Jerami Grant believes the Detroit Pistons are not far from being a good team and that it could happen as soon as next season.
Grant knows a thing or two about rebuilding, as he spent parts of three seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers during their famous “Process.”
Grant doesn’t get the same vibe from this Detroit team, who he thinks are going to do big things next season.
#Pistons Jerami Grant on losing vs. his time in PHI early in his career: "It's not the same; it's a lot different. It's not a rebuild -- it's not 3 or 4 years into the future; we're looking forward to doing something big next year."
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) April 25, 2021
Considering the Detroit Pistons are currently the worst team in the Eastern Conference and the third-worst overall, this is a bold prediction.
Jerami Grant is not one to talk trash or make ridiculous claims, so this quote caught my attention and made me wonder if he is right.
Could the Pistons be good next season? Grant thinks so, and he just might be right. Here’s why.
Detroit Pistons: The Pistons will make a huge leap defensively
The Pistons’ defense has been steadily improving this season even though they are still just 22nd in the NBA overall.
In fact, if the Pistons just clean up their turnovers so that they are limiting easy fast break points, their defense could make a big leap next year as players get more comfortable in their roles and assignments.
Detroit has used about 800 different lineups this season, which has to take its toll on the defense, so just having a regular rotation where guys know their assignments will help.
If you look at the leap the Knicks were able to make this season, it has to give the Pistons hope, as they were just 21-45 last season and are now headed to the playoffs after huge defensive improvements.
The Knicks went from 23rd in the NBA defensively last season to 3rd this season, which is the reason they are in a position to make the playoffs.
I truly believe the Detroit Pistons could make a similar leap defensively, and if they can vault into the top 10-15 in the NBA next season, it could be enough to make them contenders for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Detroit Pistons: The rookies are going to be better
Another reason Jerami Grant could be right is that the Detroit Pistons have a trio of rookies who are going to be a lot better next season.
Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes have all played well and are getting reps that will serve their development well.
This will also be their first full NBA offseason and young players tend to make big strides physically in their first real chance to work with NBA trainers and staff.
This is especially true after the last offseason was truncated due to COVID, with no Summer League and a shortened training camp.
When you factor in all of those challenges, it’s even more impressive that these three are playing so well and already look like guys who are comfortable in the league.
It’s scary to think of what Stewart is going to look like after an offseason in an NBA weight room, and Bey and Hayes will be adding muscle as well as nuance to their offensive games.
All three could make big leaps next season, which in itself might be enough for Detroit to start “doing something big.”
The Pistons will hopefully be adding another top-five talent in this year’s draft, so there will be plenty of young talent and competition that will push the Pistons forward.
Detroit Pistons: Troy Weaver’s eye for talent
Troy Weaver has been nothing short of impressive in his first season as the Pistons’ GM.
He was handed a hot mess of a team with little talent or assets and managed to completely rebuild the roster with guys who fit his vision.
He was able to find veteran talent in Mason Plumlee, Wayne Ellington and Delon Wright. He snagged four potential impact players in the draft, grabbed Josh Jackson off the scrap heap and traded Svi Mykhailiuk for a guy in Hamidou Diallo who has a much higher ceiling.
In other words, I have faith that Weaver is going to find more impact talent this offseason whether it is in the draft, trades or free agency.
Perhaps the Pistons will add a veteran shooting guard like Josh Hart to the roster.
Weaver could find more talent with the three picks he has in the second round or even trade them to move into the first and take a guy like Cameron Thomas.
Weaver has turned a garbage heap of a roster into one that has a nice mix of exciting young talent and smart veterans, and if he can have another big offseason, the Detroit Pistons might make a big leap as a team.
Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant will be more comfortable in a star role
Jerami Grant has transitioned from role player on the Denver Nuggets to star on the Detroit Pistons but it hasn’t been easy.
Carrying a young and often bad team has taken its toll on Grant, who has had some nagging injuries and went through some shooting slumps this season that have probably cost him a chance at the Most Improved Player award.
Now Jerami Grant knows what it takes to be a number one option on an offense and will enter the offseason with goals to make it easier.
He will get himself into even better shape so that he can shoulder the burden more easily, he will work on his handles and passing, which are really the things holding him back from being a true number one option on offense.
And as his teammates get better, so will Jerami Grant, as right now he is one of the only guys on the team who can get his own shot, which makes the Pistons very easy to defend.
Once they add more shooters for him to kick out to and guys like Killian Hayes become more comfortable making plays, Grant’s job will get a little easier and he should be even better.
The Detroit Pistons are not far from being a good team and Grant knows it, but it is still going to take another injection of talent and some big strides from the young players before it happens.