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How Svi Mykhailiuk can improve next season

By Austen Flores

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 1: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on December 1, 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 1: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs on December 1, 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Svi Mykhailiuk has proven he can be productive for the Detroit Pistons, but next season will be important to see if he’s in future plans of the franchise.

When the Detroit Pistons traded Reggie Bullock at the trade deadline in 2019, most fans probably hadn’t heard of the player we received in return – much less pronounce his name.

Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk is now in the middle of the Pistons’ rebuild plan, as the third year wing out of Kansas proved his worth last year amidst a slew of injuries to the roster.

The Ukrainian native spent four years at one of the best programs in college basketball and helped the Jayhawks reach a Final Four in 2018, averaging 14.6 points per game his senior season.

Related Story. How Sekou Doumbouya can improve for the Pistons. light

After being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 47th pick in the 2018 draft, Svi spent time back and forth in the G league before finally seeing significant playing time last season with Detroit.

In 22.6 minutes per game for the Pistons last year, Mykhailiuk averaged 9.0 points on 41 percent shooting from three-point range in 56 games. Those numbers won’t blow anyone away, but it was enough for him to be the only representative from the team at all-star weekend this year.

With little expectation coming into the league, Mykhailiuk is proving he was worth the second round selection back in the 2018 draft. His game translates well to the modern NBA, and his young age (22) makes him a valuable asset for a team that needs to stockpile them.

So how will the Pistons approach using Mykhailiuk heading into next season? That could depend on how big of a step he’ll try and make. And considering he’s heading into (restricted) free agency at the end of next season, it would be in his best interest to show the full arsenal.

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