National Basketball Association

Detroit Pistons: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Stanley Johnson As Creators

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With Reggie Jackson out the next six weeks, the Detroit Pistons could hand some of the playmaking responsibilities to two non-point guards on the roster.

The Detroit Pistons were expected to take a massive leap in the Eastern Conference this offseason. In theory, they have the chance to eclipse their over/under win total.

However, the injury to Reggie Jackson means Detroit is entering the 2016-17 season hampered and without a key aspect — the Jackson/Drummond pick-and-roll — in their offense.

In his first full season in Detroit, Jackson shoned, averaging 18.8 points and 6.2 assists in a career-high 79 starts. Normally a poor outside shooter, Jackson knocked down 35 percent of his threes on a solid 4.2 attempts per contests.

The Jackson-Drummond pick-and-roll became a key play in Detroit’s offense, as few players could stop a rolling Drummond.

Now, for the foreseeable future, the Pistons are going to have to be without him. Detroit added Ish Smith this offseason to cure some of the woes at backup point guard and last week’s claim of Beno Udrih gives them another capable hand at the position.

However, neither provide Jackson’s ability on the offensive or defensive end.

Two players whom can help mitigate the loss of Jackson? Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Stanley Johnson. Two Detroit Pistons guards who can help with some of the offensive creation duties.

Both players will have other duties to take care of this season — mainly serving as two-way options that can defend the best wing players around the league. However, becoming better offensive initiators would do wonders for both players and their games.

Caldwell-Pope has already made strides in that area, while Johnson, only in his second season, has room to grow.

Consider me on the “Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Most Improved Player” bandwagon. He’s one of the league’s best defenders on the perimeter and his offensive portfolio has expanded since entering the league.

It still hasn’t come together in one season, but I consider this season as the best chance of that happening. Last season, he started to become even more of a threat as a pick and roll ball-handler.

Per NBA.com’s play type stats, Caldwell-Pope finished with a 0.82 PPP on pick and roll plays as the ball handler. The 40 percent shooting isn’t great.

However, the man nicknamed KCP did two other things when handling the ball — he didn’t turn it over (9.6 percent turnover rate) and he got to the line 9 percent of the time. With a bit more pick and roll added to his list of responsibilities, those two numbers could jump.

As for Johnson, this is another aspect of his game I expect to see grow from season one to season two. Coming out of Arizona, his ball-handling was solid, and something that led to the marking of his solid upside on the offensive end. In short, it didn’t emerge as a rookie reserve.

Last season, Johnson shot just 35 percent as the pick and roll ball handler and had a turnover rate of more than 20 percent. His 29 percent scoring rate rated as one of the league’s lowest rates. Not the greatest start, but remember, Johnson entered the league at 19.

His 37 percent shooting as a whole didn’t do wonders, but getting him acclimated to situations like guarding LeBron James or operating the offense helps as he continues to develop.

The reason for this desired development is because of fellow Central Division wing Khris Middleton. After a breakout season as a 3-and-D talent for Milwaukee, Middleton signed a five-year deal worth $70 million.

Coming into the 2015-16 season, Middleton was just that — good defense, good size and an elite shooting option on a team of bad shooters. In that season, Middleton added another element — the ability to attack off the dribble.

That one addition to his offensive arsenal took his game up a level. It not only allowed him to attack opposing defenses as a straight shooter but now, Middleton world attack off the dribble and even set teammates up for easier shots.

On a team with questionable point guard play, Middleton was able to serve as an alternative for creation, and thus, added another element to Milwaukee’s offense.

As the Detroit Pistons enter the 2016-17 NBA season without Jackson, I’m curious to see how much pick and roll both Caldwell-Pope and Johnson run.

Even in small doses — something KCP might have because Smith is a good pick and roll guard — the Pistons have two nice wing players and expanding their offensive portfolio could only help as they continue to grow and develop under Stan Van Gundy.