Where they stand entering December:
Andre and Blake have been everything the Pistons could have hoped for.
Note: All stats accurate as of game finals on Saturday, Nov 24.
Player Stats
Name: PPG | RPG | APG | BPG | SPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | PER | TOV | MPG
- Griffin: 25.3 | 10.8 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | .469 | .396 | .746 | 21.5 | 3.9 | 36.8
- Drummond: 19.5 | 16.1 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | .524 | .200 | .547 | 24.3 | 2.4 | 33.9
- Bullock: 10.7 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | .383 | .368 | .880 | 11.2 | 0.8 | 29.4
- Jackson: 15.5 | 2.7 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | .383 | .306 | .841 | 13.1 | 2.1 | 29.0
- Smith: 9.9 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | .432 | .317 | .714 | 10.1 | 1.1 | 26.1
- Galloway: 9.1 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | .420 | .333 | .833 | 10.8 | 0.5 | 24.7
- Johnson: 8.5 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 1.1 | .390 | .288 | .800 | 9.5 | 1.5 | 23.6
- Robinson: 6.5 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | .452 | .345 | .875 | 10.6 | 0.6 | 16.8
- Kennard: 5.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | .667 | .500 | – | 16.4 | 0.3 | 14.3
- Brown: 3.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | .344 | .091 | .692 | 6.0 | 0.3 | 14.3
- Pachulia: 3.7 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | .327 | – | .818 | 13.5 | 0.8 | 12.0
- Calderon: 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | .259 | .176 | 1.000 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 9.6
- Leur: 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | .533 | .000 | .667 | 11.8 | 0.4 | 8.0
- Ellenson: 7.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .400 | .500 | 1.000 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 8.0
- Thomas: 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .250 | .333 | – | -1.1 | 0.5 | 5.5
- Lofton: 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | .000 | .000 | – | -9.9 | 1.0 | 4.0
Team Stats & Rankings
Category | Team | Ranking
- Field Goal %: .434 | 30th
- 3-Point %: .322 | 26th
- Free Throw %: .747 | 27th
- Rebounds/Game: 58.1 | 4th
- Assists/Game: 21.1 | 26th
- Steals/Game: 6.9 | 23rd
- Blocks/Game: 3.9 | 29th
- Turnovers/Game: 14.8 | 17th
- Points/Game: 111.3 | 12th
- ORtg: 108.9 | 17th
- DRtg: 108.7 | 10th
- PACE: 99.6 | 19th
Conference/Division Splits
- Record: 9-7
- League Rank: 12th
- East: 5th
- Central: 3rd, 3.5 GB
- Home: 5-3
- Road: 4-4
- Division: 3-0
- Eastern Opp.: 8-6
- Western Opp.: 1-1
The Detroit Pistons are off to a confusing start. Sitting at 9-7 and 5th in the Eastern Conference, on the surface it’d appear they’re doing just fine. Dig a little deeper though and you’ll find some troubling statistics. For starters, the most glaring problem is what many expected it to be. The shooting numbers to put it bluntly, are bad. I mean really, really bad. Dead last in field goal percentage as a team, bottom five in three-point shooting, and bottom five in free throw percentage. We knew the team would struggle with outside shooting and everything, but to be at the very bottom in all three main shooting categories? In all honesty, the only thing Detroit seems to be doing well is rebounding.
Again, we expected the Pistons to rebound towards the top of the league. With an offensive and defensive rating hovering towards the very middle of the league, it would appear they might be out performing just a smidge. An projected win/loss record of 8-8 is where basketball reference has the Pistons after 16 games. While not world beating expectations by any means, the Pistons should be thankful to be in a safe playoff spot as of now. With that said, Detroit should be on the lookout for some talent to come in and help out Andre Drummond/Blake Griffin.
That being said, it might be somewhat difficult making a deal with Detroit’s current salary cap construction. Once Detroit traded for Blake Griffin last season, immediate salary cap worry came to mind. With how Blake has been playing, his contract (at least presently) is proving to be less of an albatross as once believed. He has evolved his game over the years, and this season with the Pistons and Coach Casey, he appears to have filled out most of his previous shortcomings. Andre Drummond isn’t the three-point splash king he probably was hoping he could become. What he has done is continue to be the NBA‘s best rebounder, hands down.
So the two major contracts in Detroit are somewhere from Good Value-Tolerable. The issue starts coming with Reggie Jackson. Always a streaky player, Jackson has failed to show that he can be the floor spacing guard needed with a Griffin/Drummond frontcourt. Granted, Griffin is a very solid three-point shooter who now must be respected out on the arc. The problem is Jackson wants to be too ball dominant, living In the SVG(Stan Van-Gundy) era of Reggie/Andre Pick and Roll possession days. Jackson leading a 2nd unit seems like just about the last logical role for him to attempt for Detroit, because trading him is beyond out of the question. Third highest cap hit on the team, but he is not proving to hold much value at his very high salary. Ish Smith, the backup to Jackson, is even more poor of an outside shooter.
