Palace Picks: Grading the Pistons offseason

Every morning, Pistons Palace brings you the reading material you need before you start your day at the office. We bring you the morning’s Palace Picks — Detroit Pistons Links from across the web to get you ready for the day.

It’s finally Friday! The weekend brings suspense on whether we will hear more on a possible Josh Smith trade or or the signing of restricted free agent Greg Monroe.

Who would of thought that at this time in the free agency period that Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey would sign quicker than the Detroit Pistons big man?

What’s next? On the next episode of Charlie Villanueva‘s mid-life crisis Crossroads series, we find out that Charlie V has already found a new team to play for?

We have to stay positive — it’s the weekend.

Let’s get the party started with your Friday Palace Picks– the best Detroit Pistons links on the web.

Later this morning on Pistons Palace, Braden Shackelford will take a look at how the Pistons offseason compares to the Central division. Yesterday, it was Bleacher Report’s Adam Fromal breaking down projected starting lineups throughout the NBA. Fromal had an interesting take on who will start for the Detroit Pistons.

"Projected Starters: Brandon Jennings, Jodie Meeks, Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, Andre DrummondNotable Challengers: Kyle Singler, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope"

I just don’t see Josh Smith starting at small forward or all three big men on the floor at the same time. I’m going to take SVG’s word on that one.

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Bleacher Report featured columnist D.J. Foster has touched on the top potential landing spots for Greg Monroe. Foster lists the Cavs, Celtics, Nuggets, Thunder and Raptors as the best fit for Monroe. Of those, the most realistic to me would be the Boston Celtics.

"Again, Monroe would have to be available at a discount, and sign-and-trades allow for that sort of thing. Boston could offer up a good frontcourt shooter like Jeff Green to help match salaries, which would help Detroit with its floor spacing at the very least.Boston also has a cupboard stocked full of first and second-round draft picks for the future, so sacrificing one or two for a player of Monroe’s caliber might not be viewed as a huge price like it would be for other teams who need to hoard those assets."

MLive is wondering how you would grade the offseason so far for the Pistons. Specifically Brendan Savage wants to know how fans would grade the Pistons’ free agency signings.

"The Detroit Pistons might not have made a huge splash in free agency by signing one of the top players available.But they did sign three players who are expected to fill some holes while also adding two role players.After signing shooting guard Jodie Meeks away from the Los Angeles Lakers, the Pistons added swing man Caron Butler and point guard D.J. Augustin. Butler spent last season with Milwaukee and Oklahoma City while Augustin was with Toronto and Chicago."

Adidas has it’s new NBA Uniforms catalog out and guess what’s coming back to an NBA arena near you? The classically horrible sleeved uni. And the Pistons Sunday ‘Motor City’ uniform is par for the sleeved course. Joining the likes of the camo Raptors and Spurs uniform as well as the Brooklyn grey and blue shirt. Thoughts?

The only thing uglier in my opinion is the fact that Rodney Stuckey had things to say about the Pistons organization after signing a one year deal with the Indiana Pacers. The Detroit Free Press has the scoop. I find it interesting that Stuckey can somewhat admit that he played a part in the losing mentality in Detroit.

"“I’m very humble, I’m very down to earth, I’m very respectful (but) I just don’t like to lose. In Detroit, I’ve had people accept losing and I don’t accept that,” Stuckey said. “Yeah, I had my confrontations and whatnot. Was I wrong in some parts? Yeah, I admit it. Yeah, I was. It was all out of frustration.“I was young and you live and learn, you go through every situation,” Stuckey continued. “I’m 28 now, I’ve been through a lot of different experiences throughout life and I know how to handle different situations now. That’s just how it is. I know for sure when I come in here, I’m definitely going to respect each and every one of these guys. I’m coming in to learn. I want to learn and I want to get everything down and make sure we’re all going to be on the same page. There’s not going to be separation between me and any other person on the team and even in the organization. I’m just ready to come in, I’m ready to learn and I’m ready to compete with my team.”"

Two for the Road:

— Crossover Chronicles takes a look at the possibility of TNT airing the NBA Finals in the near future.

— 5’7″ point guard Yuki Togashi is taking over the Summer League and people are comparing him to Muggsey Bogues,

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