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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
Oct 18, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Boban Marjanovic (40) shoots the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 96-92. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

ALL ABOARD, BOBAN

Between Drummond, Leuer, Aron Baynes, Marcus Morris, Stanley Johnson, Tobias Harris and rookie Henry Ellenson, the Pistons were pretty much set with players who could log frontcourt minutes. But in order to provide an alternative to Baynes at the 5, Van Gundy went out and brought in universal fan favorite Boban Marjanovic.

Signed to a three-year, $21 million contract, Boban was quickly pried away from the San Antonio Spurs, bringing his massive 7’3″ frame to the Motor City. Though paying $7 million a year for an unproven second-year center seems excessive, Marjanovic was extremely efficient during his limited action with the Spurs.

Averaging 5.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 9.4 minutes per game, Boban’s Per 36 Minutes numbers looked more impressive: 21.0 points, 13.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Granted, Per 36 Minutes numbers always have to be taken with a grain of salt, but Marjanovic had a rare knack for getting the crowd fired up with the simplest of plays.

Boban was automatic around the rim (he should be at 7’3″), shooting 60.3 percent from the field and a relatively tidy 76.3 percent from the foul line. When opponents start pulling their Hack-A-Shaq crap on Drummond or Baynes, Marjanovic is a guy who can make them pay for it.

It remains to be seen how Van Gundy will divvy up the frontcourt minutes with so many stretch-4s and so many true 5s on the roster, but from a pure value perspective, adding an emerging player like Boban on a reasonable salary marks another under-the-radar victory for Detroit.

Grade: B

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