These 3 Detroit Pistons have a lot to gain or lose next season
Detroit Pistons: It’s a make-or-break season
Hamidou Diallo
Hamidou Diallo may have more to gain from this season than any other player on the Detroit Pistons.
He is heading into a contract year that will pay him $5.2 million and will then become an unrestricted free agent, so Diallo is not just auditioning for the Pistons.
Diallo averaged 11 points off the bench last season, is a good rebounder for a guard and is great at getting steals on defense. He also takes a lot of risks on defense and gets lost off the ball sometimes, but he gives Detroit an element of athleticism that they have lacked.
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He’s had some big games for the Pistons, like when he had back-to-back 30+ point double-doubles against the Knicks and Spurs last season, but he also disappears at times, has had trouble staying healthy and is still a terrible shooter from long range.
He did improve his mid-range game though, and shot 49 percent from the field overall. He’s also an explosive finisher in transition and a guy who can be a disruptive defender. Hamidou is about to turn 24-years-old and still has room to grow, so he’ll get a contract from someone.
But a breakout season could net him a big raise, so he has a lot at stake this season, and should get plenty of minutes at the backup small forward position to prove he’s worth it. It would be great to see Diallo make a leap and become one of the league’s better bench players and part of the Pistons’ future core.