NBA Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons Could Surprise and Make the Playoffs In 2014-15

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The Detroit Pistons passing up on Carmelo Anthony is one of the many aspects of their public humiliation during the last few seasons.

But all of that should end this season.

They have been under the radar in the offseason, not trying to go after the big free-agents who might shake up what Stan Van Gundy is trying to do. Van Gundy, the scrappy small coach who got canned by both the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic franchises even after successful runs, has control of the executive decisions that Detroit makes and the coaching decisions that they will make. And he loves that.

They are now trying to build around Andre Drummond, a player whom I believe can be the next Dwight Howard if he continues to work on his offensive game. Right now he has no real offensive game. He has unbelievable athleticism and has a huge towering build, but he lacks the skill and footwork to be elite at this very moment. But you should watch out for him this season.

Last season, he averaged 13 points per game and 13 rebounds per game, which is only behind DeAndre Jordan, who also averaged 13 rebounds per game. He is a good, not great, defender, but he rebounds probably better than anyone and can run the floor incredibly well. Once he is able to grasp some of the swiftness and light-footedness that the game requires he is going to be deadly. He may possibly end up as the Howard many wish would have emerged in Orlando. He came into the league very young, and he is only 21 years old right now after a few seasons.

What Van Gundy has done is add some of the elements of what he had in Orlando, with some of the grit that has encompassed so much of the identity that surrounds Detroit. Kyle Singler and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are still there. Detroit added Caron Butler and Jodie Meeks to provide players who can play around the perimeter, spot up and shoot from outside. They added D.J. Augustin at the point position, while continuing to keep Brandon Jennings (you may or may not think starting Augustin is the best decision, depending on your perspective).

Then the major question is what to do with two key players who don’t quite fit into the overall direction that Detroit seems to be going. Josh Smith is a 6-foot-9 small/power forward who tries to shoot from three-point range but hasn’t quite acquired the skill yet. He isn’t the most effective small forward, because he lacks the small-ball skills that others like Lance Stephenson or Paul George have. But he doesn’t fit into the power forward position because of another player, Greg Monroe. Detroit was under the impression they would build around him until Drummond came to them. Now, you have two players in Smith and Monroe who don’t quite fit into the equation. Should they get rid of one, or should one of them come off the bench? For them to come off the bench, one of them would have to definitely check their ego at the door, a la Manu Ginobili.

It may be the best decision to trade Monroe, to be honest. Monroe is not who they want to build around for the future, and he is a player another team may want to acquire for their system. The Pistons can get considerable value for him. The only problem they run into is that they pay him less than $6 million, putting them into an executive bind. They have to pick up someone who can fit that bill, or run the risk of acquiring a player who is too expensive for them.

Other than that conundrum, Detroit looks like they are headed in the right direction. Look for Drummond to up his play with a possible All-Star bid. I am predicting 16 points per game and 13 rebounds per game. He will have to shake double-teams and pass out of them (something that Howard did in Orlando). If Detroit is able to make the playoffs, then maybe the era of the big man isn’t really gone.

Christopher Cruz is a Miami Heat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @_chris_cruz, or add him to your network on Google. 

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