National Basketball Association

Several Detroit Pistons highlighted early in training camp

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

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The Detroit Pistons are entering day three in training camp. So far, Stan Van Gundy has liked what he’s seen, highlighting a number of players who have really stood out to him.

The Detroit Pistons are inching closer to preseason basketball, with training camp underway.

So far so good for the Pistons. The players were challenged with improving their weaknesses and staying in good shape, a challenge they appear to have taken seriously.

Two days in and Van Gundy has noticed a few standouts already.

Via MLive:

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Stan Van Gundy pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket Wednesday and began scanning his roster.

His team had just wrapped up Day 2 of training camp with a 42-minute scrimmage, and certain players stood out to the Detroit Pistons coach.

Andre Drummond for his free-throw shooting, believe it or not. Aron Baynes.

Then Van Gundy came to Jon Leuer, the Pistons’ 6-foot-10 power forward.

“I really like Jon,” Van Gundy said. “Jon can play both positions – is smart, can play with multiple people. I thought he played well.”

“I wouldn’t say that I’m surprised, but he’s playing well,” Van Gundy said. “His versatility, his intelligence, and the one thing I would say I’m surprised with is that he’s a lot better defensively than I thought.

“I thought he was decent – maybe average – defensively. I think he’s got a chance to be a lot better than that.”

Leuer, projected to play extended minutes behind Tobias Harris, averaged 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds on 48.1 percent shooting last season with the Suns.

He’s considered more of a threat with the ball than guarding against it, but Van Gundy is particularly impressed with his speed on the perimeter.

“And he’s got size and length, and quick feet, so he’s doing a lot of fronting in the post,” Van Gundy said. “He can switch on to (small forwards) if need be. And he can handle the ball.

In another article from MLive, Van Gundy noted how impressed he is about what Tobias Harris has shown defensively early on in training camp:

“Today, we started to become really aggressive on pick-and-rolls and getting them to really jump out and show on ball-handlers and stuff,” Van Gundy said of working in training camp practice. “Much, much harder than when you’re just dropping back. They have to do it a lot against shooters.”

During breakout sessions in practice, each position is asked to take part in a one-on-one game that only rewards defensive stops. Harris, Van Gundy says, has won more than any other forward.

“And that’s in a group that’s against Marcus (Morris) and Stanley (Johnson) and Henry (Ellenson) and Jon (Leuer),” Van Gundy said. “Good players. Almost everyday, he’s getting wins. He’s taking great shots and he’s taking pride in it.

“Yeah, really happy with him.”

The Pistons’ key players are so young that there are numerous guys we could highlight as breakout candidates this season.

I still think Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can “breakout” so to speak by just improving his efficiency offensively. If Andre Drummond can shoot free throws at a reasonable clip and improve his post play–something he’s done over the last two seasons–we could see a jump in production from him as well.

Stanley Johnson, because he’s entering his second season and figures to see an increase in his role is also an obvious candidate.

But Tobias Harris, if his defensive growth holds up during the season, could also see a significant jump in play too, entering year six.

Harris was a totally different player for the Pistons when he was traded from Orlando mid-season, averaging 16.6 points and improving his three-point shooting. It’s not a stretch to suggest that he could be a 20 point per game player for the Pistons next season.

It’s hard to read too much into training camp, but early signs of internal development–the Pistons’ number one offseason goal–are encouraging.