One rumored Pistons offseason target came off the board when Demar DeRozan agreed to a deal with the Nuggets on August 21st, but his new team just proves further that Detroit should have never pursued him seriously. Like some other rumored Pistons targets, DeRozan is well past his prime and might not be able to keep up with Detroit's style of play. There's a reason he ended up on the most desperate contending team; Denver has severe limitations in roster-building but might have been the only team calling for DeRozan.
Demar DeRozan was never the answer for the Pistons
It is still true that the Pistons need more secondary scoring, by one method or another. They considered outside options to bring in more offensive firepower throughout the offseason, but ended up not making any blockbuster moves. At this point, the Pistons front office seems content to rely on internal growth for their offensive upgrade.
Whether or not that bet pays off, DeRozan was not going to be a long-term fix regardless. Even the Nuggets only signed him for a 1-year minimum deal, which is understandable considering he just turned 37. For the Pistons, he wouldn't line up with their core's timeline at all and could just add more issues to the team chemistry.
DeRozan's longevity throughout his career has been remarkable. He had 12 straight seasons as a 20 point per game scorer, spanning up until his age 35 season. He's been fairly reliable as a lethal mid-range scorer (and bad/hesitant three-point shooter) for practically his entire career.
But DeRozan also hasn't been part of a contending team in a long time for good reason. His defense leaves a lot to be desired and that's not what the Pistons want in a new addition, even if they have the pieces to cover for DeRozan's defensive flaws. DeRozan's lack of outside shooting has also limited his offensive impact in the modern NBA and made his game largely incompatible as a role player, which is what he would have been for the Pistons.
The Pistons have better options in lesser-known names
Detroit's other offseason acquisitions were all arguably better fits than DeRozan, despite having far fewer career points or All-Star appearances. Guys like John Collins and Isaiah Joe will slot easily into their roles and provide the right supporting skills, while DeRozan would have taken more time to mesh.
Throughout the offseason, the Pistons have displayed patience when pursuing big-name targets. They had no reason to change that approach for DeRozan, an aging star in the twilight of his career. Adding him at all could have been a mistake, especially if it cost the Pistons a more compatible role player.
Detroit should have absolutely no regrets seeing DeRozan end up in Denver. The Nuggets need all the help they can get and are likely hoping he can add some scoring punch to their bench. But the Pistons aren't in the same desperate position and can rest assured knowing they won't be reliant on a 37-year-old for a major contribution.
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