The most valuable assets: Sekou Doumbouya and Luke Kennard
Despite neither being sure things, Sekou and Luke Kennard are the Pistons two most valuable assets. Remember, we’re grading on a Pistons’ curve here. They’re both on team-friendly, long term contracts and have displayed, albeit brief, flashes of star potential.
Whether either will reach their potential remains to be seen. Kennard hasn’t played since December 21st and was reportedly involved in trade discussions, and Sekou has very much looked like a rookie after a scorching hot start.
Even with their current struggles, these two are still the most valuable assets in the Pistons war chest and should be the most untouchable players on the Pistons roster.
Maybe we’ll look back and chuckle whimsically at their recent speed bumps or maybe we’ll surmise the warning signs were there all along. Either way, as it stands, these two are the closest thing to franchise building blocks Detroit has and should be coveted as such.
The rebuild is like going to the dentist, it’s not fun, you don’t want to do it but you know it’s needed for the long-term health. The worst franchises are those stuck in the limbo of mediocrity, the C-average students who just sort of exist.
Franchises who are too scared to suck and lose revenue for a few seasons, even though it’s apparent they may have to take a step backward to take two steps forward.
The Pistons have been one of those franchises for too long, and while they don’t have a sure-fire star on their roster, prioritizing collecting assets and planning an actual rebuild is the smartest way to acquire one, especially in a small market.
So, let’s cheers to the Pistons finally committing to a rebuild, it’s long overdue.