Tag: roster

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The Detroit Lions are being set up for future success

New Detroit Lions General Manager, Brad Holmes has wasted little time in taking an axe to former GM Bob Quinn’s roster. To date Holmes has cut eight players from the Quinn era and traded the franchise quarterback (Matthew Stafford) to the Los Angeles Rams for two-first round draft picks and a third round draft pick as well as Rams starting quarterback Jared Goff. In doing so Holmes is setting the Lions up for future success.

As with any new front office and coaching staff, Brad Holmes is no different. Holmes is looking to put his fingerprints on the Lions roster. A roster filed with slow, aging over paid players. Holmes made it clear he prefers young fast versatile players.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 27: Running back D’Andre Swift #32 of the Detroit Lions warms up before the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Lions defeated the Cardinals 26-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

By freeing up the Detroit roster of players that do not and will not fit what the Lions are trying to do, Holmes is setting the Lions up to fail. Yes, I said fail. The team is void of enough impact players to win. That is a good thing. This is a total rebuild.

When any team in any sport rebuilds, high draft picks are critical to future success. By pairing down rosters general managers increase the probability they will net high draft picks, Brad Holmes has done that.  Holmes has made it nearly impossible for the Lions to be anywhere but a top three pick in next years NFL draft. Coupled with the Los Angeles Rams first round draft pick in 2022 and 2023.

The popular phrase used by fans and media when a general manager strips a roster of talent is “tanking.” It may sound crude, but the is in essence exactly what is taking place.

Brad Holmes has said he does not like the term rebuild, but he prefers retooling or reshaping. Call it what you will. A new Detroit Lions team and roster will emerge when the dust settles.

While the Detroit Lions are set to be bad (really bad) for the next two years. If Brad Holmes does his job, the Detroit Lions are going to be a good solid team. Like the one Holmes played a key role in with the Rams.

 

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Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver is retooling, reshaping and rebuilding the team

There is no way around it. The Detroit Pistons have joined two other Detroit sports teams (Tigers and Red Wings) by officially entering a total or very near total teardown and rebuild. New Pistons general manager Troy Weaver was very active this past week first with the 2020 NBA draft and then free agency. The Pistons gutted the bulk of the teams roster, now youth is being served in Motown and that is just fine.

Whenever and new general manager takes over a team he generally begins to make changes to meet his idea of a successful roster and even coaching staff. The Detroit Pistons are already fortunate to have a very good head coach so Dwane Casey was not going anywhere.

That did not stop Weaver from taking an axe to most of the Detroit Pistons roster. During the 2020 NBA Draft the Pistons entered the draft with just one pick at No. 7 overall. Weaver then weaved some magic and the Pistons had two more first round draft picks.

When the dust had settled, Bruce Brown, Tony Snell, Luke Kennard, Thon Maker, as well as others were jettisoned off. A few players survived Troy Weaver’s purge.

Gone is the bulk of a roster that struggled both as a group and as individuals to fine consistency on the court. Enter a young roster with more athleticism than the Pistons have had in recent years.

With any roster change over there are risks. Players may not pan out. Players may not quite live live up to scouting reports. However, Troy Weaver did the right thing. Get as many draft picks as possible and roll the dice a few players will pan out.

This is at the heart of any teams rebuild. The Detroit Pistons had a nationally praised 2020 draft. The players selected have high upside with as expected a few red flags. That did not stop nor should it have Weaver from going through with some big daring moves.

SALT LAKE CITY – OCTOBER 4: Troy Weaver of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on October 4, 2004 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2004 NBAE (Photo by Kent Horner/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Detroit Pistons are the talk of the NBA. Troy Weaver has deconstructed a roster that by and large failed. He has begun to put players together that are both young and athletic.

It will be interesting to see this group of Pistons players grow and mature both next season and beyond.

