The Pistons recently assigned rookie Chaz Lanier to their G-League affiliate the Motor City Cruise. He had failed to earn meaningful minutes on the Pistons' main roster, but showed out in his first game for the Cruise. Lanier had 40 points while shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 9-of-13 from three in his G-League debut.
Lanier is gaining confidence in the G-League
For Chaz Lanier, the G-League assignment is not necessarily a demotion but rather an opportunity to develop his skills and confidence. It would be difficult for any rookie to earn playing time on a 19-5 team, let alone a second-round pick. Spending some time as an offensive centerpiece on the Cruise can help Lanier get more comfortable and develop his skills in a way that will translate to the NBA game.
The first thing that stood out about Lanier's first Cruise game was his abundant confidence. With his green light, he had no hesitation shooting threes whenever he got a good luck. That meant launching some that were even slightly confidence. All the best shooters in the league have a supreme confidence and willingness to fire away over light coverage. In fact, that mindset helps maximize a shooter's impact and forces defenses to guard them more tightly.
Lanier's confidence extended beyond his movement three-point shooting too. He looked more comfortable putting the ball on the deck and driving to create open looks inside the arc. The Pistons are in need of more creators on the team, and these reps will help him develop into just that. It also gives him more counters to retain his value if his shot isn't falling or defenses sell out to prevent him from getting 3-point opportunities.
The G-League also allows Lanier the opportunity to grow in his weaknesses without the consequences of hurting the Pistons. His biggest flaw that has kept him off the court so far is defense, which Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff holds very highly. On the Cruise, Lanier can continue to work on his defensive game and grow from his mistakes without costing the Pistons wins.
As an older rookie (turning 24 in a couple weeks), Lanier should also have the maturity to see the benefits of his G-League assignment. Rather than being discouraged, he needs to take it as a chance to solidify his role on the Pistons. The return of Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser from injury was also bound to push Lanier further down the depth chart.
But Lanier has been gifted a golden opportunity now. If he can use his time in the G-League to develop into a reliable contributor for the Pistons, it'll be a huge draft win. With his shooting ability, he can help the Pistons in a lot of ways if his game develops to an NBA level.