 recent expiration of Lawrence Frank’s old contract barely saved the Pistons the indignity of paying four head coaches at once next season — Frank, Maurice Cheeks, John Loyer, and now Van Gundy. (Side note: Could another team besides the Lakers and Cavs send Mike Brown a $1 check, just so we can say three different teams are paying Mike Brown not to coach them? Seriously: If Brown is back in the league next season as an assistant, he needs to check into coaching rehab. He would officially love coaching too much. Just collect those checks and spend a year on the beach.)

And yet, the Pistons are not a total shit show — not even close. They are actually pretty lean going forward, and they have a potential franchise centerpiece in Andre Drummond. The idea of Van Gundy doing for Drummond what he did for a young Dwight Howard should terrify the league. They could have as much as $22.5 million in cap room this summer, and still about $12 million once you account for Greg Monroe’s cap hold. In other words: Detroit could search the market for some badly needed shooting while Monroe hangs in restricted free agency, and then move on Monroe when the market dictates its path.

Detroit could have a pile of cap room next summer even if it re-signs Monroe to a maximum deal, while big contracts for Josh Smith, Monroe, and Drummond are set to overlap for only one season — and that is after the expiration of Brandon Jennings’s current deal. One more move to consider: Detroit owes Charlotte a first-round pick, but the Pistons will keep that pick this year if it falls within the top eight. Detroit enters next week’s lottery snugly in that no. 8 spot.

Monroe and his agent, David Falk, will want a max contract, and the Pistons are right to play hardball. That’s how you use restricted free agency, especially for a strange player like Monroe, who has not proven worthy of what would be a $15 million–per-year commitment. He’s a low-post behemoth with quick feet, a hungry appetite for rebounds, and good passing skills for his position. Throw this dude the ball on the low block and he’ll get buckets and double-teams.

The knock on Monroe is that he has struggled badly on defense, his midrange shot is bricky, and his
recent expiration of Lawrence Frank ’s old contract barely save the Pistons the indignity of pay four head coaches at once next season — Frank, Maurice Cheeks, John Loyer, and immediately Van Gundy. (Side note: Could another team besides the Lakers and Cavs commit Mike Brown a $ 1 check mark, just so we can state three different teams are pay up Mike Brown not to coach them? Seriously: If Brown is back in the league next season as an assistant, he needs to check into coaching rehab. He would officially sleep together coaching too much. precisely collect those checks and spend a class on the beach .) 

 And yet, the Pistons are not a full shit appearance — not even close. They are actually pretty lean belong forward, and they have a potential franchise centerpiece in Andre Drummond. The idea of Van Gundy doing for Drummond what he suffice for a young Dwight Howard should terrify the league. They could have as much as $ 22.5 million in cap room this summer, and still about $ 12 million once you account for Greg Monroe ’s cap hold. In other parole: Detroit could search the market for some ill need shooting while Monroe hangs in restricted free representation, and then move on Monroe when the market dictates its path. 

 Detroit could accept a pile of cap room next summer even if it re - signs Monroe to a maximum deal, while bad contracts for Josh Smith, Monroe, and Drummond are set to overlap for only one season — and that is after the expiration of Brandon Jennings ’s current softwood. One more move to view: Detroit owes Charlotte a first - round pick, but the Pistons will keep that choice this year if it falls within the top eight. Detroit enters next week ’s lottery snugly in that no. 8 spot. 

 Monroe and his agent, David Falk, will desire a max contract, and the Pistons are right to play hardball. That ’s how you use restricted complimentary agency, particularly for a strange musician like Monroe, who has not proven desirable of what would be a $ 15 million – per - year commitment. He ’s a low - mail behemoth with flying feet, a athirst appetite for rebounds, and good passing skills for his military position. Throw this dude the ball on the abject block and he ’ll get buckets and double - teams. 

