Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons were one of the best stories of the 2018-19 season. Griffin rediscovered his superstar form and led the Pistons to the playoffs by averaging 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Blake made the All-Star team and All-NBA third team and guided Detroit to the postseason for the first time since 2016.
However, the Pistons got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2019 playoffs. Griffin only played in Games 3 and 4 because of a knee injury that he eventually got surgery on. The former No. 1 overall pick missed the first 10 games of the 2019-20 season because of that surgery.
Griffin was a shell of himself after making his 2019-20 season debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He put up 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds for the Pistons while shooting 35.2 percent from the field and 24.3 percent from 3 in 18 games.
The Pistons wound up shutting Griffin down for the season, with Blake going under the knife yet again on that left knee. Detroit had a record of just 20-46 before the campaign was suspended. The Pistons are hoping Griffin will return to form whenever the 2020-21 season begins. He is owed $36.6 million in 2020-21 and has a player option worth nearly $39 million in 2021-22.
Detroit can always try and trade Griffin at the 2021 deadline if they aren't competitive next season, but the goal as of now is for the team to be winners again with Griffin and Derrick Rose leading the charge. Rose was the best player for the Pistons this season before the campaign was suspended due to COVID-19. The former MVP was averaging 18.1 points and 5.6 assists.
Ideally, the Pistons would like to start Rose, Luke Kennard, Tony Snell, Griffin, and Christian Wood next season, with Bruce Brown, Sekou Doumbouya, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Khyri Thomas coming off the bench.
If the 2019-20 season is over, here are some moves Detroit general manager Ed Stefanski should consider making.
3. Re-sign Christian Wood
The Pistons traded Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers because they had great faith in Wood that he could flourish as a starting NBA center. The California native averaged 22.8 points and 9.9 rebounds after the Pistons traded Drummond, so Detroit's gamble paid off.
Wood becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. Detroit has to re-sign the high-flyer because they have no other center on the roster. The 24-year-old Wood has already developed great chemistry with Rose in the pick-and-roll game and the Pistons are excited to see what he can do as a full-time starter for an 82-game season.
Detroit might have to overpay to keep Wood, but they should do it if it comes to that. After all, it would hurt to see Wood thrive somewhere else when the Pistons were the ones who gave him a chance and allowed him to showcase his skills.
2. Pick up Svi Mykhailiuk's team option
Mykhailiuk has a $1.6 million club option for next season (2020 Club Option/non-guaranteed, fully if not waived on or before 7/4/20). Svi is the second-best shooter on the Pistons after Kennard, so Detroit should guarantee his contract for next season. It will allow the 22-year-old to play freely and produce at a high-level.
Mykhailiuk shot 40.4 percent from beyond the arc in 56 games for the Pistons this season. He was 22nd in the NBA in that category.
1. Sign Jeff Green
Snell is a capable small forward since he's a good 3-point shooter and defender. He shot 40.2 percent from 3 and was right behind Mykhailiuk in the NBA rankings.
However, Snell isn't much of a playmaker. He does all of his damage on catch-and-shoot shots. The Pistons would benefit immensely from signing a veteran swingman like Green who can score, pass, rebound, and defend.
Griffin tried to recruit Green to the Pistons last summer. Let's see if Blake's text messages work this time around.
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