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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
Feb 28, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) and center Andre Drummond (0) react after a play during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 114-101. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Overall

The Detroit Pistons weren’t contenders last season and as good as their summer was, they didn’t make that leap this offseason either. That being said, Stan Van Gundy has rapidly turned an ugly roster into a young, promising core on the rise, and this summer, he put that group in a better position to be successful — both in 2016-17 and for the extended future.

By locking Drummond in with a five-year extension, the Pistons secured their franchise cornerstone. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris, Stanley Johnson and Tobias Harris will only get better as they continue to develop and jell together. And finally, SVG addressed what was one of the league’s worst benches last season.

Ish Smith takes care of the team’s biggest need at backup point guard. Leuer, Ellenson and Marjanovic give Van Gundy options (and perimeter shooting) off the bench in the frontcourt. None of these were blockbuster moves, but they all made Detroit a deeper, more well-rounded team.

More hoops habit: Indiana Pacers: 2016 Offseason Grades

How far will it get them in 2016-17? Only time will tell. A top-four seed could be in play, as could another first round playoff exit. But no matter what happens, Van Gundy supplied one of the last season’s best starting fives with quality players to back them up, putting the Pistons on the path to contention in the near future.

Grade: A-

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