Langston Galloway has shown he deserved more run under Van-Gundy, as he has found a nice 2nd unit role under Casey. 2nd year guard Luke Kennard showed many flashes of his solid all around game last season, at times leaving many head scratching at his lack of heavy minute opportunities. Sadly he’s been hurt virtually all season, and the Pistons haven’t gotten to try and finesse him into a starting role just yet. On top of that former lottery pick Henry Ellenson hasn’t gotten enough time on the court to make a fair judgement, although the team declining the option on his rookie deal is probably enough to bury him on the bench for good.
Lastly, Stanley -potential over production – Johnson continues to make fans pull handfuls of hair from their confused heads. Always has had the athletic ability, and from time to time he shows an above average offensive game. If the Pistons can get someone to bite on a restarted version of Johnson( much like Philly will attempt when moving on from Fultz), he will most likely be their biggest bargaining chip.
With the info above as a precursor, now we can take a look at some targets for the Pistons.
Kyle Korver
Age: 37 | SG/SF/PG | Cleveland Cavaliers
Contract
- 2018-19: $7,560,000
- 2019-20: $7,500,000
Season Stats:
- 15.7 MPG, 6.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.2 SPG
- FG: 46% 3PT 46% FT 81%
Korver has not had a very glamorous role for the Cavs this season. He is a player used predominately for his long range prowess, and with the Cavs far from competing in the East, he has fallen out of rotation in Cleveland. With Rodney Hood, Clarkson, and Cedi Osman all firmly ahead in the pecking order the Cavs are moving into a youth movement. You feel for guys like Korver and Jr Smith who were told one thing(we are going to compete), and then shown a complete other(Ty Lue out as coach, and no minutes for non youth). In a perfect world, an energized ready to go JR Smith could do wonders for Detroit, but when you factor his two years left on his contract at over 12-13M per season and he’s out of the question. Which brings us to Kyle Korver.
Never saw a three that didn’t look nice. With Andre down low to cover his defensive ineptitude, Casey could run him out as a big time floor spacer. Its tough to give Korver too high of a grade this season due to lack of on court time, but that could be a double win if Detroit makes a run at picking him up. For starters, the price tag shouldn’t register too high, which is huge for a team lacking in trade chips. Secondly, at 37 Korver has some mileage on him. Not unlike many great spot up shooters, Korver has made his living running under, over, and around screens. Having time to stay fresh is huge for someone his age playing in today’s pace oriented league.
If Cleveland is willing to play ball with a future 2nd, and Calderon(for roster space purposes) then Detroit should consider it a must have. Detroit also could use the trade exception from Boban Marjanovic to almost completely even salaries if they didn’t want to take Calderon back and wanted a younger bench player in return. Also, if the Cavs wanted to swap George Hill and Reggie Jackson, I’m all about it if I’m in the Detroit front office.
Jeremy lin
Age: 30 | PG/SG | Atlanta Hawks
Contract
- 2018-19: $13,768,421
Season Stats:
- 18.9 MPG, 11.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.9 SPG
- FG: 51% 3PT 42% FT 85%
The Hawks are not challenging for anything other than the number one pick in the 2019 NBA draft. Trae Young is the Present & the Future down in Atlanta, Jeremy Lin is still a very serviceable guard. An up-and-down career it has been for Lin, high peaks of Linsanity in New York is not what you should expect when talking about 2018 Jeremy Lin. The minutes he takes in Atlanta are not helping kids they really want to look it – IE Tyler Dorsey, Trae Young, Kevin Huerter. Granted, Young is the only true PG out of the trio, but Tyler Dorsey should be getting looks at the one as well. Huerter could run with Trae Young to give the Hawks more of a look at both of their 1st rounders, not just Young.
The Hawks should be looking to get something back for Lin before he walks in free agency at the end of the season anyway. Lin has always been excellent with the pick and roll lead man, but his 3-point shooting has actually become a very nice asset for his game. If Atlanta is truly wanting to cut bait with Lin, the Pistons should be amongst the first call they receive. I think his fit with the Pistons would allow Jackson to move to a 6th man role. It might be a tough sell for Jackson, but it has worked for Oklahoma City Thunder Point Guard Dennis to great lengths. Backing up Westbrook has been a godsend thus far, and Jackson should want to buy into being an alpha on the 2nd unit. It could be the revival his play needs.
The Hawks have very little use for Lin. Coming off of a couple of injury filled seasons and couple that with Trae Young coming to town, there’s not a whole lot to play for. His salary is high but he’s on an expiring contract! Pairing him on the Pistons squad gives him an opportunity to play with a higher level team and provide much better perimeter play for a team in dire need. If they can get Atlanta to buy into a 2nd round pick, or heavily protected 1st that translates into a late late first or 2nd round pick, they should be able to make the numbers work.
