Pistons news: Detroit named “most improved,” are they?

If you did a poll of Detroit Pistons fans and asked them about the team’s offseason, you’d probably get mixed reviews at best.

Most fans seem to be happy with the hiring of Monty Williams and the drafting of Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser.

When you get to how the Pistons used their cap space (underwhelming trades for Joe Harris and Monte Morris), some fans would tell you they were hoping Detroit would do more.

But when you saw the limited options Detroit had, Troy Weaver did well to improve the roster without making any disastrous signings or tying the Pistons to a bloated contract, the exact thing that has killed the franchise in the past, the whole reason they needed to “restore.”

So it may not be exciting, but the Detroit Pistons will be better. I’m not the only one who thinks so, as Detroit was recently ranked as one of the six teams that improved the most over the offseason.

Pistons news: Detroit named “most improved”

According to Bleacher Report, the Pistons were one of the six teams that have improved the most so far this offseason. The other five are Cleveland, Houston, LA Lakers, Phoenix, and San Antonio.

The logic given for Detroit makes sense and is pretty much what I have been saying, which is that given what they had to work with, rolling over the cap space was better than splashing out for a mediocre free agent, no offense to Cam Johnson and the 15 points per game he scored in 42 appearances last season.

"“Go ahead and identify what flashier moves were available. I’ll wait. But not too long. Because they don’t exist. The Brooklyn Nets were clearly never letting Cam Johnson leave, and punting on the Grant Williams and P.J. Washington sweepstakes shouldn’t incite angsty remorse.Turning cap space into a pair of expiring contracts and rolling over this summer’s flexibility was a shrewd move. Especially when those expiring contracts can play.”"

He talked specifically about Monte Morris, an underrated pickup who is really going to help solidify the Pistons’ young backcourt the way that Ricky Rubio did for Monty Williams in his first season for the Suns.

Joe Harris can still contribute if he’s healthy (big if) and Ausar Thompson is going to add a dimension on the wing that Detroit hasn’t had in a long time.

The funny thing is that the article didn’t even mention the return of Cade Cunningham, which surely has to be the biggest addition to next season’s roster. It may not equate to 50 wins, but the Pistons should be better, and not making a bold, but financially imprudent move this summer was probably smarter than overpaying for a free agent.