Here are our player scouting reports for the Detroit Pistons.
Projected starters
Reggie Jackson
Position: Guard
Experience: 4 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Pistons' franchise point guard after signing five-year deal in summer
+ Excellent off dribble and when pulling up, but struggles with deep stroke
+ Has improved playmaking to above-average levels
Analysis
Pistons honcho Stan Van Gundy called the fully guaranteed, option-free, five-year, $80 million contract he signed Reggie Jackson to this summer a "hell of a deal." He ain't lying. Detroit has gone all-in on the notion that the 25-year-old, former late first-round pick is its franchise point guard. While it's true that Jackson has improved steadily in his pro career, it's fair to wonder how much growth Jackson, who has never started for a full season, has left at his age. It's the defining decision for Van Gundy as an executive so far -- for better or worse.
Jackson's offensive real plus-minus (RPM) has jumped by 3.7 points over the past couple of seasons, reaching the 90th percentile in 2014-15. His usage rate has climbed by over 6 percent during that time as he has made the difficult transition from a supporting player to a featured one. While Jackson has proven his ability to get his own shot, he's still a work in progress as a scorer. While his trusty floater is fine, he doesn't finish well when he gets to the hoop. Jackson is also a spotty face-up shooter, and as his 3-point stroke has remained unreliable -- he hit less than 30 percent from deep last season -- he has become more prone to forcing the action against defenses laying off of him. Jackson reportedly made this the focus of his summer workouts. If he can make that upgrade, it would take his game to another level.
Where Jackson has already reached a higher level is as a playmaker. He assisted on a career-best 9 percent of possessions when on the floor last season, climbing to the 94th percentile across the league, and he's now in the league's top 10 percent in creating scoring plays on a per-pass basis. His turnover rate is a little high, but maybe that will improve as he takes full control of a team for the first time and develops chemistry with his Detroit teammates. Jackson also needs to become more of a factor on defense. He's not awful but ranks average or just below by pretty much every measure.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Position: Guard
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Improving 3-point shooter
+ Good scorer in transition
+ Positive team impact on both ends of the floor
Analysis
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may be the pivotal player for the Pistons. He started every game last season and logged 1,000 more minutes than he did in his rookie season, showing that he has earned Van Gundy's trust. But for the Pistons offense to reach a next level, the No. 8 overall pick in 2013 needs to become a premier off-the-ball threat.
With a WARP that was still below replacement level, there is plenty of room for growth. Caldwell-Pope's usage rate improved by 5.5 percent over his rookie season but is still below average for a guard. That might not be so bad, but with a true shooting percentage of just .501 Caldwell-Pope provides neither efficiency nor volume on offense. He shot less than league average from deep and, per Synergy, rated in just the 48th percentile on catch-and-shoot opportunities. While Caldwell-Pope doesn't turn the ball over much, he's not a creator. He's pretty good off the dribble if he can get to the hoop, though his overall finishing rate at the rim is below average. He shies away from contact, rating in the 29th percentile league-wide in terms of drawing fouls.
That said, Caldwell-Pope came into the league with perceived potential to become an elite long-range shooter and perhaps this is the season, in a more consistent and fluid Detroit offense, he makes the jump. As it is, he's still not the offensive player that his backup, Jodie Meeks, has proven to be.
However, Caldwell-Pope is better on the defensive end. His multi-season defensive RPM was plus-0.7 last season and his steal rate is well above average. KCP's opponents have shot the ball about 2.8 percent better against him than normal the past two seasons, per SportVu, and his per-play indicators from Synergy against isolations, the pick-and-roll and overall are all below average as well.
Nevertheless, Caldwell-Pope's was plus-2.04 in overall RPM at the end of last season. While his individual metrics could be better, his impact on the team seems unquestionably positive, a conclusion underscored by his minutes total. If Caldwell-Pope improves his percentages just a little, he'll be a legitimate NBA starter.
