The Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors may be headed in different directions in the standings but they still have a lot in common.
Both teams have had success, won titles and have dedicated fans that will stick with them even when they are terrible.
The teams are similar in market size though Toronto is considerably larger than Detroit when it comes to population.
Neither team has really been much of a free-agent destination, as a lot of players don’t want to live in cold weather or pay the high Canadian taxes that come with being a Raptor.
This means they have to build their teams through savvy trades and the draft, and both have had success doing so, just not recently for Detroit.
The Raptors have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the last decade and there are some things about their sustained success that the Detroit Pistons can imitate.
The best part is that it looks like Detroit is trying to do just that, as they are nearly a mirror of where the Raptors were when they started their current run of success.
Detroit Pistons: Find your point guard
One of the reasons the Raptors have been so successful is that they found their leader in Kyle Lowry and stuck with him.
When the Raptors traded for Lowry in 2012, they probably had no idea he’d be the point guard and emotional leader for the next decade but here we are.
Every team needs this type of player, the guy who leads by example, always plays hard and expects the same from his teammates.
If this player is your point guard, then even better.
The Detroit Pistons hope they found their guy in Killian Hayes but it’s still way too early to know. This shouldn’t stop them from going out and getting a veteran who can lead from this spot as Hayes tries to come back from injury and develops as a point guard.
Either way, the Pistons need a smart leader at this position as the Toronto Raptors have with Kyle Lowry, who is one of the main reasons for their sustained success.
Detroit Pistons: Build around the wing
The Toronto Raptors won their title in part because of the ascension of Pascal Siakam on the wing.
Forwards who can score from all over and defend are the most valuable players in the modern NBA, and the Raptors have a couple of good ones in Siakam and OG Anunoby.
The Detroit Pistons are hoping they got their guy in Jerami Grant, who has evolved into a star and hopes to follow Siakam as the Most Improved Player in the NBA.
Like Siakam, Grant is a versatile defender who can score from all over the place, create shots and will hopefully continue to get better in this expanded role.
The Pistons look to have another piece in Saddiq Bey, who is one of the best rookie shooters in the NBA and has the size to defend multiple positions as well.
Like Toronto, Detroit should keep building around these types of versatile wings, as they are easy to slot into just about any lineup and draw maximum attention and value on the trade market.
The Detroit Pistons may not have found their point guard yet, but they look to have a pair of wings worth building around, much like Toronto.
Detroit Pistons: Forget free agency, develop from within
Neither of these teams will ever be a first choice for free agents looking for a new team, as most flock to the coasts where the weather is better and there are bigger television markets.
This hasn’t stoped Toronto from contending year after year. The reason? They develop players.
If you look at the core of their team, it is nearly all guys that the Raptors drafted and developed themselves.
Though Lowry came via trade most of the rest of the Raptor’s core was drafted or came out of the G-League, including both Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam.
Toronto has arguably been the best team in the NBA at developing talent and the Detroit Pistons need to follow this model.
That means not giving up early on guys like Sekou Doumbouya, who doesn’t look like much now but could be a player down the road.
Fans don’t like to be told to be patient but patience pays off, just ask Toronto, who could have easily given up on a guy like Siakam, who was sent to the G-League in his rookie season before evolving into a solid bench contributor and eventually a star.
Keep in mind that Siakam was 22-years-old when he came into the league, a full three years older than Doumbouya. The Raptors didn’t rush things and it paid off, which is exactly what the Pistons are hoping will happen with Doumbouya.
The Detroit Pistons can learn a lot from the recent success Toronto has had, mainly to be patient and build from within so the success can be sustained.