The Detroit Pistons are now past the halfway point of the NBA season and are in last place in the Eastern Conference.
Detroit does, though, have a favorable schedule the rest of the way — well, as favorable as favorable can be for an 11-win team. The rebuilding Pistons, who have played the most games in the NBA so far, will have completed 10 of their 14 back-to-back sets by the end of this week. They’ll now have more home games than road games, which wasn’t the case through the first 41 games of the season.
It was this time last year that Detroit flirted with a .500 record to close out the 2021-22 NBA season. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the Pistons started rattling off a few more wins in the final months just based on circumstances alone.
With the fan base, though, that will probably bring about some angst by this point. All eyes are already focused on the upcoming NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9 and the 2023 NBA Draft on June 23. “Wobble for Wemby” is in full effect. For the Pistons organization, there is a benefit in ending this season strong. We all saw what he did for the football team across the street. On the other hand, Detroit could use another top-two pick.
For the first Pistons mailbag of 2023, I answer subscriber questions as it pertains to Detroit’s approach leading up to the trade deadline, the possibility of a backcourt logjam next season and much more. You can read the questions and answers below.
(Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length.)
Why are they so bad defensively? Do they not have the physical talent? Do they not know what their assignments are, or is the scheme the issue? —Thomas C.
I think there are a couple of factors with this.
For starters, the offense across the NBA is bananas right now. Even the best defenses get bombarded on some nights. You couple that with a Pistons team that starts four players who are 21 years old or younger, and it’s a recipe for disastrous defense.
Learning coverages is one thing when you’re a young player in this league, but being able to implement and act out while fighting is another. A large part of Detroit’s issues defensively are mistakes within the coverage. Digesting everything at once isn’t easy for most young players, let alone a collection of them.
Additionally, the Pistons just don’t have enough defensive-minded guys. Killian Hayes is. Isaiah Stewart is. That’s about it. Jalen Duren is so young, and you can see him processing the game just a touch too slow at times on that end. He’ll be a good defender one day. Jaden Ivey is someone who misses his assignment often on that end. He tries defensively but it’s clear he has to improve with his on-ball technique and the processing stuff off the ball. Saddiq Bey is the best defending opposing players who, similarly to him, aren’t the fastest or aren’t super athletic.
Without question, these players can improve defensively with time. A lot of it, for the most part, is processing stuff. However, the Pistons could use a legitimate, more seasoned wing defender for next season, regardless if there is faith in the development in-house.
Detroit is bad defensively but not abnormally bad given the situation. The San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets — all of whom are young, rebuilding teams — are all right there toward the bottom of the league’s defensive rating along with the Pistons. Most young teams tend to struggle defensively.
What pieces are missing to turn a corner? To take the road the Cavs took last season to become a playoff team. From a layman’s perspective, it seemed like it was just adding (Evan) Mobley while (Darius) Garland and (Jarrett) Allen started gelling, but I’m sure there’s some coaching wizardry going on there too. Any thoughts on how to emulate their success, aside from trading for Donovan Mitchell? —Joss G.
I hate to say this because I know everyone is tired of hearing this, but time is the biggest piece.
There’s a real world where Duren, the league’s youngest player, has the same impact and trajectory as the Cavs’ Jarrett Allen. Allen, while only 24, is playing in his sixth NBA season. That’s a lot of experience. The Pistons hope they have their Donovan Mitchell in Cade Cunningham, but the 2021 No. 1 pick lost this season due to injury.
Ivey is a rookie with a ton of upside, but he’s not there yet. Hayes has found his stride in the NBA, to the point that I think there’s a world where he could be a long-term starter. The Pistons do desperately need an elite wing defender. That’s a big missing piece.
If Cunningham can become one of the top 20 players in the league, and that’s not easy to do, Detroit’s outlook is a lot better. Also, Detroit needs to find a way to get its hands on a good two-way wing. The Pistons will, finally, have a ton of cap space and tradeable assets to pair with some intriguing young players this summer.
