Job 1 for new Detroit Pistons coach Dwane Casey? Develop young talent

Vince Ellis | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Watch: Ed Stefanski says Detroit Pistons 'fortunate' to grab Thomas, Brown Detroit Pistons senior adviser Ed Stefanski feels team was "fortunate" to grab two wings in second round of 2018 NBA draft June 21.

When I first spoke with Detroit Pistons senior adviser Ed Stefanski, player development was prominent in the discussion.

Team vice chairman Arn Tellem said Dwane Casey’s handling of young players was a major factor in his hiring as head coach.

And an emphasis on the development of the Pistons' young players was a major takeaway from Casey’s media introduction Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena.

To excel in the postseason, the franchise hopes youngsters Stanley Johnson, Luke Kennard and Henry Ellenson take steps forward.

“Three very talented young players,” said Casey, who was joined on the podium by Pistons owner Tom Gores and Stefanski. “That’s going to be on us, the coaching staff, to really draw as much of that as we can. The talent level on the roster is there. Getting it together and identifying how we’re going to play is very, very important. That’s the fun part of it because the talent base is there.”

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The franchise is hopeful the trio of Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson can fuel a postseason appearance after two straight absences. But for meaningful success next season and long term, the young trio of roster holdovers must live up to their potential.

Johnson must regain swagger

Casey raised eyebrows when describing Johnson, who is entering his fourth season and is eligible for a contract extension.

The reason Casey was available following the firing of Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy?

LeBron James, whose Cleveland Cavaliers ended Toronto’s season for three straight years, leading to team president Masai Ujiri ending Casey’s time with the Raptors after seven seasons.

Casey said Johnson, the likely starting small forward, was a player he “admired from afar.”

When he sees Johnson's 6-foot-7, 230-pound frame, he sees someone capable of defending James.

“Stanley Johnson is the best matchup for 23 in Cleveland that there is, physically,” Casey said.

Fans will remember Johnson’s rookie season when he was the sixth man on a playoff team — Van Gundy’s only postseason appearance in four seasons. The Cavs swept the Pistons out of the playoffs, but Johnson trash-talked James, displaying a confidence and swagger he exhibited all season.

That swagger vanished the last two years as he clashed at times with Van Gundy.

He gained weight his second season and his 3-point shot has been inconsistent all three seasons. He’s a career 30 percent 3-point shooter.

After he was hired, Casey dropped by a Johnson workout in Southern California. Johnson was taking mid-range jumpers. Casey interrupted him and suggested he focus mostly on 3-pointers, definitely a modern approach with its lack of emphasis on the mid-range game.

Johnson’s name has appeared in trade rumors, but at 22, there is still hope he can develop into a two-way force.

Kennard must continue momentum

In the rotation at 21, Kennard was given the starting assignment for the final four games when Reggie Bullock was shut down with a sore left knee.

The shooting guard averaged 15.8 points, five rebounds, 3.3 assists and shot 50 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from 3-point range (10-for-18) in those four games.

This Twitter user broke down Kennard's numbers in games when he played 20 minutes or more:

Luke Kennard in 31 games this season where he's logged 20+ minutes



10.9 PPG

3.3 RPG

2.5 APG

48% FG

39% 3P

+/- of +2.6 pic.twitter.com/oisyEnBu2r — Martin (@ImMartinHi) April 10, 2018

As the Pistons look to construct the roster around Griffin, Drummond and Jackson, there is evidence Kennard will be a perfect fit.

Look at two-man net ratings — which measures the team's point differential per 100 possessions while certain players are on the court.

The Pistons’ net rating with Drummond and Kennard was plus-4.2. With Kennard and Jackson, it was plus-5.9. And Griffin and Kennard combined for a plus-6.8 net rating.

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It’s natural that Kennard’s game provides offensive efficiency. He shot 41.5 percent from 3-point range, so teams respect his shot, meaning his presence spreads the defense and creates space.

Considering the Pistons’ offensive struggles last season, Kennard should have played more. But he struggled to keep Van Gundy’s confidence.

Casey said you have to live with mistakes from young players.

“The key word is trust,” Casey said. “You have to empower them, you have to trust them. You’re going to make mistakes. Fans may say, ‘Why is he playing?’ "

Van Gundy planned to try Kennard at point guard during summer league play — a plan Casey told the Free Press last week he endorses.

“That’s what this game is about,” Casey said. "There’s no magic wand you wave over young players. You give them experience, empowering them and give them confidence.”

Ellenson must make an impact

Ellenson, 21, impressed during offseason workouts last summer.

He earned a spot in the playing rotation — for eight games. But when he was exposed defensively in a blowout loss at the Los Angeles Lakers, Van Gundy lost trust in the 7-footer. He was stuck on the bench until the team was practically eliminated from playoff consideration.

Van Gundy didn’t send Ellenson to Gatorade League-affiliate Grand Rapids for seasoning because of the season-ending injury to Jon Leuer, saying he needed Ellenson for depth.

But after two seasons, who is Ellenson? Is he a big man with a multi-talented offensive game? Or is he too much of a defensive liability for consistent playing time?

The Pistons are going to find out — starting in the coming days when the team begins preparing for Las Vegas summer league action, which begins July 6. Ellenson, Kennard and rookies Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown are expected to play.

Organizational structure taking shape

Casey revealed that he has assistant coaches working out with players in Los Angeles, but is waiting on contract details to be sorted out before announcing staff.

Casey went to Southern California to visit more players than Johnson, with nearly half the team in the area working out.

“For whatever reason, a lot of players live in Los Angeles,” Casey joked. “They love the city and they love working there. We have coaches there working with them, developmental coaches. Guys that are helping us out until we can get it formalized. Every player is out there working right now.

“We’re going to have Detroit West.”

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The commitment goes beyond the coaching staff. As part of the organizational chart, the Pistons plan to hire an assistant general manager to oversee player development.

The need for development is the main reason Stefanski suggested hiring a coach before firming up the front office.

“We think the young guys have upside potential, and that is one reason I said to Tom right away that I waEdnted to get my arms around the players,” Stefanski said. “I think the upside for these players is greater than they’ve shown and I feel very comfortable that we will have a product that will compete with teams.”

Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.