Ron Holland played regularly off the bench in his second season with the Pistons until the postseason came around.
Holland averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes per game during 78 regular season appearances. However, he saw action in just nine postseason contests, averaging 6.4 minutes in those outings. His subpar three-point shooting (25.3%) undoubtedly led to his reduced playing time.
“It was frustrating for sure, but I didn’t let it bring my body language or energy down,” Holland told Coty Davis of the Detroit News. “There isn’t a regretful feeling. But I did not play in the playoffs, and it has been eating at me. Since the season ended, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can get better, making sure I never put myself in this position again.”
The 2024 lottery pick said the coaching staff also felt he was at times trying too hard not to make a mistake and it affected his play.
“When it comes to (head coach) J.B. (Bickerstaff) and the rest of the staff, they want me to focus on everything I’ve been talking about in terms of improving as an all-around player,” Holland said. “They could tell I was going out there trying to be Mr. Don’t-Mess-Up or Mr. Perfect. They noticed that.”
Here’s more on the Pistons:
Detroit has been linked to Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, who averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 66 games last season on 47% overall shooting and 37.9% shooting from three. Though Murphy isn’t the type of isolation scorer teams lean on in the playoffs, he has emerged as an efficient three-level scorer who would thrive playing off Cade Cunningham, Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press opines. New Orleans reportedly wants three first-rounders as part of any package for Murphy and it’s unclear whether Trajan Langdon would be willing to meet the Pelicans’ asking price.
Whether the Pistons can land another power forward, along with the reported addition of John Collins, is one of four questions still looming over the franchise this offseason, Sankofa writes (subscription required). The biggest one, of course, is whether the front office can resolve its standoff with restricted free agent Jalen Duren, who has limited options beyond a sign-and-trade that the Pistons’ brass has been unwilling to entertain.
Ugonna Onyenso thought he’d be drafted by the Wizards with the No. 60 pick last month. Instead, the Pistons traded into the second round to select him with the No. 53 pick. Onyenso signed a two-way contract with Detroit on Monday. “Usually, they (the team) will text your agent before calling your name. So as we were talking about going 60, (NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum) called my name, and I was like, ‘Oh, snap. What is going on?’” Onyenso said, per Davis. “The whole draft night was a surprise.” The Virginia big man has to develop his offensive game but intrigued Detroit with his shot-blocking ability — he led the ACC in that category last season.
In case you missed it, the Pistons agreed to send Caris LeVert to the Bucks, which will be part of a six-team mega-deal. Get the details on that trade here.