The first game of the season for the Detroit Pistons is less than two weeks away. After finally resolving the Jalen Duren standoff, the Pistons can feel good about their chances at a deep postseason run once again. They desperately want to get over the hump, but the stronger Eastern Conference complicates matters.
Detroit's depth will be their biggest strength, but they also have a few areas for improvement. Lack of shooting and secondary shot creation eventually led to the Pistons' early exit in the playoffs. The Pistons didn't make a splashy addition to address these concerns, but they believe that they have better shooters and offensive players on the roster.
While many are understandably excited about the Isaiah Joe and John Collins additions and the Ebuka Okorie selection, there was one offseason signing that was a bit of a head-scratcher. And after the first preseason game on Monday, this decision doesn't look any better.
Kevin Huerter contract looks even more questionable after the preseason opener
The Pistons signed Kevin Huerter to a three-year, $27 million contract this summer. Even though Huerter has made 32.4% of his threes over the last two seasons and hasn't been a difference-making rotation player for several years, the Pistons prioritized retaining him.
Re-signing him is one thing, but the Pistons paid him more in annual salary than Landry Shamet, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Luke Kennard all got. It's impossible to argue that Huerter has played better at any point over the last two seasons than any of these names. For a team that desperately needed more shooting, the Pistons could and should have gone for a more reliable shooter than Huerter.
The veteran shooting guard did little against the Suns to quell these concerns. He came off the bench and played 18 minutes, but was largely invisible. He went 0/2 from the field for four points, zero assists, and a turnover. He was involved defensively, registering two steals and a block, but that is not the type of contribution the Pistons need from Huerter.
If Huerter isn't taking and making shots, it becomes difficult to justify having him on the court. The Pistons have better defenders than him on the bench, like Javonte Green and Ron Holland. They also have better ball-handlers and playmakers like Daniss Jenkins and Ebuka Okorie. If Huerter isn't providing spacing and offensive juice, JB Bickerstaff will find it hard to carve out minutes for him.
Especially now that the Pistons also have Isaiah Joe in the mix, Huerter is a little more expendable. Despite the contract he got this summer, Huerter may find himself on the outside of the rotation looking in, unless he shows something else in Detroit's remaining three preseason games.
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