Marcus Morris
Position: Forward
Experience: 4 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Combo forward acquired from Phoenix. May start at 3 for Detroit
+ Increasingly a standstill shooter who hits corner 3s and protects the ball
+ Average defender who struggles against interior scorers
Analysis
While Markieff Morris has been raising a stink about the Suns' trade of his brother, Marcus Morris at least claimed to be content with his new club. That's good news, because Detroit has a hole at the 3.
Morris was never really able to lock down a starting role in Phoenix, though he started 35 games last season and played just more than 2,000 minutes at an RPM a little over league average. He has been around average on offense in most facets in recent seasons, with a rate of efficiency that is closely tied to his 3-point shot. That mark was down to 35.8 percent last season, but even that was a little over average (and he has done better). His catch-and-shoot results have rated as high at the 89th percentile, according to Synergy, and if he shoots like that for the Pistons, he'll likely hold off rookie Stanley Johnson for at least this season.
Morris is an above-average rebounder on both ends and last season improved his assist rate to -- you guessed it -- average, while slashing his turnover rate to elite levels. This all sounds pretty good, but Morris gives away a lot of his value on the defensive end: His multi-season RPM fell to the 25th percentile (minus-1.77) in 2014-15. Though he has the same wingspan and a better vertical leap than his brother, Morris doesn't block shots nearly as well and he doesn't defend the post or play the pick-and-roll well enough to play much 4 in small-ball lineups.
While the overall package makes Morris a borderline candidate as a starter, his contract for roughly $5 million annually over the next four years is an easy fit for Detroit, even if he's simply a rotation player. There is always concern that both Morris twins will falter from their separation, but if Marcus simply replicates what he did for Phoenix, the Pistons will have a useful player at an excellent value.
Ersan Ilyasova
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Stretch 4 with sometimes inconsistent 3-point stroke
+ Plus rebounder who will be asked to do less on offensive glass in Detroit
+ Below average overall on defense but draws a high rate of offensive fouls
Analysis
The Pistons got an early start on transaction season by dealing veterans Caron Butler and Shawne Williams to the Bucks for Ilyasova before the draft. Right away, Van Gundy anointed Ilyasova his starting power forward, one who can stretch the floor on offense while providing legit big-man traits in other facets of the game.
Health has been one of Ilyasova's bugaboos in recent seasons, undermining his performance and availability in equal measure. He has missed 51 games over the past two seasons, and even when he was available in 2013-14, he was often ineffective thanks to recurrent ankle trouble. He played only 22.7 minutes per game for a deep Milwaukee squad last season, so it's fair to wonder if Detroit can really count on the seven-year veteran to hold down a 28-30 minute starting role for a full season.
If Ilyasova can stay on the floor, he'll give the Pistons a bona-fide stretch big. He's got a nice, high release and easy range from deep, though his stroke is a fair bit inconsistent. You can blame the ankle trouble for his dip to 28 percent 3-point shooting two seasons ago, but what is the explanation for his drop to 64.5 percent foul shooting in 2014-15? Never an elite athlete, Ilyasova hasn't been a great finisher around the rim, either. He's well above-average as an offensive rebounder, but in Detroit, the offensive glass is Andre Drummond's domain, so expect Ilyasova's gradually declining rebound percentages to fall further.
Ilyasova's offensive RPM tends to correlate strongly with his 3-point success, which has been over league average in three of the past four season, the exception being the aforementioned injury season. Expect a lower usage rate for Ilyasova in Detroit and an enhanced per-touch efficiency, a rate that was already in the 96th percentile last season.
On defense, Ilyasova is a bit short-armed for his size and spot-up shooters usually have success against him. He's above average against the pick-and-roll unless he gets switched onto a center; then he's helpless. Ilyasova's 2014-15 defensive RPM ranked in just the 9th percentile, though to be fair, he was often sharing minutes with the defensively elite John Henson. His standout trait on defense is drawing offensive fouls, an area in which few are better.
