How Marvin Bagley lll will thrive in the Detroit Pistons’ offense

The NBA trade deadline is officially over. Fans of the Detroit Pistons were on pins and needles as rumors leading up to the deadline were swirling. When the dust settled they had made a four team trade involving multiple players and draft picks.

Here’s a look at the trade below.

The franchise needed to add size and athleticism to a lackluster front court. The glaring need for a lob threat in the pick-and-roll was addressed by adding center Marvin Bagley lll. He’s a 6-foot-11, 235 lbs 22-year-old averaging 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds. He fits the timeline of the other key players in the restoration and his size and touch around the basket should be a welcome addition.

But how will he fit in Dwane Casey’s offense? We’ll look at things like dribble handoffs, pick-and-roll, and grab and go rebounding. These are vital to what the Detroit Pistons do offensively, and are staples to most NBA teams.

It looks as though he’ll bring skill in some of these areas if not all of them, providing valuable minutes as a big. Now let’s break down how he can contribute in these situations on the court.

Detroit Pistons: Marvin Bagley III in the pick-and-roll

Marvin is a hyper athletic big at 6-foot-11 with good hands allowing him to finish in traffic. He often converts emphatic dunks with ease in these situations. He’ll make things a lot easier for the guards as they probe to find gaps in the pick-and-roll action, something these young guards desperately need to expand their games.

His above the rim play will give defenses something to think about. He has excellent touch shooting at 70 percent for his career within three feet of the basket. The issue has been not enough touches in those situations only accounting for 28 percent of his shot attempts. Finding Bagley lll in this area on the floor will be a recipe for success creating easy assists for the facilitator.

There’s a lot that takes place in a pick-and-roll set and slipping screens is another easy way to get open. When the defense is over-pursuing the action, the screener can avoid the screens altogether, opting to sprint to the front of the basket freeing himself in the process. This is something Bagley excelled at, using his quickness to create passing lanes over the top of the defenses. Making reads like this allowed him score 66.2 percent of his points in the paint.

This forces teams to play the action honest giving his guards room to operate instead of facing blitzes when he’s involved in the play. The Detroit Pistons young roster will benefit tremendously from this newfound wrinkle within the offense. Look for the guards’ efficiency to go up, as a lob threat will change the dynamics of this team moving forward.

Detroit Pistons: Marvin Bagley III in dribble handoffs

This is a true staple of what Casey likes to do with his bigs. To thrive in this role it takes high IQ, along with high level of passing ability. You also have to use precise timing or it could result in a offensive foul, as a player is setting a screen and delivering the handoff simultaneously.

During this two man exchange the guard is looking to get downhill and into the paint. It’s common for the big to switch this action to prohibit that from happening and close off the lane. If done correctly the switch forces the smaller guards to defend the bigs, this is where Bagley can be most effective in this situation.

There’s two parts to this offensive set. The player with the basketball can either hand it off or keep the ball depending on how they read the defense. Similar to a read option play in football your decision is based off how the defense plays it. If he passes the basketball it’s considered a “clean exchange”, keeping the ball is often called a “dirty exchange” in basketball terms.

Clean Exchange 

Bagley is very agile and can move well. Utilizing his size is key after the handoff as he’ll likely have a smaller guard on him in most instances. Sealing that smaller defender will not only take him out of the play, it will also put himself in great position on the court. Finding creases for offensive rebounds, and put backs will be a testament to his mobility. Between catching lobs, reeling in drop off passes, and converting put backs look for him to be active in this role. He’ll be a formidable asset to the dribble handoff action, even when the ball doesn’t touch his hands. Being aggressive will suck the defense in, freeing up shooters from deep.

Dirty Exchange

Detroit Pistons fans will be excited when they see him in this role. After watching footage of Bagley in this role it’s a highlight waiting to happen. He has a crafty euro step he utilizes to avoid charges with his uncanny body control rarely seen at his size. He can score off the dribble as well as make plays for other players. He’s a underrated passer who will make the right play when his number is called. He’ll get his share of touches in dribble handoffs and when he does look out.

Detroit Pistons: Marvin Bagley III in grab and go rebounding

Dwane Casey has mentioned he likes for his guys to grab that rebound and go. This allows the team to get into its offense early before the defense gets set.

We’ve seen players like Trey Lyles, Kelly Olynyk hit the glass then bring the ball up and initiate offense. Bagley III will be encouraged to do the same. With his skill set he can be a monster in the open court.

He is a natural scorer who can face up and take guys off the dribble. Marvin Bagley lll has a solid handle with guard like tendencies. He’s fluent with the basketball in his hands and can easily go coast to coast if the defense doesn’t stop the basketball.

The Pistons newly acquired big man will look to impress his new team. He’s in a city that wanted him and the fresh start should have him energized and ready to show fans what he’s about. Trading for a young player with his talent level doesn’t happen often so the Pistons could have a steal if he makes the most of this second chance.

The Detroit Pistons have a rich history of finding players with a chip on their shoulder. The goal is to put these type of players in position to be successful. Coach Casey is good at doing that. These are the nuances of the game that will help him thrive in Detroit’s system. Marvin Bagley lll should have success with the Pistons and he may have found his new home.