The Detroit Pistons are off to an excellent start, sitting at 6-2 for the season. The same, however, can't be said about all former Pistons. A couple of recent Pistons players are proving Detroit right for letting them sign elsewhere.
Dennis Schröder, Charlotte Hornets
According to Dean Oliver's advanced stats for ESPN Analytics, Schröder has been the worst player in the league this season. He has been thrust into a large role in Charlotte after the departure of LaMelo Ball and the injury to Coby White, but the results have been disastrous.
Averaging almost 30 minutes per game, the German point guard is putting up 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. On the surface, this may not seem all that bad, until you see the 3.2 turnovers per game, the 36.4% from the field, and 20% from three.
Considering that he is making $14.8 million this season and is under contract for $15.5 million next season, it's safe to say that Schröder has one of the least team-friendly contracts in the league. Detroit's decision to let him walk in the 2025 offseason looks like a brilliant move now.
Svi Mykhailiuk, Utah Jazz
Mykhailiuk hasn't played for the Pistons since the 2020-21 season, but he has found a way to stick around in the NBA. He has been on the margins of rotations, bouncing around the league ever since, but he has always landed on a roster spot. This season, however, may be the end of the road for the veteran shooting guard.
The Utah Jazz are finally trying to win games and be competitive. Mykhailiuk's deficiencies have become obvious in his third season in Utah. Through eight games, the 29-year-old is making 30.2% of his field goals and 23.1% of his threes. The Jazz have lost the minutes he has been on the court by 33 points since the start of the season. So far, he has been one of the worst reserves in the league.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Miami Heat
The whole selling point of Hardaway Jr. is his ability to shoot. He doesn't bring much else to the table. This season, he hasn't been able to do that, either, which has been one of the big reasons for Miami's struggles.
THJ was solid for the Nuggets last season after leaving the Pistons in the 2025 offseason. He hit 40.7% of his threes playing next to Nikola Jokic. The Heat hoped that he would do the same for them, but the 34-year-old is a disaster right now.
Hardaway Jr. is 9/37 from downtown this season. He is shooting 28.6% from the field. He has as many turnovers as assists. This has resulted in him losing his rotation role in the last two games. He only played 11 minutes in Miami's last two outings, scoring zero points on 0/5 shooting. They desperately need more shooting and floor spacing, but Hardaway Jr. hasn't delivered.
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