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Detroit Pistons Weekly: Free agents, and rookies, and coaches, oh my

By Ash Thompson

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO BLACK AND WHITE) Luke Kennard of the Detroit Pistons poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO BLACK AND WHITE) Luke Kennard of the Detroit Pistons poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard swapped positions and then got hurt. The two draft picks are playing summer league. Oh, also, free agency opened.

The Detroit Pistons said they were going to be quiet when free agency opened. Never believe a good team executive during the offseason. They lie, it’s like a blue sky, or gravity pulling down. The Pistons filled their small forward need with former Michigan Wolverine Glenn Robinson III. He signed a two-year deal with a team option for the 2019-20 season.

Moves like the signing of Jose Calderon were more like what Pistons fans were expecting. Calderon will be playing on a one-year veteran minimum deal for the 2018-19 season.

The team has also added Sidney Lowe, Sean Sweeny, and DJ Bakker to their coaching staff. Lowe’s name might sound familiar. He has both played and coached for the Pistons before. His magical six-game run in the 85-86 season will forever be in all Pistons fans hearts. He coached under Flip Saunders in 2005-06. He will serve as an assistant coach. Sweeny has no previous connections to the team, at least that’s what they want you to believe. He will be an assistant as well. Bakker will serve as a player development coach. He did work under head coach Dwayne Casey for the last two seasons with the Raptors as the assistant video coordinator

Malik Rose‘s hiring was also made official by the team. Rose has been the manager of basketball operations for the Atlanta Hawks and served as GM for their G-League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks. He is the assistant general manager for the Pistons.

Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown, the Pistons draft picks from the recent NBA draft, will both be playing in the summer league. Alongside them will be Luke Kennard. All three are natural shooting guards, but apparently, the Pistons were eyeing a position switch for last year’s first rounder. Luke Kennard shot 40% from beyond the three-point arc and averaged 7.5 points per game on 20 minutes per game as a rookie. If he can be a difference maker from the point guard spot, he might change fans minds.

Of course, then he got injured, short-circuiting the entire thing. Kennard has apparently responded to the Pistons new head coach’s no-nonsense style. He may never be a superstar, but the cries of “bust” that you can hear on the wind if you listen hard enough are a bit premature.

Next: Wings Wednesday: Fourth of July edition

With Lebron James out of the way in the eastern conference, the Pistons future got just a little bit brighter. There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Kennard’s injury is not good news, but the position switch seems like a good idea on paper. We just have to wait until the preseason to see it.

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