The Detroit Pistons lost Dennis Schroeder and Malik Beasley this offseason, but Tragen Langdon replaces Duncan Robinson and Karis Lebert.
The Detroit Pistons looked poised to run it on the same roster after a shocking postseason run. Jaden Evie is ready to go back after breaking his leg last season, and the Pistons seemed ready to commit to free agent Malik Beasley and bring him back.
Instead, Beasley was named in a gambling investigation, and Piston had no interest in bringing him back, replacing him with Duncan Robinson in sign and trade. To close the roster, Detroit re-signed backup center Paul Reid and brought in Charis Lebert.
Piston was unable to sign a true superstar, but Tragen Langdon is optimistic about the potential for improvement and thinks it will be a deep playoff run.
Beasley and Dennis Schroder were reliable if not elite, if not Motor City shooters last season, and their off-floor abilities were a major reason for Cade Cunningham’s breakout.
Neither Levert nor Robinson will take as many threes as Beasley did last season, but both are good shooters and good for Detroit’s continuous improvement.
| player | ppg | 3PA | 3pt |
| Dennis Schroder | 13.1 | 4.9 | 34.2% (Gives 37.8) |
| Malik Beasley | 16.3 | 9.3 | 41.6% |
| Charis will deliver | 12.1 | 4.4 | 37.3% |
| Duncan Robinson | 11.0 | 6.5 | 39.3% |
Plus, Levert is 5 inches taller than Schroder and Robinson is 3 inches taller than Beasley, so he not only kept the shooting intact, but added a size that would help him rebound at 12th place since last season.
“I think we’ve grown with two additions,” Langdon explained. “And we want to keep wearing people who can playmaking a little, but who can shoot the ball.”
With improved size and accurate shooting, I am confident that Piston can take the next step in the Eastern Conference.
Last season was the first taste of the Pistons’ younger core playoffs. Both Beasley and Schroder have both made deep playoff runs before, but Robinson has had two finals, and Levert is familiar with the postseason, dancing with the net and the Cavaliers.
“These two have postseason experience too,” Langdon continued.
Robinson’s shooting addresses the clear need for pistons, but Levert acts as the ultimate versatility piece in the lineup, especially when Beasley is gone.
“The special thing about Charis is that everyone can plug him in and play him close by,” Langdon added. “He can go out there and defend two-to-three and three. He can handle and become a secondary ball handler. He can play and can play according to the lineup.”
Cunningham’s true point guard and even the combo guard of Levert, Ivey and even Ausar Thompson, the Pistons need to prepare to make some kind of noise as a promising young team in a weak conference.