The Pistons could see significant turnover among their supporting cast this summer as they look to address roster weaknesses, but Kevin Huerter doesn't have to be among the names leaving. Instead, Huerter could be on a select list of returning free agents for the Pistons if he agrees to a cheap deal. Considering his positive impact in limited bursts last season and his free agent market, Huerter could be a nice sneaky move for the Pistons to keep their bench strong.
The Pistons haven't seen the best of Huerter
Huerter suited up for the Pistons 25 times after being traded for Jaden Ivey at the deadline. His stats in that span were far from spectacular - less than 9 points per game while shooting 44% from the field and a putrid 29% from three. And yet Huerter was able to make a positive impact thanks to his unexpected two-way versatility.
"Red Velvet" still gets stereotyped as just a shooter, even though that description hasn't been true for years now. Last season, he struggled to hit outside shots for either the Bulls or Pistons. But on the other hand, he showed off the full range of his game with better ball-handling, playmaking and finishing inside the arc.
Huerter has also improved significantly as a defender since entering the league. He averaged over a steal per game for the Pistons in just over 20 minutes per game of action. His surprising sturdiness on defense could make him a viable playoff option, even against apex scorers who might try to target weak links.
If he can find his shot again, Huerter could be a lethal bench piece for the Pistons. He ended up being a non-factor in the playoffs due to injury, but still carries promise as a supporting player. His unique skillset and great feel for the game let him play in just about any lineup the Pistons want to run.
There won't be much of a market for Huerter
While Huerter has some strengths and untapped potential, he's not quite a game-changing veteran presence for the Pistons. Therefore, it's not worth breaking the bank and sacrificing financial flexibility to keep him around. Fortunately, that won't be a problem because Huerter probably won't get any big offers from other teams.
Since his shooting is typically considered his most important skill, Huerter is unlikely to garner a lot of interest after a down shooting season. The Pistons should be able to bring him back on a very minimal deal, leaving them with flexibility to improve the roster elsewhere. If he has a good injury recovery and shooting bounceback, Huerter can far exceed that minimum deal and give the Pistons a crucial advantage.
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