Detroit Pistons 2019-20 season overview

Dantre Cole 7/1/2020

Detroit Pistons 2019-20 season overview

With the 2019-20 NBA season set to resume on July 30th, a total of 22 teams are getting the invite to Orlando for a chance to compete for a NBA championship after a 4 month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the Detroit Pistons are having another miserable season and will be preparing for the 2020-21 NBA season. The Pistons finished the season with a record of 20-46, and will be preparing for the NBA draft lottery and free agency. During the season at the trade deadline, the Pistons shipped franchise center Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Brandon Knight, John Henson, and a 2023 second-round draft pick. By trading Drummond away, it’s clear the Pistons will be looking to rebuild. The 26 year old Drummond is in the final year of his current contract, which has a $28.8 million player option for 2020-21, and is set to test free agency this offseason. While Drummond was shipped off, the Pistons still currently have a bad contract that won’t help with their rebuild going forward, that being the contract of Blake Griffin. Griffin had season ending surgery on his left knee, which is a problem because he can’t seem to stay healthy. The 31 year old Griffin is still owed $36.6 million for next season and a player option of $38.9 million for the 2021-22 season. With a contract of that magnitude and Griffin not being able to stay healthy, it’s uncertain if any team would be willing to trade for Griffin, but the Pistons would certainly be in a better position without having Griffin’s contract to worry about for the rebuild. The Pistons do currently have some nice talent on the roster. Third year power forward Christian Wood is starting to come into his own, having averaged 13.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Wood went undrafted back in 2015 and is set to become a free agent.

With the season that Wood was having due to Blake Griffin being injured and Wood able to get more playing time in Griffin’s absence, I’m sure the Pistons are going to make it a top priority to pay Wood during the offseason, as he will be a key part of the rebuild. Rookie small forward and Detroit’s 2019 first round draft Sekou Doumbouya showed some flashes when given playing time, but he still has a lot of growth and development needed in his game. Allowing Wood and Doumbouya to gain chemistry and play together will be needed, as they are two of the most important players on the roster right now, both young and needed for the future. Third year shooting guard Luke Kennard was limited this season to only 28 games due to knee injuries, but he will also be an important piece of the Pistons future. Kennard was averaging 15.8 ppg this season, and the pistons will need Kennard’s shooting skills for the future. Another key player for the pistons going forward is second year guard Bruce Brown, who I consider to be the Piston’s best defender. The Pistons also have former MVP Derrick Rose under contract for 1 more season. Rose was having a phenomenal season in limited minutes, averaging 18.1 ppg, but injuries also caused him to miss some playing time. Going forward, the Pistons will need to build around Christian Wood, Sekou Doumbouya, Luke Kennard, and another promising player on the Pistons roster, small forward Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. With the draft coming up, the Pistons will look to add another young player to put together with the young talent already on the roster. With this young talent being able to play together, improve their games, and gain chemistry, the Pistons should be back competitive again within 3-4 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ezo4IxlVEs

Via youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ezo4IxlVEs&t=7s

(Christian Wood Career High 32 Points/6 Dunks Full Highlights (3/11/2020)

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