Detroit Pistons: Player grades at the All-Star break

Detroit Pistons: Player grades at the All-Star break

Isaiah Stewart – B

Watching Beef Stew knock down 3’s is so much fun. He deserves a lot of credit for adding that shot to his arsenal. It’s been a rough season for the entire team, and Stewart isn’t exempt from that, but the undersized center keeps battling. With Wiseman in the picture, Stewart may end up the starting power forward, or he may end up being the first big off the bench. Either way, this 21- year-old does continue to develop and is an important part of this team.

Jaden Ivey – B

Jaden Ivey has played quite well during his rookie season, although it’s a shame we haven’t been able to see him more alongside Cade. Nevertheless, the steady scoring, rebounding, and distributing has been evidence of his rock solid play from day one and has set him apart from other rookies in his class. It’s clear he’s still learning how to play within the system but as he matures he will maximize his potential and solidify his place among the league’s best young players. You can talk about Banchero, Mathurin and Murray all you want to, we have something special in Ivey.

Alec Burks – B+

I actually want to give Alec Burks an A (for Alec) but I decided to give up a B (for Burks). It wasn’t an easy decision. He has played really well at times, likely exceeding most anyone’s expectations for him. Truth be told, he really isn’t doing anything that he hasn’t done before. His 3-point percentage is a career high at 42.4 percent, but most of his numbers are indicative of his typical production. The 31-year-old guard has played for Utah, Cleveland, Sacramento, Golden State, Philadelphia and now Detroit since the start of the 2018 season. Through all the transition he finds his way onto the court and plays his game. How can you not respect it? I sure do. But I don’t think he really leveled up quite enough to earn an A, and like everyone on the roster, he takes a hit for the team’s lack of success.