Detroit Pistons' grades for February 2024: Promise and inconsistency

Forwards: B+

Detroit’s forwards had been playing well, stats-wise over the last few months, thanks mostly to Bojan Bogdanovic. But Bogey is in New York now, and Detroit has replenished their forward room with Simone Fontecchio and Evan Fournier. Fournier was mostly a salary match, and while most fans don’t want many minutes for the journeyman, he’s played pretty well. He even is hitting from three at 44 percent.

The real addition has been Simone Fontecchio from the Utah Jazz. Simone has been in and out of the starting lineup with Isaiah Stewart returning, but has been exactly what this Detroit team needs. His shooting isn’t much of a step back from Bogey’s, but his defense is leaps and bounds better. During his first games in Detroit, Font is averaging 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2 assists, and is shooting the three at 42 percent. Plus the defense that he brings, his fit in Detroit has been perfect. The Pistons need to get to work on an extension for the second year man out of Italy.

The lone returner in the forward group is Ausar Thompson. Thanks to the roster shuffling around, Ausar found himself back in the starting lineup for most of February, and he has taken advantage of his time once again. To begin the season, Ausar was playing all around great basketball. Once taken out of the starting lineup, his numbers dipped. Since being introduced back as a starter in February, Ausar’s ppg is back up to 11, his rebounding is at 5.7 per game, and his three point shooting has increased by 18 percent (!). Granted that only means he shot 29 perent in February but if Ausar was a 30 percent three point shooter, as he was last month, plus his other attributes, that’s an absolute win. 

February was a great month from the forward position for Detroit.