The Detroit Pistons are expecting to get Jon Leuer back by the start of the regular season. He might even be back by the start of training camp.

Detroit Pistons forward Jon Leuer missed almost the entire 2017-2018 season due to injuries. He experienced another set back during the off-season.

During a drill, he suffered a meniscus tear and had to undergo surgery. There was no timetable on when he would return. It’s now looking like he will be able to return by the start of the regular season.

Also I gather #Pistons power forward Jon Leuer (knee surgery) is expected to be ready by the season opener and franchise cautiously optimistic that he will be ready by the start of camp. — Vince_Ells56 (@Vincent_Ellis56) August 16, 2018

He might even be ready by the start of training camp in Ann Arbor for the Detroit Pistons.

Why this is important

Leuer brings depth to front court that the Pistons so desperately need. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond are fantastic starters. The Pistons might have the best front court in the eastern conference this season.

Outside of the starting unit, it’s very thin in the front court. Zaza Pachulia and Henry Ellenson are the other guys that back-up Griffin and Drummond.

This is where Leuer’s importance comes in. He set career-highs in points and minutes in 2016 when he was essentially the sixth man for the Detroit Pistons.

He played well and even started in some games that year for the team. The Pistons struggled in many areas in 2017 including bench production. It’s no coincidence that it happened while Leuer was missing for virtually the whole season.

He will need to be a vital asset to this team again this season if the Pistons want to improve in this area. Having just Ellenson playing behind Griffin is a bit of scary thought.

Ellenson struggled mightily throughout the summer league in July and hasn’t been able to prove his worth over the last couple of seasons.

Having Jon Leuer back by the season opener and possibly by training camp would be a giant bullet dodged by the Detroit Pistons.