The Detroit Pistons are only 21 games away from one of their most important offseasons in recent memory.
Troy Weaver has torn the team down and has started the rebuild with some exciting young talent, but will be under pressure to build a more competitive team next season.
The Pistons will likely have another high draft pick to go along with copious amounts of cap space to spend on free agents or to use in trades.
The free-agent class of 2023 isn’t deep with stars, but there are definitely guys who could help the Pistons and the right draft pick and free agents could make them relevant again very soon.
Two of their potential free-agent targets could be former players, as forward Jerami Grant would be an interesting addition to a team that needs defensive help and shooting on the wing.
But another role player is also making his case for a return and could be a great fit with the young players the Detroit Pistons currently have.
Detroit Pistons: A free-agent reunion with Bruce Brown?
Guard/wing Bruce Brown was drafted 42nd by the Detroit Pistons in 2018 and played two years with the team before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets and eventually ending up on the Nuggets.
Since then Brown has blossomed into an important role player for both the Nets and Nuggets and has emerged as Denver’s glue guy this season, averaging 11 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists while defending several positions for the 1st-place Nuggets.
Brown is certainly not a star, but he is one of the Nuggets’ most important role players, which is one of the reasons Denver traded Bones Hyland in order to have more money to offer Brown in free agency.
He plays 28 minutes per game for the best team in the Western Conference and is one of those guys who does whatever the team needs on a given night, whether it is defending point guards or small forwards.
Brown’s versatility would make him a nice addition to any good team, but the real question is whether the Detroit Pistons will be one of them next season. He’s not the type of player you want in a prominent role or doing too much, but as a do-it-all bench guy, he has a lot of value.
Detroit needs some gritty players who thrive on the defensive end and Brown has evolved into one of them for Denver this season. Brown has been the Nuggets’ defensive stopper this season and is a guy they hope to bring back.
It may be too early in the rebuild to start adding players like Brown, but his defense and hustle would help the culture the Pistons are trying to build.