Andre Drummond
Position: Center
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Immensely talented big man still trying to translate individual production into team impact
+ Elite rebounder on both ends of the floor
+ Increased touches last season by playing more in the post
Analysis
Any critique of Andre Drummond has to begin at his age: He turned 22 this past offseason. In the history of the NBA, only Dwight Howard has grabbed more rebounds by age 22 than Drummond. The name Howard comes up frequently when making comparisons to describe the physically dominant, rim-rattling, wayward-foul-shooting Drummond. And those comparisons have only grown more prevalent since Van Gundy took over the Pistons. Heck, even SCHOENE agrees -- Howard is among the top statistical comps for the still-developing Pistons center. If Drummond reaches the same heights as Howard, the Pistons will have a championship-level franchise player on their hands.
Drummond's role on offense expanded last season. Van Gundy increased Drummond's volume of post-ups, from 11 percent of his plays the season before to 28, according to Synergy. The results were mixed, but perhaps they were necessary growing pains to facilitate Drummond's growth from a run-to-the-rim dunker to a true franchise offensive center. His looks in the restricted area doubled thanks to an increased interest in a jump hook, though he hit just 37.7 percent from there. His rate at the rim was also down, dropping from 67-plus percent his first two seasons to 58.2 percent. Combine all that with a still-awful free throw percentage and a climb in usage rate and Drummond dropped 95 points in true shooting percentage, to .504. While Drummond slashed his rate of turnovers, he still isn't much of a passer. All told, Drummond posted a negative single-season offensive RPM for the first time in his career.
His defensive rating has annually been among the league's elite. That's mostly a result of top-shelf block rates and the fact that he may be the game's best rebounder on both ends of the floor. However, his defensive RPM hasn't been elite, either. While he improved his rim protection last season, opposing shooters hit a shade over 48 percent against him for the second season in a row, leaving him in the 19th percentile. His post defense metrics at Synergy saw a similar story.
As young and as good as Drummond is, he can do a lot more in terms of using his immense production and talent to generate a better bottom line for his team. He delighted social media aficionados this summer with pics and clips of his workouts, including footage of him knocking down catch-and-shoot jumpers from midrange, where he hit 17 percent a season ago. Meanwhile, the Pistons hired shooting guru Dave Hopla as an assistant coach, and his top priority will be to nudge Drummond's free throw success over 50 percent.
UPDATE:On Oct. 20, Pistons coach and team president Stan Van Gundy told Detroit reporters that Drummond has elected not to sign an extension so as to help the team create additional cap space. "Every player says I'm all about winning," Van Gundy said. "This guy is proving it." The decision suggests Drummond trusts the organization will reward him with a max deal next summer.
Reserves
Brandon Jennings
Position: Guard
Experience: 6 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Coming off Achilles injury that ended last season. May not play until December
+ Solid shooter and playmaker off the dribble but struggles on catch-and-shoots
+ Defensive metrics improved before injury, but typically one of league's worst
Analysis
Brandon Jennings was resurging before his season came to an abrupt halt in late January because of an Achilles injury. Three nights before, in his second-to-last game, Jennings riddled Orlando with 24 points and 21 assists -- a culmination of a strong month in which he averaged nearly 21 points and more than seven assists per game. In other words, Jennings was just hitting his stride. By the time he returns, which isn't expected to be until mid-to-late December, Jennings will find himself behind Jackson on Detroit's depth chart.
Before going down, Jennings had boosted his offensive RPM to plus-2.64 (94th percentile) and looked like he might be Van Gundy's long-term point guard. His usage rate was up by nearly three percent and his assist rate had climbed to 10.3 percent of his team's possessions (97th percentile), meaning that Jennings was in command of the attack.
Jennings is typically average at protecting the ball, but shooting efficiency is an on-going issue. He annually shoots below break-even around the rim, and is well below average in most zones around the floor with his sling-shot release. But he's an increasingly effective passer. During the two seasons for which we have SportVu data, Jennings has ranked in the 95th and 96th percentile in creating scoring plays on a per-pass basis. His offensive RPMs have been on the plus side, though his shooting will likely always keep Jennings out of the ranks of the elite, even if he does come back at 100 percent.
