Andre Drummond developing a 3-point shot will help the Detroit Pistons

Andre Drummond could provide the Detroit Pistons offense more options by developing a 3-point shot, which he hinted at on social media.

Players seem to always elevate their games in contract years or maybe Andre Drummond is wanting to prove his critics wrong.

For Drummond, it may be both as the 2019-20 season is the final guaranteed year on his contract though he does have a player option for the 2020-21 season.

Perhaps you’ve seen the Spongebob meme (posted below). Drummond wrote, “Work on your postgame moves bro,” in his Instagram post showcasing him working on a 3-point shot, clearly mocking some of his critics.

Drummond, 25, has taken 68 shots from 3-point range in 542 NBA games over the course of seven seasons. With the NBA embracing analytics and the perimeter shooting, Drummond may be positioning himself to attract more suitors in free agency.

After all, Brook Lopez took 13 such shots in his first 487 games, spanning eight seasons, granted two of those were cut short in 15 games or less by injury. But in his final year with Brooklyn, Lopez took 387 3-point shots and connected on 34.6 percent. He stayed consistent the following year with the Lakers, attempting 325 more 3-pointers and making them at a 34.5 percent clip.

Last season with the Bucks, he converted 187-of-512 (36.5 percent of) perimeter shots and re-upped for $3.3 million for the upcoming season.

Drummond could see a similar transformation if he’s truly developing a 3-point shot and looking for likes on The Gram. But he made all seven 3-point attempts from the right wing and was 8-for-10 from the right corner in the video.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0EojFGHxBc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The progression of Drummond at the charity stripe was painful to watch in his early years. Pistons fans had heard and read about how he was attempting various methods to improve his percentage. Yet through the first five seasons (385 games) he was 683-for-1,793 (38.1 percent).

Determined to exorcise his free throw demons, Drummond improved and over the past two seasons is 482-for-807 (59.7 percent) from the free throw line.

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Point being, there’s tangible proof that he works hard and has a desire to become a better basketball player.

The Pistons can capitalize on Drummond’s improvement because he’s still going to have to prove that he can shoot it in a game. There are only rare cases where a social media profile has earned someone a spot on a roster.

What is good is that Drummond was moving his feet as a catch-and-shoot role on the wing. He’s working on his timing and hitting shots with consistency. Surely this will translate into the pick-and-roll game, especially with the addition of Derrick Rose.

Being a threat to pop out and knock down a 3-point shot will change the way teams will have to defend Detroit’s pick-and-roll offense. Each game Drummond will have to hit an early triple off that action to make defenses respect him. Over time, teams may play him differently if he starts hitting consistently.

Making himself more versatile will help space the floor, giving Blake Griffin more post-up opportunities. It will also allow the guards to slash through the paint and attack the rim.

The upcoming season is a big one for the Pistons. Most importantly is the first half with the expiring contracts of Reggie Jackson and Drummond leaving uncertainty at point guard.

How Detroit comes out will determine what moves are made at the deadline, potentially leading to a shakeup.