The Detroit Pistons will be a different basketball team in the 2015-16 season.
Greg Monroe is almost assuredly gone. The Pistons acquired Ersan Ilyasova, a stretch four, to take his place. Reggie Jackson was a deadline pick up, but is a free agent. Do the Pitons sign him and pair him with Brandon Jennings, who tore his Achilles, but played sensationally immediately before the injury?
There's change in Motown and it's the kind of team Stan Van Gundy wants. He thrived in Orlando with a dominant big and 3-point shooting power forward. Andre Drummond was great last season and Ilyasova will alleviate pressure by unclogging the paint.
Detroit could use shooting. Croatia's Mario Hezonja can shoot it and with his size, could fill the small-forward gap on this team. If he's not there at No. 8, it's because the Denver Nuggets plucked him.
That could open the door for Duke's Justise Winslow. He's an NBA-ready scorer, rebounder and defender and could, like Hezonja, start at the three. Winslow's not the shooter Hezonja is.
Or, the other option for the Pistons could be to add depth behind Drummond and Ilyasova. There are some interesting big-guy prospects that will probably be available at eight like Texas' Myles Turner, Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein, or Trey Lyles.
The Pistons have a lot of options and a lot of needs. But, under Van Gundy, things are moving in a semi-positive direction.
Players under contract: G Brandon Jennings; F Ersan Ilyasova; G Jodie Meeks; F Anthony Tolliver; G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (team option): C Andre Drummond (team option); G Spencer Dinwiddie
Free agents: C/F Greg Monroe; F Tayshaun Prince; C Joel Anthony; F Cartier Martin (player option); G Reggie Jackson; F Quincy Miller; G John Lucas
Recent Draft History:
2014: Spencer Dinwiddie (38)
2013: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (8), Tony Mitchell (37), Peyton Siva (56)
2012: Andre Drummond (9), Khris Middleton (39), Kim English (44)
2011: Brandon Knight (8), Kyle Singler (33), Vernon Macklin (52)
2010: Greg Monroe (7), Terrico White (36)
[SportsNetwork.com]