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Steve Yzerman is building the Detroit Red Wings through the draft

Optimism has been extremely hard to come by for Detroit sports fans lately. The Pistons, Lions, Tigers and the Red Wings have not been good to say the least. Yet, for all the misery the Red Wings have one thing the other Detroit teams do not, a proven general manager. Steve Yzerman’s play for the Red Wings is to build his team through the draft. Something the other Detroit teams should mimic.

Two years into his job, Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has had two very solid drafts. Drafts that have added to the Red Wings prospect pool. Coupled with Yzerman’s quote that “you can’t build a team through free agency,” Yzerman is using the NHL Draft to build his roster.

The Detroit Red Wings are signing low-term free agents that will help the team be a better. The catch is the players the Red Wings have signed can be flipped at the trade deadline for more draft picks. As they have value around the league.

Detroit Red Wings fans knew Yzerman would improve the team and organization. The Red Wings GM wants to avoid long term contracts for now and focus on putting the right group veteran players around his core players  and he wants to do it being cost effective.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 06: Detroit Red Wings team personnel work on their draft set before the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft at Little Caesars World Headquarters on October 06, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. The 2020 NHL Draft was held virtually due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Dan Mannes /NHLI via Getty Images)

The 2020-21 Detroit Red Wings should be a little better than last seasons and that is just fine. The Red Wings need to continue to get top 10 draft slots and the scouting department needs to continue to do their solid work.

Steve Yzerman built a Stanley Cup-winning team in Tampa Bay. It took time, it will take time in Detroit as well. But, Detroit sports fans have more faith in Stevie Y. than they do with the other general managers in the city putting their teams together.

Building through the draft is the right move no doubt about it.

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The Detroit Tigers are two games out of a playoff spot, what it means

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 17: A Detroit Tigers batting helmet sits in the dugout during Game Five of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park on October 17, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The rebuilding Detroit Tigers entered the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season with by- and- large low expectations from the media and fans. Yet, that same rebuilding Tigers ball club sits just two games out of the eighth and final playoff position. That is both good and bad news.

The good news is the Detroit Tigers young players and prospects they called up are keeping the team afloat in the playoff chase. Shedding a little light the Tigers rebuild may in fact be working. This coupled with the fact that the organization has not called up more or all top prospects lends it’s self to what looks  like a bright future in Motown.

The bad news. The Detroit Tigers will not have the top pick in the 2021 MLB draft. In fact the Tigers may not even have a top 10 draft pick. This is bad simply because the team is not done rebuilding. Even with a minor league system ranked anywhere from No. 6 to No.2 depending who you read.

One thought here is that as players now appear to be major league ready (Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Isaac Paredes) Detroit Tigers owner and president Christopher Ilitch has said he will spend money to put a winning team on the field. The organization could begin to look at big name free agents as many experts are say next season many Detroit top prospects will be added to the roster.

If the Detroit Tigers make the playoffs it is not the end of the world. It does however mean they may have to get creative how to improve the organization without the aid of a top five draft choice.

The same could be said if they do not make the playoffs. The Tigers record is better than all of the bottom feeders in MLB. The Tigers still would be looking at a non top 10 draft pick, they could eek out perhaps the No.9 pick in the draft.

The good news in all of this is Detroit’s young players and prospects are keeping the team in the playoff race.

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Who could stay and who could go on the Detroit Red Wings roster

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Red Wings, new general manager Steve Yzerman, with solid prospects and a lot of salary cap room  likely will be looking to make some moves to improve his roster.

Yzerman said at his introductory press conference to not expect any big, splashy moves early in his tenure, he wants to let his young players continue to develop. Yzerman thinks the bigger moves might be in a year or two, when the youngsters are closer to being ready to contend.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see Yzerman do some tweaking this offseason, in an effort to strengthen the roster.

Forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha would net big returns if Yzerman goes the trade rout. So before any trade is rumored let’s see who could stay and who could go.

