1. Somehow, Find A Way To Move Josh Smith
This is an absolute must. Smith was a train wreck during his first season in Detroit, increasingly relying on a busted 3-point stroke while displaying a less than stellar attitude on and off the court.
It’s a full calendar year later, and it’s still very hard to figure out what Joe Dumars must have been thinking when he inked the moody forward to a heavy four-year deal. Did he not learn anything from the Charlie Villanueva disaster?
Detroit Pistons Josh Smith (left) with Chauncey Billups. (AP photo)
Just last week, there were some rumors about Sacramento possibly looking to acquire Smith. The noise quieted down pretty quickly, but Stan Van Gundy needs to forge ahead.
Call the other 28 teams. Beg. Plead. Offer anything. Take anything in return.
As Smith ages, his athleticism will continue to lessen, and his propensity to just chill out and bomb away from 23 feet will rise dramatically. I’d prefer he did it somewhere else.
2. Figure Out What To Do With Greg Monroe
Is he a player that is worth a maximum contract? No. Without question. But that might be what it takes for the Pistons to keep the burly lefty around.
If that’s indeed the case, I think you have to start exploring other options.
Teams don’t like seeing good players leave without getting anything in return, which is understandable.
So work out some type of sign-and-trade. It worked out pretty well in 2000 when Grant Hill jetted to Orlando, but in exchange, the Pistons picked up Big Ben and Little Chucky.
Monroe has proven to be a very solid front court player during his four years in the league. He stays healthy (missed just three games total), works the glass, and plays with supreme effort.
But he’s not really a “franchise” type player, and by giving him the dollars generally reserved for stars like Blake Griffin or LaMarcus Aldridge, you’d essentially be counting on Monroe to develop into a future star. But that’s not who he is.
He can’t jump, he doesn’t really make free throws (only one season above 70%), and his importance has gone down a couple levels with the emergence of Andre Drummond.
At a reasonable cost, by all means, keep Greg Monroe. But if the price starts reaching a different stratosphere, jump off the train and use that cash to upgrade the backcourt or buy Hooper a less creepy mascot head.
3. Get The Palace Rockin’ Again
This task’s completion will only realistically come with more victories, but the franchise needs to somehow breathe some life back into that building. It has become the most depressing venue in professional sports.
Let the Automotion dancers perform on the court during live play.
Have a “George Blaha Combover” bobble-hair night.
Put Mike Abdenour in at point guard during the game’s crucial minutes.
Anything to get people in the door.
The Pistons have become a lot more like the 1990’s Montreal Expos than any of us want to admit. And that’s not a good thing.
4. Don’t Be Afraid To Jump Ship Early
I know it was only one year, but the early returns on Brandon Jennings and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were less than encouraging.
Jennings did the same things he did in Milwaukee; shoot too much, pass too little, sulk too often. If the rumblings are true that the Pistons are hoping to sign 20-point scorer Isaiah Thomas away from the Kings, that’s fine. Something to even get excited about for a change. But that must occur in combination with the departure of Jennings.
As for the now second-year player CPK (it’d be more fun if his name was the same as the pizza place), he really showed very little of consequence as a rookie. It’s not to say he can’t make a big leap between year one and year two -- but astute GMs don’t just wait around for developments to occur when nothing on the court would really suggest such improvements are forthcoming.
That’s exactly what happened with Pistons first round pick Rodney White. He was a lottery selection in the summer of 2001 and was traded to Denver about 15 months later. Sometimes you just have to admit a mistake. Caldwell-Pope doesn’t look like a bust of Rodney White-like proportions, but it’s in the same neighborhood.
5. Get Stan Van Gundy Some Decent Neckwear
SVG was notoriously one of the worst-dressed NBA coaches during his stints in Miami and Orlando. While his contemporaries stalked the sidelines in tailored suits with silk ties, Van Gundy would generally throw on some type of dark t-shirt and toss a sport coat over it.
The Pistons have had their share of unique wardrobes from head coaches over the years.
Chuck Daly was “Daddy Rich,” a fine dresser that always looked prim and proper. Doug Collins made the collarless dress shirt famous in the late 90’s. John Kuester...I don’t think he had any distinguishing characteristics whatsoever.
Let’s hope Van Gundy ditches the “unemployed actor” look and decides to start resembling an actual professional basketball coach. That, or just have him wear a real uniform like the skippers do in baseball.
I’d pay good money to see that.
