Who should be the Detroit Pistons’ franchise guy?

Signing Andre Drummond to a max contract last offseason indicated the Piston organization intended Drummond to be Detroit’s main man: a player to build a team around. Though, after failing to reach the same success a year later in 2016-2017, should Drummond still be deemed as Detroit’s franchise guy?

At the end of last year’s summer, the Detroit Pistons looked pretty entering the 2016-2017 season. The team revamped their bench, reached the playoffs a season before for the first time in six seasons, and added another year of experience and offseason to improve under their youthful, talented belts.

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Then, the season came, went, and Detroit utterly failed. The Pistons finished 37-45, missed the playoffs, and played mediocre basketball for much of the year: a season many did not expect.

Many factors had a role in Detroit’s failure for the year, though much of it had to do with key players under-performing. Key players like Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond.

Reggie Jackson is granted a slight pass as he was hobbled by knee-tenditnitus, an injury that kept him out 20+ games and affected his overall confidence and performance, while Andre Drummond is granted no pass.

In 81 games, Andre Drummond averaged 13.6 points per game and 13.8 rebounds per game: 2.6 points and 1.0 rebound less than his averages in 2015-2016.

In fact, those averages are nearly similar to his averages from his 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons. How can a franchise guy man make such a regression?

Drummond’s a great personality and player for the Detroit Pistons, but when will the former all-star center finally eclipse? Can he really be ‘the guy,’ especially if his energy isn’t there nightly?

With everything considered, Andre Drummond may or may not be Detroit’s ‘guy’ destined to bring success in the future. Therefore, the Piston organization may steer in a different dirrection.

Fortunately, if the organization does intend to steer away direction from Andre Drummond, they may not have to steer too far if or with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tobias Harris around.

Those two players right there could be the center piece for Detroit success.

During the past season, Caldwell-Pope and Harris made up majority of Detroit’s offense. Additionally, they presented plenty upside and benefits: young, progressive talents who can score in multitudes of ways as well as appear fully immersed with their Detroit Piston team.

Tobias Harris, alone, proved he is all in with the Detroit Pistons as he accepted and prospered with his move to the bench.

As for the players’ performances and potential, it’s evident.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope recently was ranked the sixth best shooting guard in the league and made a huge leap with his 3-point percentage in 2016: something highlighly requested from Stan Van Gundy.

As for Tobias Harris, he was Detroit’s most valuable player who could score in a multitude of ways. Also, as for Caldwell Pope, too, Harris cared and was clutch when down late.

Next: 3-on-3: Detroit Pistons offseason decisions – Part 2

Now, for the Detroit Pistons, they sit in a okay position. They can either stand pat with their intended franchise man in Drummond who still has potential and motivation (hopefully) left in him, or transition towards Caldwell-Pope and Harris who were two great scorers and fully committed men for Detroit in 2016.