Should the Detroit Pistons target Jon Leuer in free agency?

With free agency set to begin on Thursday at midnight, Detroit Pistons’ coach Stan Van Gundy has said the team will be looking to add size. A power forward who can shoot like Jon Leuer surely deserves a close look.

The Detroit Pistons only have three bigs that are a lock to make the team: Andre Drummond, Aron Baynes and Henry Ellenson. According to Stan Van Gundy, the team will be looking to add two more big men this offseason.

Via Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press:

"“We’ve got to go out and get two bigs,” Van Gundy said. “Four (power forward) or five (center) or whatever. It’s more about skills and ability than position. We need two bigger guys, even though Marcus (Morris) and Tobias (Harris) will play there (power forward) a lot. Look at our (Cleveland) series. Kevin Love was a huge factor, not just with the threes, but down low. We didn’t even have an option there. If the playoffs every year teach you anything you have to have a versatile roster to be able to answer things that come up, and that’s one we couldn’t answer last year. Henry starts us on that path. I’d like to get one more like Henry, a four-man that can play some five. I think you need some insurance for injury.”"

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We all know that Tobias Harris will continue to start at the four, but Van Gundy wants to add size. While Ellenson’s development in summer league and beyond could change plans at some point during the season, the plan this summer is to add a legitimate power forward in free agency.

The free agent market doesn’t offer much in the way of power forwards, but there are a few names that come to mind after reading Van Gundy’s comments. I think a guy like Jon Leuer could fit in nicely.

Leuer seems like SVG’s kind of guy. He’s got enough size at 6-foot-10 with a seven-foot wingspan, he shoots the three at a 37.5% clip, and he’s comfortable playing in the paint.

Last season was Leuer’s best in the pros. In 18.7 minutes per game for the Suns, he put up 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game. He added 10 double doubles to the mix, and the analytics were solid as well – a 55.5% true shooting percentage, 16.3% rebound percentage, and a 16.2 PER.

Leuer will be comfortable with a smaller role, which is all the Pistons can offer, and he should command a small enough price tag to make him a realistic option.

Thus far, the Van Gundy regime hasn’t gone for the home run in free agency. I don’t see why that would change this offseason in the face of moderate cap space and a weak free agent class.

Next: Could Deron Williams fit the Detroit Pistons?

Leuer makes for a solid role player that can do a little bit of everything on offense. He wouldn’t be an electrifying signing, but I think he fits the roster well. What do you guys think?

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