Detroit Pistons Roster 2019 Pistons Roster

After four years with Stan Van Gundy at the helm of the franchise, both on the court and in the front office, the Detroit Pistons are left with an overpaid and mismatched roster. The Pistons have brought in Dwayne Casey to try to get the most out of the existing roster because the Pistons lack the flexibility to remake the roster at this point. Detroit had thought that acquiring Blake Griffin at last year's trading deadline would be enough to put this team over the top. However, in retrospect, the Pistons gave up a blossoming star in Tobias Harris. Still, Griffin is only 29 and by no means is he past his prime. If Detroit figures out how best to utilize Griffin, this team has a three or four year window to make some noise, provided they can put the right complimentary pieces around him.

Detroit Pistons Roster Top 3 Questions

Detroit made a big trade during the middle of the year, landing Blake Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers. Griffin played alongside Andre Drummond, but you could say it wasn’t an optimal pairing. Griffin has a massive contract, and Drummond is also due to be paid. The Pistons drafted Stanley Johnson, but he is not a starting small forward in this league, and is best suited for a role player. Detroit does not have much talent at this position as guys like Reggie Bullock, Langston Galloway, and Luke Kennard are all battling for time. This was supposed to be Reggie Jackson’s team, but injuries have derailed him. We have seen Ish Smith get some minutes at point guard, and neither him or Jackson look like point guards for the future. With Griffin’s contract on the books for Detroit, they don’t have a ton of leeway moving forward.

Can Dwayne Casey Change the Culture?

It is not ever day that a franchise can hire the reigning NBA Coach of the Year. However, the Pistons did just that when they went out and got Casey, who many felt got a raw deal from Toronto. Casey knows how to win in the league, but he will have to get buy-in from the Pistons' stars. Andre Drummond iS difficult to coach, and Van Gundy struggled to reach him. The Pistons had slid into a culture of mediocrity and selfishness. Under Casey, the Pistons will look to become a more analytics-based and businesslike team. Casey has the credibility in the league to get through to Griffin, Drummond and Reggie Jackson.

Will the Pistons Core Gain Chemistry?

Griffin was not exactly known for promoting team chemistry in Los Angeles. However, once Griffin found his way to Detroit, he became a passing big man who ran the offense on many occasions. The Pistons have had to adjust due to Jackson's health and decline. The addition of a superstar such as Griffin requires some changes to the offensive scheme. When you add a combustible element into the mix such as Drummond, it only accentuates the situation. The good news is that Casey is adept at handling egos and, if anyone can reach Drummond, Casey will. If Reggie Jackson can return to health, the Pistons can have their own Big Three provides that Drummond can recognize that this will be primarily Griffin's team.

Who Will Provide the Outside Shooting?

Casey's teams in Toronto specialized in perimeter play and outside shooting. Beyond his two stars in Kyle Lowry and Demar Derozan, Casey relied on shooters to open up the floor. As such, Reggie Bullock and Luke Kennard are going to be the keys that will dictate whether the Pistons can open up their offense. Kennard was a nice surprise as a rookie, shooting 41 percent from three-point range. He is the type of player that fits well on a Casey-coached team. Bullock had his best season ever at the age of 27, and his ability to knock down the three will make things happen.