Detroit Pistons stock market: Who is trending in March 2023?

Detroit Pistons stock market: Players trending up in March

Two Vets

Don’t look now, but the two hottest players on the team are veterans Rodney McGruder and Cory Joseph, who are trying to show out for new contracts next season. It’s doubtful either of them remains in Detroit (though if Dwane Casey isn’t fired I wouldn’t rule it out) but both of them have played well down the stretch and would make nice additions to the back of a good team’s bench.

McGruder is averaging 14 points and five rebounds over his last seven games (all as a starter) while shooting 51 percent from 3-point range on 6.4 attempts per game. Those are numbers that are going to get the attention of any team looking for a veteran who can shoot.

Cory Joseph has been just as hot, as he is averaging 12.9 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game while also shooting over 51 percent from long range. I didn’t think I would ever write this but Rodney McGruder and Cory Joseph might be the two best Detroit Pistons right now. Ugh.

James Wiseman

James Wiseman is coming off his best game as a Piston, scoring 22 points and adding 13 rebounds in the recent loss to the Heat. He also did a pretty good job marking Bam Adebayo on the perimeter, which may be the most important development.

In his last five games, Wiseman is averaging 16.4 points, 11 rebounds and a block per game, while flashing the skills that have the potential to make him special at seven feet tall. He has a ton of work to do on the defensive end and needs to improve his passing, but the signs are all there and he is still just 21-years-old until the end of the month.

Wiseman will be looking for an extension this summer and the Pistons may give him one in order to lock him up to a better deal. Otherwise, he’ll go into next season on an expiring contract and have a chance to get a much bigger raise in restricted free agency.

Killian Hayes

The Killian Hayes roller coaster season continues! He started horribly, like historically bad. Then he had a two week stretch where he looked like a competent backup point guard. Then Paris happened and he fell off a cliff, but now? Hayes has quietly been playing well lately, averaging 14 points, 9.8 assists and three rebounds per game over his last five.

Hayes has been doing a good job of running the offense, setting up teammates with his passing and playing solid defense, though he is still only shooting 42 percent in that span including a wretched 6.7 percent from long range. We know Hayes is one of the NBA’s worst shooters, but he’s been quietly confident running the offense of late and racking up the assists, going over double digits three times in the last five games.

To me, Hayes looks like a good backup point guard prospect, and given his age, it will be interesting to see if the Detroit Pistons decide to offer him a lowball extension this summer, trade him, or let him become a restricted free agent after next season. Stay tuned.