Detroit Pistons: 3 takeaways from the 2018 offseason

2. The Pistons are changing

Last season, the Pistons had five rotation players shoot above 36 percent from 3. Three of them, Anthony Tolliver, Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley, are gone via trade or free agency. While Luke Kennard and Reggie Bullock are great shooters, the team needed to add more around them. Thus far, they’ve added multiple players that space the floor.

In the draft and free agency, the team added defensive-minded players in Glenn Robinson III, Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown Jr. Thomas could be one of the biggest steals of the draft if he plays up to his potential. Brown could make the team move on from Jackson sooner, rather than later if his Summer League production can translate. The team’s main defensive weaknesses came at the two guard spots, which is why the picks make so much sense.

The Raptors ranked second and third in defensive and offensive rating last season, respectively. Meanwhile, the Pistons were 11th and 19th. Casey won’t be able to change the team overnight or in one season. However, he’s building the team up back to its former glory, when it last won the title on the strength of its defense. An identity shift was desperately needed, and the Pistons went and got one.