The Detroit Pistons are in need of three-point support, and Coby White finished the season shooting above 39% from downtown with the Charlotte Hornets
With the New York Knicks set to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, the Detroit Pistons are left in a position to retool after their second round defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the end, the Cavs couldn’t match the Knicks’ rhythm and the Pistons never had the opportunity to in the playoffs after handling the squad to the tune of an effortless 3-0 sweep in the regular season.
So, the Pistons are entering the offseason a bit earlier than they may have planned after darting off to a torrid 60-win pace in the regular season, but Detroit has the opportunity to shape its roster with additional perimeter firepower, perhaps a long-term answer at the four and even more ball handlers before taking the court next season. President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon expressed a desire to do as much during his end of season press conference, but he’ll also be occupied with bringing Jalen Duren back through restricted free agency.
But while on the topic of free agency, the Pistons will have the opportunity to re-sign both Tobias Harris and Kevin Huerter if they choose to do so, and Langdon has already mentioned that he’d like the former to remain in Motown at the very least. However, Langdon can also use the offseason to target specialized talents who can contribute in the areas which crumbled the most during the postseason– three-point shooting.
The Pistons ranked in the bottom half of the NBA in terms of three-point percentage during the regular season, so that needs to be addressed. Once the playoffs arrived, the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavs both packed the paint to disrupt Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, so the addition of competent perimeter threats could help space the floor and create more offensive cohesion for Detroit instead of the paint-driven routine that sputtered after two rounds.
In terms of players who fit that bill, Coby White is an intriguing option as a 36.9% three-point shooter, which is more than a percent higher than the Pistons’ team average last season. But after White was traded to the Charlotte Hornets back in February, the 6-4, 195-pound guard hit long-range shots at a 39.1% clip, so he ended the season on a heater that could be indicative of future success if he’s placed in the right situation.
As it pertains to his potential fit in Detroit, White does not need the ball to be successful and hovers around four assists per game throughout his career. Based on his prior usage with the Hornets and the Chicago Bulls in the past, White has the ability to help make plays on the second unit with a nearly 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
According to Spotrac, White made $12 million last season, though he’s likely due for a bump in salary to some degree. But that price range is exactly where the Pistons can bring in role players, such as White, who can contribute with specific tasks to elevate the balance of an at times heliocentric offense that lives and dies by paint success.
White ended the season by averaging 15.6 points, three rebounds and three assists per game for the Hornets without ever cracking the starting lineup, so the sharp-shooting guard is capable of meaningful contributions on a consistent basis without the demand of significant minutes in order to do so. That alone is a valuable skill set to possess in the NBA, and the Pistons seem like the type of organization that can work with White’s steady production.
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