Pistons fans everywhere celebrated when they initially heard that Caris LeVert was traded from the team on Tuesday night, but his departure could hurt the team due to Detroit's lack of reliable creators. LeVert may not have been consistent in his role as a bench creator last season, but the Pistons have done nothing in the last year to upgrade that spot. Now that LeVert is gone, the Pistons' offense might look even more barren when Cade Cunningham is off the floor.
Detroit needs a replacement in LeVert's spot
Even after clear signs in the playoffs that they need a better secondary creator, the Pistons are trending towards running back a very similar roster as last season. Rather than getting Cade a proven co-star sidekick, Detroit is relying on further progression from younger players like Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson. Both proven ineffective in the playoffs on offense, but the Pistons are hoping that will change in coming years.
The bench unit still lacks a go-to scorer or creator. LeVert never did a good job filling that role when he got to Detroit; he averaged just 7 points and 3 assists per game last season while shooting 42% from the field and 33% from three. But he still had the confidence to create his own shot and sometimes hit very tough looks when nothing was rolling for the Pistons backups.
Next season, the Pistons won't really have anyone with proven experience creating something out of nothing if Cade sits. They also lost Tobias Harris this offseason, another veteran with the ability to create his own shot in isolation. In fact, Harris was the second most effective Piston in the playoffs with his reliable post and midrange game. His replacement John Collins may be better at finishing plays as a shooter and lob threat, but doesn't have the same shot creation abilities as Harris.
The Pistons' strikeouts are affecting the whole depth chart
Not only did the Pistons fail to land a big name that could improve their entire offensive scheme, but they've now also failed to make a needed upgrade to help their bench unit too. As the roster stands today, Detroit could be relying on Daniss Jenkins and 19-year-old rookie Ebuka Okorie to create offense for their bench units. Both guards could be great one day, but neither seems ready to take those important reins yet.
The Pistons even lost some of their most reliable bench offense from last season when they traded away Isaiah Stewart. His defensive impact would often lead to easy transition opportunities, which were extremely effective for the Pistons' backups especially compared to halfcourt offense.
On the surface, trading away Caris LeVert shouldn't be much of a loss. He was a negative impact player all season long and his shot selection was questionable at best. But not finding a better replacement to lead their bench unit could easily come back to bite the Pistons next season.
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