The Pistons need to continue improving their roster this offseason, and their next move should address the concerning power forward situation. An overlooked but perfect fit would be Denver's Aaron Gordon, who has become an ideal 3-and-D option with a significant injury history. However, Gordon has shown the ability to elevate his team on both ends in the exact way the Pistons need when healthy.
Gordon could be the Pistons' missing piece if his body holds up
Let's start by just looking at Gordon's production on the court. In the last two seasons, he's averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game - solid numbers to be sure but nothing that truly pops out. What makes him special is his efficiency to reach those stats; he's shooting 51% from the field, 41% from three and 79% from the free throw line in that span.
The Pistons have been looking to add shooting around their trio of young stars (Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson) for years. With their recent move to acquire Isaiah Joe, they might also have the flexibility to bring in a lethal shooter at the power forward spot like Gordon. Imagine Gordon getting the same open looks that Tobias Harris has been seeing in Detroit, and the offense would improve overnight.
Additionally, Gordon also has the ability to play a supporting role in the dunker spot, even when his team is relying on pick-and-rolls. His strength and athleticism are still world-class at his position even at age 30. Over the past few seasons, he's given Nikola Jokic some very easy reads on alley-oops out of the dunker spot which Jalen Duren could also benefit from.
Speaking of Duren, Gordon can also help cover some of his defensive deficiencies. He's been taking on the assignment to mask Jokic's more pronounced defensive flaws for the better part of a decade. Even if Duren struggles to switch out onto a perimeter player or guard a pick-and-roll effectively, Gordon can give him another security blanket in addition to Thompson.
Gordon's injury history is the elephant in the room
Unfortunately, it's impossible to overlook Gordon's recent run of hamstring injuries. In the last two seasons, he's only managed to play in 87 total regular season games. If that poor health continues, making a trade for him could be a huge waste of assets and cap space.
In that span, almost all of his missed time has been attributed to calf or hamstring injuries. In the modern NBA, those are arguably the two scariest types of injuries and have derailed many other careers. As Gordon enters into his 30s, there is no guarantee of him ever achieving sustainable health for a full regular season and long playoff run again. Unfortunately, that may keep him from reaching his full impact and keep the Pistons from picking up an ideal power forward.
Add us as a preferred source on Google