5 former Detroit Pistons thriving in the NBA playoffs

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: (L-R) Luke Kennard, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson of the Detroit Pistons look on during the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2019 Summer League at the Cox Pavilion on July 10, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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Pistons, NBA playoffs (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Former Pistons flourishing in the NBA playoffs: Tobias Harris and Khris Middleton

While Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond’s Piston connection is as clear as an alley-oop lob, Tobias Harris and Khris Middleton have a more indirect path to each other.

Middleton was a second-round pick for the Pistons in 2012 and ended up being a throw-in for a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks to bring Brandon Jennings to Detroit. As we know now, Middleton has turned into a star and one of the league’s best second-leading men alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Jennings had a brief but fantastic run with the Pistons before rupturing his Achilles. When he returned in 2015-16, he was a shell of himself, but Stan Van Gundy flipped him and Ersan Ilyasova to the Orlando Magic in a magnificent coup of a deal for Tobias Harris.

While Middleton’s time in Detroit was all too brief, Harris got a couple of good years in with the Pistons before he was shipped out to the LA Clippers in his annual trade deadline tradition. Harris had the best years of his career with the Clippers and head coach Doc Rivers — or at least the best years of his career before this season.

Now, Harris is a consistent and reliable scorer alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons with the Philadelphia 76ers, completing their own Big 3.

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