2 Under-the-radar Pistons who will break out next season

We’ve talked a lot about player development for the Detroit Pistons, what guys like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren and Ron Holland II have to do to take the next step as players. 

Cunningham seems the most likely to make that leap and I recently wrote about the reasons he will be an All-Star next season. 

But the Pistons also have a couple of under-the-radar guys who are poised for big breakout seasons of their own, players who could be big X-factors in the Pistons improvement next season. 

Simone Fontecchio 

We got a preview of what Fontecchio can do for the Pistons in his 16 games with Detroit last season, as he scored over 15 a game and shot nearly 43 percent from long range. 

He was not only playing more minutes with the Pistons but got more opportunities than he did with the Jazz. Consider that Fontecchio was just 8th in minutes for the Jazz and was 4th with the Pistons. He went from 8th in field goal attempts on the Jazz to 4th in Detroit, getting nearly five more attempts per game. 

Those numbers may not stay at those lofty heights, but Fontecchio will be one of the first players off the bench for Detroit, should get plenty of minutes and shots and may double his point total per game with that increased role. 

Fontecchio scored just over six per game in his first season, over 10 per game on average last season and could see that number close to 15-16 per game in the next one. Anything more than that and he'll put himself in the conversation for the Most Improved Player award.

Paul Reed 

Reed set career highs across the board last season, including in games played and minutes. 

He averaged 7.3 points, six rebounds, 1.3 assists and a block per game, which seem like pedestrian numbers until you consider he was playing just 19.4 minutes on average.

He’s no longer in Joel Embiid’s shadow and should get an increased role on a team with thin big-man depth behind Jalen Duren. Reed will get chances at backup center and power forward at times and should be the beneficiary of increased minutes. 

Reed racks up steals, blocks and rebounds at a high rate, so give him another five minutes per game and we could see a guy averaging close to a double-double with more than a block and steal.

The focus will remain on the Pistons young core, but these two players are primed to have breakout seasons with bigger roles.