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What the Detroit Pistons’ competition did this offseason

By Steven Bryant

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 28: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives against the Detroit Pistons on March 28, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 28: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives against the Detroit Pistons on March 28, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball in front of Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on October 30, 2018. (Photo by Christopher Evans/Digital First Media/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball in front of Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on October 30, 2018. (Photo by Christopher Evans/Digital First Media/Boston Herald via Getty Images) /

Brooklyn Nets

Last, but certainly not least, brings us the Brooklyn Nets. A team that has had a tumultuous time since moving to Brooklyn, giving up three first round picks to Boston for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and D.J. White.

Garnett was 37 when he was traded, Pierce was 36 when he was with Brooklyn. The Celtics were able to draft Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum with two of the picks and then flipped the final pick in the trade for Kyrie Irving. For a while, it’s been “ha-ha Nets made a bad trade.”

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Well, now, the Nets have Irving and a rehabbing Kevin Durant. Those two superstars are joining an already established roster that has Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, and former Piston Spencer Dinwiddie. Wilson Chandler, who has been on a sharp decline as of late, and DeAndre Jordan also join the Nets. The team did lose D’Angelo Russell, Ed Davis, and DeMarre Carroll.

Last season’s roster already had some good players besides Russell. LeVert was off to the races on winning Most Improved Player last season, averaging over 18 points per game before a dislocated foot injury caused him to miss a few months of action. Dinwiddie picked up the slack, finishing fourth in Most Improved Player voting on his way to nearly 17 points per game and a new three-year, $33 million contract.

Harris just shot an astounding 47 percent from beyond the arc, on eight attempts per game. And 50 percent from the field. Allen is one of the best up-and-coming big men in the league, however, the addition of Jordan might have some sort of limitation on what Allen can do this season as the two will play a similar style of basketball around the rim on both sides of the court.

Irving and Durant have already shown what they bring to the team. For the 2019-2020 season, I wouldn’t expect anything higher than a fourth-seed for the Nets.

When Durant is healthy, that’s when the roster will really take form. Their 47-win projection seems plausible.

Next. Detroit Pistons All-Decade Team: Best of the 2010s. dark

How do you see the Pistons matching up with the Magic, Heat and Nets, respectively? Let us know in the comments or by liking Piston Powered on Facebook and following Piston Powered on Twitter.

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