Detroit Pistons: The biggest trade deadline need for Detroit

While the trade deadline is still months away, it is never too soon to address the gaping needs of a rebuilding team like the Detroit Pistons.

While the Pistons are certainly trending in the right direction with their recent moves in free agency and last year’s draft, there is one scarcity within Detroit’s roster that’s now become a necessity for the successful teams around the NBA: shooting.

Filled with a mix of young, athletic wings, and numerous bigs, Detroit’s roster has enough length and athleticism to potentially thrive defensively in the near future.

However, the Pistons’ shooting woes are plaguing their offense.

Detroit Pistons: Where do the Pistons rank in shooting and offense?

As of today, the Pistons are dead last in the NBA in field goal percentage, shooting an abysmal 42.8 percent from the field.

In addition, Detroit is second to last in field goals made, connecting on only 38.5 shots per game, on 89.8 shot attempts. This has resulted in a relatively poor start scoring-wise, as the Pistons are ranked 21st in the league in total points per game, at 109.5.

While Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, and Wayne Ellington have shot the ball well from the three-point line, (38.8 percent, 37.8 percent, and 51.9 percent), Ellington is the only one on the roster shooting over 40 percent from three.

Having a bevy of athletic wings and big men allows flexibility within Detroit’s frontcourt, and is already paying some dividends defensively, as Detroit is right outside of the top 10 in steals in the NBA.

However, they’re near the bottom in almost every other major defensive category.

With this year’s acquisitions and free agency signings, (Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant, Wayne Ellington, Delon Wright), there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic in Detroit’s front office, and with shooting becoming a necessity for the thriving teams around the league, knockdown shooters, 3-and D players, and big men who can stretch the floor have become far more common.

Within this year’s trade deadline, draft, and free agency period, Detroit should take advantage and try to add some shooting to roster that desperately needs it.