This year’s offseason is an important one for the Detroit Pistons. They don’t need any more “what if” moments, they want to be good again patience is key.
The Detroit Pistons are stuck in the middle of the NBA mediocrity pool table. Over the last few years the Pistons have been a product of bad, or middling of the road team not good enough. However, I can’t help but look at them and think this is a classic, “finder keepers loser weepers team”.
Through the years the Pistons fanbase has categorized the pasts front office regimes as hopeless. The Pistons have missed on free agents like Ben Gordon, Josh Smith, Jon Leuer, and Jodie Meeks.
But the biggest miss of all are the Pistons past draftees.
There are three names Pistons fanbases can’t quite get over wishing they heard their team call on draft night: Carmelo Anthony, Devin Booker, and Donavan Mitchell.
It’s not like the Pistons have always made bad choices in their drafts. No! In 2012, Pistons drafted Khris Middleton in the second round with 39-pick of the draft. In 2014, again in the second round with the 38 pick they selected Spencer Dinwiddie. Two players drafted by the Pistons who are starters in this league, and now both play on two different teams. They are not just starters but a part of their respective team young core.
The Pistons have had good players drafted but their past history points to their inability to have patience and watch their young players develop. Pistons guard Luke Kennard falls into this category.
The Detroit Pistons Senior Advisor Ed Stefanski addressed the media today about the roster and the upcoming NBA Draft.
#Pistons Stefanski on Luke Kennard:
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) June 17, 2019
"People wanted him traded at the deadline. Luke is terrific. Arguably, Luke was our best player in the series vs. MIL. He’s only two years in."
Stefanski is right about patience and watching the players develop. Patience in this league is a tricky thing to have. Sometimes general managers wait too long to pull the plug and some pull too quickly.
Whoever the Pistons draft at 15 patience in that players development should be a priority. Otherwise the fanbase will be stuck with another imaginary tale that ends with weeping and a bunch of what ifs.