The Detroit Pistons finally ended their playoff drought this past season. As good as the up and coming young guys like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren were, the Pistons would not have had this kind of season without the veteran talent they added. In particular, Tim Hardaway Jr.'s play proved that that Detroit pulled off a heist with the Dallas Mavericks.
Let's give ourselves a quick refresher, shall we? Back on July 6 of 2024, the Pistons announced that they had traded Quentin Grimes to the Mavericks in exchange for Hardaway and three future second round draft selections. This was seen as more of a margins move at the time, and even looked downright regrettable at times. But it would later become one of the defining moments of Detroit's 2024-25 season.
All Hardaway did was be a big shot-maker for the Pistons all season while being an incredible locker room influence. After starting just 12 games with Dallas in 2023-24, THJ started all 77 games he played for the Pistons this past season.
Hardaway was a big part of why the Pistons ended their playoff drought
You see, in bringing in Hardaway and Tobias Harris, Detroit made a profound realization: Young talent is vital for a successful rebuild. However, you often can't get those young guys to reach their full potential without some rock-solid veterans alongside them, guiding and leading them throughout the ups and downs of an 82-game NBA season.
The NBA feels younger today than it has in past generations. A strong veteran presence is no longer something every team has, and those younger squads without the leadership of guys who have been there and done that are going to suffer more on their journey to become a playoff contender.
In adding guys like Hardaway, the Pistons were able to put their rebuild on a fast track. After winning just 14 games in 2023-24, that win total skyrocketed up to 44 games this past season. A 30-game win increase says all you need to know about these veterans when most of the rest of the roster remained the same from the previous season.
And although Grimes has now become a special player in Philadelphia, Detroit clearly did a fantastic job of getting a great return in this trade last summer. Tim Hardaway Jr.'s impact has been greatly appreciated by Pistons fans, and he'll forever be part of this special team that got the franchise back to the playoffs.