Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard will need to play more

1. Kennard is the future

At only 22 years old, Kennard is definitely part of the future of this team. The faster he develops, the better Detroit is set up for the future. While the Pistons are playing better than expected early on, they are still set up to build toward the future. Kennard looks like the player most likely to last in the league. Shooters like Kyle Korver and J.J. Redick have made entire careers out of bombing from deep and not much else, so Kennard can be that guy.

It’s very possible Jackson and Griffin are only with the team for a couple more seasons. While the Pistons went into win-now mode when they traded for Griffin, this draft showed they are more concerned with the future than the right now. Kennard may not be Devin Booker, but he should be a leader for this team in its steady rebuild toward the future.

The more that Kennard plays now, the less developing he will need later. We’re seeing players like Redick and Korver space the floor even when they go through shooting slumps because of their reputation. Right now, Kennard is still working on building that reputation. Defenses have to honor him, but he doesn’t play often enough to really affect them. Play him through the lumps now, so he doesn’t have them later.