On defense, Jennings has been one of the league's worst in recent seasons. His defensive RPM was better last season, but still ranked in the bottom quarter of the NBA.
Jodie Meeks
Position: Guard
Experience: 6 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Premier but streaky long-range threat who was inconsistent from deep in 2014-15
+ Poor rebounder for position
+ Poor defender. Adequate in space but struggles to defend in the lane
Analysis
The Pistons hope for more from Jodie Meeks this season, assuming the back trouble that held him to 60 games last season has cleared up. Meeks started 70 games for the Lakers in 2013-14, but did not start a game for Detroit, as his 2014-15 RPM (minus-3.34) fell to the 16th percentile. Meeks' offensive rating fell below league average as his usage rate climbed to just over 20 percent.
Known as a premier -- if streaky -- deep threat, Meeks did more of his work inside the arc a season ago. The results weren't great. While he keeps his turnover rate low, Meeks isn't adept at setting up teammates so you want him as a finisher, not a creator. Spacing has been Detroit's biggest offensive problem the past couple of years, one that Van Gundy hopes he's cleared up with his moves over the summer. If so, Meeks could be chased off the line less often. Still, he simply didn't shoot the ball as well. He averaged 1.54 points per unguarded catch-and-shoot tries in 2013-14, per Synergy, but that figure dropped to 1.25 last season. Meeks' best role is as an instant offense threat, and he's got the traits to become one of the best at that job.
His defensive metrics are consistently poor and it's his performance on that end which will likely prevent him from overtaking Caldwell-Pope as the Pistons' starting 2. Meeks' single-season defensive RPMs the past two have both landed in the bottom 10 percent of the league. With a limited 6-4 and a half wingspan, he's helpless when defending in the lane or helping on the defensive glass. SportVu's numbers had opponents shooting 66.7 percent at the rim against him last year, and his block rates are non-existent even though he's a good leaper. Which is too bad, because Meeks is a solid enough defender in space, with solid marks against drives and on the pick-and-roll.
With two more years left on his deal, Meeks should again be a key member of what's shaping up to be a potentially deep Detroit bench.
Stanley Johnson
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Strong, physically mature wing with average raw athleticism
+ Struggles to finish around the basket
+ Has good reputation for work ethic and competitiveness
Analysis
For a couple of years at least, the perception of Stanley Johnson's transition to the NBA will be closely tied to that of Miami rookie Justise Winslow, whom many felt Detroit should have selected with the No. 8 pick in June. That's certainly not fair to Johnson, but if his terrific showing in the Orlando Summer League is any indication, he's ready to move on from draft-night critiques.
Despite being a one-and-done college player, Johnson has a mature build and should be ready to stand up physically to NBA players from the outset. As a wing, he's got a good chance to be one of the better rebounders at his position in the league and his reputation for competiveness should make him a fan favorite from a developing Pistons squad.
Johnson has a solid handle for his build and while charges and turnovers can be a problem, SCHOENE projects him to draw fouls at an above-average rate as a rookie, and also to get near the league average in usage rate. The latter is no easy trick for a rookie. But to get to that 20 percent usage mark, Johnson will have to show he can hit reliably from the perimeter. SCHOENE projects him as better than the league median on both 3s and from the line, which is a nice starting baseline.
Johnson isn't known as a great athlete and that's translated to poor finishing rates around the rim and could limit him as a defender in space early in his career. But he'll see playing time right off the bat and will battle Marcus Morris for minutes all season.
