Detroit Pistons: Internal improvement will have to carry the Pistons in 2019-20

For the Detroit Pistons to take another step forward in 2019-20, they will need to rely on internal improvement from its roster

When the 2018-19 season began for the Detroit Pistons, there may have been a sense of optimism in the air. Between 2010-18, the Pistons had only one postseason appearance, a first-round four-game sweep to the hands of the eventual NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

But as the season began, the Pistons featured Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, and the previous season’s NBA Coach of the Year Dwane Casey, who had been fired from the Toronto Raptors.

When the dust settled by the end of the season, the Pistons secured the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, before being swept away in the first round once again, this time to the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks.

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While a playoff appearance can build some momentum heading into next season, the Pistons appear to be a team whose direction is uncertain. Before an eventual deal was completed with the Houston Rockets, they were very much in the conversation to potentially land Russell Westbrook in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. But the financial commitment of Westbrook’s four-year contract worth about $170 million would have way too much to take on.

In Westbrook, the Pistons were looking to upgrade the point guard position. Reggie Jackson, the team’s primary floor general, averaged 15 points and four assists while starting in all 82 games last season. However, he has dealt with various injuries which limited him to 97 games total the previous two seasons.

This offseason, the Pistons have signed free agents Derrick Rose and Tim Frazier to add depth at the lead guard position. Detroit also signed forward Markieff Morris to bolster the frontcourt. Morris plays power forward primarily but could be used as a small ball 5 in some of Casey’s rotations.

At last month’s NBA draft, Detroit drafted Sekou Doumbouya from France with the 15th pick along with Deividas Sirvydis from Lithuania at No. 37 and Jordan Bone from Tennessee at No. 57.

Doumbouya is listed as 6-foot-7 and plays both forward positions.

He is described as follows, via NBA Scouting Live:

"“Fairly good low post scorer, adequate scorer off the dribble, excels at scoring on the move, has stretch big potential, versatile scorer and decent playmaker for his size…Needs to improve his shooting, may need to tweak his shooting mechanics, may lack an elite first step off the dribble, needs to improve his passing ability, can be careless on offense, which can lead to turnovers, does not always commit himself to the boards.”"

Doumbouya will see time behind Luke Kennard, Thon Maker, along with Griffin and Morris. The Pistons also acquired Tony Snell from the Bucks in exchange for Jon Leuer.

While these offseason moves for the Pistons are decent, are they enough to move to the needle in the NBA’s Eastern Conference?

Drummond is entering his eighth NBA season. For his career, he has averaged a double-double; 14.1 points and 13.7 rebounds per game. He is still only 25 years old.

Kennard is a young star who may be ready to break out. He appeared in only 63 games last season, averaging just under 10 points a game. But on the last game of the regular season, he may have given a preview of what he’s made of. He scored 27 points in a blowout win over the Knicks.

It appears that everything with the Pistons rises or falls on the success of Blake Griffin. Last season, he finished with a career-high 24.5 point per game average, to go along with 7.5 rebounds per contest. He has improved his outside shooting by virtue of a 36 percent effort from beyond the arc in 2018-19.

But when it comes to Jackson, there are issues concerning his health. While he did start 75 games, his most appearances since 2014, he sat out four of the final six regular-season games due to his ailing left knee. Then he missed the first two games of the playoffs. Following the playoffs, he underwent left knee surgery.

If Jackson can become more of a playmaker and involve his teammates, deferring especially to Kennard and Griffin, that will be a plus. If Drummond can adjust his game in this new NBA, which will require him to not just be a post-up player, he could return to his All-Star status.

If role players like Rose, Morris, Snell, and Langston Galloway can contribute consistently in support of Detroit’s “Big 3”, they will improve from their 41 win total from last season. If Blake Griffin can stay healthy, this Piston squad could find themselves getting into the second round.

Detroit Basketball will find its way back on the NBA map next season, if everything falls the Piston way.