What can we expect from the Pistons this season? Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News provides a player-by-player analysis leading into the start of training camp. Fourth in a series: Paul Reed.

Last season

Ron Holland knew the skill level difference between the G League and the NBA would be significant. During his first training camp with the Detroit Pistons last fall, not one veteran impressed Holland more than Paul Reed.

At the time, Holland was unfamiliar with Reed’s game. But after a handful of team scrimmages at the Henry Ford Health Pistons Performance Center, Holland gained admiration and an appreciation for Reed. By the end of the 2024-25 season, the Pistons shared Holland’s sentiment as a whole.

Last season, Reed played in 45 games, averaging 9.7 minutes per contest. For most of the season, Reed saw little action. For a majority of the time, he only stepped onto the court when the game was already in hand. However, Reed played a vital role in helping the Pistons whenever there was a need in the frontcourt.

His most significant contributions came during Detroit’s six-game playoff series against the New York Knicks. Isaiah Stewart missed nearly the entire series due to a knee injury, which led to Reed playing a significant role in an attempt to keep the Pistons afloat.

“We were fortunate that we had Paul,” Trajan Langdon, Pistons president of basketball operations, said in June. “I think if we didn’t have a guy as talented as Paul, another player would not have been able to hold water like Paul did for us at that time.”

2025-26 outlook

Reed’s playoff performance gave the Pistons the encouragement needed to re-sign him. The two parties agreed to a two-year contract worth $11 million this offseason. Unless there is a significant shakeup in coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s plans, expect Reed to replicate a similar role for Detroit during the 2025-26 campaign.

Reed is a veteran player who can come in and provide the Pistons with production on both ends of the floor. His best game of the year came during the Pistons’ 108-107 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Nov 6. The Pistons were in need of someone to fill a vacancy after Jalen Duren left the game early in the first quarter due to an ankle injury.

Bickerstaff called upon Reed, who scored a season-best 13 points, to go along with two steals and a block in 12 minutes. The game highlighted Reed’s role as the Pistons’ unsung hero who is capable of lifting the team out of tough times whenever he is needed.

Pistons previews

â–¶ Can Bobi Klintman and Chaz Lanier establish meaningful roles?

▶ Can two-way prospects contribute to Detroit’s depth?

▶ Can Jaden Ivey return to form following broken leg?

coty.davis@detroitnews.com

@cotydavis_24