Reports say the Detroit Pistons have acquired Brandon Jennings from the Bucks for Brandon Knight, Kirs Middleton and Viacheslav Kravtsov.
While the move gives a rebuilding piece to the Bucks in Brandon Knight, Jennings gives the Pistons the final piece they need to become a playoff team.
The Piston’s made some key moves this offseason. It began with the signing of forward Josh Smith. Next, they brought back veteran point guard Chauncey Billups. Jennings will most likely be the last major move the team makes before preseason.
The Pistons starting lineup at the beginning of the season could very well be:
PG Brandon Jennings
SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF Josh Smith
PF Greg Monroe.
C Andre Drummond
This starting lineup gives the Pistons a scorer at positions 1-4 and a big body down low in Drummond. Also, these five can compete with any team on any given night in athleticism.
Although Brandon Jennings only shot 39 percent from the field last season, he is a continuous scoring threat and can get hot at anytime. Maurice Cheeks may ask him to distribute a bit more (he averaged 6.5 assist in the 2012-2013 regular season) but his ability to break down a defense should make it easier to find open teammates.
Smith, Monroe, and Drummond provide three different attacks in the Pistons’ front court. Smith can take his defender off the dribble or hit a mid range jumpshot. Monroe can play in the post and has a blossoming inside game. Drummond, at age 20, is a big body that can bang in the paint, has great leaping ability and is still learning the game. Although Monroe hasn’t proven to be a great defender he will join Smith and Drummond in a three-man team that is more than capable of protecting the paint.
It will be interesting to see how the rookie Caldwell-Pope adjusts to the NBA. However, if there’s one thing he proved while at Georgia, it’s that he can score. The 20-year old averaged 18.5 points and shot 37 percent from behind the arc last season. Although he may be the fourth option on the floor behind Jennings, Smith and Monroe he’s still a pretty good fourth option to have.
Despite their great offseason moves the Pistons will most likely finish in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference. Depending on how the New York Knicks perform, the Motor City team could possibly finish fifth behind the Heat, Bulls, Pacers and Nets. However, they will most likely sit comfortably at the sixth seed heading into the postseason.