Anthony Tolliver
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Veteran floor-spacer reliant on 3-point shooting on offense
+ Has wingspan and lower-body strength to defend bigger players
+ Above-average rebounder
Analysis
The Pistons liked Anthony Tolliver enough after acquiring him from the Suns just before last Christmas to fully guarantee his contract for 2015-16. Tolliver has a reputation as a one-trick pony. On offense, that's true enough, as he's strictly a long-range specialist. Last season, 61.1 percent of the possessions Tolliver used culminated in a 3-point try, putting him in the 98th percentile. He shot just a little over league average but he's got a consistent enough track record that opposing 4s have to pay attention to him on the perimeter. That opens up the offense for Tolliver's teams and keeps him employed. His offensive RPM has been safely positive the past two seasons even though he gets few assists, draws few fouls and, as mentioned, was more of a threat than a marksman from deep.
Tolliver also usually posts positive defensive RPMs, which keeps him from being consigned to fringe roles and even occasionally gets him into the starting lineup. Tolliver, 6-foot-8, is undersized for his position, though he's got a long wingspan and a strong center of gravity, which prevents him from getting blown up in the post. While some of Tolliver's defensive metrics were down last season, his ability to move his feet again made him a pest against driving opponents. Few players draw as many charges or overall offensive fouls, similar in that regard to the player he'll be backing up this season, Ilyasova.
Aron Baynes
Position: Center
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Above-average rebounder, especially on offense
+ Efficient scorer with good touch in the paint
+ Decent face-up shooter from midrange
Analysis
The Spurs typically keep one plus offensive rebounder on the roster, and for the past couple of seasons, that's been Aron Baynes. After starting 17 games and averaging 16 minutes for San Antonio last season, Baynes took a three-year, $19.5 million deal to become a key part of the frontcourt rotation in Detroit.
Baynes' work on the glass is near-elite. His offensive rebound rate has been in the 84th percentile or better in each of his three seasons, and last season his defensive rebound rate reached the 82nd. In terms of contested rebound rates from SportVu, Baynes has ranked in the NBA's top 10 percent the past two seasons. He hit 62.6 percent around the rim last season and an elite 51.6 percent in the painted area beyond the restricted zone.
That makes Baynes a viable post option, and Synergy put him in the 76th percentile among centers on a per-play basis. The downside is that he's a bit of a black hole when he catches the ball down low and his turnover rate is too high. But when you have a backup big man putting up a .618 true shooting percentage on a usage rate around 18 percent, you've got something.
On defense, Baynes' multi-season RPM reached plus-1.60 in 2014-15. He fouls way too often, but also draws an elite-level rate of offensive fouls. He's an average shot blocker and rim protector, so the position defense is important to his playability.
Spencer Dinwiddie
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Big combo guard with plus playmaking ability
+ Struggled with shooting efficiency and turnovers as rookie
+ One season removed from ACL tear while in college
Analysis
Coming off a torn ACL at Colorado, it was a triumph for Spender Dinwiddie to simply get into 34 games as a rookie and even starting one, though his first NBA season was cut short by ankle injury. With Jennings' rehab likely to drag well into December, Dinwiddie enters his second season with a prime opportunity to pick up the backup minutes behind Reggie Jackson.
Dinwiddie, 6-foot-6, has great size and can swing between both backcourt positions. He handles the ball well enough to play the point, but will have to take better care of it than he did as a rookie, when he finished a tick below replacement level.
Once projected as a first-rounder, the eventual No 38 overall selection in 2014 entered the league with a good reputation as a long-range shooter, though as a rookie he hit a miserable 18.5 percent from deep. His best offensive attributes ended up being the ability to get his shot and the ability to set up teammates. He assisted on 10.1 percent of Detroit's possessions when on the floor (97th percentile) and 86 percent of his own field goals were unassisted. Alas, he shot poorly all over the court, which left him with a minus-3.76 RPM for the season.
Dinwiddie was also negative on defense in RPM and ranked in the 18th percentile per play, according to Synergy. However, he used his size to defend the pick-and-roll adequately and to disrupt opposing shooters. He needs to compete better on the boards even as a guard; his ability to grab contested rebounds left him in just the 2nd percentile of the league.
