Detroit Pistons: Midseason grades for players, coach and front office

Detroit Pistons: Midseason grades for shooting guards

If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that Wayne Ellington would be one of the Pistons’ best trade assets, I would have laughed heartily and asked what you were smoking, but here we are.

Ellington is now shooting over 43 percent from long range on 6.4 attempts, numbers that place him among the best 3-point shooters in the NBA.

He doesn’t do much else, hence the lower grade, but the 33-year-old will likely be moved for some type of asset before the deadline, which is pretty good for a guy who was viewed as roster filler.

Jackson is slowly rebuilding his career in Detroit and is one of the undervalued signings of the offseason that is making Troy Weaver look pretty smart.

Jackson has his issues, namely that he can’t shoot but doesn’t seem to know it, as he is just 29 percent from 3-point range but is still launching 4.4 of them a game.

He brings energy and defensive versatility off the bench and he can score as long as he is not trying to do it from behind the arc.

Jackson needs to get more efficient offensively, as there may not be room for all of his chucking on a team that is actually trying to win, but he has been a good signing, especially for the cost.

I’ve written that Mykhailiuk has probably been the most disappointing Piston this season. He has not shot the ball well from long range and unlike Jackson, doesn’t bring much else to the table.

After looking like he could be the high-volume and accurate 3-point shooter the Pistons need, shooting over 40 percent last season, Svi has fallen off a cliff, shooting just 33 percent from behind the arc.

This is not good, as the Detroit Pistons were hoping he would step up and seize a future roster spot but now have to wonder if he is part of the future plans at all. Mykhailiuk’s second half will be one of the big stories to follow.