Detroit Pistons can end their frustrating 4-year playoff drought in 2023
By Jake Brown
After a hectic, yet enticing NBA offseason, we’ve seen countless teams shake up their rosters. Specifically, the Detroit Pistons had an offseason that nobody could’ve seen coming.
The Pistons first had to do their due diligence and get rid of top-scorer Jerami Grant. After weeks of searching, a deal was finally completed as Grant was shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers. Unfortunately, Grant didn’t fit the Piston’s timeline and the deal was necessary to give rising star Cade Cunningham the keys to this offense.
Heading into draft night, the Pistons held the 5th overall pick and were projected to land Iowa forward Keegan Murray. As it turned out, Murray was selected the pick before Detroit, leaving the Pistons to take Jaden Ivey — a speedy and crafty finisher around the rim.
Draft night trades push the Detroit Pistons forward even more.
Before closing out the lottery, the Pistons were also able to acquire Jalen Duren, a defensive-minded center in a three-team deal headlined by draft picks. It may have taken shedding the contract of former Knicks guard Kemba Walker to get the deal done, but the Pistons have plenty of cap room to make that happen.
Following the draft, Detroit made another haul, acquiring veterans Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel in a deal with the New York Knicks. The Pistons needed some more leadership, and getting quality locker room guys like Noel and Burks will help the chemistry of the team going forward.
It’s easy to forget that just two years ago that the likes of Burks and Noel were a part of a strong Knicks nucleus that proved their doubters wrong in the 2020-21 season. The Detroit Pistons could find themselves in a similar situation heading into the season.