Wayne Ellington
Age: 30 | PG/SG | Miami Heat
Contract
- 2018-19: $6,270,000
Season Stats:
- 25.0 MPG, 10.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG
- FG: 39% 3PT 38% FT 100%
Oh baby you, you got what I need. Old head song lyrics aside, Ellington is the exact perimeter player Detroit doesn’t have. Ellington in Miami has gotten a green light to shoot a three on any possession, and I mean any. Some of his pull-up threes look scary, but he can legitimately challenge Steph for awkward looking long bomb shooting percentage(I can’t give you the numbers, but watch some of Ellington with Miami). Over the course of the past two seasons in South Beach, Ellington is shooting over seven 3Pt Field Goals per game! Its quite a bit when you figure he’s only on the court between 20-25 MPG, his PER-36 three point numbers? Around 40% on 10 PER GAME!
He is a heavy volume shooter who really doesn’t do a whole lot else. Yet again though, the one thing he does extremely well, is the thing Detroit just cannot do consistently. The Pistons need three point shooting, the gaping hole that are the 2/3 spots for Detroit needs to be addressed. Every player suggested as a target in this piece is a guard, that’s no coincidence. Ellington doesn’t do much else worth mentioning. He’s not the worst when initiating an offensive set, and he also can pick the opponents pocket to great results(1.2 SPG on a 25 MPG Clip). He’s more three than D, but he checks enough boxes on both sides of the ball to warrant heavy minutes.
He’s on a low salary deal that’s also expiring at the end of this season. His fit in Detroit is almost too good to be true. He shouldn’t cost all that much seeing as he’s not a long-term piece in Miami. With Waiters, Richardson, and now even McGruder making names for themselves, Ellington Is nothing more than a placeholder. Should Miami falter and see themselves out of the immediate playoff picture, linking up with them for Ellington could do wonders for Detroit. He may not be a huge name, unless you’re a huge UNC TarHeel fan, but he brings a lot of what’s missing in Detroit.
Trey Burke
Age: 26 | PG/SG | New York Knicks
Contract
- 2018-19: $1,795,015
Season Stats:
- 22.3 MPG, 11.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.7 SPG
- FG: 44% 3PT 37% FT 77%
I’m under an impression that Trey Burke got drafted high and didn’t work out the first few seasons so people don’t realize how solid/good he has become with the Knicks since last season. He’s only 26 and he truly looks like he has matured immensely as a basketball player. It’s almost a shame the Knicks had already invested so much into the Point Guard position. Top-10 Phil Jackson pick Frank Ntilikina, and former Denver Nuggets 1st round pick Emmanuel Mudiay. Both players were considered to have more of a long-term role in the Big Apple. The thing is, it’s the elder of the top picks Trey Burke playing the best.
At this point, the Knicks dealing Burke is much better than any value they’d have ever anticipated getting when he came from the D-League(might have been the G-League at this point?). They just aren’t going to win all that soon with PorzinGOD still down, whats the point in holding Burke? For Detroit it’s a former Michigan legend returning home to help Detroit make noise in the East. The level Burke can play at is something I wish more people were recognizing. His PER-36 stats are very nice. He’s only getting 22 MPG, and now with Alonzo Trier showing the Knicks much more than anticipated, it doesn’t make sense to for the marriage to last much longer.
Burke has tricky value. Unrestricted after the season, only 26 years old, and a very small salary to work around. I personally believe he’s an upgrade over Reggie Jackson, and I know people will say the Pistons are locked into their Point Guard situation with Jackson/Ish Smith, but Casey loves to run some two point guard sets. Burke is someone Detroit could look at as a longer-term solution at the Point Guard spot that hasn’t been correctly filled since the Chauncey Billups days(that’s been longer than you think). I don’t see a deal likely for Burke, probably the least likely. Still, he is certainly a piece to help the puzzle if Detroit were to make a move for him.
Bradley Beal, the pipe dream
Age: 25 | PG/SG | Washington Wizards
Contract
- 2018-19: $25,434,263
- 2019-20: $27,093,019
- 2020-21: $28,751,775
Season Stats:
- 35.5 MPG, 22.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.2 SPG
- FG: 47% 3PT 39% FT 76%
I refuse to get too into depth on this. The past few weeks its been told that he and John Wall could be had. Beal with Andre/Blake is a match made in heaven. Beal has always been able to score, even while enduring the possession pounding that is John Wall. These two have really never made it seem like there is much love lost as a duo. The Wizards should blow up and reboot. It didn’t work guys, why else did the Raptors deal Derozan and dump Coach of the Year Dwayne Casey? Look at their position in the standings, hell watch a game and try telling me that squad with Kawhi this season isn’t leaps and bounds above the 2017-18 version.
The pipe dream isn’t in his availability, it’s in the fact that with his large salary number making a deal work is as close to out of the question as can be. One can dream however. The Pistons have too much invested in their “core 3” to make a move for a player like Beal, unless they deal Jackson. I’m pretty doubtful on selling Washington on Reggie Jackson at his salary level at this point.
