At first glance, the only signing that didn’t make a ton of sense for the Detroit Pistons this offseason was the deal for Kevin Huerter.
Huerter wasn’t bad for the Pistons last season, but they have plenty of depth at his position and added better 3-point shooters this summer.
Huerter does offer some insurance against injuries or trades, so his deal could end up at either extreme end of the value spectrum.
If he plays well, his deal will be a bargain, but he may start the season out of the rotation, and if that holds, his contract will be steep for a deep bench player.
There’s been a lot of talk about Huerter’s lost 3-point shot, and it would be great if he got it back, but the way for him to crack the rotation is to do more than just shoot.
Kevin Huerter needs to create with the ball
The Pistons have some great spot-up shooters in Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Joe and John Collins, but none of them are much of a threat to create with the ball in their hands.
Huerter averaged more assists per game last season than all of these guys, even though he played fewer minutes. He also takes care of the ball with an assist to turnover ratio of nearly 3:1 for his career.
Huerter isn’t going to be playing point guard, but he can reliably handle the ball, so if he can create for teammates and himself off the bounce, he’ll offer a weapon these other role players don’t.
Huerter was also very good in the mid-range last season, shooting 62.4 percent from two-point range, which is a number you usually see for centers, not a guy who is mostly shooting 15 footers.
Huerter shot over 50 percent on mid-range jumpers overall, so he is effective at the second level even if his 3-point shot isn’t falling.
Robinson has improved his attack off the bounce in recent years, but he and Joe are mostly catch-and-shoot specialists who are going to fire away as soon as they touch the ball.
Huerter can offer a different look as a guy who can take a few dribbles, get to his spot, and knock down a mid-range jumper. He’s also a decent passer and connector who can set up these shooters himself.
He’ll have to, as it’s the only way Huerter is going to crack the rotation next season unless there are injuries or a trade.
He has to make himself valuable as a creator and a guy who can reliably get his own shot in the mid-range, taking over a lesser version of the Tobias Harris role. Otherwise, Huerter may not leave the bench.
Add us as a preferred source on Google