Every season it seems fans of the Detroit Pistons choose one guy to be down on, and this year’s target is Caris LeVert.
Part of this is that fans have rallied behind players like Javonte Green and Daniss Jenkins, but another part is that LeVert hasn’t been great.
His 8.3 points per game is the lowest since his rookie season, and his minutes per game are the lowest of his career. Even his 20 minutes per game is too much for some fans, who think those minutes should be allocated elsewhere.
To be fair to LeVert, he hasn’t been that bad, especially considering he’s been in and out of the lineup all season with nagging injuries, but his shot efficiency from 2-point range is not great, and even though he’s hitting 37 percent of his 3-point shots, LeVert isn’t doing much else.
He’s creating assists at the lowest clip since his rookie season and has not been the secondary creator the Pistons were hoping to get when they signed him to a two-year deal.
The Pistons have simply been a better team when LeVert is out of the lineup, evidenced by their record and his on/off numbers.
The Pistons weren’t counting on LeVert to carry them by any means, but I think they hoped for a few of his signature big games off the bench, which has yet to happen.
LeVert could certainly be put in a trade before the deadline, but he’s not an asset, and the Pistons aren’t going to get much by trading him alone unless they are willing to take on a longer salary or swap for a player that has been similarly disappointing.
The Pistons are likely stuck with him unless his contract is used as a part of a bigger deal, which could be concerning.
Does JB Bickerstaff trust Caris LeVert too much?
Coach JB Bickerstaff and Caris LeVert have history, as the two were united in Cleveland previously and had some success.
Bickerstaff is clearly comfortable with LeVert, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a big reason the Pistons signed him in the first place, as coaches like to have veterans they are familiar with and can trust.
Hopefully, that trust won’t lead to Bickerstaff playing LeVert over other guys. Coach Bickerstaff hasn’t had the luxury of being choosey lately, as the Pistons have had so many injuries, but when they get back to full strength, it will be interesting to see what happens to LeVert’s minutes.
Will he continue to get chances over players like Daniss Jenkins and even Jaden Ivey? Fans are unwilling to admit that Jenkins has been even more erratic, but right now, the upside he provides as a playmaker is more than LeVert is offering.
I still have a feeling that LeVert has a larger part to play in all of this, as we’ve yet to really see him go off, which we know he can, but if he’s not making plays or many shots, we have to hope that trust points don’t keep him on the floor more than he should be.