Detroit Pistons: Who should be part of the long-term core?

2. Khyri Thomas

Khyri Thomas has played just 188 minutes at the NBA level this season, but he absolutely has the potential to be a major player for the Pistons in the future. He’s not the biggest guy around, but he can be that off ball 3-and-D wing that they will need. He also pairs really well with Brown on offense, because he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to do his damage. He showed in college his ability to play off the ball at a successful level.

At their peak, the Pistons were a defensive-minded team, and just based on their city, that’s what they are going to be moving forward. They are a grit-and-grind team that is content to win games 93-92 because it means they got the win. Thomas can pair with Brown for the team to re-establish that identity and become one of the best defenses in the Eastern Conference and eventually the NBA.

Thomas essentially took a redshirt season this year, and he spent a lot of time with the team’s G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive. However, that’s okay for both him and the team. This is allowing him to get minutes instead of being buried on the bench for the full NBA team. Next season, when the rotation thins out some due to free agents leaving, that’s when he’ll grab that spot on the team’s train to the future.