Detroit Pistons: 5 takeaways from the 2017-18 NBA season

4. Small forward position needs to be addressed badly

Let’s be clear, this team needs a face lift this summer, but the most important thing they need to address is the small forward position.

Ostensibly, the biggest thing a fan is supposed to be excited about from the small forward perspective is Stanley Johnson. The third-year wing out of University of Arizona has done little to prove his worth since his amazing Summer League performance heading into his rookie season.

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Player development is no doubt a practice of patience, but in the case of Johnson, it’s time to move on to greener pastures. Although he has grown (only slightly), he still puts up not nearly enough statistical output to win games.

Also, he regressed so badly last season that even though he technically doubled his points per game (8.7 points per game this season compared to 4.4 per game last season), he still needed a ton of playing time to achieve it.

Even if you aren’t sold on selling Stanley yet, consider that his minutes per game this season were a whopping 27.4 per game, up from 17.8 last season. He is dramatically favored by Stan Van Gundy (maybe because they have the same first name?) and is undeserving of any further opportunity in Detroit.

On opening night, Stan played Stanley 40 minutes and he scored two points. That’s the only stat you need to know. It’s time to try to trade for a draft pick or trade for a small forward upgrade.