The Pistons didn’t end up getting any of the summer’s most high-profile free agents, but they secured a solid group of veterans to replace departures from last season. The most recent of these was Javonte Green, who gave insight during training camp into Detroit’s appeal for him and a possible look at how the Pistons can become a free agent destination in the future.
The Pistons culture and coaching is a huge draw
Green pointed to head coach JB Bickerstaff and his staff as the primary motive for his signing. Bickerstaff has now been coaching in the league for over 20 years, and his positive reputation is firmly established. At this point, just about everyone in the NBA knows that JB brings defensive stability and player empowerment everywhere he goes.
He’s now been a head coach for four different franchises, and helped lead a lot of turnarounds. In his first multi-year head coaching gig, Bickerstaff took over in Memphis during the 2017-18 season. The Grizzlies went just 15-48 under his leadership that season, but turned things around to 33-49 the next season - nearly doubling the win percentage.
When he took over in Cleveland, the Cavs went 22-50 his first full season as a head coach. But they were able to double that win total to 44-38 the very next season. And last season with the Pistons, Bickerstaff guided a historic turnaround from 14-68 before him to 44-38 in his first season.
Beyond the head coach, the Pistons franchise also has a special aura as a tough defensive-minded team. The current iteration embraces that reputation perfectly not just because of the head coach but also the players on the floor. The Pistons have scrappy defenders and thrive by dominating the paint on both ends.
For players like Green who fit well into this culture, Detroit can be a premier destination where their talents will be appreciated. It may not work for every free agent yet, but the allure is there for players that are best suited to thrive on the Pistons.
However, it doesn’t have to stop there. As the team grows and Cade Cunningham develops into a face of the league, the Pistons will get even more attention from marquee free agents. Cunningham’s naturally selfless playstyle, including making plays for others and a willingness to play off-ball when needed, are appealing for other stars.
Cade’s progression and the Pistons’ growth into a contender will push the team to the top of players’ wish lists. For role players, the Pistons can also offer security by having well-defined roles for them to fill. We’ve seen this already this offseason, as Duncan Robinson came in largely to fill the role left by Malik Beasley from last season.
Pistons fans were disappointed to lose out on the league’s top free agents this offseason. The team isn’t yet a premier destination for players, but it can get there with player development and building upon the current stable foundation.