The Detroit Pistons were busy making a series of moves right up until their offseason activity came to an abrupt halt, and now the lingering question is whether Trajan Langdon has actually done enough to strengthen this group.
Coming off a 60-win campaign, Detroit didn’t exactly require a complete transformation, but the postseason did shine a harsh light on their shortcomings in shot creation, perimeter accuracy, and backcourt ball-handling deficiencies that simply had to be addressed.
They’ve executed some decent complementary additions so far, but does that truly move the needle?
Detroit has undoubtedly bolstered its outside shooting, yet there are still visible gaps
For maybe the first time in my lifetime, the Pistons boast more than one elite deep threat. Snagging Isaiah Joe was a shrewd get, and pairing him with Duncan Robinson gives Detroit two of the league’s premier high-volume shooters from beyond the arc.
Swapping Tobias Harris for John Collins might end up being a lateral move in terms of overall production, but Collins brings superior 3-point accuracy, and there’s hope he can ramp up his attempts while playing alongside a playmaker of Cade Cunningham’s caliber.
Collins could also make it simpler to keep Ausar Thompson on the floor whether Jalen Duren is out there or not.
Kevin Huerter is back in the fold. Fine. Hard to get overly excited about that one, though there’s at least a possibility he rediscovers his stroke from deep.
Still, the Pistons remain without a clear-cut secondary scoring option, and they’re thin on ball-handlers throughout the roster. None of the new arrivals are going to generate their own looks, and they let go of their safety net in Harris who was the only player besides Cunningham capable of reliably manufacturing his own offense during the playoffs.
I do expect Ausar Thompson to take a significant step forward, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Daniss Jenkins benefits from a steadier and better-defined role in the rotation. Ron Holland is working quietly in the background, positioning himself for a potential breakout in year three.
Maybe rookie Ebuka Okorie will make an immediate impact, but it’s just as plausible that he starts the season outside the rotation entirely, so counting on him right away doesn’t seem realistic.
I’m not down on the Pistons’ offseason they addressed a clear need without sacrificing meaningful assets or future flexibility but calling it a grand slam at this point feels like a stretch, and if the season tipped off today, they probably haven’t done quite enough to push past their ceiling in the East.
All of this also presupposes that Jalen Duren remains in Detroit for next season, so despite some clever moves around the edges, significant gaps persist.
Are the Pistons done making changes?
Detroit still has unresolved business regarding Jalen Duren, but after missing out on several of their primary targets, it’s fair to wonder where the next major move might originate.
Trajan Langdon appears content to be patient and roll into the season with this group if the right deal doesn’t materialize which is essentially the approach he took last offseason.
The Pistons are certainly staying active, which is encouraging, but we’ll have to wait and see whether they’ll truly be comfortable standing pat if no further upgrades come.
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