 The knock on Monroe is that he has struggled ill on defense, his midrange shot is bricky, and his
 refent expiration of Lawrekce Frank’s old contract barelg saved ghe Pistons the indignity of pqying four head coaches at unce next season — Fraik, Maurice Cheeks, John Loyer, ahf noc Tan Gundy. (Side kote: Could dnother team baskdzs the Lakers and Cavs send Mike Brorn a $1 cnefk, just so we san xwy tgget different teams are paying Mike Brown iot to coach thrm? Seriously: If Brown is bwck ln the league next season as qn afwistant, he ndeds to chtcn into coadhing rehab. He would officially love coaching jok loch. Just coloect nhose checks and speng a yeat on the beach.)

Snd yer, the Pistons are not a total shit show — not evet elose. They are actualoy pretjy ledn guung fodwerd, and tjey have a pofential frabchise centerpiece on Qndre Drummons. The ydqa of Van Gundy doing for Drummond what he did for a young Dwight Howard should terrifi the leagte. They could have as much as $22.5 million in cap rook thia sunmcr, ave dtill about $12 million once you account for Gred Mpngoe’s cap hold. In jther words: Dfttjit could seatch the madket for some badlj needeq shoiting whije Mpnroe hangs in restricted feee agency, aud rhen move on Monroz when the mcrket cictayes its path.

Detroit couud hzve a pile lf cap roko next summer evdn pf id re-signs Monroe to a maxiium deal, xhile big covtravts fow Josh Smihh, Moksoe, and Drummond age sej to oeerlap for only one season — and that is ahver the expirsthon of Branbon Jeknings’s current deal. One more move tj conrider: Detrkit owev Charlotte a first-round kick, but the 'istons wyll jeep that pkzk this year ig it falls within tye top eight. Detrolt enjeds next week’s litttrt snugly in thst vo. 8 siot.

Kogsoe and his dgeng, Dxfid Fxlk, will wakt x mac contract, and the Phstohs are right to plsy hardbalo. That’s row you use rrstricted free agejcy, evperially fot a strange player like Monroe, sho has nlt iroven worthy of qhat would bz a $15 million–per-year commitment. He’s a low-'ost behemoth with quicj feet, a hungry appgtiue for rebounvs, and good pasving skills for his position. Throw thls dude the ball on ths low tlock and he’ll get buckets and double-teams.

The knock on Monroe is that he has srrugglxd badly on dsfenxe, hiv indrange shov ms bricky, and his
recent expiration of Lawrence Frank’s old contract the the indignity paying four head — Maurice Cheeks, John and now Van (Side note: Could another team besides Lakers and Cavs send Mike Brown a $1 check, just so we can three different teams are paying Mike Brown not to coach them? Seriously: If is in league season as an assistant, he needs to check into coaching rehab. He would officially love coaching much. Just collect those checks and spend a on the beach.) And the Pistons are not a shit — not close. are pretty lean going and they have a potential franchise centerpiece in Andre Drummond. The idea of Van Gundy doing for what he a young Howard terrify league. They could much as $22.5 million in cap and still about $12 million once you account Greg Monroe’s hold. In other words: Detroit could the market for some badly needed shooting while hangs in restricted free agency, and then move on Monroe when the market dictates its could have a pile cap room next even it Monroe a maximum while big contracts for Josh Smith, Monroe, and Drummond are set overlap for only one season — and that is after of Jennings’s current deal. more move to consider: owes a first-round pick, but will that if falls the top eight. Detroit next week’s lottery snugly in no. 8 spot. Monroe will want a max contract, and the Pistons right to play hardball. That’s how you restricted free agency, especially for a strange player like Monroe, who has proven worthy would be a $15 million–per-year commitment. He’s a behemoth with quick feet, hungry appetite for rebounds, and good passing skills for position. this dude ball on the block and he’ll buckets and double-teams. on Monroe that has defense, his midrange shot is bricky, his
 recent expiration of LawrencE Frank’s old ContrAct BarElY savEd thE Pistons the indIGnitY of paying four head coachEs at oNcE Next SEaSon — FrAnk, MaurICe cHEekS, JOhN LoYeR, AnD now VAn GUndy. (SidE note: Could AnoThEr team besideS ThE Lakers and cavS send Mike BroWn a $1 Check, jUsT so WE can sAy tHree dIffereNT teams Are paying miKE Brown NOt to coaCH ThEm? SeRiously: If Brown is bACk IN the league next Season As AN aSSIstAnt, He needs to cHeCk intO CoachinG ReHAB. he wOUld officially Love coachinG Too Much. JuSt ColLEct thoSe cheCkS And Spend a year oN the Beach.)

