Detroit Pistons: 3 steps to escape NBA purgatory in 2019

The Detroit Pistons have toiled in mediocrity for the last decade. With Blake Griffin in his prime, they need to escape that in 2019.

The Detroit Pistons are stuck and have been stuck for the last decade. Since the 2009-10 season, they have made the playoffs once — in 2015-16, where they were swept out by the eventual NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Their biggest free agent splash signing of that timeframe was when they signed Josh Smith, who was with the team for a little over a year before it waived and stretched him.

When it comes to the draft, they’ve whiffed on many occasions or failed to re-sign their successful picks. Andre Drummond is the only player past his rookie deal that has remained with the team, and his contract was handed out when teams were flush with cash. They have already declined Henry Ellenson‘s option for next year, and Stanley Johnson has shown little to no growth with his free agency upcoming.

The Pistons have too much talent to tank, but they don’t have enough talent to get more than a low playoff spot to be first round fodder for the upper-echelon teams of the Eastern Conference. Something needs to change if they want to elevate above where they are and have been. It’s not a simple fix either because they aren’t just one small move away. Here are three steps to help this team escape NBA purgatory.