Pistons build chemistry with offseason bonding, trip
The start of training camp still is a couple of weeks away, but the Pistons are trying to get a jump-start.
Like last summer, they’ve had some team-building and team-bonding activities that included a trip to the West Coast.
Andre Drummond, who signed a five-year deal worth $125 million, has been one of those getting players together for the activities.
“It’s a matter of everybody on our team working and getting better,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We said to our team and coaching staff that we thought we could go out and improve our depth but most of the improvement would have to come internally.
“That’s going to be 80-85 percent of our improvement, and the other improvement will be the additions that we made.”
After their breakthrough season, which included 44 victories and a spot in the playoffs, the Pistons are ready for more.
Their offseason featured an overhaul of the bench, buoyed by the acquisitions of free agents Ish Smith, Jon Leuer and Boban Marjanovich, along with draft picks Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije.
And with the starting lineup intact and several new faces, the expectations are higher.
The reserve group is expected to be more versatile, with Smith leading the way. Following a surprising season with the 76ers, Smith (14.7 points, 7.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds) is looking to be the centerpiece, along with an improved Stanley Johnson in his second season, Leuer and Aron Baynes.
It’s unclear what roles Marjanovic, Ellenson and Gbinije will have, but Reggie Bullock and Darrun Hilliard will jockey for playing time, and Lorenzo Brown and Ray McCallum Jr. will have an interesting competition during camp to be the third point guard.
Here are some other developments to watch:
■ If Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the team can’t reach a contract agreement by Oct. 31, he’ll become a restricted free agent and command a big payday next summer.
■ At age 23, Drummond still is making strides in his game. After an All-Star season, he’ll look to make another jump and become a more vocal leader. Free throws still are an issue, but he’ll have to be better than last year.
■ Besides the new bench group, the starters — all under the age of 27 — have had an offseason to mesh and learn each other’s tendencies. Tobias Harris came at the trade deadline and should improve. Caldwell-Pope didn’t have a good year shooting 3-pointers, and Reggie Jackson still hasn’t reached his ceiling.
■ Along with the players’ development, Van Gundy said the coaching must improve. That could account for a couple victories, which, in last year’s case, meant the difference between the eighth seed and potentially the sixth seed.
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