With just one trade and one draft, the Detroit Pistons’ once-worst position has become the position that may have the most potential. The Pistons are no longer severely outmatched at the small forward position. Now at the three position, they have a one-two-punch in Marcus Morris and Stanley Johnson — both of which are capable of starting.
Stan Van Gundy and the rest of the Detroit staff went into the offseason recognizing that small forward was their biggest position of concern. Once the Pistons signed Irsan Ilyasova to take over as a power forward, ties were cut with Caron Butler. Butler was playing at small forward at the end of the season, the previous starter before him, Kyle Singler had been traded to Oklahoma City, and Tayshaun Prince obviously with age wasn’t the same player that fans loved in the mid-2000s.
The plan of attack for a new small forward in the offseason started with high-profile and well-known small forwards like DeMarre Carrol, Danny Green, Tobias Harris, and even Draymond Green. While rumors floated around and whispers of Draymond returning to Michigan to be close to his hometown of Saginaw and his alma mater Michigan State were music to Pistons fans’ ears, Plans A, B, C, and D didn’t pan out.
Each player either preferred the team they currently were on or sought out a more lucrative contract. And perhaps the Pistons were better off not spending so much money on players that may not be as successful as the money they received suggests they will be.
Instead, the Pistons traded for Marcus Morris, a small forward who had been playing behind his twin brother, not getting many opportunities to start. But his new position insured that he would get his opportunity to showcase his talents in Detroit. He wasn’t the flashy name that the Pistons hoped they would pick up, but he shouldn’t be seen as a disappointment. Morris, at 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, has the size to defend the best at the position. He’ll also fit well into Van Gundy’s offense with his ability to shoot. He shot 43% from the field, while shooting 36% from behind the arc. Arguably, acquiring Morris is a better value than any other small forward the Pistons could have gotten this offseason.
While Morris will be the starter on opening night, but before he even became a Piston, Detroit found their small forward of the future in Stanley Johnson.
The Pistons had a choice between forwards Justice Winslow and Johnson, and went with the better choice with the latter. Johnson, who won the Julius Irving Small Forward of the Year award last year at Arizona, can also shoot the three ball and has the potential to be an elite defender in the NBA. He’s two inches shorter than Morris, but his ability to attack toward the basket and his near-seven-foot wingspan will bode him well at the position on both sides of the ball.
Johnson will get slightly less minutes at the start of the season than Morris, but could take over the starting spot as he gains experience in the league and plays against opponents other than those in the summer league that he dominated.
Danny Granger, who is still fighting for a roster spot, could be another small forward on the roster, but he will most likely sit the bench without earning significant minutes if he makes the cut.
Grade: The Pistons receive a B at the small forward position for having an above-average, but unproven starter, and a potential future All-Star as the current backup.
Next: Detroit Pistons roster analysis: point guards