Wednesday, March 25, 2015

In hindsight, Joe Dumars was probably right taking Kentavious Caldwell-Pope over Trey Burke

There were many things that went wrong for Joe Dumars during his last years with the Pistons, but the final straw was the selecting Georgia shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope over local hero, Michigan point guard Trey Burke, in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Caldwell-Pope
Burke
But since the All Star break, KCP is averaging 15.4 points per game and shooting 43 percent. He is averaging 12.6 points per game overall, and seems to be a part of the trio of current Pistons Stan Van Gundy is building his program around with Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson. Caldwell-Pope has scored 27 and 26 points the last two games vs. Toronto and Boston. KCP had 15 points and the Pistons were plus-27 with him on the floor in a win over Chicago Saturday. The season will end with his stock rising, while Burke's is falling in Utah.
After playing well as a rookie, Burke's numbers across the board are down and he hasn't always started. On Monday, Burke compounded a 4-for-22 shooting night against Minnesota by ignoring Jazz coach Quin Synder's instructions to a shoot a 3-pointer by taking a layup with his team down by three during the waning seconds. He made the shot, but it was essentially worthless. He apologized to his teammates afterward.
If KCP ends up being a better NBA player than Burke - and it seems likely at this stage - it will hardly be vindication for the Dumars' final years in the Pistons' front office.
But it would be twist, one certainly not anticipated at the time of Dumars' departure.

My Column. Why Matthew Stafford was clearly the right first overall pick in the '09 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150325/pat-caputo-little-doubt-matthew-stafford-right-1st-overall-nfl-draft-pick-for-detroit-lions-in-09

My column. Enjoy, for these are the glory days of MSU Spartans sports: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150323/pat-caputo-enjoy-for-these-are-the-glory-days-of-msu-spartans-sports

My column. Why Brad Ausmus unlikely an "X" factor one way or another for the Tigers: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150321/pat-caputo-why-brad-ausmus-unlikely-an-x-factor-one-way-or-another-for-the-detroit-tigers

1 Comments:

Blogger Barry said...

Pat, I still like the pick of Statford and maybe he will be more consistence as he ages. I still like him stationary when he throws even his arm allows him to balls without both feet planted. If I was the Lions, I would go for a Tackle at 23. There nothing wrong picking up a guard in the 3rd round either.

9:01 PM 

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