The Year of Weird: Wrapping up the 2020-21 Detroit Pistons season with Omari Sankofa

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) talked to the gentlemen of The Uncontested (@The_Uncontested) podcast, the Oklahoma City Thunder podcast on the Blue Wire podcast network, about the chaotic 2021 NBA Draft, Cade Cunnigham's game, and the Detroit Pistons' second-round selections. That, in turn, became a discussion about basketball chameleons, Troy Weaver's taste in centers, how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander compares to Cade Cunningham, how relieved Laz is to escape this surprisingly chaotic draft with Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma City flipping over their timeline, ideal fits around SGA and Cade, hoping for a normal offseason of development for guys like Darius Bazley and Killian Hayes, and much more.. Follow The Uncontested for updates on when or if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets traded or extended, and for all your other OKC Thunder team needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) talked to Sean Derenthal (@odetooden) about Cade Cunnigham's game and why he's the top prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft. That, in turn, became a discussion about position-less initiators, the value of posting up in 2021, what 20 minutes on YouTube gets you, Paul George, spending most of your time not defending the ball, what 60% of No.1 overall picks only do once, time warping your perception of prospects, LeBron James playing until he's 45, 75th percentile outcomes, splitting the baby on turnovers, Sean's time in Philadelphia, Paul George again, growing up in Ohio, why it's not yet time to give up on Killian Hayes, organizing on SLOBs, selling hope to fans, and much, much more. Sean is exactly the person I wanted to talk to for this podcast, as a guy with prior, recent NBA experience who does not mince words about prospects. Follow Sean on Twitter, read his work at The Stepien, and subscribe to his Patreon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On lottery night, the Detroit Pistons were rewarded for the effort and fight they put in every night last season with the #1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. In all likelihood, they will take Cade Cunningham, the star guard/forward out of Oklahoma State.  THIS IS A BIG DEAL Y'ALL. DETROIT IS GONNA BE ON THE MAP. For more great Detroit Pistons content, follow Pistons vs Everybody host Lazarus Jackson on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) talked to Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) about what the end of the Pistons' season, and Troy Weaver's comments during his last press conference of the season. That, in turn, became a discussion about collecting centers, covering an NBA team during a global pandemic, what nickname we should give guys who play for the Motor City Cruise, being beloved in Memphis,  Hamidou Diallo opening some eyes, the much-improved social media work of the Michigan State Spartans, MVP ballots, the best quote Troy Weaver gave this season, who the Pistons like in this year's draft, agents getting mad about the Rising Stars Challenge, giving up leverage in restricted free agency negotiations, Dwane Casey feeling rejuvenated, Sada Baby concerts for 1,000 people, and much, much more. Follow Omari on Twitter, and read his work at the Detroit Free Press.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) and PD Web (@abovethebreak3) talk about the Detroit Pistons' options at the top of the 2021 NBA Draft, and the progression of the Pistons' rookies from the 2020 NBA Draft.  That, in turn, became a discussion about primary equity, Mick Foley, strength as a relative concept, styles making fights, three different Jalens, getting to 250, Detroit Bloodbath, the easiest problem to solve in the NBA, the square root of 144, Sharife Cooper, chaos agents, predictable struggles, generational big men, a symphony on defense, the single best development situation for a guard in the last 20 years, Rasheed Wallace in high school, properly valuing role players, un-retiring numbers in 2060, and much, much more. PD is a longform thinker, someone I learn something from every time I read him, and a funny dude. Follow him on Twitter, check out his Twitch channel and his YouTube channel, where he breaks down film of prospects, and support him on Patreon. His Patreon is free and I pay for it anyway because that's how smart he is.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) goes solo to talk about Killian Hayes' improvement since his return, Isaiah Stewart's lack of limitations, and some NBA Draft talk.  That led to some unstructured rambling about: Damian Lillard shooting with his abs Kai Jones dunking everything in sight Laz's Perfect Pistons Team; Killian Hayes, Evan Mobley, and three Saddiq Beys The lottery odds conversation we were having at the beginning of the year The new schedule for Pistons Vs. Everybody Killian Vs. LaMelo in May The Pistons only winning 3 more games this season Bennedict Mathurin and pre-drafting Josh Jackson vs. Hamidou Diallo And much, much more. Thanks for listening!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) goes solo to talk about the Killian Hayes - Hamidou Diallo backcourt, Jalen Suggs and Cade Cunningham as fits on the Pistons, and Detroit's options in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.  That, in turn, became a discussion about force multiplication, doing the math on getting to 25 points a night, the mirage of a guard with the last name "Mitchell" wearing 45 in Detroit, a rookie making Detroit Pistons history, not doing the reading, Frank Jackson doing more by doing less, name-dropping other podcasts, JJ Barea the GAWD, watching the Killian-Hami lob 30 times, operating on the weakside offensively, Dudes I Like,  Cory Joseph doing less by doin' tew much, my one concern about Cade Cunningham, Elite Athleticism, and much, much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) talked to Mark Schindler (@MSchindlerNBA) about the Detroit Pistons' loss to the Indiana Pacers, and each team's plans at the trade deadline.   That, in turn, became a discussion about Edmond Sumner's progression, how much dominating the G-League is worth, Batman: The Animated Series, Isaiah Stewart being ready to fire from downtown,  Henry Ellenson, Jerami Grant maintaining production even as his efficiency falls, Josh Smith, The Process Sixers, Saben Lee's poise, why Captain America: The Winter Soldier makes so much more sense than Wonder Woman: 1984, the importance of developing talent in a non-glamour NBA market, how Sekou Doumbouya and Aaron Holiday are alike, how Caris LeVert helps the Pacers make the pieces fit, Saddiq Bey creating chemistry, and much, much more.  Follow Mark on Twitter, and read his thoughts about the NBA at large on Premium Hoops, and his thoughts on the Indiana Pacers specifically on Indy Cornrows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) goes solo to talk about the timeline for Killian Hayes' return and your fake trades prior to the NBA Trade Deadline on March 25th.  That, in turn, became a discussion about playing at your own pace, a mulligan on Marvin Bagley, Terrance Ferguson's RIDICULOUS pre-draft combine YouTube highlights, why Sekou Doumbouya is worth too much to the Detroit Pistons and too little to anyone else, my theory about Troy Weaver and Zach LaVine-types, Jerami Grant not wanting to play in Boston, bone-crunching screens, connecting the dots in the DMV, Kristaps' Porzingis' max contract, Hamidou Diallo and duplicate skill sets, Miles Bridges and Josh Jackson's offseason Detroit runs, level-setting, and much, much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lazarus Jackson (@lazchance) talked to Rafael Barlowe (@Barlowe500) about the Detroit Pistons Core Four: Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, and Saben Lee. They also talked about the Top-5 prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft: Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Kuminga, and Jalen Green.  Rafael recently took over the Locked on Draft podcast, Pistons fans should listen to him there. Also, Pistons fans will definitely want to check out Rafael's work on his YouTube channel, where in addition to his analysis, he has workout footage of Sekou Doumbouya to help remind you of Sekou's potential.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices