Detroit Pistons Need To Find Backup Center For Andre Drummond

The Detroit Pistons enter this offseason with a variety of needs and plenty of things on their “to-do” list. Chief among them is finding a young and athletic wing talent with a high ceiling. That should be accomplished this Thursday in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Maybe it’s not at the top of the list, but something that should also certainly be at the forefront of Stan Van Gundy’s mind is finding a reliable backup center for budding star Andre Drummond.

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In 2012-13, Lawrence Frank sort of botched things and only started Andre Drummond in 10 games. Drummond essentially was the backup center to Greg Monroe.

Maurice Cheeks‘ 2013-14 stint in Auburn Hills was short and horrific, but he did quickly correct one of Frank’s mistakes by pretty much making Drummond the starting center from day one.

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As well documented, the Josh Smith-Greg Monroe-Andre Drummond frontcourt combo did not work well. When Drummond would exit, Monroe would sometimes slide over to center, with mixed results. Monroe’s skill and ability to create in the post make him a tough matchup for opposing centers, but his shoddy defense and lack of elite athleticism make him a liability on the defensive end against quality NBA centers.

He’s a much better fit at power forward, and showed that this past season when he was able to primarily focus on that and have arguably the best year of his career.

Josh Harrellson, or “Jorts,” as he’s affectionately referred to, was also used as a backup center that season to Drummond in 32 games before he was injured in early February 2014. Harrellson was lauded for his hustle plays and shooting ability (anyone who could stretch the floor that year was welcomed), but he was limited in too many ways to be relied upon as a solid rotational guy.

Last Summer, in Stan Van Gundy’s first offseason on the job, he made a legitimate effort in finding a backup center. Veteran Aaron Gray was signed for cheap, but the former Pittsburgh Panther didn’t even make it to training camp as he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his heart.

The Pistons traded for Joel Anthony a few weeks after, and “The Warden” did an overall nice job, well enough that in early April, SVG said he’d like to bring him back. As of now, Anthony is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.

Even in the situation that Anthony is brought back, the Pistons need depth on the interior and more quality depth in the frontcourt as a whole.

There are a few intriguing options in free agency. Kosta Koufos is set for unrestricted free agency, and is regarded as one of the best backup centers in the NBA. Koufos is a solid defender, good near the rim, and would be a coup for the Pistons, depending on the asking price.

May 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos (41) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, right) during the fourth quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 98-78. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Koufos’ services are going to be in-demand this Summer, and someone may offer him starting center-type money. SVG may be content looking elsewhere if Koufos’ asking price were to leap out of the franchise’s price range.

Koufos would be the “big fish” as far as potential backup centers go, but there are a number of other decent options in free agency: Kevin Seraphin (Wizards), Alexis Ajinca (Pelicans), JaVale McGee (I know, 76ers), Aron Baynes (restricted, Spurs). In the case of Baynes, we just have to hope Blake Griffin didn’t completely destroy his basketball spirit.

Either way, SVG has plenty of different options. Whether it’s a case of an opposing coach going “Hack-A-Dre” or Andre getting himself into early foul trouble (we saw both of these scenarios plenty last season), SVG needs players behind Drummond that he can trust to spell the franchise’s centerpiece, sometimes for extended minutes. This is especially important with the likely impending departure of Greg Monroe.

Unless something unforeseen occurs, it’s highly improbable that the Pistons would use the No. 8 pick on a big man. However, there are some interesting players who are currently being projected around the Pistons’ second round selection at No. 38.

Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse), Dakari Johnson (Kentucky), and Cliff Alexander (Kansas) are the names that are most likely recognizable. All would be solid uses of the 38th pick, but there is an international player, Mouhammadou Jaiteh (France), who also presents some intrigue.

Jaiteh is a project who doesn’t have elite athleticism and whose ability to score one-on-one in the post is a question, but if the Pistons elect to go the free agent route with a backup center AND bring back Joel Anthony, Jaiteh may not be a bad option to bring in and send to the D-League, where he could play major minutes and have a legitimate chance to develop.

No matter which way SVG chooses to go about getting a quality backup center, it has to be a priority for a franchise this summer. The depth at the position and of the big men on the team in general has been thin for far too long. Finally shoring things up on the bench front would be a huge step forward in setting the Pistons up to take a leap in the Eastern Conference.

Next: 5 Potential Steals In The 2015 NBA Draft

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