Reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2009, the Detroit Pistons are a young, improving squad looking for more. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope must be a guy to give them more.
Getting swept in the first round of the playoffs was not a failure for the Detroit Pistons, but rather an accomplishment. It was the first time the ball club reached the playoffs in seven years, and they competed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the later-to-be champions, tougher than any other Eastern team with a young squad and struggling bench (fourth-worst last year).
Now looking to achieve more in seasons to come, the club must keep moving forward. With the bench improving due to offseason acquisitions Ish Smith, Jon Leuer, Boban Marjanovic, Henry Ellenson, and Michael Gbinije joining the team along with Stanley Johnson dominating the Orlando summer league, it’s the starters’ turns to shape up. The one guy that should feel the most obligated to further improve his game is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
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Since being drafted eighth overall in the 2013 NBA draft, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been solid for Detroit. He finished his rookie campaign averaging 5.9 pts, 0.7 ast, and 2.0 reb per game and now averages 14.5 pts, 1.8 ast, and 3.7 reb per game. Again, these numbers are solid, but can and should be better by next year. Not because he is the team’s leader (as Reggie Jackson has appeared to assume) or the only reliable shooting guard on the team (backups include Darrun Hillard, Gbinije, Reggie Bullock, and Johnson), but because it’s time.
It’s time for the Georgia product to drastically improve as he is entering a contract year. During this time next year, it will be Stan Van Gundy’s and Jeff Bower’s choice to offer KCP a luxurious contract to extend his stay with Detroit.
As KCP has evolved to one of the better defenders in the NBA, a 42 percent field goal percentage, a 30 percent three-point percentage, and an average of 14.5 ppg again may not be enough to satisfy the front office, causing the Pistons to move down the road to other 2017 free agent shooting guards such as Victor Oladipo, C.J. McCollum, or J.J. Redick.
It’s also time for KCP to drastically improve due to the results others chosen AFTER him have produced: C.J. McCollum and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both players emerged as superstars for the ball clubs last year. C.J. McCollum, selected 10th overall, stepped up with Damian Lillard and led Portland to a third straight playoff appearance while averaging 20.8 ppg. Giannis Antetokounmpo, drafted 15th overall, surfaced as the unstoppable Greek Freak.
As it may not be fair to expect KCP to put up similar numbers as the mammoth small forward in Milwaukee, it’s not unjust to expect closer numbers to McCollum as both are shooting guards from the same rookie class.
Caldwell-Pope does turn 24 next year, the same age McCollum emerged as a super star, so it’s quite possible improving is an age thing. Additionally, team-mate Andre Drummond emerged as an all-star his fourth year in the league, so it’s also quite possible it’s an experience thing as well (2016-2017 will be KCP’s fourth year).
No matter the thing, every player on the Piston squad must further improve if the organization wants to further succeed. That’s an assumption for every NBA team. It just happens that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a starter entering a contract year that could arise to even more (as Drummond, McCollum, and Greek Freak have) to show he’s worth it for Detroit to keep.
Next: Extending KCP is the Detroit Pistons' final offseason goal
Stan Van Gundy has already indicated Detroit’s plan to resign Caldwell-Pope, so now it’s time for Caldwell-Pope to show he’s worth the plan.