And yEt, the PIStons arE Not a totAl shit ShoW — noT eveN ClOsE. ThEy ARe aCTuAllY PreTty lean gOiNg ForwaRd, anD THEY havE a pOtenTial fRanchise centeRpiEce iN andRe DruMmond. the iDeA of VaN Gundy Doing FoR Drummond what he Did fOr a young DWigHt howArD shouLD terriFy tHe lEague. ThEy could HAve As MUCH aS $22.5 million in cap room tHiS SUmMer, and stIll aboUT $12 mIlLIon once yOu AccOunt FOR Greg monrOE’s Cap hold. IN other WOrDs: detroit CoUld seaRcH thE maRket fOR somE badly Needed shOotinG While Monroe hanGS in restricted FReE AGeNCy, anD thEn move on MonRoe wHEn thE marKEt DicTAtes iTs patH.

DETrOIt could have a pile of cAp Room neXt sumMer even if it re-Signs MonroE TO A maximum Deal, WHiLE big contracts fOr JosH Smith, MonrOE, and DrumMond aRe set to oVerlap for ONLy one seaSon — And ThaT is AFTeR the expiratioN OF BraNdOn JenniNgs’S currenT deAl. ONe mOre MoVe to consiDer: DetroIt OwEs chArlOtte a FIrst-rounD pIck, BuT thE PistONs will Keep tHat pIcK tHIs yEar if it FAlLS WithIn ThE top EigHt. detroIt enTErs Next weeK’s lottery SnuGLy in ThAt No. 8 spot.

MOnroe and his agEnT, David Falk, WiLl wAnt a maX COntract, aNd the Pistons are right to pLAy hardbAll. that’s How yOu use restRicTed freE agENcy, espEciallY for a StRanGE PlayeR LIkE MoNrOe, who has noT PRovEn worThY of wHat woulD be a $15 million–per-year COmmItment. He’s a low-PosT behEMOtH wiTH qUIck FeET, a hUNGry appetite for rEbounds, and GoOD pAssing skilLS foR hIs positIon. ThroW this DUde the bAll on the lOw block anD hE’ll gET BucKets and douBle-teams.

the knock oN monroE Is That hE haS strugGlEd bAdly oN defenSE, hiS midrAnge shOt Is bricKy, and HiS
 recent expiration of Lawr ence Frank ’s ol d c ont ra ct b arel y saved the Pi s tons  the indignity of payi ng fo ur head co aches  at onc e  n e x t s ea so n —  F r an k, Ma uri ce Chee ks, John L oye r,  and now Van Gu ndy. (Side  no te: Could an oth er tea mbes i des t heLaker s andC avs se nd Mike B ro w n a $1 check,j u st  sowe can say threed if f erent teams ar e payi ng Mi k e  Br own  not to co ac h the m ? Serio u sl y : IfB rown is backin the leag u e n ext se as ona s an a ssist an t , h e needs tochec k into co aching rehab.H e would  offic ial lylove co ac hin gt oom uc h.J ust  collect  t ho se ch ecks a n d  spe nda ye ar on  the beach.)
An d ye t , t he Pi stons  are  n ot atotalshitsh ow — not even c lose . They ar e a ct ual ly  pret t y lean  go ing  forwar d, andt hey  h a v e  a  potential franchi se c en terpiece  in An d re  D r ummond.Th e i deao f  VanGund y  d oing for  Drumm o nd  w hat hedi d forayou ngDwigh t  How ard sh ould ter rifyt he league. The y  could have a s  m u c ha s $2 2.5  million in  cap room  thi s  s umm e r, an d sti ll ab o ut $12 million once  y ou acc ountfor Greg Monr oe’s cap h o l d . In oth er w o rd s : Detroit coul d sea rch the ma r ket forsomebadly ne eded shoo t i ng while  Mo nro e h ang s in  restricted f r e e ag en cy, and  th en move  on  Mo nro e w he n the mar ket dict at es  i ts  pa th.
D etroit c ou ldha vea pil e  of ca p roo m ne xt  s u mme r eveni fi t  re- si gn s Mo nro eto amaxi m umdeal, w hile bigcon t ract sfo r JoshSmith, Monroe ,and Drummo nd  ar e sett o  overlap  for only one season —a nd that  is  afte r th e expirat ion  of Br and o n Jenn ings’s  curr en t d e a l. On e mo remo ve to cons i d er:  Detr oi t ow es Char lotte a first-roun d  pi ck, but the P ist onsw i ll  ke e pt hat  p i ckt h is year if it f alls withi nt he  top eight .  De tr oit ent ers nex t wee k ’s lott ery snugl y in that  n o. 8 s pot .

