NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Detroit Pistons
By Adam Stocker
4. Adding a 3point shooter
The Pistons ranked 28th in 3-point percentage last season, making just 33 percent. Had Detroit shot close to the league average, there is a chance they could have finished 41-41 and made the playoffs as the eighth seed.
When Stan Van Gundy was the head coach of the Orlando Magic, he spread the floor with four shooters while Dwight Howard wreaked havoc under the basket. The Pistons have a similar feel to their team with Andre Drummond at center. However, the Pistons are unable to stretch the floor like the Magic did. By putting more shooters on the outside, Drummond will have more freedom to operate under the basket.
Veteran sharpshooters Kyle Korver and J.J. Redick are both free agents and should be targets of the Pistons. The 36-year old Korver is a career 43.1 percent 3-point shooter and would fit in perfectly coming off the Detroit bench. Despite entering his late 30s, Korver can still provide any team 20 minutes and shoot a high percentage. Redick is a career 41.5 percent shoot from downtown. The Duke grad is turning 33-years old this summer and could be looking to cash in with his last career trip to free agency. Redick played under Van Gundy in Orlando and a reunion might be appealing to both parties.
Signing one of Korver or Redick would reduce the number of 3s attempted by former first round pick Stanley Johnson and last season’s free agent addition Jon Leuer. Both players averaged at least two 3-pointers attempts per game last season. However, neither player made even 30 percent from behind the arc.