about this and him being fired none of us are you know with smiles on our faces that this happening because that means that it went horribly wrong you know it’s like none of us wanted it to come to this but it had to there was just there’s just no other option based on all the moves that have been made so just to be very clear it’s like we’re not you know gonna have a party for Troy Weaver being fired it’s terrible um he’s probably going to be added to the dead salary list because he has a contract extension of some unknown length and amount but it’s just it it is very unfortunate it is certainly very unfortunate and we’re it’s not a good position to be in we’re not throwing a party but we are prematurely reading his obituary you know we are yes we are like the New York Times does so yeah I mean both both Aaron and I may may have like drafts of that article ready to go and hit the substack uh we may have had it for a year or so at this point um uh well guys that’s all the topics for today’s show is there anything else you want to touch on before we wrap up this edition of the podcast no this is where uh plugger Aaron will we’ll pop in right get the Hat on to Palace of pistons.com Hit the Subscribe button go check out my piece on the five prospects that I talked about as options for Detroit there’s plenty of other names that that that weren’t mentioned in that piece that you could also look at as realistic options for the Pistons I definitely want to know what everyone’s thinking so go comment on the substack post comment in the YouTube sections uh tweet at us Palace of Pistons let us know what you’re thinking let us know who you like who you dislike whether you want them to trade the pick or keep the pick always love hearing what the people have to say I think that it it allows us to kind of get a better understanding of you know not just how we feel I think sometimes we might get in our own bubble with our own little group and you know maybe there’s like some group think there but hearing what everyone else doesn’t talk to us each and every day has to say and what they think I think that’s unique and worthwhile as well so tell us what you think go over to Palace pistons.com subscribe wherever you’re listening to the show from Hit the Subscribe button follow us leave us a review like whatever all that good stuff you know how to do it you’ve been doing it for years with your support for us so we appreciate it keep it coming 100% ER this is one of those weeks where we actually want our comment section to be a war zone because there’s so many things the Pistons could do with this pick and genuinely like this is like an hourong pod and I still feel like we didn’t hit on nearly the things that they can do so we love that outside perspective we love those other other ways of thinking about the situation the Pistons are in right now uh we want to hear what you have to say um yeah and we’ll be back next week sharing what we have to say I just hope that we can get something good and and hopefully next week we’ll be talking about the Pistons new president of basketball operations in Shala so I’m looking forward to that one guys yeah I I don’t think we’ve had a draft yet where everything has been in such flux like it’s possible that as soon as the season is over you know all like three of the four teams in front of the Pistons are all different because the Spurs could trade four the Rockets could trade three and Atlanta could trade one and all you know all of a sudden our mock drafts are entirely different so um it’s going to be an exciting time and yes hopefully this time next week we’re talking about new president basketball operations Tim Connelly sorry to all the Wolves fans who are listening but that probably means you’ve been eliminated um join the club I know how it feels um guys that’s gonna do it for this edition of the pal Pistons podcast I’d like to thank our sponsor for this week’s episode and that is BET online and you can head on over to the website today or use your mobile device get it on the action and bet online has been a loyal sponsor so we thank you as always for supporting the palace Pistons podcast like I said that is going to do it for my co-host it’s Jasper abalonia and Aaron Johnson I am Mike angano thank you so much for joining us on this edition of House business podcast part of the believe Network and we will see you all next time [Music]