Detroit Pistons: Player grades for the 2019-20 season

Detroit Pistons A Grades

There was no other way to categorize Christian Wood’s season but a major success. For a Pistons team without much to brag about this season his development was astounding. Coming into this season he had played in 51 games over three seasons with four teams. There was a debate before the season if he should make the team over Joe Johnson.

Christian Wood went on to play in 62 games and averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in just 21.4 minutes per game. If you adjust this to per 36 minutes he improves to 22.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.

Wood even showed ability as a floor spacer, shooting a solid 38.6 percent from distance. Far from a perfect player, the defensive lapses are still far too frequent and landed him in coach Dwane Casey’s doghouse far too often. Regardless the season was an unmitigated success story and have given the Pistons a young prospect who seems to have All-Star potential. He is the type of player teams in a rebuild hope for when they take a chance on potential.

As a pending free agent Wood appears to be on an expensive trajectory. It seems reckless to say he is a must-sign for the Pistons at any cost but he should be a priority given the right deal. He could be the cornerstone that this team needs to bridge into the next era of successful Detroit basketball.