Detroit Pistons: Stan Van Gundy signs Jodie Meeks

Jodie Meeks will bring some much needed shooting to Detroit. Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Free agency season is upon the NBA, and the Detroit Pistons have now jumped into the fray. CBS Sports is reporting that Motor City has signed former Laker Jodie Meeks to a 3-year, 19.5 million dollar deal.

Meeks is a shooter, which is the main reason the Pistons brought him on board. Many remember his junior season at Kentucky, when he made a school record 117 three-pointers in a season. He had one game with ten buckets from behind the arc, ending up with 54 points.

Coming out of college, Meeks was considered a scorer. Despite that reputation, he never seemed to be the top prospect on anyone’s list. He would fall all the way to the Milwaukee Bucks with the 41st pick. He only lasted half a season with his first team, and was traded to Philadelphia mid-year.

It was here that Meeks showed some potential, averaging his first double figure in the points per game category. He was very efficient, with all of his points coming during an average span of 27 minutes.

After losing his starting job to Evan Turner, Meeks used his potential to work out a two year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. He may have had second thoughts about his choice of team, as Mike D’Antoni and Dwight Howard turned the team into a media circus during his first year. Despite all of the hoopla, Meeks paired with veteran Antwan Jamison to become a solid duo off the bench.

Meeks first chance in the Playoffs was cut short after he rolled his ankle in the series against the Spurs. He wouldn’t get a second chance, as the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs.

The following season was a disaster for the Lakers, but Meeks personally had the best year of his career. He scored 15 points a game while shooting 46 percent overall, and 40 percent from deep. He also demonstrated his ability to bulldoze his way to the rim, throwing down a couple of power dunks throughout the season.

Now Meeks has landed with the Pistons. He will likely replace Kyle Singler and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as the starting shooting guard. His arrival puts into question the future of Rodney Stuckey with the team. The Pistons are hoping to develop KCP, and it appears he will learn under Meeks instead of Stuckey.

The signing has been met with both yays and nays, as a Detroit Bad Boys poll signals fans are split on whether or not Van Gundy made the right call. Look for Van Gundy to continue to add and subtract from the roster throughout the summer.