The Detroit Pistons need to find their own Jae Crowder to take next step

The Phoenix Suns have been the surprise team of the NBA this season, going from the lottery to the Finals, which should give the Detroit Pistons hope that they too can turn things around quickly.

Both the Suns and Bucks have given the Pistons a blueprint for how to do it, which is by nailing the draft, building around your star with the right role players and then making the right trade at the right time.

The Pistons will hopefully be adding a future league superstar in Cade Cunningham and already have some very good complementary players in Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Jerami Grant, who form the foundation of a good team.

The Detroit Pistons are building the right way and might soon make a Suns-like leap into playoff contention, but first they still need to add a few more pieces.

Detroit Pistons: The Pistons need their own Jae Crowder

The addition of Chris Paul has gotten most of the attention for the Phoenix Suns and it should. Paul is a hall-of-fame point guard who undoubtedly pushed guys like Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton to another level.

But another reason for the Suns’ sudden success is that they added the perfect role player in Jae Crowder, who is the type of player who would make any team better.

Crowder’s numbers aren’t going to blow you away, as he only averaged 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds, but he’s the type of guy who does all of the little things that help teams win.

Crowder is a willing defender who will take on any assignment, a role that the Detroit Pistons may eventually see Bey filling, as he has the size and mentality to be a versatile defender like Crowder.

Crowder is also a very good 3-point shooter, especially in catch-and-shoot situations where he shoots 40 percent, something the entire Pistons’ roster (other than Bey) needs to improve.

If you are going to be a role player who plays off the ball, you have to be able to knock down shots in the modern NBA and Crowder can. He won’t be the team’s leading scorer but he is a reliable option whose shot isn’t affected by inconsistent touches.

Crowder is also the type of player who is not afraid to mix it up a little, and will stand up for his high-profile teammates if necessary.

Guys who will accept their role and thrive in it are necessities on good teams and the Detroit Pistons could use a veteran presence like this, even if he is coming off the bench. I’d love the Pistons to grab a veteran who can defend and shoot and doesn’t care about things like minutes or touches.

Every title team has a guy like Crowder, and once the Pistons have assembled their stars, a player like him will be the final piece to being a contender like the Suns.