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Detroit Pistons: 5 dream free agency targets in 2017

By Karintha Styles

Nov 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) battles with Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and center DeAndre Jordan (back) for the loose ball during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 101-96. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) battles with Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and center DeAndre Jordan (back) for the loose ball during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 101-96. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Nerlens Noel (3) shoots and makes a jump shot against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Nerlens Noel (3) shoots and makes a jump shot against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Nerlens Noel

The Dallas Mavericks picked up Nerlens Noel from the Philadelphia 76ers just before the NBA trade deadline in February 2017. The Pistons would have to pull a rabbit out of their hat in order to convince the Mavericks to let him go without matching or beating their offer.

Noel is young enough to build around for the future. His biggest upside for the Pistons is he hasn’t reached his full potential.  Noel can make an impact now on the defensive end. He gives the Pistons the kind of inside presence Big Ben Wallace brought to the center position.

As his offensive skills continue to grow and sync with his defensive skills, Noel’s value will increase. He’d offer the Pistons an infusion of youth and defense that would complement Andre Drummond (assuming they keep him).

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The combination of Drummond, a 7’0″ footer who averages 13.6 points per game and shoots 53 percent from the field, and Nerlens, who is listed at just under 7’0″, could help Detroit cruise through the Eastern Conference and provide a serious defensive issue for teams like the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets in the West.

Drummond and Reggie Jackson both suffered from injuries last season. Those setbacks stopped the Pistons from having the productive season many fans and experts expected last year. Drummond would like to keep the core group together, but how can you say no to another defensive weapon?

Noel averaged 8.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and has shot 59 percent from the field during his short tenure in Dallas. Noel was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban discussed Noel with dallasnews.com.

"“I’m not allowed to talk about [negotiations] but all I can tell you is he’s one of a bunch of guys who came in, they all got together and said ‘Let’s go down to the practice facility and start working out together,'” Cuban said."

That kind of nonsense blue-collar work ethic was the cornerstone of Detroit’s NBA championships and would be a welcome addition to this Stan Van Gundy squad.

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