Steve Blake
Position: Guard
Experience: 12 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Once-elite shooter whose accuracy has slipped past two seasons
+ Effective passer as secondary playmaker
+ Struggles to defend one-on-one at this point in career
Analysis
Twelve-year veteran Steve Blake made the rounds over the summer, going from Portland to Brooklyn to Detroit in a pair of trades over a three-week period. Now 36, Blake is now a replacement-level performer who nevertheless has the kind of intangibles a young roster can use from an end-of-the-bench performer.
Blake's once high-level shooting has been off for two years now, as his offensive efficiency is more than ever tied to 3-point shooting. SportVu had Blake averaging just .19 points per drive in each of the past two seasons,, the worst mark in the league. Once a sure bet to make teams pay for playing off of him, Blake's success on unguarded catch-and-shooter plays fell from the 96th percentile to the 51st, and he shot just 32.2 percent on above-the-break 3s.
Blake had a break-even defensive RPM last season and will always compete on that end. He draws a lot of fouls but lacks the length or athleticism to be much of a factor on the perimeter. Blake will be a steady presence for the Pistons and may even see the court if he's able to beat out Dinwiddie for the job to back up Jackson while Jennings continues his recovery.
Joel Anthony
Position: Center
Experience: 8 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ One of league's premier shot blockers by percentage
+ Below-average post defender and rebounder for position
+ Little offensive repertoire; limited to dunks off putbacks
Analysis
Defensive specialist Joel Anthony will stick around the league for at least another season after signing a two-year, $5 million deal to return to Detroit, though only the first year is guaranteed. The Pistons won't count on big minutes from Anthony, who will be third on the depth chart at center behind Andre Drummond and free-agent acquisition Aron Baynes.
While Anthony continues to post some of the lowest usage rates in the league, his efficiency bounced back after a decline in 2013-14. Anthony's dunk-heavy arsenal resulted in a 75 percent mark at the rim last season, per NBA.com/stats. But his turnover rate returned to an unacceptable level for a player who gets so few touches. While Anthony stays out of the way on offense, his defense remains playable. His 2014-15 defensive RPM was plus-2.68 (93rd percentile) and he blocked 9.5 percent of opposing shots while on the floor to lead the league. Despite his elite ability to protect the basket, Anthony isn't a great defender in the post or against the pick-and-roll, and is below average for his position on the defensive glass.
Anthony is what his reputation suggests he is: A shot-blocking specialist.
Reggie Bullock
Position: Forward
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Former first-round pick who hasn't played much in NBA
+ Potential as a plus deep-shooting threat
+ Good athlete with promising defensive metrics
Analysis
It's only been two years since the Clippers selected Reggie Bullock in the first round. But now he's entering his third pro season on his third pro team, and he still has never really been given much of a chance to prove himself at the NBA level.
Bullock has looked exclusively like a spot-up shooter and floor-runner so far. He came into the league as a top-flight shooting prospect, but while about 54 percent of his possessions have been used on 3-point tries, he's hit just 31.1 percent from behind the arc so far in his career. He doesn't put the ball on the floor and doesn't create for others, but doesn't turn it over. His defensive RPM for his two seasons is plus-0.49 and his teams have given up just 97.5 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. His SportVu indicators on defense are outstanding.
Again, all of this is inconclusive because Bullock has played so little. Still, given that he was once a top-20 prep player and an NBA first-rounder, shouldn't someone give this guy a shot as a rotation 3-and-D player? That team may or may not be the Pistons, who acquired Bullock along with Danny Granger and Marcus Morris over the summer. Though Bullock's contract is guaranteed for 2015-16, the Pistons have more guaranteed contracts than they can carry, and they have numbers at Bullock's position.
Danny Granger
Position: Forward
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Former All-Star robbed of athleticism by knee injuries
+ Hits high percentage of open looks but no longer creates own shot
+ Lack of mobility has left him well below average on defense
Analysis
It's been a steep, steep drop for one-time All-Star Danny Granger. After signing on in Miami last summer, ostensibly to back up LeBron James, Granger instead caddied for Luol Deng while suffering through his third straight season below replacement level. His multi-season RPM has caught up with his demise: Last season, Granger dropped to minus-3.79 (10th percentile) and was equally bad on both ends of the floor.
