Pistons Pre-Season Press Conference

[Wombataholic]

Good morning and thank you for joining us.

Last season went well. We won 53 games and Anthony Davis won his 8th MVP. We made it all the way to the finals before falling to the Nuggets.

Going into the offseason, we wanted to bring back Keitt, Kimbrough and Payne. Keitt got the supermax he deserved. Kimbrough is a valuable glue guy who is back on a minimum. Payne cost us more than we wanted to pay, but we're happy to have him back and fouling everything in sight.

In RFA, we were able to sign Lorenzo Fults away from the Wizards for a few points and our first this coming year. He then promptly got hit in training camp because we thought it would better to insure Payne instead of him.

In the draft, we got Anthony Davis' backup in Eugene Melson. We'd call him Davis' heir apparent, but when we're in tax hell in about 3 years, Melson will probably be available for points. We drafted Claude Gribble in the second round and were disappointed that we couldn't rename him Dale Gribble. Also, we forgot to cut him so we're stuck with him for now. Expect our next lottery pick to be named William Fontaine de La Tour Dauterive.

Our starting lineup will probably be some combination of Keitt, Fults, O'Connor, Davis, and Payne.

We feel fairly good about the team and believe we will win 50-ish games and will compete for the Central Division title. AD will be in contention for MVP again, but it's probably time for someone else to win it.

I'll open the floor to questions.

[NOLa.]

If Davis doesn’t win the MVP this season, who do you think has the best chance to win it in the league?


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[false9]

Why King of the Hill?

Who is your biggesst obstacle in returning to the finals?

[digiskunk]

How do you feel this year's squad compares to last year's in regards to overall talent and athleticism? How realstic do you think your odds are to win the Finals this season?

[garbageman]

With Keitt and O'Connor coming to form, the Pistons have been a force in the playoffs recently. Do you feel pressure to win another ring before Anthony Davis is leaving his prime?

[Wombataholic]

If Davis doesn’t win the MVP this season, who do you think has the best chance to win it in the league?


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I think Harland Ellinger and Aaron Donald would be my top picks.

[Wombataholic]

How do you feel this year's squad compares to last year's in regards to overall talent and athleticism? How realstic do you think your odds are to win the Finals this season?

I think we took a step back this year compared to last in both overall talent and athleticism. Davis is a year older, Keitt and O'Connor are pretty much the same as last year, and our role players took hits.

I think we've got a shot at the finals this year, but the Celtics are my pick to make the finals from the East though.

[Wombataholic]

Why King of the Hill?

Who is your biggesst obstacle in returning to the finals?

Because King of the Hill is great.

I would say the Celtics, the Magic and injuries are our biggest obstacles.

[Wombataholic]

With Keitt and O'Connor coming to form, the Pistons have been a force in the playoffs recently. Do you feel pressure to win another ring before Anthony Davis is leaving his prime?

Anthony Davis is already out of his prime. His post-prime just happens to look like other players' primes.

I think we're fairly realistic with our expectations. We'll be in the conversation with other teams that can win the title, and that's not a bad place to be in.

[JNR]

GWR: In looking at the legacy of Anthony Davis, do you think 1 title and 3 finals appearances is enough to consider him the greatest player in league history?

[Darth Vegito]

I think as single achievements go, AD is pretty clearly the greatest player in SIM league history. Do you think AD's solitary ring is also the saddest story failed potential in SIM league history? How much of that blame should fall to the gm?

[78#]

You mentioned the possibility of severe tax penalties in the future. Have you thought about plans of moving some pieces in the future to avoid severe tax penalties or are you planning on taking this core as far as possible the next few seasons?

[Xist2Inspire]

Which one of your players do you feel has to step up and take over in order to get AD another ring in his twilight years?

[Wombataholic]

GWR: In looking at the legacy of Anthony Davis, do you think 1 title and 3 finals appearances is enough to consider him the greatest player in league history?

I think so.

[Wombataholic]

I think as single achievements go, AD is pretty clearly the greatest player in SIM league history. Do you think AD's solitary ring is also the saddest story failed potential in SIM league history? How much of that blame should fall to the gm?

Maybe. We had a long debate before the 2018 draft where we selected Stephen Keitt, whether to pick him or to pick Dennis Smith Jr. We picked Keitt because his ceiling was higher, even if it took him longer to get to the point where he'd be a solid contributor. Would we have won another title if we had added Smith? Maybe.

[Wombataholic]

You mentioned the possibility of severe tax penalties in the future. Have you thought about plans of moving some pieces in the future to avoid severe tax penalties or are you planning on taking this core as far as possible the next few seasons?

We've thought about it, but the plan is that we'll ride this core as long as we can.

[Wombataholic]

Which one of your players do you feel has to step up and take over in order to get AD another ring in his twilight years?

Gregory Payne is going to have to shoulder more of the load in the paint for us.

[Soundwave]

Jam or Jelly?

[AngryBanana]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News:

Have you considered the possibility trading AD for assets? Or are you going to stick with him until he is sent to the glue farm?

[Wombataholic]

Jam or Jelly?

Jam. Only an uncultured swine would eat jelly.

[Wombataholic]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News:

Have you considered the possibility trading AD for assets? Or are you going to stick with him until he is sent to the glue farm?

We're open to the idea, but at $43 million, moving his contract will get increasingly difficult in the coming years, especially if the goal is to obtain assets.

[IamQuailman]

Do you know the "Reply" button works with regards to PMs?