Photo Credit: Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season, with a 17-65 record on the season. The Pistons then fired their General Manager and Head Coach, signaling a new era in Detroit. So far, so good, as Trajan Langdon came in and made “small” moves that would impact the team in a big way. He hired J.B. Bickerstaff to take over the team, and it worked. Bickerstaff has clearly made a big difference, and has been a huge upgrade over Monty Williams. Langdon also added Malik Beasley in free agency, traded for Tim Hardaway Jr, signed veteran Tobias Harris, added Paul Reed from waivers, and drafted Ron Holland, who has looked good so far. The Pistons have been leagues better just from these few moves. Bickerstaff clearly knows how to get the most out of his guys. They are currently 27-26, sitting in the 6th seed. The Pistons may make the playoffs as a non play-in team, which is insane for a team who had 17 wins just a season ago.

Obviously, a huge part of taking that step is Cade Cunningham. He has been on a tear all season, averaging 25.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 9.5 APG, shooting 45.2% from the field and 35.2% from 3. All of those marks are the best of his career, outside of 3-point %, which is .2 below his best, but he is shooting it more. He has become a legitimate star, garnering national media attention, and his first All-Star game appearance. He had a foot injury recently, but the team beat Philadelphia by 13 in a game where Malik Beasley dropped 36 points. The Pistons are a team that plays together, and does it well. There is no selfishness, no iso ball. These guys do what it takes to win. I think that really shows Bickerstaff’s ability to get these guys on the same page, and playing for the team.

Malik Beasley recently told General Manager Langdon, ‘don’t trade me’ noting that he wants to be in Detroit for the long term. He then had that 36-point game the next day. I really hope Beasley gets re-signed to a multi-year deal this off-season. He is relatively young still at 28, and he has shown he fits well alongside Cade, or the bench unit. Beasley has quietly been one of the best additions to this team that we have seen in a long time. He shoots it well, but doesn’t need the ball to be productive. Which is the perfect fit with this team. He has also shown some versatility, playing Point Guard at times. Beasley is averaging 16.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 1.8 APG while shooting 43.3% from the field and 40.9% from 3 on 27.9 MPG. Really solid numbers, especially when you take into account this is Beasley’s best season in many ways. He is having the 2nd best scoring output of his career, and his 3rd best shooting season from 3. Now, you also have to take into account that he is playing more minutes, taking more shots, and is just more involved in the Pistons game plan than he has been pretty much anywhere else. Hardaway Jr. has also been solid, especially as a catch and shoot player. He’s averaging 10.8 PPG while shooting 37.9% from 3 on about 6 shots per game, which is the lowest he’s had in a season since 2015. Tobias Harris is the only addition I didn’t love when it happened, and still don’t. He is averaging 13.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 2.3 APG while shooting 45.5% from the field and 32.3% from 3. It’s not terrible, until you realize he is playing 32 minutes per game, I’d expect a bit more production, especially scoring. It doesn’t help that he is having one of his worst career seasons in terms of shooting percentages. I didn’t love the idea of paying him $25 million per year, over multiple seasons, and this is why. I hope we can offload that contract this off-season. Ron Holland has been a pleasant surprise for me, averaging 6.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 0.8 APG while shooting 45.3% from the field and 25.7% from 3. I was somewhat surprised when we took him at 5, but now it’s looking like a solid pick. Obviously, these numbers don’t blow you away by any means, but he is only playing 15.5 MPG, and has shown some real flashes on both ends of the court. He has shown he can be a solid scorer, as well as showing his defensive prowess on the perimeter. Holland has a high upside, and the Pistons did a good job by drafting him. His shooting is a bit shaky, but hopefully he can become the 3&D type the Pistons need.

Recently, Langdon had a great Trade Deadline, essentially adding Dennis Schroder and Lindy Waters for free, after they added KJ Martin from the 76ers, and flipped him for more assets. The 76ers needed to shed some cap, and the Pistons were the beneficiary. They got KJ Martin and two 2nd round picks, just to absorb Martin’s contract. I personally believe Langdon had a perfect deadline by not swinging for the fences and mortgaging the future, but by adding solid players that fit this team. We all know the Pistons adding one player doesn’t make them a true contender, so I like the angle he took. Schroder will be the perfect guard off the bench. He can shoot, score, and pass. He can be the primary ball handler off he bench, and also play alongside Cade when it makes sense. Waters on the other hand is a solid shooter, and can offer some bench scoring at the end of the rotation. No, they aren’t Brandon Ingram or Deandre Hunter, but I’ll take what we got for what we gave, over what we would’ve had to give for a true 2nd option to Cade. Langdon knows he is better off signing someone in Free Agency, especially with the fact the Pistons are an up and coming team.

The Pistons are currently only 3 games back from the 4 seed, and they are improving as the season goes on and as the players gel together. The Heat, Hawks and Magic are the only teams that really threaten Detroit’s ability to be a top 8 seed, keeping them from having to be in the play-in. Jumping from last in the NBA to a legit playoff team is likely not something Pistons fans had in the cards. Regardless, all Pistons fans should rejoice, as good basketball is back in the Motor City.