Knee trouble has robbed Granger of his athleticism, an area in which he never was really elite. He once was a dynamic face-up scorer, but even that quality seems to have left him. Granger can still knock down an open look -- he ranked in the 93rd percentile on unguarded catch-and-shoot tries last season, per Synergy -- but with a usage rate that plummeted to 14.5 percent, he can no longer get his own shot.
With his physical decline also affecting the defensive end, it's hard to see how Granger fits into the Pistons' rotation unless his athleticism rebounds. Despite a guaranteed deal for 2015-16, it's unlikely he earns a spot on a crowded Pistons roster.
Darrun Hilliard
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Four-year college player who improved each season
+ Above-average 3-point shooter in catch-and-shoot situations
+ Solid perimeter defender who struggles in isolation
Analysis
The Pistons may have reached a tad by taking Darrun Hilliard II with the 38th pick in this year's draft. The four-year 2-guard was ranked 77th by ESPN's Chad Ford and SCHOENE sees him as a replacement-level performer as a rookie.
Hilliard was known as a solid, two-way player who was kind of a jack of all trades during his time at Villanova. While that helps teams win in the Big East, it makes it hard to spot that peg on which you can hang and build an NBA career. His per-play metrics from Synergy profile him as a solid perimeter defender who could struggle in isolation.
On offense, he was very efficient for the Wildcats last season and posted a sterling 76.5 effective field goal percentage on unguarded catch-and-shoot tries. If Hilliard, 6-foot-6, can re-prove that ability to knock down open shots and combine it with a playable level of perimeter defense, he might stick around. As it is, he's the fourth guy on a four-man depth chart at 2 for the Pistons, who will be bringing more players with guaranteed contracts to camp (17) than they can keep on the opening-night roster. It'll be an uphill battle for Hilliard.
Adonis Thomas
Position: Guard
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Rugged, durable wing with a lot of raw ability
+ 3-point range on shot with potential as a floor-spacer and runner
+ Average defensive indicators
Analysis
The naturally gifted Thomas has been well-traveled since leaving the University of Memphis in 2013. Once the ninth-ranked player coming out of high school according to aggregate rankings, Thomas has played 84 D-League games over the past two seasons and just six NBA games (none last season).
In the D-League, Thomas made third-team all-league last season and played more minutes than all but two players. He also led the league in missed shots. He was a pretty good 3-point shooter so chances are Thomas would be looked to fill a 3-and-D profile. He stood out in transition, averaging 1.20 points per play (65th percentile) according to Synergy. On defense, he was in the 54th percentile, and he'll have to be more accomplished than that to make a crowded Pistons roster.
Cartier Martin
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Shooting specialist who did not attempt a free throw last season
+ Struggled with shot amid inconsistent playing time in 2014-15
+ Average defender at peak and is declining with age
Analysis
If Cartier Martin makes the Pistons this season, it will save the post office a lot of work. Detroit is Martin's sixth NBA club in seven seasons, and he has also played in the D-League for parts of three seasons and in Europe for eight games. That he has a guaranteed NBA contract for his age-31 season is a testament to Martin's perseverance.
He didn't play much last season, a product of his place on Detroit's depth chart and a prolonged battle with plantar fasciitis. He is what you want in a non-rotation reserve: A dependable, two-way veteran who keeps quiet about his limited role. He protects the ball and spends almost all of his time on offense spotting up from the 3-point arc. He's usually a better-than-average long-range shooter but last season dipped to 18.2 percent, a big reason why he didn't play more. He's never been more than average on defense and may now be worse than that. According to SportVu, opponents shot 55 percent against him in 2014-15. Though he enters camp with that guaranteed pact, he'll still be battling Bullock and Thomas for the final spot or two on the opening-night roster.