Time.
I know you and everyone hates to hear it. But I’ve reported for a long time that the 2023-24 season is when the franchise wants to turn a corner. You’re almost there.
James, you are the GM, Pistons have pick no. 2, how is GM James handling that pick? Who, if anyone, is getting moved in a trade? I just see too many issues adding Henderson to what we already have without moving someone. Too many want to be ball handlers with only one ball. — Vince A.
I’m taking Scott Henderson. No question. Henderson would be the no-brainer No. 1 pick if there wasn’t this 7-foot-2 kid who could block shots, shoot like a wing and ballhandle like a guard in the same draft class. The dynamic guard is that good.
If Detroit were so lucky to get Henderson, then I think you start to see them consolidate some of their young pieces, probably to try and grab that two-way wing I just talked about.
Cunningham is off the table for me. He’s still the cornerstone. Now, deciding between Ivey and Hayes is interesting. Ivey might have more upside, but his best qualities would overlap with Henderson, who is a better prospect going forward. Hayes might not have the same upside, but if he’s the player he’s been for the last three months for the next five to six years, that is something you want on your ballclub and is a skill set from the guard position not currently present elsewhere on the roster. This version of Hayes is a legitimate NBA player. Also, he shouldn’t cost that much moving forward. Ivey, to me, would have the greatest trade value between the two.
Do with that as you will.
Who’s gone at the trade deadline and what position needs to be addressed the most? — Brennan C.
I know common knowledge suggests that a team at the bottom of the standings will be big sellers at the trade deadline, but I think the Pistons break that mold this season. They want to compete for a postseason spot next season, and it’s hard to do that if you trade your few good vets for more draft assets or young players, unless, of course, the returning haul is just too good to pass up.
I’m going to do a more comprehensive trade piece next week, so I won’t get into all of the details here, but I don’t see Detroit making as many moves as people think. Honestly, more than one would surprise me. The Pistons’ asking price for Bojan Bogdanović is high — I’m of the understanding that, at this moment in time, they won’t part with him for anything less than an unprotected first and a good young player — because they don’t want to trade him. It would take an overpay for Detroit to part ways with Bogdanović. I don’t think Alec Burks is going anywhere. I also don’t think Saddiq Bey does, although he may be more likely than the first two. Nerlens Noel is the only player I see getting traded, and that’s not even a guarantee. Teams may just wait to see if he gets bought out.
Again, there will be more on this next week, but I agree with Detroit’s approach if this is the way they go. Cunningham will be back next season, there will likely be another top-five pick in the fold and a ton of cap space to use to add experienced, proven players. That’s a good recipe for sustained success.
If Detroit ends up being active in the trade market, it’ll come this offseason, once the franchise knows where it is picking in the 2023 NBA Draft.
How do you see the guard rotation playing out next year when Cade returns? Killian’s play lately has been encouraging. —Thomas G.
Good question.
If you’re asking me to predict right now, I think there is a real world in which Cunningham and Hayes are the starting backcourt. Hayes is ahead of Ivey right now in regards to his shooting, his processing and his defense, all of which are things that would supplement Cunningham greatly. We haven’t seen this version of Hayes next to Cunningham yet. Hayes has been shooting 36 percent from 3 on 4.0 attempts per game since Nov. 2. Killian Hayes, the guy who couldn’t crack 30 percent from 3 on less than 3.0 attempts per game in his first two seasons. Hayes’ midrange jumper, too, has felt automatic over that span. If this shooting is real, and even continues to improve, the playmaking and defense that Hayes provides work nicely alongside Cunningham.
Now, that’s not to say that Ivey can’t come back next summer and improve greatly across the board. He has the kind of upside. However, if you’re asking me to pick right now, Hayes is a better fit next to Cunningham. Ivey destroying opposing second units with his blistering speed might be his best course of action in the short term while he continues to develop the rest of his game.
(Photo of Bojan Bogdanović: Tom Horak / USA Today)
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