Trading Jerami Grant difficult, but makes sense for the Detroit Pistons
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Pistons should also be in the market for one of the three Indiana Pacers said to be on the trade block.
I’d love to see Troy Weaver add former Michigan star Caris LeVert. LeVert’s skill-set would mesh perfectly with Cunningham starting in Detroit’s backcourt. It would allow Cunningham to be more of a ball-dominant point guard and provide the no. 1 overall pick with plenty of offensive options, whether it’s the pick and roll with Stewart or the dribble-drive finding someone like LeVert or Saddiq Bey open for the corner three.
No disrespect to Killian Hayes, but I feel at this point he’s better suited to run the second-team and elevated to play with the first group in specific matchups. At this point, the Detroit Pistons don’t have a better option. Josh Jackson has regressed in 2021-22 and shouldn’t start at the two; there is no Derrick Rose or Delon Wright, so for the time being, Hayes at the point with the first group is Casey’s best option.
LeVert averages 16.3 points, 2.7 boards, 3.3 assists, and one steal per game with the Pacers. He’s only shooting 30% from three-point land, which is well below his 33% career average, and is knocking down 80% of his tries from the charity stripe.
As much as I’d like to see LeVert in a Pistons uniform, Weaver should target a center instead. The Detroit Pistons are getting dominated on the glass; they rank 29th in total rebounds per game with 42.1, also 29th in defensive rebounds per game with 31.6.
Detroit also is having a historically poor year shooting the basketball ranking last in two-point percentage, hitting just 48.5% of their attempts, and 29th from three-point land converting on just 31%.