The Detroit Pistons are trying to bring back Jalen Duren in restricted free agency, but it turns out that is not the only thing on their offseason agenda. Even though they currently have no roster spots available, the Pistons are reportedly pursuing another free agent addition.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Thursday night that the Pistons "are still evaluating the prospect of pursuing DeMar DeRozan." He added that it's not certain that the Pistons will join Toronto in the bidding war for the All-Star scorer, but the 36-year-old forward has fans in Detroit.
On paper, this makes sense and may even excite some Pistons fans. Detroit needs more offensive firepower, and DeRozan has made a name for himself as a professional bucket-getter.
In reality, however, DeRozan is not as good a fit in Detroit as it may seem at first. Sure, he can still put the ball in the basket, but everything else in his game leaves plenty to be desired.
DeMar DeRozan isn't what the Pistons are looking for
There is a reason DeRozan hasn't been able to find much playoff success in his career, even in his prime. He made it past the second round just once in his career and hasn't been out of the first round in eight years. He hasn't made the playoffs in four seasons.
A look at DeRozan's on/off stats throughout his career paints a damning indictment. In 12 of his 17 seasons in the NBA, DeRozan's teams have performed better when he was on the bench than when he was on the court, per Cleaning the Glass. There is very little evidence that DeRozan's offensive production contributes to winning.
A big reason why is his defense. Even at his best, DeRozan was one of the worst defenders of his position. Now that he is about to turn 37 before the season, he is a big liability on that end.
His offensive fit is also highly questionable. He doesn't take or make any threes, which creates huge spacing issues. This makes him a poor off-ball player. For him to be effective, he needs the ball in his hands, but at this stage of his career, he is not a good enough offensive player to justify giving the ball to him.
The Pistons already have Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren in their starting lineup. Shooting is still a weakness. Adding another non-shooter like DeRozan into this mix is not a good idea. Playing him next to Cade Cunningham would not accomplish much other than cramp the space on the floor.
DeRozan's appeal is understandable. He is a free agent and would cost very little to acquire. However, the Pistons need to aim bigger. A defensive liability who also can't shoot isn't going to make Detroit a better team as they hope to become a contender.
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