The Detroit Pistons wrapped up their Las Vegas Summer League journey with a loss against the Miami Heat on Friday. Their 1-4 record was not ideal, but the Summer League is much more about individual performances than game results. There were still plenty of positives to take away from these games.
While most eyes were on Ebuka Okorie, there was another Pistons guard who made a statement. Second-year shooting guard Chaz Lanier hit his stride after a slow start and made his case to be in the rotation next season.
Through five games, the 24-year-old shooting guard hit 51.1% of his threes on a whopping nine attempts per game. He looked very confident getting shots up and made them at an elite clip.
Chaz Lanier ended the Summer League on a high note
Lanier's calling card is his jump shot. So, whenever his shot is falling, he will look great out there. He does little else on the court, as over 70% of his field goal attempts came from downtown, and he attempted only four free throws in five games. He averaged 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game.
Fortunately for the former Tennessee standout, the Pistons don't need much else from him outside of shooting. If he spaces the floor and hits over 40% of his threes, he may find himself in the rotation.
The Pistons added Isaiah Joe this summer, but their need for more shooting is ever-present. They re-signed Kevin Huerter, but he hasn't been a reliable shooter in three years. Besides Duncan Robinson and Joe, there aren't any other elite shooters on the roster. Lanier could be that third option if he continues to make shots at the level he did in Las Vegas.
Making shots could get Lanier on the court, but his defense will keep him there. Head coach JB Bickerstaff leans towards more defense when he is forced to choose, and he has built a strong defensive identity in Detroit. He requires every member of the rotation to play with intensity and discipline on that end of the floor.
Lanier doesn't have the physical and athletic tools to be a difference-maker on that end, but he has to be able to hold his own. The only big defensive liability the Pistons have on the perimeter is Duncan Robinson, and he more than makes up for it with his offensive contributions. If Lanier struggles on defense, his offense may not be good enough to justify being on the floor in Bickerstaff's eyes.
There is still a long way for Lanier to go to establish himself as a rotation player in the NBA. However, he has done more than enough to retain his roster spot. Now, he has to build upon this momentum in training camp and preseason to prove his worth to the team.
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