Detroit Pistons: It's time for fans to Trust the Progress

Many Detroit Pistons fans have become frustrated with Andre Drummond and think he could be moved to acquire a superstar or a player with more potential, but don’t give up on the Pistons’ 23 year old center just yet.

All across the Detroit Pistons fandon, writers, fans, and sites including Piston Powered have featured articles regarding trades involving one or more of the Pistons core. Heck, I’m even guilty of it.

One name that continues to pop up, and could probably net the Pistons the most in return, is Andre Drummond. Throughout his career, fans have become increasingly frustrated with his free throw woes, seemingly sulky attitude, and lackluster rim protection, however he has made significant strides since his entry into the league as 19-year-old in Detroit.

Coming out of the University of Connecticut in 2012, many analysts weren’t very high on Andre Drummond. Many analysts considered Drummond a boom or bust player, and nobody really knew his potential.

Bill Simmons, formerly of Grantland, said Drummond had “[…] had all the textbook Thabeet/Kwame/Darko red flags […].” ESPN’s Chad Ford had Drummond ranked in the third tier of rookie prospects, behind Thomas Robinson and in the same tier as Dion Waiters.

His rookie season with the Detroit Pistons, where he played an average of 20.7 minutes per game, Drummond averaged 7.9 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 1.6 blocks per game, 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 37.1 percent from the free throw line.

During Drummond’s first three seasons, he was forced to play alongside the likes of Josh Smith and Greg Monroe which proved ineffective and didn’t allow for him to develop an inside-post game as well as run the pick-and-roll. During this time, Drummond only averaged 12.1 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game, and managed to shoot 57.0 percent from the field.

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Under Stan Van Gundy, however, Drummond flourished. He averaged 14.9 points per game, 14.0 rebounds per game, adding in 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, and still managing to shoot over 50 percent from the field.

Andre Drummond absolutely been dominant in the pick-and-roll under Stan Van Gundy. He ranks 8th among centers this year (min 50 possessions) in points per possession. He also finished the 2014-15 season ranked in the top 10 of centers in points per possession in the pick-and-roll.

Drummond hasn’t only been a one-trick pony, however. Following the departures of Josh Smith and Greg Monroe, he has been slowly developing a post-game. His shot percentage from inside five feet has risen from 57.1 percent in 2014-15, to 57.7 percent in 2015-16, to 61.3 percent this season.

Drummond has been getting more comfortable with his baby hook over the past three seasons as well. In 2014-15 he made 85 shots with the baby hook, 137 last season, and has 82 this season and we are only 43 games in.

It’s time for fans to be patient with Drummond. He has slowly improved his defensive ability and motor, which was always seen as a weakness of his. More notably, he has drastically improved his free throw shooting, improving nearly 10 percent more than last season.

These slow improvements as well as Drummond’s young age (can you believe he’s only 23?) lead me to believe that his ceiling is very high, and I’m not ready to give up on him just yet for that reason.

Drummond is a social media icon, a frequent on the NBA 2k video game, and the Pistons only true superstar. Losing him would be losing the face of the Pistons’ franchise.

Next: Ranking the Pistons' untouchable players

So Pistons Nation, as you scroll through your respective social media’s timeline in the next month or so, be wary of the trade scenarios involving the 23 year old big man. Don’t get beguiled by these fantasy trade rumors and scenarios and simply trust the progress.

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