Stanley Johnson didn’t have a particularly great start to the 2015-16 NBA season. His numbers were down, and he was struggling to fit into head coach Stan Van Gundy’s system.
But the Detroit Pistons guard is beginning to hit his stride at a time the team in the middle of a playoff chase, and Johnson’s rebirth has Detroit fans ecstatic. Unfortunately, it may not be long before Johnson begins to truly showcase his talents elsewhere thanks to Tuesday’s blockbuster trade with the Orlando Magic that brought Tobias Harris to Motown.
Harris is one of today’s great volume scorers, and he figures to make an immediate impact on the Pistons’ offense. While this may bode well for Pistons fans, it may hinder Johnson’s growth in the lineup, which could lead to rumblings that he may be shipped out of town before the trade deadline is over. That would be incredibly naive on the Pistons’ part.
Johnson is one of the few Pistons players who’s a considerable threat from three-point line, and he has developed an all-around game that would be great for the Pistons going forward. There are currently no rumors that Johnson will be heading out of town, but it will be interesting to see how he operates on the court with not one, but two volume scorers on the roster.
If he can mesh well, it’s nothing but good for Detroit. But if Johnson struggles in the new age of the Pistons’ offense, look for him to be shipped out of town. That will truly be a sad day for Detroit fans.
