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The Detroit Pistons finished last in the 2021 NBA Eastern Conference standings. That marked the tenth time in 12 seasons, the Pistons did not feature in the postseason.
The Detroit Pistons are a storied franchise but have a lot to do to return to their glory days. The re-signing of Hamidou Diallo could be a step in the right direction, as the franchise are on a restoration path and need athletic players who can compete.
How the Detroit Pistons can improve ahead of the 2021-22 season
Although the Detroit Pistons hit the jackpot in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery and will have the opportunity to select first from the plethora of talents in the draft, their needs go beyond one pick.
Heading into the off-season, the Pistons have a lot to consider, especially if they hope to be competitive in the league again. It was an abysmal display from the Pistons at both ends of the court in the 2020-21 season. How aggressively they approach the off-season will, to a large extent, determine how successful they could be in the 2021-22 campaign.
On that note, here are three needs the Detroit Pistons must address in the 2021 NBA off-season.
#1 The Detroit Pistons are in dire need of an elite point guard
Every team need a point guard who can bring the ball up the court and control the pace of games. However, the Detroit Pistons lack one.
The Pistons were not patient enough to stick with Derrick Rose, which resulted in his trade to the New York Knicks. Rose found his stride with the Knicks and was an impeccable impact player for the team.
Although the Knicks crashed out of the 2021 NBA playoffs in the first round, Rose played a significant role in getting them to the playoffs in the first place.
Cade Cunningham is the sensation of the 2021 NBA draft class. With the no. 1 pick in the hands of the Pistons, selecting Cade should be a no-brainer as he could bring the much-needed spark to the Pistons' backcourt.
The 6' 7" guard ended his 2020-21 season in Oklahoma State, averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 40% from the three. The 19-year-old could bring the same type of athleticism Ben Simmons has brought to the Philadelphia 76ers, albeit coupled with better shooting ability.
Although the rookie would be a massive boost to the Detroit Pistons' backcourt, the front office also needs to consider bringing in a veteran who could impact games off the bench.
An example of how a veteran guard can inspire a relatively young team is Chris Paul. His arrival at the Phoenix Suns has resulted in them competing for the NBA championship.
#2 The Detroit Pistons are the fourth-worst team in offensive rating
The Detroit Pistons struggled in offense all season long. Their production level was low, as they did not have elite scorers.
Jerami Grant, who was the second-most voted 2021 NBA Most Improved Player candidate, had his breakout season with the Pistons. He led the scoring by a wide margin, averaging 22.3 points per game. The second-highest scorer for the team was Josh Jackson, who averaged 14.2 points per game.
The Detroit Pistons ended the 2020-21 season ranked 26th in offensive rating (108.0). Their inefficiency in offense resulted in the team scoring only 106.6 points per game (27th in the NBA).
The Pistons' 2020-21 season was similar to that of the Orlando Magic in that both teams started to rebuild midway through the season. For the Detroit Pistons, that resulted in the trade of two of their major producers in offense, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin.
Although it seemed as if age caught up with both veterans while they were with the Pistons, they became completely different players with their new teams. Griffin, who looked like he could not get off the ground, ended up posterizing Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Brooklyn Nets' clash against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semi-finals.
#3 Improve their 3-point shooting
The league is evolving rapidly, with three-point shooting becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. However, the Detroit Pistons are being left behind in that regard as their struggles from the perimeter continue.
The Pistons finished the 2020-21 season ranked 22nd in three-point shooting, with the team averaging 35.1%. Although Wayne Ellington shot a whopping 42.2% from the perimeter, he might not return with the Pistons for the new season.
While he might be a good mentor for the youngsters in the Pistons' roster, he would likely reduce the playing time of the younger players. The 34-year-old guard has been inconsistent with his shooting and might be more of a liability than an asset.
Three-point shooting is crucial in today's NBA, which means the Pistons have to get elite shooters to stay competitive. Grant and Diallo can knock down the occasional threes, but they do not do that often enough.
