The Detroit Pistons entered the offseason with a load of cap space and an agenda to turn around the worst team in the NBA.
They didn’t make the big free-agent signing, instead using their cap space on two veterans on expiring deals, financially pragmatic, but hardly exciting.
But that doesn’t mean we won’t see improvement next season, as Detroit will have some additions who will make an immediate impact. I’m going to focus on players in this one, but I do think you could argue that head coach Monty Williams will be the biggest addition of all.
Monte Morris will solidify the Detroit Pistons’ backcourt
When Cade Cunningham went down last season, the Detroit Pistons were left with a rookie Jaden Ivey to go along with then 21-year-old Killian Hayes and veteran Cory Joseph as their point guards.
Ivey struggled with turnovers, which you would expect, Hayes struggled to shoot the ball (also expected) and Cory Joseph played adequately as the third point guard.
With Morris, the Detroit Pistons have more than a placeholder veteran to hold down their young group, as he can shoot the 3-ball, is a good on-the-ball defender and a guy who takes care of the ball with an outstanding assist-to-turnover ratio.
His addition is reminiscent of the Suns acquiring Ricky Rubio to help out their young guards at the start of Monty Williams’ career in Phoenix. Williams was able to turn that Phoenix team around and hopes the addition of a solid veteran guard will yield similar results in Detroit.