Detroit Pistons: 5 final NBA Summer League observations
4. How do you deal with a problem like Jamorko?
The clogged roster of the Detroit Pistons received another possible addition with the fine play of Jamorko Pickett. The 6-foot-9 Georgetown product had some big games, finishing with an average of 9.8 points and shooting 50-percent on three-pointers.
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Detroit was 0-2 in summer league before Pickett was put in the starting lineup against the New York Knicks. He scored 13 points in the first period alone, and finished with 18 in the victory. Detroit won all three games Pickett started.
Pickett looked smooth and, being 6-9, was able to shoot over defenders. Coming from Georgetown, he knew how to play defense. He is definitely an intriguing player to keep an eye on.
Pickett is on an Exhibit 10 contract, which means he has an invitation to Pistons training camp, and will be paid extra if he gets cut and plays with Detroit’s G-League team.
If he continues to look good, it will be another pleasant roster headache for general manager Troy Weaver.
3. Three-headed point guard monster more like a mouse
Summer league is when you try out different combinations. For the first couple of games, the Pistons used for stretches having all three of its top ballhandlers: Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes and Saben Lee, play together.
No deep analysis needed to see it did not work _ at all.
In its first two games, Detroit held the lead after the first period, only to see the lead melt away when the Lee-Cunningham-Hayes trio was used.
Having Cunningham start out in a corner, with two guys who are poor outside shooters (as of now) trying to run an offense, simply did not work. Hopefully, coach Dwane Casey saw this is not something to use in real games.
Whether Hayes, if he keeps shooting 35% from the field, and Cunningham can start together is already open to debate (FYI, Sam Venecie of the The Athletic (PAID SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED) votes a big NO on it) but to have two non-shooting point guards, with Cunningham, really does not work.
Defensively, Hayes and Cunningham could be a great combination, both looked good on the defensive end. It’s the other side of the floor that is the problem. If Hayes still can’t shoot and Cunningham is as good, if not better, a facilitator, what is the point of having him out there?
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Now, in the final two games, with Hayes and Cunningham sitting, it was shown if you make Saben Lee the main ballhandler, it works much better for him. Actually, he looked very good.
Lee led Detroit to two victories to end the summer league. He has something neither Cunningham or Hayes have, elite athletic ability. Used in proper situations, Lee could become a real asset.