3 keys to the Detroit Pistons becoming contenders

Detroit Pistons: In pursuit of one of the league’s top defenses, Isaiah Stewart must become an elite defensive anchor

The Detroit Pistons were an average defensive team last season. The team’s defensive rating of 112.5 ranked them 16th in the league. Their 5.2 blocks and 7.4 steals per game ranked them eighth and 17th respectively. Their average of 111.1 opponent points per game ranked them 10th in the league as well.

As a 19-year-old rookie, Stewart was the best defensive post player on the Pistons last season.

The now 20-year-old Stewart led the team in blocks per game with 1.3. His 2.1 defensive win shares were tied with Mason Plumlee for the most on the roster. Stewart’s defensive rating of 109 was also tied with Plumlee for the best on the team.

Stewart’s development into an elite defensive anchor will be key to the Pistons building one of the top defenses in the league.

Becoming the lead communicator on defense at the center position, and overall taking on a leadership role on the defensive end of the court, are aspects of Stewart’s game he should look to improve on most in the coming seasons.

Becoming a great rim protector and having the switchability to play perimeter defense is already the trajectory Stewart’s career path is on. Becoming a leader defensively and truly anchoring Detroit’s defense could lead to the Pistons finding themselves as one of the best defensive team in the league.

In both incarnations of Detroit’s championship teams, the franchise has hung its hat on having a smothering, hard-nosed defense. Stewart is a hard-nosed defender. A strong defensive team is a route this Pistons team appears to be on as well.

The Pistons have very good defenders in Grant and Hayes. Cunningham projects to be a good defender as well. With the right pieces falling in place, the development of Stewart’s defensive leadership and communication could be the difference between Detroit having a very good defense, and the Pistonst building an elite defense.

Detroit Pistons: Avoid bad contracts at all costs

The NBA’s salary cap is the killer of all championship hopefuls. Very few teams are able to consistently reload their teams into contenders year after year.

Before LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland found itself bogged down by bad contracts.

Recently, the Boston Celtics had to attach their first-round pick in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder in order to dump the massive contract of Kemba Walker.

Because of the salary cap, every team’s championship window is fleeting. It is important for Detroit that they do not fall victim to being capped out, before they even have the chance to compete.

So far, Troy Weaver has done an excellent job of not overpaying his free agents, and keeping contracts manageable and tradeable, if need be. As the team develops, and their young prospects become due for extensions, it will be vital that Weaver not overpay and become capped out.

Bey, Stewart, and Hayes will all qualify to receive contract extensions in the 2023 offseason. At the same time, Grant will enter free agency. The following offseason, Cunningham will be eligible to receive his extension as well.

In the coming years, Weaver will have to be thoughtful about the contracts he hands out. Cunningham and Grant are undoubtedly going to receive wealthy contract extensions when their time comes. But Weaver will have to be careful to keep the rest of the roster’s contracts manageable.

The second-year GM should not be afraid to sacrifice members of his core to trades if their contracts look to become too lucrative for Detroit to afford.

This is not to say that Weaver should avoid paying extra to keep his young core around.

If a reasonable overpay is necessary to keep Stewart, Bey, or Hayes around, it could very well be worth it. But Weaver should avoid hard capping his team until they are true contenders for an NBA title.