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Detroit Pistons: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) dribbles past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) dribbles past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Pistons
Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Jon Leuer (30) stretches during warmup before the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 142-119. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Luring Leuer

At first glance, a four-year, $42 million contract for Jon Leuer seems ludicrous. He was a backup/third string power forward for a 23-win Phoenix Suns team last year, he hardly ever cracked Memphis’ frontcourt rotation and he’s a relative unknown outside of those two cities.

However, Leuer is a far more versatile and well-rounded player than people realize, and paying $10.5 million a season for that kind of frontcourt depth — especially under the new salary cap — is not as unreasonable as it sounds.

Last year in Phoenix, Leuer had the best season of his career, averaging 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in just 18.7 minutes per game. He shot an efficient 48.1 percent from the floor, converted 38.2 percent of his three-pointers, and if it weren’t for Mirza Teletovic‘s scoring punch off the bench, Leuer probably would’ve had an even better year.

In Detroit, Leuer has all the trademark skills of a stretch-4 that will help him fit in with SVG’s system. He’s an effective pick-and-pop big with three-point range and a surprisingly quick first step when defenders close out too hard.

Leuer isn’t anything flashy and he’s not a very good defender, but he’s a fundamentally sound player who will help bolster a suddenly packed frontcourt, especially with Ellenson likely to take his lumps as a rookie.

For a team that likes to spread the floor and needed a player who could log minutes at the 4 or the 5, Leuer is an underrated fit. His contract is a bit more than most were expecting, but this is still a solid way to round out the second unit for another playoff run in 2016-17.

Grade: B

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