How the Pistons should approach this offseason
In general, the Detroit Pistons don’t have a lot of cap room to work with or a high draft pick. How should the Pistons approach this off-season?
The Detroit Pistons has had a string of few disappointing off-season.
2016 was an off-season of over paying guys like Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, and the GOAT of bench warming, Jon Leuer.
2017 was a year that built up to the $32 million cap eater of the Blake Griffin contract. The awful Henry Ellenson who the Pistons finally gave up on.
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2018 a year of guards like Langston Galloway, and Luke Kennard.
Somehow, the Detroit Pistons found a way of also having $5.3 million in dead cap from none other than Josh Smith.
They also have a $11 million cap hold on Ish Smith, -which can be removed if the team wishes, with no extra charge-.
Overall, the Pistons cap doesn’t look so bad. Actually it does, the Pistons have a total of $117 million in salary shoots for the 2019-20 season, the NBA cap for 2019 is $109 million. The Pistons are nearly $9 million over that. If they go $15 million over they are in the luxury tax.
The team is also projected to be in the 16-19 draft picking range, so we’ll work with that assumption. Let’s start up by viewing the draft and how the Detroit Pistons should target players.
It all starts with the draft, three guys the Pistons should draft
The Pistons clearly don’t have enough young guys that can carry success for the Pistons future, this draft possess a ton of raw and skilled talent. We’re going to be focusing on these few things the Pistons need.
- Key two way player at the wing
- Back up for Reggie Jackson to replace Ish Smith
- Athletic and skilled big man
Here are our choices:
Sekou Doumbouya; Limoges (France); SF
15.7 MPG, 52% FG, 6.5 PPG, 3 REB, 0.5 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.5 BLK
Don’t let Doumbouya’s stats fool you, the Euro-League plays people based off experience and not skill (most the time).
Doumbouya is someone the Pistons should definitely look at, he’s a lengthy 18 year old who’s standing at 6’9.
He’s got great athleticism which translates in his game to running the floor in transition. He’s tough and not scared, he understands how to use his body. This all helps him with his ability to play good defense and switch onto small defenders.
He’s definitely someone who the Pistons wouldn’t generally draft, but someone the Pistons shouldn’t be scared to draft either.
Coby White; University of North Carolina; PG/SG
28.2 MPG, 43% FG, 16.3 PPG, 3.4 REB, 4.2 AST, 1.0 STL, 2.4 3PM
White might not fall to the Detroit Pistons, he might go into the lottery or one pick outside of it. But, if the 6’5 freshman guard is still open the Pistons shouldn’t look away to not draft him.
White has a natural scoring ability who can shoot from the perimeter off the catch. He’s also got a great dribble drive ability and is able to go to the lane with ease.
His defense is also something that could be loved, he’s able to switch off defenders well and give his man a tough time.
You’re going to ask me now, why add him to the plethora of guards the Pistons have? Well here’s a few reasons to draft him.
- Replacement for Ish Smith
- Can play off the ball just as well with the ball
- Gives defense that Jackson wouldn’t
You don’t need him to play the one guard, he can play the two guard and should the Pistons draft him, I think he would be a good fit over time.
Bol Bol; Oregon; C
29.8 MPG, 57% FG, 21 PPG, 9.6 REB, 2.7 BLK, 52% 3P,1.4 3PG
Bol could drop heavily due to injury.
He’s basically Thon Maker 2.0 but with some college experience and more skilled talent.
Bol isn’t one of those analytic high bigs who don’t show the real picture.
Bol has an amazing three and D ability.
He shoots 52% on his three point percentage alone.
Nearly 3 blocks a game, this guy is unreal.
Oregon misses him, and so do I. His injury is alarming, but I think he still has real talent that you can’t find within this draft range.
He’d pose for a great backup for Drummond and Griffin, and if the Pistons were to faze one of the two out over time, he could come in and do work.
Potential Trade
Justise Winslow, Kelly Olynyk for Reggie Jackson, Jon Leuer and 20′ second round pick
This trade could look good for both teams. The Heat are trying to move on from a regressed Goran Dragic, they also have no space for all the big men they have, this would allow them to start a quick rebuild by moving some of their long term commitments. The Heat would be stuck with Leuer and Jackson for a year, but then they get to free up $24 million in cap space in just a year, and get a second round pick.
Free Agency
The Detroit Pistons tend to overpay for their role players and that trend should stop. The Pistons don’t have a lot of room this off-season unless they shed some cap through trades.
Let’s face it, the Pistons can’t sign any of those big name players that are hitting market this off season.
The Pistons won’t need to find a big man. They’ll need to focus on some wing players and backup point guards. They could use a new backup center or stretch big but, that just depends on how far they go with Maker and what they do in the draft.
Wesley Matthews; SG/SF
30.6 MPG, 40% FG, 12.7 PPG, 2.5 REB, 2.3 AST, 1 STL, 38% 3P, 2.3 3PG
Wes could be a good fit for the Pistons, he has a good shot and has still a defensive force. If the Pistons sign him they can accomplish what they want from wing player.
Terrence Ross; SG/SF
26.4 MPG, 42% FG, 14.6 FG, 3.4 REB, 1.6 AST, 1 STL, 37% 3P, 2.5 3PG
Ross has been playing a career season. He’s shooting more shots than he ever has, he’s shooting the three ball at a solid rate, and he’s one of the most relied on players in the Magic offense. Ross can be relied on to score in multiple ways.
Some plus sides that hasn’t been mentioned his athletic frame and his ability to score on transition. All these skills well help the Pistons fill a weakness at the wing position.
Al-Farouq Aminu; PF/SF
28.8 MPG, 43% FG, 9.1 PPG, 7.6 REB, 1 STL, 35% 3P, 1.2 3PG
Spending the past four seasons as a valuable member of the Portland Trail Blazers, Aminu has done all that the team has asked him to do. He’s a two way player who can guard nearly every position with his 6’9 height.
Aminu has an ability to shoot when set. The guy also posses an amazing ability to rebound for his height and box out bigger guys.
Plugging him into the small forward position, the Detroit Pistons could use him to play defense at a high level and make open three point shots.
Tomas Satoransky; PG/SG
26.1 MPG, 49% FG, 8.5 PPG, 3.4 REB, 4.7 AST, 1 STL, 40% 3P, 1 3PG
The Washington Wizards replacement for John Wall is a beast.
He’s also a 6’7 guard; his length is good enough to play defense well on guards, and he’s an all around freak.
Satoransky is probably going to be one of the quietest players on the free agency who will turn out to be a gem for wherever he goes, and the Pistons should be the first one to go at him.
The Pistons can plug him in as both a point guard and a shooting guard, off ball or on he can produce. If there’s one guard the Pistons need it’s him.
Thaddeus Young ; PF/SF
30.8 MPG, 52%, 12.6 PPG, 6.4 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.6 STL, 35% 3P
Young is the hardest one to get on this list. He’s probably going to be the most costly on our list. But he’s worth it, and someone who would be GREAT for the Pistons.
The Pistons need an interchangeable power forward, Young doesn’t do that for the Pacers but he has that ability.
Young is always healthy, he’s always a 50% or above shooter. He’s a great perimeter defender who can battle with the bigs.
Young is able to box out defenders and get offensive and defensive rebounds with ease.
He’s got the grit, and grind, and the Detroit Pistons could use a guy like him.
Next. The importance of the three point shot. dark
At the end of the day, the Detroit Pistons don’t have a ton wiggle room for improvement, it’s going to take allot to make this team better with the little resources they have. These moves aren’t major, these players are so be tweaks and key role players or starters to help the Pistons bridge the next step.