The 5 Best Moves The Detroit Pistons Made During The Offseason
By Dan Jenkins
@DanTJenkins
It's year two of the Stan Van Gundy regime in Auburn Hills, and what a year many expect it to be.
Van Gundy proved last season that he is not afraid to make a move -- even mid-season, franchise-altering moves -- when he spontaneously released Josh Smith, the highest-paid player on the team, just 28 games into the 2014-2015 campaign.
The move worked, as the team finished the season on a 27-27 run and with a 32-50 record, the most wins since the team last made the playoffs in 2009.
Now, with two full offseasons under his belt, Van Gundy has quickly made this team in his image: a "1-in, 4-out," 3-point shooting team.
Here's the moves that helped make the team get better the most:
5. Signed Aron Baynes to a three-year, $20 million contract
The signing of Aron Baynes wasn't a sexy one and most analysts thought the Pistons severely overpaid for the 6-foot-10, 260-pound Australian center. But Baynes is a tough, athletic player who will be a great backup for Andre Drummond.
Even though he played three seasons under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, Baynes said that Van Gundy signed him based on what he did with his national team during international play.
The price may look steep now, but when the salary cap takes a major jump over the next couple years it will look easier to swallow.
4. Signed Reggie Jackson to a five-year, $80 million extension
Van Gundy was forced to make a move at the trade deadline after Brandon Jennings went down for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. He did so by trading for Reggie Jackson, who was stuck behind Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City.
The coach must have liked what he saw from Jackson in his 27 games in Detroit, because he signed him to the franchise's richest contract in history.
Jackson looked dominant at times with the Pistons, showing potential as a starter that he seldom received in Oklahoma City. He averaged 17.6 points and 9.2 assists per game with the Pistons, showing effectiveness while running the pick-and-roll with franchise centerpiece Andre Drummond.
Whether or not Jackson will live up to the $80 million the Pistons are going to pay him remains to be seen, but Van Gundy obviously saw something he likes and what he thinks Jackson can bring to the franchise for years to come.
3. Acquired Ersan Ilyasova from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Caron Butler and Shawne Williams
With the departure of Greg Monroe, the Pistons were left with a glaring hole at the power forward position. Granted, this trade was made weeks before Monroe decided to sign with the Bucks, but the Pistons knew internally that the Georgetown product was ready to move on from Motown.
Though he may not be as skilled of a post player as Monroe, Ersan Ilyasova fits better into Van Gundy's offensive schemes. The 6-foot-10 Turk shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range in Milwaukee in 2014-2015 season, something that caught Van Gundy's eye as he called the trade a "home run."
It will be interesting to see how the Pistons make up for all of the lost rebounding with Monore's departure, but Ilyasova will no doubt fit better into Detroit's offense.
2. Acquired Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock, and Danny Granger from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a 2020 2nd round draft pick
The Pistons get a high mark for this move because they took advantage of a desperate franchise and acquired two serviceable players -- Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock -- in exchange for a near-meaningless second round pick.
The Phoenix Suns tried in vain to sign LaMarcus Aldridge over the summer, making this trade to free up salary cap space during their attempt. The Pistons made out like bandits, receiving a starting small forward who is immediately better than both on the roster last season (Caron Butler and Tayshaun Prince).
Morris is a versatile player who will see minutes at both forward positions, while Bullock is still trying to make the team out of training camp, but should do so primarily as a 3-point specialist. Many fans remember Danny Granger for his time with the Indiana Pacers, but he is far removed from those days. The 32-year-old is currently missing training camp while he rehabs a knee injury back in Arizona.
Morris' days as a starter in Detroit may be numbered, as rookie sensation Stanley Johnson will soon be nipping at his heels.
1. Drafted Stanley Johnson 8th overall, ahead of Justise Winslow
This pick may turn out to be a home run for the Pistons. It was controversial on draft night when the Pistons passed on Duke's Justise Winslow to take Stanley Johnson, but with every game he plays, Johnson makes the Pistons' front office look like geniuses.
The 19-year-old is mature beyond his years and it shows on the court. As a primary ballhandler at Arizona, Johnson averaged just over two turnovers per game. He also dominated the Orlando Summer League, averaging 16.2 and 6.8 rebounds per game. In just three preseason games so far, he is averaging 17.7 points per game while shooting 58.3 percent from 3-point range.
Those numbers will absolutely dip, but Johnson should eventually play well enough to crack the starting lineup and may be in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Johnson definitely has the potential to be one of the best players the Pistons have had in years, and that will likely start with a solid rookie campaign.
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