Detroit Pistons: Three players under the radar going into this season

The Detroit Pistons have role players that have a lot to prove coming into a new season under a new head coach. Which guys should we be talking about more?

All off-season, we have been talking about how important it is for the Detroit Pistons to keep their foundation in tact if this team wants to succeed. That main core consists of Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, and Blake Griffin.

What about the other players on this team that might surprise some people? Looking at the roster, it’s apparent that some of the guys underachieved under former Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy.

Dwane Casey got the most out of his role and utility players in Toronto. That’s what helped him set a franchise record with 59 wins last season.

Outside of the household names, which Piston players could have a big season?

Langston Galloway

A lot of fans were upset when the Detroit Pistons signed Galloway in the off-season last year. It was more to do with the contract rather than the player.

He signed a three-year deal worth $21 million. Considering the amount of time he was on the floor last season, it definitely felt like too much.

There were times where Galloway would come in and contribute on the way to 20 minutes off the bench. Other nights he wasn’t hitting shots and Van Gundy would pull him.

After that, it was like he wasn’t even on the team. He rode the bench and only played when the game was out of reach.

No matter how you feel about either party, it’s not right. Galloway is a guy that has the skill set to excel under Casey. He’s a bit of a combo guard that can light up a scoreboard from long-range when he has the hot hand.

Casey has emphasized multiple times that he wants the team to take a lot of outside shots and get looks around the rim. The season before coming to Detroit, Galloway shot 39 percent from deep.

Jon Leuer

Leuer was brought over in 2016 to be a spark that could come off the bench and start when the team might be down a man. He set career high’s in points, rebounds, and assists.

He didn’t shoot particularly well from beyond the three-point line. He shot 29 percent from beyond the arc in 75 games.

He’ll need to be better from there if he expects to extend his role at all this season. However, Leuer shot 48 percent from the field overall that season which is adequate for a role player coming off the bench.

Last season was a wash for Leuer. He appeared in just eight games before going down with a season-ending injury. Detroit’s bench production was below average last season and really missed Leuer’s presence.

With Anthony Tolliver out of the mix, the team will be looking for someone to step up and be the second power forward in the rotation. Leuer should be a favorable candidate for the job.

He might be able to make the most of it in this new system. Leuer is an efficient scorer around the basket and is aggressive on the glass. There’s potential here with a guy who has a lot to prove.

Luke Kennard

So many people have written off Kennard simply because of what Donovan Mitchell did last season with the Utah Jazz. That’s not exactly fair to compare him to a guy that was a sensation last season as a rookie.

Overall, Kennard had a decent season with the Detroit Pistons. He was a sharp shooter on the floor. He shot 44 percent from the field and 41 percent from long range. Kennard averaged seven points while playing 20 minutes a night in his rookie season.

He’s a guy that can thrive in Casey’s system because of the spacing. His teammates that will be on the floor at the same time will benefit as well.

Not only is he good at moving without the basketball, but his spacing will cause a lot of attention from other teams. As a younger player, Casey will have a high priority in developing Kennard’s game further.

It’s something that Van Gundy didn’t really seem interested in. Kennard seemed as though he was in a bubble on the court as far as limitations go. He’s a good-sized combo guard that can handle the ball well. Why wouldn’t you experiment with him?