As the Detroit Pistons move forward with their rebuild, fans need to have more faith in one of their key components.
It seems as if any time a mock trade is drawn up for the Detroit Pistons, Luke Kennard is involved as a centerpiece of the move.
This is technically a compliment, as it means people believe he holds enough value to the team trying to acquire him in order for the Pistons to obtain even more value.
The criticism that he often receives is centered on his health. After suffering from bilateral knee tendinitis in December of this past year, he missed out on a majority of the season.
Before that however, of the 164 possible games he could have played in during his first two seasons he played in 136 of them. (82.9 percent) His durability isn’t an issue here. Fans often profess to know more than team doctors and assume his health is often in question, it isn’t.
Kennard shouldn’t be explicitly viewed as an expendable piece. Many within the fan base lack faith that he can be a long term piece for Detroit, and while it’s entirely within the realm of possibility that that’s true, it shouldn’t be the case by default.
He could always be traded, he could deny a contract extension, there are a million ways that things could shake out and maybe he and the organization amicably decide to part ways.
Just a few months ago at the trade deadline it was reported that Kennard was involved in a potential trade that would send him to the Phoenix Suns. Right as things began to feel like it was a done deal, it fell apart.
In that case, the Pistons return would have been headlined by draft capital and in most cases that’ll be what Detroit is aiming for.
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He could be a foundational piece for whatever infrastructure the new front office is trying to lay out. All players are able to be traded, yes, but some should be held closer to the vest.
Some view him as a franchise centerpiece, and some view him as complimentary. Both are entirely conceivable and while the latter is far more likely, he’d be a role player that you want on your team long term.
A play making perimeter threat is held in high regard for ever single team in the league, so it shouldn’t be so easy to toss one aside for reasons that supersede actual reason.
Fans should appreciate everything that he’s brought to the table. His scintillating scoring displays against Cleveland last year and the Pacers on opening night this season, his ability to see the floor and pass out of difficult situations, and his ever-growing confidence in his overall abilities on offense.
Despite all this, he does still have plenty of room to grow. Whether that’s in Detroit or elsewhere remains to be seen, but he’ll one day achieve the potential that he’s set the mark on.