Heading into the first round of the NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons have a rock-solid rotation. They are one of the deepest teams in the entire league. Head coach JB Bickerstaff consistently got contributions from 13 players. In the playoffs, playing anything more than a 10-man rotation is unrealistic. So, certain players will see their roles and minutes reduced as we go deeper into the postseason.
This fluid rotation could cost pending free agents some money in the offseason. Becoming an important part of the rotation for a title contender, however, could have the opposite effect.
Kevin Huerter's Next Contract Depends Entirely on His Playoff Performance
Kevin Huerter sits squarely on that line. He could either be an afterthought in the playoffs and only get a short-term deal slightly above the minimum. Or, he could emerge as an elite role player and land himself a multi-year deal that pays him an eight-figure salary every season.
That will entirely depend on whether Huerter is hitting shots. In the first six seasons of his career, Huerter was a 38.2% shooter from downtown on high volume. Thanks to his solid positional size and versatility on his shot, this made him an excellent off-ball threat. Plus, he had enough ball-handling and playmaking chops to be more than just a shooter. This earned him a four-year, $65 million deal in 2021.
In the last two years, Huerter's numbers have been less rosy. He is making 32.4% from downtown on 5.2 attempts per game. As a result, his minutes took a hit this season, averaging a career-low 22.4 minutes between his time in Chicago and Detroit.
Huerter's Pistons tenure didn't get off to a great start, either. He shot below 20% from three in his first 16 games as a Piston. He was therefore not a consistent part of the rotation. In the last nine games of the season, however, Huerter started trending in the right direction. He hit 40% of his threes in this stretch, averaging 12.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 25.7 minutes per game.
If that trend holds, the Pistons could certainly use what Huerter brings to the table in the playoffs. Detroit is low on shooting and playmaking. They rely heavily on Duncan Robinson to provide the off-ball element and spacing. Robinson creates issues on the defensive side of the ball. If Huerter is also providing shooting, the Pistons would have another perimeter threat they can trust.
Shooting is a premium skill. A team can never have too much shooting. There is a reason elite shooters are highly sought-after in the market. To get paid like an elite role player, all Huerter needs to do is get back to his old self from his Atlanta days. If he can consistently hit threes at a 38% clip, he will have another big payday this summer, whether it's from Detroit or elsewhere.
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