Jonathan Bernier, goalie,

His season would probably leave many to wonder why Bernier is in this category. But with two more years left on his contract, and no Wings prospect close to the NHL, Bernier will return. Bernier is a proven NHL goaltender, though he’ll have to be better next season. He’s staying

Tyler Bertuzzi, Forward,

Bertuzzi does not excel with jaw-dropping plays. He accomplishes things in a “greasy” style that makes him capable of blending with any line coach Jeff Blashill puts him on. Bertuzzi is a long-term presence on this roster.  He’s staying

Trevor Daley, Defense,

 Daley could not stay healthy last season and with only one year left on his contract, he is not likely to remain in the organization beyond that. He could be a nice acquisition for a contender at the deadline. He leaves at the trade deadline.

Also staying for sure will be:

Madison Bowey, D, Danny DeKeyser, D, Christoffer Ehn, F, Darren Helm, F, Taro Hirose, F, Michael Rasmussen, F, Filip Hronek, D, Dylan Larkin, F, Frans Nielsen, F, Andreas Athanasiou, F, Luke Glendening, F, Anthony Mantha, F, Evgeny Svechnikov, F.

Should be gone one way or another but may not be:

Justin Abdelkader, F

Gone at least by the trade deadline:

Jonathan Ericsson, D, Mike Green, D

Gone because likely retiring:

Niklas Kronwall, D

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Predictions for the Detroit Pistons offseason

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Pistons 2018-19 season ended in total disappointment. The Milwaukee Bucks swept them out of the first round of the NBA playoffs with  ease. The Pistons have very limited flexibility this offseason, unless they make some dramatic moves to improve the roster, next season will not be much better.

Blake Griffin’s knee injury and the glaring holes on the roster were the Detroit Pistons undoing during the playoffs. So what can the team do during the offseason? Here are a few things and a couple predictions.

Continuing player development has to be  priority No. 1. Svi Mykhailiuk , Thon Maker should be something the Detroit Pistons look to get the most of. Perhaps the team can look into trading for a star guard. Some like Mike Conley or Jrue Holiday either would fit nicely into the Pistons lineup.

With Reggie Jackson, Jon Leuer, and Langston Galloway contracts off the books after next season, the Pistons may finally have some financial wiggle room. With that said Detroit should  Pistons should stay away from taking on big contracts unless that player can take them to the next level.

Bruce Brown’s lack of  scoring ability makes him ineffective on one end of the floor. Brown simply can not stay on the Pistons let alone any NBA team playing defense only at the guard position. Andre Drummond who was the Detroit Pistons  second leading scorer needs more looks down low.

Currently the Detroit Pistons hold the No. 15 pick in the first round of the NBA draft. They need to get as much out of the 15th pick as they can.  Detroit could package a couple of players and the No. 15 pick to move up. If they do the team should look to include Langston Galloway in any possible trade.

One thing to remember is the Pistons are just one more season away from freeing up an immense amount of cap space. Reggie Jackson and Langston Galloway as well as the old Josh Smith money and the crippling Jon Leuer contract will come off the books.

So while there is no clear cut answer to the Detroit Pistons roster fix right now. After next season the Pistons will have room to improve the roster.

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Detroit Lions: 53 man roster

Embed from Getty Images In 2017 the Detroit Lions fielded one of the youngest teams in the NFL. in 2018-19 the Lions will field one of the oldest. As general manager Bob Quinn has tweaked the roster.

 

26.6 is the average age of the Detroit Lions players making up this seasons roster. That is up from 25.8 in the 2017 campaign. That may seem dramatic. In my opinion this is partly because Lions head coach Matt Patricia had many veteran players in his time with the New England Patriots.

 

The Detroit Lions roster has young players at the skilled positions: not to mention the team is going with:

 

2 quarterbacks, 5 running backs, 6 wide receivers, 4 tight ends, 10 moffensive lineman, 7 defensive lineman, 7 linebackers, 4 cornerbacks, 5 safeties, 3 special teams.

 

The team announced the signing of 6 players to the practice team. To me this shows the Lions are in a win now train of thought. As they should be. The need to clean up in some areas. But it should be a good season.