Pistons' development wishlist could save them from NBA purgatory

The Detroit Pistons will look for upgrades this summer, but if they want to progress further in the playoffs next season, they will need more development from their young guys. 

For those panicking about Detroit’s game-seven meltdown, it’s good to put this roster in perspective, as their best three players are 24, 23, and 22 years old. Most of the team's improvement this season and last came on the back of player development, not big splashy moves, and the Pistons will need it again if they are going to take the next step. 

I do think Detroit will add talent this summer, but most of their improvement will need to be internal. Here’s what each young player needs to do this offseason. 

Marcus Sasser should find a new team 

I don’t mean that as a slam on Sass, who I appreciate as a professional who always stays ready, but he doesn’t appear to have a role on this team. Sasser is not a point guard or great ballhandler, which makes him tough to play at 6-foot-1. The Pistons need his shooting, but they also need size and wing players, so I’d be surprised if Sasser is still on the team next season. 

Daniss Jenkins needs to be a better finisher 

I was impressed with Jenkins’ ability to take care of the ball in his first playoffs, as the Pistons were turning it over like crazy and he was their most reliable ball handler. 

He also shot the 3-ball well for most of the season, but it was his finishing inside the arc that needs work. Jenkins shot just 40 percent from the field and just 42 percent from 2-point range. He has the quickness to get to his spots but isn’t a good finisher once he gets there. 

Jenkins shot just 30 percent in the paint and 40 percent from the mid-range, which are the two areas he needs to work on. 

Ron Holland II has to be able to make a corner 3-pointer 

Holland had his moments this season, but it’s also fair to be disappointed that he couldn’t get off the bench in the playoffs, and the main reason is that he can’t shoot. Unlike Ausar Thompson (who also can’t shoot) Holland provides little on offense outside of transition, so he needs to be able to hit the corner 3-point shot or teams are just going to keep leaving him wide open. 

Holland is only 20, so there is no reason to panic here, especially when he showed signs of an improved shot as the season wound down, but for Holland to play in the playoffs, he can’t be a big negative in the half-court offense. 

Isaiah Stewart needs to start shooting or his time in Detroit is limited 

For me, the biggest disappointment of the playoffs was the complete no-show from Stewart, who was benched in favor of Paul Reed. Maybe Stew wasn’t healthy (he didn’t look it), but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s been a letdown in the playoffs. 

I thought Stewart would start to evolve into more of a Naz Reid, a tweener stretch big who shoots 5-6 from long range per game, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Stewart leaned more into rim protection and almost completely stopped looking at the rim on offense.

The Pistons can’t have two centers who can’t shoot and have limited offensive games around the rim, so Stewart either needs to start shooting again, or the Pistons may have to look elsewhere for help. I hate to write that, sorry Beef Stew. 

Ausar Thompson has to get better around the rim 

Everyone is going to talk about Thompson’s 3-point shot, but I couldn’t care less if he ever shoots 3’s if he can get better at finishing around the rim. The problem wasn’t that Thompson couldn’t shoot, it was that he couldn’t do anything with the tremendous space he was being afforded. 

He has to improve his handles, which are still too loose, and Thompson has to get better at finishing around the rim and in the paint. He misses way too many bunnies, which is especially frustrating when he has the athleticism to get to the rim at will. 

He doesn’t because he has no confidence he will finish, which is way more important to his development than a 3-point shot. 

Jalen Duren needs to channel his inner Jarrett Allen 

Duren’s offensive disappearance was disappointing in the playoffs, but it was his rebounding and defense that were alarming. Duren was dominated by Jarrett Allen, who has little offensive game to speak of, so Duren needs to learn from that and find ways to make himself impactful. 

That starts with rebounding and defense. I wasn’t expecting the first, as Duren has always been a plus rebounder, but he got killed by the Cavaliers and looked sloppy and weak with the ball. Maybe this comes down to getting into better shape, but if Duren can’t hang on the boards in the playoffs, the Pistons are in trouble. It's not hyperbole to say that if you had swapped Duren for Allen, the Pistons might have swept the series vs. the Cavs.

Allen is also an elite rim protector, which Duren is not, and if JD can’t improve in these areas, I am not sure any offensive gains are going to matter. Forget about a stupid jump shot and get better on defense, that should be Duren’s goal. 

Cade Cunningham needs to go to acting school 

Cunningham was amazing in the playoffs. I don’t even care about the turnovers, as most of those come because he’s a one-man offense who has the ball in his hands constantly.  

I also thought fatigue played a factor at times, again, hard to blame the guy off a collapsed lung who is carrying your team. Cunningham is a superstar, that much is clear. 

He could get better at selling fouls. I hate to say that, as loathe the way James Harden plays basketball. I don’t want Cade to become that, but he is still getting a backup’s whistle even though he is a superstar and that has to change. 

It will make his life easier in the playoffs if he is shooting more free throws, so I’d love to see Cade continue to get stronger to absorb that contact but also get better at selling it when it’s there. 

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