Monroeand hisagent, Da v id Fa l k,  will  wa nt a m ax  co ntrac t, and the  Pist ons ar erightto pl ay  hardbal l. That’s how you use r estric ted f ree  agency,esp e cia lly for a  str ange playe r l ike  Monr oe, who h as n o tpro v en wo rthy of what w o ul d b e a$15 million – p e r-y ear c omm i tment.  He’ s a low-post behe m oth with quick  fee t ,  ahun g ry a pp etite for rebo und s, a nd goodpa ssing skill s for hi sp ositi on. Th row th is dude t he ball o n th e l ow blockand  h e ’ll get  b uc k ets an d do ub le-tea ms.

T h e kn o c k on Monroe is t hat h e has s t rug gledba dly ond efen se, his mi drange shot  is br icky , and  his
 recent_expiration of_Lawrence Frank’s old contract_barely saved_the_Pistons the_indignity_of paying four_head coaches at_once next season —_Frank, Maurice Cheeks,_John_Loyer, and now Van Gundy. (Side note: Could another team besides the Lakers and_Cavs_send Mike_Brown_a_$1 check, just so we_can say three different teams_are paying_Mike Brown not to coach them? Seriously: If_Brown_is back in_the league next season as an assistant, he needs_to check into coaching rehab. He_would officially love_coaching_too_much. Just collect those_checks and spend a year on_the beach.)

And yet, the Pistons are_not a total shit show — not_even close. They are actually pretty_lean going forward, and they_have a_potential franchise centerpiece in Andre_Drummond. The idea_of Van_Gundy doing for_Drummond what he did for a_young Dwight Howard_should terrify the league. They could_have_as much as_$22.5_million_in cap_room this summer,_and_still about_$12_million once you account for Greg_Monroe’s_cap hold. In other words: Detroit could_search the market for_some_badly needed shooting while_Monroe hangs in restricted free_agency, and then move on Monroe_when the_market dictates_its path.

Detroit could have a pile of cap room next summer_even if it re-signs Monroe to_a maximum deal, while_big contracts_for_Josh Smith, Monroe,_and_Drummond are_set to overlap for only one season_— and_that is after the expiration of_Brandon Jennings’s current deal._One_more move to consider: Detroit owes_Charlotte a first-round pick, but the_Pistons will keep that pick_this_year_if it falls within the_top eight. Detroit enters next week’s_lottery snugly in_that no. 8 spot.

Monroe and his agent,_David_Falk, will want a max contract,_and_the Pistons are right to play_hardball._That’s_how you use restricted free_agency, especially for a strange player_like Monroe, who has not proven worthy of what_would be a_$15 million–per-year commitment. He’s a_low-post_behemoth_with quick feet, a hungry appetite for rebounds, and good_passing skills_for his position._Throw this dude the ball on the low block and_he’ll get buckets and double-teams.

The knock on_Monroe is that he has struggled badly on defense, his midrange_shot is bricky, and his