They traded Isaiah Stewart and lost Tobias Harris in free agency. They signed free agent John Collins and acquired Taurean Prince to replace them up front.
They moved up in the draft to select point guard Okorie stocks and traded for shooting guard Isaiah Joe. They re-signed two more wings, Kevin Huerter and Javonte Greenwhile trading Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser.
So where does this leave the Pistons? Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press notes that they’ll miss Stewart’s toughness and rim protection and Harris’ leadership and steady contributions. On the flip side, they added much-needed perimeter shooting with the Joe and Collins acquisitions.
While the Pistons didn’t make a major deal or free agent signing for a high-level scorer and creator to ease the burden off Cade Cunninghamit can be considered a successful offseason for the front office if they can re-sign restricted free agent Jalen Duren on a somewhat favorable deal and the 22-year-old center continues to improve, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic opines.
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Cavaliers second-round pick Meleek Thomas was one of the pleasant surprises during the Las Vegas Summer League, leading all participants at 27.3 points per game on 50% shooting, including 44% on eight three-point attempts per game. He had a 15-to-6 assist-to-turnover ratio and eight steals in four games. That scoring ability was no mirage, an unnamed scout told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “To say he’s got a scorer’s mentality is an understatement; the guy has his eye on the rim from the scorer’s table,” he said. “He’s got an awkward shot, but he gets it off, and he can score at all three levels, though he doesn’t look for contact and barely ever gets to the line. I can’t see him playing anywhere close to this style in the league very much, but the scoring talent is undeniable.”
- Bucks lottery pick guard Brayden Burries also made a strong impression in Vegas with his scoring and steady play. Utilized as a point guard, a position he rarely played at Arizona, Burries committed just three turnovers in 108 minutes. He also averaged 23.5 points per game on 50% shooting. “You can look at the stats and see (Burries) scored, and lots of guys can score here,” another scout told Windhorst. “But when you see a young guard handle the ball as much as him and not turn it over, that tells you something about his makeup, at least at this stage.”
- James Harden wants LeBron James to come back to Cleveland, but the Cavaliers‘ free agent guard doesn’t believe any lobbying by his peers will influence James’ decision. “He’s gonna decide,” Harden said, per BasketNews. “He’s smart enough that I don’t think anybody’s pitch is gonna move him. You know what I mean?” Harden is also sure that whichever team James chooses will get a major boost toward a title. “Wherever he decides, obviously, the team’s gonna be a lot better,” said Harden, who made those comments during a Fanatics Fest event.
Comments are closed.