On Friday, Klay Thompson agreed to a buyout with the Mavericks and is now expected to sign with the Heat after clearing waivers. In previous years, even last season, he would have been a tempting target for the Pistons but Detroit is finally in a position where they don’t have to dream of adding Klay. Thanks to their newfound abundance of wing shooting, the Pistons can instead target better pieces rather than chasing the idea of Thompson’s previous self.
The Pistons don’t need Klay anymoreÂ
Despite winning 60 games and being the top seed in the East last season, it was obvious that the Pistons needed more shooting on the roster. Their only notable deep threat was Duncan Robinson, a weakness that came back to bite them in the playoffs. But this offseason, they’ve done well to add more shooters by acquiring Isaiah Joe and even John Collins at the power forward spot.
Other teams may have made splashier moves, but the Pistons did a good job of addressing their biggest need with underrated transactions. If the Pistons hadn’t added more shooters this offseason, they might be highly tempted by Thompson, who still shot 39% from three during his last two seasons in Dallas. However, he’s well past his prime now and young contenders like the Pistons shouldn’t have to rely on players like him to play a big role.
Shooting will always be a premium for the Pistons, since they seem committed to non-shooters in their young core going forward. On paper, Thompson would make sense as one of the deadliest shooters in league history, but his age is starting to show in his defense and minutes load. Signing him for a substantial role at this stage is a sign of desperation for a serious team, and it’s a good thing the Pistons are no longer in a position to want that.
Detroit has what they need on the wing
The Pistons may not have All-Star talent among their wing players, but they should have guys who fit well into their supporting roles. Both Robinson and Joe were among the league’s most prolific shooters on a per-minute basis last season. They’re arguably both bigger threats from downtown than Thompson at this point in their respective careers.
And the Pistons should have superior defenders on the perimeter than Thompson too. At his peak, he may have been the prototypical 3-and-D player, but Thompson doesn’t have the same legs anymore at age 36. Detroit’s success relies heavily on its defense and it’s better for them to rely on younger shooters who can give more effort on that end.
Over the last few years, the Pistons have always been in spots where more shooting felt necessary. It was almost unimaginable to think of a scenario where a name like Klay Thompson hit the open market and the Pistons could have no regret about passing up on him. But we’ve reached that stage now and it’s a good thing considering Klay’s decline since leaving the Warriors.
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