Join the Piston Powered team and its readers in a discussion with the recent news of Joe Johnson signing with the Detroit Pistons.
After a decade of misery, it’s nice to see the Detroit Pistons front office rewarding its fans with a championship-caliber roster, if it were the 2010-11 season.
In reality, the signing of Joe Johnson brings a quality locker room presence and a curiosity of what’s left in the basketball tank in the seven-time All-Stars body.
Johnson, 38, was previously represented by Pistons Vice President Arn Tellem and was lured to Detroit by head coach Dwane Casey, according to the Detroit Free Press Vince Ellis’.
Pistons star Blake Griffin won the 2011 Rookie of the Year Award and NBA slam dunk contest and was regarded as one of the league’s best athletes. Fast forward eight years and Griffin is healthy and coming off a career year, which netted him an All-NBA Third Team selection.
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Then the Pistons signed 2011 MVP Derrick Rose to a two-year deal. He’s a fraction of what he was then but Rose had a resurgence of sorts in Minnesota, landing him a deal as the Pistons backup point guard position.
Imagine a lineup containing Rose, Johnson and Griffin as a big three in 2011. Now fast forward nine years and that, along with two-way center Andre Drummond, will attempt to lead the Pistons a step past their 41-41 season that netted them the eighth seed and a first round sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Now there are plenty of other pieces involved, including Luke Kennard who looks to take another step in year three, the addition of Tony Snell in a surprise trade before this year’s NBA Draft.
Detroit is poised for playoff contention in the Eastern Conference but how good can the be? How far will they go? What do you hope to see out of Joe Johnson this season and was it the right move in lieu of swiping a chance from Michael Beasley?
The Piston Powered team wants to know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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