The Detroit Pistons have struggled with a void at the point for years now. From Reggie Jackson to Derrick Rose, they have yet to find a long-term solution to their point guard position.
With Fred VanVleet and the Raptors soaring above expectations, the Pistons are expected to take a hard look at him this summer, when the 25-year-old guard is due to become an unrestricted free agent.
(via Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report)
The Detroit Pistons have reportedly locked in on Fred VanVleet as a target in July’s free-agency period.
James Edwards III of The Athletic reported Tuesday that the Pistons view VanVleet as someone who can shore up their struggling guard rotation. The Pistons front office is currently deciding whether to begin a full-scale rebuild or field a competitive roster in 2020-21; VanVleet would fit with the latter way of thinking.
The Griffin/Drummond experiment has not yielded positive results for the Pistons. After barely sneaking into the postseason in 2019, they are just 10th in the East this season, with Griffin looking like a shell of his former self and Drummond being the subject of countless trade rumors.
With their path still unclear, it’s too early to tell who might be in their long-term plans. But if they decide against a rebuild, targetting VanVleet would go a long way in helping them reach their goals.
With just three years of experience, VanVleet is having a breakout season, averaging 18 points and 7 assists in the post-Kawhi era.
As the Pistons mull their future, expect Fred to be a name at the surface of talks both before February’s deadline and in the summer during free agency.
