Stanley Johnson likes what Detroit Pistons have done

The Detroit Pistons have had a number of roster changes this offseason. In the end, Stanley Johnson is impressed by the moves and thinks that the Pistons will have tremendous success this offseason–more so than others would likely wager.

The Detroit Pistons have added Ish Smith, Jon Leuer, Boban Marjanovic, Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije. Gone are Jodie Meeks and Anthony Tolliver.

Pistons fans have to be pleased with the improvements the team has made this offseason, but many wouldn’t pick the team to be able to compete this season with the best in the NBA.

Stanley Johnson would have to disagree.

Johnson via Detroit Free Press:

"“I think we added some great pieces to our team,” Johnson said. “Like Stan said before … a lot of our improvement would be going toward the in-house stuff. So I think, between me and Pope and Marcus (Morris) and Andre (Drummond), I think we made a lot of improvement with our team, in-house.“On paper, you won’t be able to see until the seasons starts, but I think we’re a team that’s going to be really competitive in the NBA, in general, and not just in the Eastern Conference. We’re focused.”"

Reading between the lines, Johnson essentially is saying that he thinks the Pistons will contend with the better teams in the NBA.

Typically this time of year you hear a lot of this sort of stuff during the offseason–particularly with second or third tier teams like the Detroit Pistons.

Yet, I see a scenario where the Pistons could be a 50 plus win team. I see a scenario where the Pistons could go to the Eastern Conference finals–albeit unlikely–and give the Cleveland Cavaliers a run for their money.

So I can’t say I disagree with Johnson’s comments, though I think the chances of the team being THAT good is much more unlikely than Johnson does.

For the Pistons to be as good as Johnson thinks they will be, the players he mentioned–along with Reggie Jackson–will have to have made significant strides on their weaknesses.

That means that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris become more consistent on offense, Reggie Jackson finds a better balance of passing/attacking on offense (and he becomes a passable defender on more defensive possessions), and Andre Drummond becomes better in the post and has a respectable free throw percentage.

I think all of those asks are realistic to achieve, but the degree to which those players improve those attributes has to be substantial to equate to the level of success Johnson anticipates.

What do you guys think Pistons’ fans? Will the Pistons be one of the bests teams in the NBA next season?