Pistons that need to be shown the door or the bench

The Detroit Pistons won 60 games with a young team, then progressed from last season by winning a playoff series and getting to within one game of the Eastern Conference Finals, so they don’t have to blow up their roster to become true title contenders. 

But the Pistons do need change and have clear holes to fill, especially on the offensive end, where they need more production around superstar Cade Cunningham, especially as things tighten up in the playoffs. 

Luckily, Trajan Langdon and the Pistons have plenty of roster flexibility with eight players either entering free agency or with contracts that are not fully guaranteed. For the Pistons to progress, they need to consolidate some of their talent for upgrades that will push their veterans to the bench and some players off the roster entirely. 

Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson can’t both be starters 

Both Harris and Robinson were important veterans for the Pistons who did everything Detroit needed from them and more, but their roles were far too large at this stage in their respective careers. 

Both players would be better suited coming off the bench, as Robinson has a hard time staying in front of anyone defensively, and Harris would absolutely eat most bench players alive with his post and mid-range game. 

Harris is an unrestricted free agent, and it would be great if the Pistons could retain him and allow him to finish his career in Detroit in a smaller role more suited for this part of his career. 

Robinson’s deal is only partially guaranteed, so I could see the Pistons declining it or even picking it up only to trade him, but either way, he can’t be your starting two-guard if you want to make a serious run at a title. 

I’d love both of these guys back in bench roles. 

Now onto the players that should be shown the door. 

Kevin Huerter was a waste of time 

I tried to talk myself into Huerter being able to make an impact in the playoffs, but that didn’t happen, as he was hurt and barely played. I’m not sure he would have played anyway, so it’s time for the Red Rocket or whatever he’s called to take his talents elsewhere. 

The whole Jaden Ivey debacle was a mess that was largely out of the Pistons’ control, but it is disappointing that they weren’t even able to get a rotation player for him. 

Caris LeVert was too little and way too late 

LeVert has been Trajan Langdon’s worst signing so far, and the Pistons have to find a way to rid themselves of the final year of his contract, which probably won’t be easy considering he is fresh off the worst season of his career. 

LeVert never did the things the Pistons signed him to do, which is one of the reasons Detroit’s bench was torched against Cleveland. The LeVert experiment didn’t work, and the Pistons have to get a more consistent upgrade. 

Ideally, the Pistons find a starting level power forward and two-guard/wing, move Harris and Robinson to the bench and LeVert off the roster entirely. 

Javonte Green doesn’t meet the new bar 

The new standard for the Pistons when it comes to role players should be whether they are playable in the playoffs. If the answer is no, then they need to move on, and we just got our answer on Green. 

I love Javonte, who works his butt off and was a valuable regular season player, but he couldn’t get off the bench against Cleveland. He could be back on a similar deal if the Pistons need more cheap depth, but otherwise, they need to consolidate. 

Detroit doesn’t need 14 guys who play, they need 9-10 they can go to war with, and they didn’t have that consistently in the playoffs. The right upgrades could fix this problem right away. 

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