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Detroit Pistons farewell series: A quick review of Darrun Hilliard’s two-year tenure in the Motor City

By Justin Prince

CORDOBA, ARGENTINA - SEPTEMBER 02: Darrun Hilliard II of United States handles the ball during the FIBA Americup semi final match between US and Virgin Islands at Orfeo Superdomo arena on September 2, 2017 in Cordoba, Argentina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/NBAE via Getty Images)
CORDOBA, ARGENTINA - SEPTEMBER 02: Darrun Hilliard II of United States handles the ball during the FIBA Americup semi final match between US and Virgin Islands at Orfeo Superdomo arena on September 2, 2017 in Cordoba, Argentina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the 2017-18 NBA season right around the corner, the Detroit Pistons are heading into training camp with six new players compared to last season’s roster. One player they moved on from this offseason was Darrun Hilliard II.

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Darrun Hilliard was traded by the Detroit Pistons to the Houston Rockets on June 28 for cash considerations. His wild offseason continued when he was then sent to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Chris Paul trade. He was then waived by the Clippers the following day.

The 6’6″ shooting guard’s offseason finally ended with him settling down in Lone Star State last week. Hilliard agreed to a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs on Sept. 11. That means he will spend the bulk of the year with their NBA G-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.

The former 2015 second-round draft pick had averaged 3.6 points and 38 percent shooting in 77 career games with Detroit.

The 24-year-old had also averaged under 10 minutes per game in his two seasons in the Motor City.

Hilliard was also named to the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup’s All-Star Five earlier this month.

While Hilliard did not get many chances to prosper with the Pistons in the big leagues, the Villanova product showed his scoring potential on a few separate occasions.

He got his first chance to shine during his rookie year on Jan. 9, 2016 against the Brooklyn Nets. The Pistons, who had multiple injuries at the time, gave Hilliard 20 minutes of playing time. He responded by scoring eight points along with four rebounds and an assist:

Hilliard went on to earn significant minutes a few more times that season, including making two starts. He also recorded his career highs in points (13) and minutes (28:51) during Detroit’s run to the eighth seed in the playoffs.

In 2016-17, Hilliard did not see the floor as much as he did the previous season. He played 20 minutes or more just twice last year compared to his six similar minute total games in 2015-16.

In one of those major-minute games seen Hilliard tie his career high in points near the end of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies:

Hilliard shot 45 percent from the field when about 10-16 feet from the basket and just below 39 percent from 16 feet to just inside the three-point line with the Pistons.

He also showed that scoring ability when he played in the G-League.

In his seven appearances for the Grand Rapids Drive, Hilliard averaged 24.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33.6 minutes. That includes a 28-point performance against the Westchester Knicks in January:

There are two questions surrounding how he plays in the future: how will he improve defensively and how will he improve his three-point shot consistency?

Hilliard had a defensive rating of 109 points allowed per 100 possessions in 2016-17 with Detroit. That ranked him tenth on the team.

He also made just 31 three-point attempts on 96 tries over the course of those two years. That is about 32.3 percent from beyond the arc. Hilliard also took a step back at the FIBA AmeriCup in that aspect, making just two out of 17 attempts with a shorter three-point line.

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If Hilliard can keep up his consistent shot from mid-range, progress on the defensive end and take advantage of the chances he gets, he will surely be successful on the court in both San Antonio and Austin this season.

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