Pistons could use an upgrade at power forward behind Tobias Harris
It sounds like if you are an NBA veteran who can’t shoot, the Detroit Pistons under Trajan Langdon are not interested. Langdon proved that last year by focusing on signings and trades that netted Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., Paul Reed, and Dennis Schröder.
As he goes into his second offseason, having built the Pistons into a young playoff team with room to grow, he has less maneuverability but also fewer needs. One area where the Pistons were clearly deficient was at power forward behind starter Tobias Harris. Simone Fontecchio never really got untracked after offseason foot surgery. His shot wasn’t as reliable as it needed to be, and he didn’t have the size to hold up against any beefy power forwards. Ausar Thompson is a great defender, but not only does he lack a certain amount of beef, he’s a total non-entity as a shooter.
If the Pistons have a clearly defined hole in their lineup, it’s one that Jake LaRavia wouldn’t mind filling. The three-year veteran is coming off his best season as a pro, split between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Sacramento Kings.
“LaRavia mentioned Orlando, Detroit, San Antonio, and Denver as possible teams he would want to play for,” writes Basketball Insiders in a wide-ranging interview with the 6-foot-8 big man.
“When it comes down to it, you need 3-point shooting, you need defense,“ he told the publication. “Every team needs a player like that, a taller wing that can play both sides of the ball, that can defend, be gritty, that can make shots.”
Not only does LaRavia seem interested, he also seems like a guy who Langdon and head coach JB Bickerstaff would take a shine to. He’s a hard-nosed and smart defender, and his shot diet was pristine, at least in Memphis.
Thirty percent of his shots last season came within three feet and 57% came within 10. Thirty-seven percent were threes. He shot roughly 60% in the restricted area and 42% from deep last season.
There’s nothing more Detroit than somebody dying to do the dirty work and be the role player who gets the job done. LaRavia sees himself as the role player who can serve as a perfect complement to a star like Cade Cunningham, who attracts outsized attention and more than his share of double teams.
“Stars on the team are gonna get double-teamed, they’re gonna get blitzed,” LaRavia told Basketball Insiders. “[Teams are] going to make role players beat us instead of the star player.”
LaRavia is a player who has shone more often than not when given opportunities on the floor, but playing for a deep Memphis team or dealing with nagging injuries have limited so far in his brief NBA tenure.
The Pistons have a limited budget, but they do seem like they are eager to add size, strength, and shooting to its core lineup. LaRavia could be the perfect kind of bargain opportunity. He’s still not 24, he’s proven he can guard multiple positions, he’s a legit 6-foot-8 who is also a legit 3-point shooter. He could be part of all kinds of mix-and-match lineups with Thompson, Cunningham, and/or Ivey. He’s a good player young enough to keep growing alongside the core.
He could be the kind of role player the Pistons need if they’re looking to take the next step.