It’s no secret that Bleacher Report and ESPN think that the Detroit Pistons didn’t make strategic moves this off-season, but it’s not what they think it’s what we fans think.
Over the years being a Detroit Pistons is hard in itself. Make no mistake, last season everyone had high expectations for a Pistons team that came off of a season where they returned to the playoffs after seven long years. This past season was hard to watch as they came into the season with high expectations but the issues were clear to start the season.
With the injury of Pistons starting point guard Reggie Jackson, the Pistons were in full desperation mode to begin the season as he was out for the first 21 games. Although they were (11-10) in that 21 game stretch, it seemed the Pistons were on the right track when Jackson returned to the starting role. At this point, Pistons fans were excited that Jackson was returning, but he struggled mightily and the team limped to a 37-45 record.
In the front office, you always have to think long-term, what benefits your team, and what the future holds. It was evident last season that Pistons were in need of some critical skills that were obvious last season. Head coach Stan Van Gundy announced early in the off-season that they had three goals to accomplish this off-season.
- “Put the best team on the floor that we can next year.”
- “Maintain as much flexibility as we could.”
- “Manage the luxury tax situation.”
June 28, 2017: Traded Darrun Hilliard to Houston for cash considerations.
July 1, 2017: Signed draft pick Luke Kennard to a multi-year contract.
July 6, 2017: Signed Langston Galloway to a multi-year contract.
July 6, 2017: Signed Eric Moreland to a multi-year contract.
July 7, 2017: Traded Marcus Morris to the Boston Celtics for Avery Bradley and a 2019 2nd round draft pick.
July 7, 2017: Withdrew their qualifying offer and renounced the rights to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
July 14, 2017: Signed Reggie Bullock to a multi-year contract.
July 14, 2017: Signed Anthony Tolliver.
July 15, 2017: Waived Michael Gbinjie.
July 24, 2017: Signed Luis Montero to a two-way contract.
July 26, 2017: Signed Landry Nnoko.
The Pistons front office has done an excellent job this off-season improving this team across the board. The most notable signing being shooting guard Avery Bradley. They may have lost their shooting guard in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but Bradley is just what fans and the organization hoped KCP would develop into. Bradley,26, is most acknowledged for his perimeter defense even though he was left out of this year’s first and second all-defensive team. Last season he had a career year with the Boston Celtics as he averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Although most people didn’t seem him as much as of a shooting threat last season, Bradley shot 39 percent from three and had an overall field goal percentage of 46.3. Shooting was obviously one of the biggest predicaments as they were in the bottom ten of almost if not all statistical shooting categories.
With shooting in mind, the Pistons got a two-for-one package in Anthony Tolliver. Tolliver has a veteran presence that was evident that the Pistons were in need of last season. Without Tolliver last season they didn’t have that locker room presence that helped them get to the playoffs in the 2015-16 season. With the Sacramento Kings, last season Tolliver averaged 7.1 points and shot 39.1 percent from three which would have made him Pistons’ best three-point shooter last season. Reggie Bullock was their best three-point shooter as he shot 38. 4 percent from three. So it obviously it was a point of interest for SVG to resign both Tolliver and Bullock.
With the much-improved shooting with acquisitions of Luke Kennard, Bradley, Bullock, Tolliver, and Galloway the Pistons could surprise the NBA with a total around in every shooting category. Certainly, the Pistons will have their fair share of dilemmas, but without a doubt, shooting won’t be one of them.
As a Pistons fan, I think this is the kind of Pistons team I want on the floor, after all Bradley wants to bring that bad boy mentality back. So let’s get excited about this team next year. They may surprise you.
As the Pistons head back, Motown let everyone in Detroit know what the Detroit Pistons are all about: grit, grind, and heart.