All is right in Detroit. The Pistons are off to a 3-0 start after three impressive performances against some of the best teams in the league. Despite injuries to Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren, the Pistons keep finding ways to win.
While players like Duncan Robinson, John Collins, Daniss Jenkins, and Paul Reed are off to excellent starts, not every individual performance has been convincing.
Ron Holland is one of them.
Ron Holland has yet to erase doubts about his fit on the Pistons' long-term core
The third-year player is continuing his up-and-down performances through the first three games of the season.
Holland had a stinker in the first game of the season, getting pulled by JB Bickerstaff after making simple mistakes and playing only three minutes. He has been better in the next two games.
The 21-year-old forward is still wreaking havoc on the defensive end. He keeps making impressive defensive plays, forcing turnovers, and blocking shots. His versatility and physicality stand out even when he is guarding some of the best players on the opposing team. He made a difference on that side of the ball on Sunday against the Sixers.
That is why it's still hard for the Pistons to give up on Holland. His development hasn't been linear. His offensive game still leaves plenty to be desired. He can still be inconsistent, out of control, and mistake-prone. Against the Sixers, he was 1/8 from the field and 0/3 from three. Even in his best games, Holland isn't a positive offensive player.
But the defensive tape is just too good. He is all over the court and simply makes too many plays. It's understandable why the Pistons would want to keep him around, as it's hard not to be intrigued by his potential.
At the same time, an inflection point is coming. Holland will be eligible for an extension at the end of this season. The Pistons have already paid Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren. That trio will be the future of this franchise. Can they really build a sustainable winner if they give Holland, another non-shooter, a lucrative, long-term contract?
Holland hasn't done enough to erase the doubts about his fit next to Thompson and Duren. And it doesn't seem like he will any time soon.
Should the Pistons accept this reality and try to trade Holland this season? Or do they keep believing in his upside and ability to improve offensively? This is not an easy decision, and given his age, physical tools, and defensive production, there is a lot to like here. But whether this potential will be better realized in Detroit or elsewhere remains to be seen.
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